Comic Book Review: Superman:The Last Family Of Krypton

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Cary Bates

Penciller: Renato Arlem

Colorist: Allen Passalaqua

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

Cover Art: Felipe Massafera

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

The third and final issue of this drastically wonderful Superman story brings us a tale that, more than likely, hits right at home for the typical American family.  The father, who has numerous delusions of grandeur and an over-arching god-complex combined with the guilt of Krypton’s fate.  The mother, who takes it upon herself to bring the father back to reality, showing him that he doesn’t have to be a Superman all the time.  The son, who seems to have a greater sense of justice and purity of heart, but still mirrors his father’s personality in so many ways.  This is a true story told in such a fantastic way that only Cary Bates was able to deliver.

Even though this very human and family aspect story was where bates’ heart was at, I really enjoyed how he took the familiar and typical Superman aspects and turned them into an unpredictable prose.  In a way, the Superman of the Bates’ universe seemed more intelligent than the Superman of cannon DCU.  This of course comes from actually having his parents around to educate him, even if his father was very distant and negligent during Kal-El’s youth.  And despite their many differences of opinion, how they worked together to stop Luthor and B towards the end showed they still have a certain amount of respect and love for one another that they were unable to express until now.

The war between Jor-El and Laura was a prime example of how marriages end up falling apart so easily, even after years of happiness.  The two had taken different approaches on life which put both at odds with one another.  This begs us to ask ourselves, do we have every right to leave the one we love when they make a change for the worst?  Laura definitely gave it her all in making the marriage work, but did give up for a brief period.  But as with most American love stories, love conquers all.

Let’s not forget about the clever way Bates’ ties in this whole notion that the El’s presence on Earth hindered the origin of the other well known heroes, such as Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern, etc., leaving room for another question about destiny vs. choice.  This aspect of the story was exemplified even more with the scene between the Guardians of the universe and Jor-El, going back to the age old question…Is Superman necessary?  Or even better, is it in Kal-El’s destiny to become Superman, to become the protector of Earth?  (I’d sure like to know what happened to Wonder Woman though…)

And we shouldn’t forget about the absolutely stellar artwork by Mr. Renato Arlem and his very merry colorist Felipe Massafera.  To be honest, this style really isn’t my forte; I’ve always been fonder of the clean lines rather than the rough, ragged look.  But with Arlem’s penciling combined with the beautiful colorizations by Allen Passalaqua, I can’t help but give the art in this book 10 thumbs way up!  And that includes the masterful cover art as well by Massafera.

I did wonder if Luthor was going to end up actually being a good guy, or if bates’ would keep him as he should be...a megalomaniac.  I found it even more hilarious when Luthor did, in fact, call himself that.  As crazy as Luthor is, he doesn’t ever deny that he has a god complex, I’ve just never seen it spelled out like it was here in issue #3.  Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

As this miniseries will never be considered part of the “true” Superman mythos, I believe this has officially become the best Superman story to ever be told!  It’s only rival would be the wonderfully clever Superman: For Tomorrow.  If you haven’t picked up this series, go to your local comic book store and get it!  It’s just three issues that are PACKED with story.  This is not a series where you’ll feel jipped by the $5 per issue price mark.  Bates’ put everything he had into this story and I look forward to the day when he comes back to comics more consistently.  (Please Cary!)

So the question I’m faced with now is, which was the better miniseries?  Superman: The Last Family Of Krypton, or Blackest Night?

Rating: 10 out of 10

Writing: 10

Art: 10

Themes: 10

+ 4 Incentive Points

Comic Book Review: The Last Family of Krypton #2

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Cary Bates

Artist: Renato Arlem

Colorist: Allen Passalaqua

Letterer: Pat Brosseau

Cover Art: Felipe Massafera

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

Superman Origin stories have become a constant publication within DC Comics, it seems there’s no end to a writer’s take on the Man of Steel’s beginnings.  However, when it comes to writer Cary Bates, Superman embarks on a beginning unlike any other.

