Man of Steel #2 review


Guardian of the Universe Appa Ali Apsa is visited by another member of the Galactic Circle, Lord Gadelo, ruler of 42 star systems. He’s not happy. 


He doesn’t trust the Guardian, but he’s wrong. After Lord Gandelo disappears in a huff of smoke, Triple A visits the hell planet where Rogol Zaar, the beast man who demanded permission to destroy Krypton, was last seen. He’s not around. The Guardian prays that he died along with Krypton. 

Several decades later, on Earth, new Daily Planet reporter Robinson Goode is trying to get gossip columnist Trish Q’s take on the whereabouts of legendary reporter Lois Lane. Like Triple A, she pleads ignorance.  


Over in Coast City, meanwhile, Superman is keeping busy. 


The kid’s wet dream robot is being controlled by - who else? - the Toyman. And while he doesn’t arrive in time to help take down the missing-from-Metropolis villain, Green Lantern is pleased to bump into his old pal. 


Superman’s thoughts turn to recent days, when a manifestation in their apartment led wife Lois and son Jon to go missing from his life. 


The memory prompts Superman to really express his feelings. 


Over in the Vega system, a loose-lipped barkeep alerts Rogol Zaar to the survival of at least one Kryptonian. 


And on Earth, its greatest hero is having regrets. 


He doesn’t have time to feel bad for long, though, as people need him. Another building has been set on fire. 

Finally, Clark appears at the Daily Planet, where Perry is having a bad day. And Trish Q turns out to be a lot more interested in the Lois business than she made out to Goode. 


I enjoyed Brian Bendis’s first full-length Superman tale; I love the second. His characterisation of the Man of Steel is nicely nuanced, as we see the front he’s putting on and that he’s actually dying inside. The Daily Planet scenes are excellent, and the bit with Triple A and Lord Gadelo go some way towards making Rogol Zaar - still the story element in which I’m least interested - feel like a threat. I don’t think the transition between Superman’s despair and the space bar quite works, though; it’s visually arresting but the juggling Ambush Bug simply detracts from what could otherwise be a very powerful moment. 

If I had to pick a favourite part of the book, it’d be the newspaper scenes. Perry’s fears ring true, the gossiping reporters, likewise, and I love that for one second Bendis has me thinking Perry had forgotten his grammar. New characters Robinson and Trish are enjoyable, but the former - whom we know to be a spy for some sleazy type - can’t be as smart as she thinks she is if she’s going to pump the gossip queen so openly... already Trish notices she hasn’t got a reporter’s instincts. As for Trish, even in this world of tittle tattle, her hard news instincts need retuning if she thinks the personal life of an ‘almost famous’ hack is going to translate into big sales. And you do not question Perry White’s news nous.  

Good on Trish, though, for being the first Planet reporter outside Perry’s golden circle of Clark, Lois and Jimmy to verbalise the frustration colleagues must feel towards them. 


It’s great to see Toyman again, though it’s weird to have him suddenly sounding like an episode of Seinfeld. Will this new dialogue pattern ‘schtick’?

This issue has three artists. Three superb artists. A consistent look in the eventual collection would be grand, but if we can’t have that I’ll take Evan Shaner, Jason Fabok and Steve Rude anytime. Shaner’s clean, sincere lines are perfect for a hero as pure as Superman, Fabok’s Gary Frank quality grounds the freaky two pages with the giant head (reminds me of Validus from the Legion of Super-Heroes), and Steve Rude provides a page that just yells instant classic. 


Shaner deserves extra praise for his packed Planet, and there’s a cute little background story with Steve Lombard and Ron Troupe that brings a smile to my face. Little details like a silhouetted cyclist watching the robot fight and Coast City workers cheering the novelty of Superman add verisimilitude, and his Hal Jordan is a delightful callback to Dave Gibbon’s late Bronze Age version 

I also like the snazzy Forties stylings Rude gives Clark and Perry, contrasting with the very Today wardrobe of Trish, and the smudginess of Superman as Bendis delivers that great insight about people giving him extra slack.

The cover by penciller Ivan Reis, inker Joe Prado and colourist Alex Sinclair is handsome, but dull - oh for a Shaner Superman vs giant robot... Sinclair also colours the interior, and very nicely too, while Josh Reed supplies the sharp lettering. 