We see a matured Clark Kent going through the normal high school routine, dating Lana Lang, fighting to fit in, etc etc.  But what makes everything different is that Superman’s parents are around.  We are finally able to see what exactly Jor-El would have thought of his Son’s flying heroic deeds.  It was tough enough that Kal was forced to live away from his parents, now he has chosen a life style in which his father disapproves of.  This is clearly a story of how a father and a son fight with each other’s difference of opinions and ideals.  But what’s even more interesting, I get the feeling that Bates is making an argument that this Superman story should never have happened.

While Superman is still fully Kryptonian, he is also fully Earthling too.  His life may have begun on his alien homeworld, but his childhood and lifestyle all formed on Earth.  Superman was able to develop an understanding for Earth’s needs and decided to answer that call.  Like he said, he has walked in their shoes and lived among them as if he were one of them.  (Which, really, he is.  Let’s be honest.)  With his family always taking care of the major disasters, Kal was never quite sure what his purpose was.  And then, after his gift of red, blue and yellow, he found himself helping the people of earth on a much smaller scale, finally discovering his calling here on Earth.  But his father made it clear that the publicity his son was getting, and the El family crest’s meaning changing for the people of Earth, the beginning of the end for this father and son could very well be around the corner.  How will this change how Superman behaves?  Will he retaliate against his father or vice versa?

I do appreciate that Bates is keeping this Elseworlds story very low key with the addition of popular characters.  Bruce Wayne, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and a team of terrorists who share the same name as an alien monster whom killed Superman over a decade ago all make an appearance, but it isn’t overbearing.  Many Superman Origin stories, Red Son for example, bring in established characters for the mere sake of bringing them in.  Cary Bates utilizes these added characters intelligently and with purpose, but never making them the center of attention.

Renato Arlem is pretty great with his Superman artistry.  I’m a little “iffy” about his style of shading, but I guess I’m more partial to the dark and gloomy side of comic book art.  Otherwise, Arlem certainly has a style unique to himself.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

I’ll respect your opinion if your waiting for this to come out in trade paperback, but honestly…you’re going to hate yourself for waiting so long.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Writing: 10

Art: 10

Themes: 10

Comic Book Review: Superman: Last Family of Krypton

Book Information

Written by Cary Bates
Penciled by Renato Arlem
Colors by Allen Passalaqua
Letters by Pat Brosseau
Cover by Felipe Massafera

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion
Somewhere in the Multiverse is a universe where Kal-El flies off in a rocket ship made by his parents to escape the inevitable destruction of Krypton. But within this universe, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van travel with their son to Earth, making it their home. Earth has now been exposed to the “Superhero” far sooner than the Superman origin story would have us believe. Now the last family of Krypton deals with a culture unprepared for the arrival an alien family whose sole purpose is live a normal, HUMAN life. But this attempt to live as humans may prove much more difficult than they originally thought.

This issue was surprisingly entertaining; how many times can they redo the Superman Origin story until it becomes dull and overplayed? I thought they had finished with Birthright, but now with Johns on the cusp of finishing Superman: Secret Origin, the Man of Steel is going through more reincarnations of himself than any other superhero to date.

Stories based within fantastic and imaginary worlds often run into an unrelatable snag; where the character’s lives are so different and outlandish that their problems and struggles have no meaning to us mere mortals. Cary Bates presents an interesting tale of a Kryptonian family and the struggles they go through. This story deals with powerful heroes who can stop trains with their bare hands, melt iron by staring at it, and bring helicopters down to safety simply by blowing on it. However, this married couple still deals with problems of the average Earth couple, giving the readers something tangible to hold onto, but allows Bates to keep Jor and Laura up in the air fighting crime. I think every husband and wife who has had to make a life changing transition can relate to the issues both Jor-El and Laura Lor-Van are dealing with. I was pleasantly surprised by Jor and Laura’s selfless act of giving Kal away to two parents who can actually give him the attention needed that was severely lacking.