This time next week I’ll be on holiday, with little access to WiFi - if I can’t download Man of Steel #3, expect to find me in a crater, wailing...

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Man of Steel #2 review, Brian Michael Bendis, Evan ‘Doc’ Shaner, Steve Rude, Jason Fabok, Alex Sinclair, Alex Sinclair, Josh Reed, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, DC Comics

Comments

  1. While I enjoyed many of the artistic nuances, this installment left me unsatisfied. From last issue's Lois/Jon cliffhanger, the "camera" moved behind them, but we have no new information or any progression. If they're in danger/missing, what's he hanging around for? If they've gone off on an adventure of their own, why is he maxing out on the mopeyness? This isn't a tease, it's just going nowhere.

    I have to agree with Corrina Lawson's review: our new Planet staff seem as unprofessional as our new fire fighter, but at least Goode has the potential cover of having a sinister hidden agenda.

    I'm not sure how I feel about Zaar's work on Krypton happening off panel. On the one hand, there are so many variables that it leaves the situation of the planet's destruction intact. On the other, there are so many variables that we really don't know what if anything he did, which makes him a bit of a Boba Fett so far (a character with massive build up who turned out to be pretty impotent).

    Did Zaar do nothing at all?
    Did he discover Krypton was going to explode anyway and let events unfold?
    Or perhaps hasten them?
    Did he magnify an existing problem into something far worse?

    The reason I'm posing these questions, in spite of Gandelo insisting that planets simply do not explode, is of course Jor-El.

    Was Jor-El a nutter who was accidentally right because of a genocidal maniac?
    Did Jor-El discover what was happening and no one would believe him (list your own multitudinous reasons here)?

    Mostly I'd frustrated over the silly Lois mystery. If he thinks they're dead, then let that be known. If they suddenly had a blowout argument before she left on her quest (with Jon to help/protect her) then that's outta left field and Clark has turned into Ross Gellar. There's no seeding here.

    There was a lot to like about the issue, as you've covered (particularly the art), but there are questionable story choices. The cover is nice, actually conveys a scene! Just not a scene within the book itself. (And the '80s logo was a bad choice.)

    I'm just really disappointed after a promising (though troubled) start last week.

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  2. Thanks for the comments. Is the visual of what Jon, Lois and Clark are seeing not new information? As for the Planet staff being unprofessional, isn’t Corinne just saying that Goode is going about it the wrong way, she’s not having a pop at Trish, particularly. And I did say that Goode seems dumb, the way she’s going about it. Mind, who’s to say she’s not tried the things Corinne suggests... maybe she’s tried pumping other people, or intends to. The reason she’s asking Trish is likely that she’s been a Planet staffer awhile and, heck, she’s the gossip reporter, you’d think she’d have her ears open.

    Most of your questions and problems are to do with what’s happening, what are the motives and means etc... but it’s only the second issue of a six-part mini, and Bendis isn’t exactly known for spilling everything at once. There’s no way, for example, we aren’t going to learn what Rogol Zaar did, within a few weeks. The Lois and Jon mystery is almost certainly going to be simply two pages drawn by Fabok every issue.

    But definitely don’t spend your money if you aren’t enjoying this. I don’t think there’s a Bendis book I’ve not dropped... please let this be different!

    Thanks again for the great commentary.

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    1. Oh, I'm not giving up; I don't think it was THAT big a drop from the first issue. :)

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  3. As usual we are on the same page.

    I think the character building in this issue was the big sell. I don't think I am going to like the Zaar plot any where as much as seeing the planet staff talking to each other.

    I think Superman actually was having a 'good time' with Toyman, probably a moment where he could forget his inner pain. But the slightest nudge brings back how alone he is.
    I loved ... and I mean LOVED ... the GL interaction. Hal trying to say things in a measured way, like a caring friend trying to ease into an uncomfortable conversation. And Supes putting on that front as he takes off. That is powerful writing and the Shaner art and expression there is powerful.

    And yes, that Rude Perry White page!! Perfect!

    Any thoughts on the thing which took Lois away? Fourth World? Time travel ship?

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    Replies
    1. You know, now that you mention a ship, I can see that as a carved head. Of Validus!

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