But now the question remains, what will become of little Kal-El? He’s going through a similar experience, growing up with Ma and Pa Kent, but will he adopt the red and blue spandex and become the #1 all-American superhero? His parents have already taken up that superhero mantle, what will Kal-El decide to do? Follow in his parent’s footsteps, become a villain out of some misplaced sense of winning his father’s approval, or decide to lead a life that much resembles the recent decision of Kara Zor-El and lead a normal HUMAN life?

The art is great, nothing more can really be said to describe just how great it is. There is a similarity to the classic, rugged sketched look of the Silver age. This style usually doesn’t appeal to me, but Renato Arlem really makes it work. And that cover by Massafera is absolutely stunning. But my favorite part of this whole issue is how much Arlem loves his boss, Mr. Dan Didio and Ms. Angelina Jolie…

My Awesomely Climactic Conclusion
It’s great to have Cary Bates back in the comic’s literary chair again. With his absence, having his name on the cover of a comic gave it an exciting and nostalgic fervor, while maintaining a fresh new feel at the same time. I’m very excited for next month.

Ratings
Writing: 10
Themes: 10
Art: 10
Overall: 10 out of 10

Comic Book Review: Weird Western Tales #71

Book Information

Written by Dan Didio

Art by Renato Arlem

Plot

Not even the wild wild west (queue Will Smith) is safe from the oncoming Black Lantern takeover of the world.  A barrage of gun slinging favorites are risen from the grave, including Bat Lash, Super-chief, and of course, Jonah Hex.  Josh Turnbull, who is overseeing an energy project designed to decipher the source of the Black Lantern’s power in an attempt to defeat them, faces his father’s old nemesis, Black Lantern Jonah Hex!  Will the west survive, or will the zombie cowboys and Indians take over to tell tale of how the west was lost?

My Thoughts

As bad of an Executive Editor that Dan Didio is, he certainly makes up for it in his writing style!  We don’t get a lot of opportunities to read Didio’s stuff, but when he has the chance, Didio sure delivers.  The flow from page one to two is outstandingly clever.  Page one presents that classic, Hollywood style old west town, while the transition to page two, with Turnbull answering his cell phone, showing readers we are currently in the present.  It’s a very clever way to distinguish nostalgia and the present.

Speaking of stories that live in the past, while taking residency in the present, but occupying the future, this issue is full of that futuristic western mentality; reeks of inspiration from Buck Rogers and Firefly.  I’ve never been a fan of stories involving cowboys and Indians, even sci-fi related ones, but this was definitely my cup of tea.  When I heard a Jonah Hex film was in the works, I sighed in disappointment.  However, this issue has peaked my interest in Mr. Hex and his story.  I might have to revisit some of my past claims at the stupidity of comic book based in the west.

One thing I do take a little issue with in this resurrected title is the false advertising presented on the front cover.  It states in that popular Black Lantern Oath, “Jonah Hex, Scalphunter, Super-Chief, Firehair, Bat lash….RISE!”  However, as the book progresses, the only time given to any of the said western heroes is Jonah Hex, and even he only receives the spotlight for five pages.  This is not necessarily a bad thing about the book, only a minor distraction.

Who the heck is Renato Arlem, how long has he been in the comic industry and why haven’t I gotten a glimpse of his work more often?  He blew me away with his static, somewhat fuzzy artistic style.  I would typically be turned off by this, but Arlem sure grabbed my attention with his knack for detail.  DC, a word of advice, hire this man more often!!  On that note, the cover art is fantastic!  Bill Sienkiewicz did a number on this gem.  I’m slightly tempted to put this on my nomination list for best cover of 2010!  It’s a long time to go before the end of the year, yeah I know, but it’s still damn good!

Overall

Nothing too innovative or new came out in this issue, it was merely a fun western tale told in the classic way, while still keeping time in the present.  There was a nice twist at the end seeing as the bad guys won!  I’m typically a guy who prefers a “not so typical” type of storytelling, but Dan Didio just showed me that it’s nice to go back and relive what once was.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars