Sequart Organization » Superman

Citizenship 101: The DC Public Service Announcements of the 1950s and 1960s

Brian Puaca — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 23:30:04 +0000

An unlikely 1949 brown paper schoolbook cover produced by DC Comics and distributed by the Institute for American Democracy (IAD) received a great deal of attention following the violent protests in Charlottesville in August 2017.… [more]

Different Men of Tomorrow: Superman and Providence

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:17:56 +0000

Stop me if you’ve heard this story. A mild-mannered bespectacled journalist works at an American newspaper attempting to find a story, having to deal with a senior editor, a wise-cracking coworker, and a troublesome, opinionated… [more]

Because I Am the Goddamn Batman: Political Ideologies and Transhumanism in Superhero Comics

KD Evans — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:34:48 +0000

Superheroes give us a way to get at the ideologies at work in transhumanism and politics. The genre of superhero comics is a fantastical take on an often dystopian version of our own real world.… [more]

Alan Moore’s Marvelman, Part 1: From the Ashes of Obscurity…

James Kelly — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:00:01 +0000

Alan Moore brought new life to one of the most unoriginal superheroes. See how Alan Moore utilized Marvelman to explore and critique the Golden Age of Comics. [more]

Larry Nevin Should Never Have Been Taken Seriously, or Why the Super Sons Matter

Benjamin Hall — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 20:20:53 +0000

Super Sons Matter" title="Larry Nevin Should Never Have Been Taken Seriously, or Why the Super Sons Matter" style="float:left;" />DC One Million and Batman Beyond along with many other examples suggest that the concept of legacy characters and superhero parenthood can work. Yes, this ages the characters, but we have been stuck in the… [more]

Remembering and Celebrating Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut

Ian Dawe — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:30:40 +0000

Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut" title="Remembering and Celebrating Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut" style="float:left;" />By wide consensus, the first two Superman films from 1978 and 1980 are considered if not the strongest, at least among the strongest superhero films ever made. Especially the first of the two, directed by… [more]

The Early Superman

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:00:12 +0000

Though I was never a regular reader of Superman comics, his presence was felt. In the Justice League comics and on cartoon shows of the era, Superman was always featured, his powers looming large over… [more]

Mister Mxyzptlk and the Dilemma of Drawing in Five Dimensions

Stephen Sonneveld — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 16:30:56 +0000

A 3-D visualization of Mister Mxyzptlk, courtesy of Mattel. As evidenced by 2017’s “Rebirth” storylines, one of Superman’s more enduring adversaries has proven to be Mister Mxyzptlk, a contemporary entry into trickster god lore. Across… [more]

Doomsday, the 90′s, and Comic Book Innocence

Stephen Sonneveld — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:30:53 +0000

Superman dies in Lois’ arms in the denouement of “Superman” no. 75 (1992) by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding. Source: https://comicbookclog.com/2015/06/05/comic-book-classics-revisited-the-death-of-superman-part-7/ The fall For a brief moment in the autumn of 1992, the Doomsday monster had… [more]

Thoughts on Batman V Superman

Stuart Warren — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:00:13 +0000

Batman V Superman" title="Thoughts on Batman V Superman" style="float:left;" />When I was first introduced to Zack Snyder’s DC universe, with Man of Steel, I was very hopeful for the project given Snyder’s previous track record with comic book films. I’ve heard from the multitudes… [more]

Superheroes: The American Mythology Part I

James Kelly — Sat, 05 Dec 2015 17:00:48 +0000

Beginning in 1938, two simple creators will develop an entire genre of entertainment that will change the world. The humble beginnings of superheroes as pure heroes to guide America through the Great Depression. [more]

Sorting Through Tim Burton’s Promising Wreckage: The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?

Ian Dawe — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 23:00:59 +0000

The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?" title="Sorting Through Tim Burton’s Promising Wreckage: The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?" style="float:left;" />We have all probably heard, even if just in passing, of the great lost Superman film of the 1990s, but probably only rumours of goofy costumes and questionable casting. The recent independent documentary The Death… [more]

Ma and Pa Kent vs Man of Steel

Ian Dawe — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 11:00:37 +0000

Man of Steel" title="Ma and Pa Kent vs Man of Steel" style="float:left;" />Who is Superman, really? That’s one of the more compelling questions about one of the most interesting figures in world culture. (I don’t think of Superman as being a “comic book” character. Since at least… [more]

The Folly of Male Supermasculinity

Stuart Warren — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 11:30:06 +0000

When I discovered comic books I was already in college, but their influence was present in my life far before that. I had seen all the Batman films (Burton and Schumacher’s work) and the venerable… [more]

Weird Worlds: The Minor Mainstream Works of Steve Gerber, Part 2 – Mister Miracle

Tom Miller — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 11:00:25 +0000

Mister Miracle" title="Weird Worlds: The Minor Mainstream Works of Steve Gerber, Part 2 – Mister Miracle" style="float:left;" />Though Jack Kirby’s Mister Miracle ostensibly ran for 6 years (1971-1977), the series produced only 25 issues. Between #18, Kirby’s final issue, and #19, there is a 3 year gap. It is a testament to… [more]

DC Continues to Revamp Superhero Looks

Dom Fonce — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:00:02 +0000

Last month, DC revealed new costumes for beloved characters Superman, Batman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman. This is a continuation of DC’s 2011 the New 52 revamping of its characters and… [more]

Flying Cars, Graphic Novels, and Superman Earth One

Greg Carpenter — Mon, 18 May 2015 11:00:06 +0000

Superman Earth One" title="Flying Cars, Graphic Novels, and Superman Earth One" style="float:left;" />When it comes to predicting the future of the publishing industry, there are two types of people—those who have no idea what is going to happen and those who pretend like they do. Given the… [more]

Out of the Sunday Panels and into WWII: A Look at Superman’s Relationship with the American Working Class

Jesse Cyrus — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 11:00:29 +0000

In 1938, a future symbol of “Truth, Justice, & the American Way” was born, and the personification of these values formed into the character known as Superman. The first conception of superman stands in contrast… [more]

We Don’t Want What We Want: Thoughts on Superman and Movie Trailers

Greg Carpenter — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 11:00:28 +0000

When I sit down to read a comic or watch a movie, I don't know specifically what I want. And I think that's a good thing. [more]

Quintessential Superman: Tom De Haven’s It’s Superman!

Greg Carpenter — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 12:00:17 +0000

It’s Superman!" title="Quintessential Superman: Tom De Haven’s It’s Superman!" style="float:left;" />A few weeks ago, I wrote a column praising Michael Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony. Near the end of that column, I called the Grammy-winning piece one of “the quintessential creative works” about Superman, listing it alongside… [more]

Finding Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas

Stuart Warren — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 17:30:21 +0000

Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas" title="Finding Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas" style="float:left;" />Christmas episodes are generic now in the year of our Lord, two thousand and fourteen, but they are embedded in a larger history of seasonal programing that transcends mediums of all forms. Holiday festivals, derivative… [more]

Superman Goes to the Symphony: Michael Daugherty’s The Metropolis Symphony

Greg Carpenter — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:23 +0000

The Metropolis Symphony" title="Superman Goes to the Symphony: Michael Daugherty’s The Metropolis Symphony" style="float:left;" />One of the old adages about writing says that you should write the thing that scares you—so here goes. For this week’s column, I want to take a look at a piece of classical music. … [more]

Akira Toriyama and the Japanese Superman: Son Goku and Science Fiction

Stuart Warren — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:00:25 +0000

There is a divergence between Eastern and Western fantasy in the modern age that is nascent but hidden beneath cultural barriers. Americans can watch an episode of Dr. Who and enjoy the languishing British empire… [more]

“For the Man Who Has Everything”: The Animated Adaptation

Ian Dawe — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:00:44 +0000

Getting Alan Moore to approve of an adaptation is like… getting Alan Moore to approve of an adaptation. So, it’s very interesting to hear that the 2006 WB Animation adaptation of “For the Man Who… [more]

Truth, Justice, and Ferguson

Anthony Castle — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 11:00:21 +0000

The story of Ferguson, an image of small town USA torn apart, unfolded through the media in increasing complexity. First, there were the tragic reports of a black, unarmed teenager shot six times, twice in… [more]

The Last Temptation of Supe: Christian Overtones in “For the Man Who Has Everything”

Ian Dawe — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 19:59:27 +0000

On those rare occasions when I teach students about superhero comics, one question that always comes up is what defines a “hero”. Is, for example, a hero simply an individual who does heroic things? Or… [more]

Overcoming the Status Quo: Wonder Woman, Superheroes, and the American Criminal Justice System (Part 3)

Ian Boucher — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 11:00:17 +0000

In this three-part series, I explore where superheroes fit into popular conceptions of criminal justice in the United States, and the potential for Wonder Woman to help improve those conceptions. In Part 1, I looked… [more]

Overcoming the Status Quo: Wonder Woman, Superheroes, and the American Criminal Justice System

Ian Boucher — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:00:53 +0000

Why Don’t We Trust Filmmakers?

Cody L. Martin — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:00:34 +0000

Where is the trust? That is the question I asked after the recent flurry of criticisms leveled at Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. It got me thinking about fandom reactions in general when it… [more]

Power Fantasies: Superman, Jeffrey Baldwin and the Worth of a Publishing Brand

Anthony Castle — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Jeffrey Baldwin was powerless. The five year-old had lived, and died, locked in a cold bedroom in the Toronto house where he was left unchecked after being removed from the custody of his parents. In… [more]

As Human as You Want to Be: A Review of Charles Soule’s Swamp Thing: Seeder

Noel Thorne — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:00:51 +0000

Swamp Thing: Seeder" title="As Human as You Want to Be: A Review of Charles Soule’s Swamp Thing: Seeder" style="float:left;" />It’s an obvious pun when the subtitle here is “Seeder”, but Charles Soule’s first Swamp Thing book is such a scattershot of ideas and beginnings that it’s like he’s planting the seeds of larger storylines… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512

Stuart Warren — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:00:55 +0000

The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Action Comics #1 Up for Auction

Ian Dawe — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 18:00:04 +0000

Action Comics #1 Up for Auction" title="Action Comics #1 Up for Auction" style="float:left;" />It’s always news when a copy of Action Comics #1 goes on the auction block, and that’s exactly what happened this past weekend when San Diego based collector John C. Wise put his collection up… [more]

Some Cautious Thoughts on Zach Snyder’s Batman v Superman

Julian Darius — Thu, 22 May 2014 13:00:30 +0000

Batman v Superman" title="Some Cautious Thoughts on Zach Snyder’s Batman v Superman" style="float:left;" />Yesterday, Batman v Superman got a subtitle — Dawn of Justice — and began filming. I wrote about the film in a news story, but I thought I’d complement that with a few brief thoughts,… [more]

Batman v Superman Gets a Full Title, Begins Filming

Julian Darius — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:59:38 +0000

Batman v Superman Gets a Full Title, Begins Filming" title="Batman v Superman Gets a Full Title, Begins Filming" style="float:left;" />It’s official: the Man of Steel sequel co-starring Batman will be titled Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The subtitle clearly suggests that the film will feature the formation of the Justice League — which… [more]

“Nice to Meet You, Big Guy”: The American Superhero Comics of Mark Millar, Part 15

Colin Smith — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 11:00:12 +0000

Continued from last week. November 1998′s Superman Adventures #25 gave Millar one last substantial shot at depicting The Batman. Putting the overwrought misjudgements of the JLA Paradise Lost mini-series behind him, he returned to the conception… [more]

Mark Millar’s Superior: A Loving Tribute to the Super-Hero

Ian Dawe — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 20:00:58 +0000

Superior: A Loving Tribute to the Super-Hero" title="Mark Millar’s Superior: A Loving Tribute to the Super-Hero" style="float:left;" />“After all the deconstruction, Superior was planned as a RECONSTRUCTION of the superhero. A warm-hearted tribute to why we need them.” –Mark Millar, April 15, 2014 As longtime readers of Sequart may notice, I don’t… [more]

The Secret Origin of the JLA, and of “Mark Millar” Too: The American Superhero Comics of Mark Millar, Part 11

Colin Smith — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:00:20 +0000

Continued from last week. It would be another seven months until Morrison and Millar’s next public collaboration on the Batman. In that time, the new JLA title would establish itself as a remarkably successful reboot. Its… [more]

Superhero Accessories: Part Two: Truth, Justice, All That Stuff

Lance Parkin — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:00:55 +0000

…continued from here. DC have long had a problem fitting Superman into the grimmer world the DC Universe has become now its readership mostly consists of adults. It’s clear that senior editors feel the ‘big… [more]

Building an Altar to the Super-Hero Holy Trinity

Mike Greear — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:00:46 +0000

As I was reading Lance Parkin’s Magic Words, a biography of Alan Moore, I looked to my right at the nightstand against my wall and came to the realization that it is, in fact, an altar.… [more]

The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 3

Jason Powell — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:00:38 +0000

Smallville Rewatch, Part 3" title="The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 3" style="float:left;" />The Journey While emphasizing again that this series was not simply a Superman origin, it would be disingenuous to suggest that, at its core, much of the appeal of the series is the dramatic tension… [more]

The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 2

Jason Powell — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:00:22 +0000

Smallville Rewatch, Part 2" title="The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 2" style="float:left;" />Tapping the Mythology One of the complaints that comics fans make about Smallville is that it took hours and hours of television simply to retell “the origin of Superman,” which has been done so much… [more]

“Nice to Meet You, Big Guy!”: The American Superhero Comics of Mark Millar, Part 5

Colin Smith — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 12:00:24 +0000

Continued from last week. Though he’d never again see one of his scripts feature in any of the Batman’s many headlining titles, Millar would return to the character over and over again throughout the Nineties. It’s… [more]

The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 1

Jason Powell — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:00:19 +0000

Smallville Rewatch, Part 1" title="The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 1" style="float:left;" />In early 2013, I decided to finally catch up – via the magic of DVD technology – on a show of which I’d been a huge devotee back in the earliest years of its existence. … [more]

What Batman vs. Superman Could Get Right (And Wrong)

Amy Maynard — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 02:37:49 +0000

Batman vs. Superman Could Get Right (And Wrong)" title="What Batman vs. Superman Could Get Right (And Wrong)" style="float:left;" />Last year when Man of Steel came out, I was reminded of the line uttered by Chastity (Gabrielle Union) in 10 Things I Hate About You: “I know you can be overwhelmed… and you can… [more]

Will We Ever Get a Definitive Superman Film?

Robert McLaughlin — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 12:00:31 +0000

With a character that has 75 years of history there has been many graphical representations of Superman. From Grant Morrison’s description of a Circus strongman to the silver age kiss-curl to the mullet of the… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #12

Cody Walker — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 11:00:28 +0000

Action Comics #12" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #12" style="float:left;" />Captain Comet has invaded Superman’s mind and created a false history that secretly reveals Clark’s desires (and also what most fans would probably want from the hero). Ma and Pa Kent wave their son goodbye… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #11

Cody Walker — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 11:00:19 +0000

Action Comics #11" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #11" style="float:left;" />The construction motif returns on page one of this issue as Metalek attacks Metropolis and destroys a tenement building in the process. Metalek is an artificial intelligence that looks like construction equipment and was first… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #10

Cody Walker — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 11:00:51 +0000

Action Comics #10" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #10" style="float:left;" />After taking an issue off to visit Earth 23 and President Superman, Morrison returns the narrative back to Maxim Zarov (also known as Nimrod the Hunter) who was last seen killing a T-Rex at the… [more]

A Tale of Two Choices—Reflections on Man of Steel

Forrest Helvie — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 11:00:41 +0000

Man of Steel" title="A Tale of Two Choices—Reflections on Man of Steel" style="float:left;" />Warning: If you somehow have managed to not see Man of Steel or had its controversial ending spoiled, turn away. In The Man of Steel from 2013, Superman faces a man that appears to be… [more]

Why the World Needs Superman

Stuart Warren — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 11:00:44 +0000

I look back on the things I’ve written occasionally and discover old parts of me that I can treasure and hold on to nostalgically. This is one of those pieces. What follows is the script… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #9

Cody Walker — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:00:46 +0000

Action Comics #9" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #9" style="float:left;" />After completing the first arc on Action Comics, Morrison spends one issue in the alternate universe of Earth-23 where Superman is not only black, but also the President of the United States. President Superman had… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #8

Cody Walker — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:00:56 +0000

Action Comics #8" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #8" style="float:left;" />The issue begins inside the bottle city of Metropolis as Lex Luthor explains that he has no desire to be rescued by Superman and then tries rationalizing his alliance with the Collector as a plan… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #7

Cody Walker — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:00:45 +0000

Action Comics #7" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #7" style="float:left;" />After a two issue break, Superman is back to battle the Collector of Worlds and save Metropolis. Strapping an oxygen tank to his back, Superman is going to leap into space to reach the Collector… [more]

The Man of Steel Lacks Heart, Brain, Courage

Mike Greear — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:00:40 +0000

The Man of Steel Lacks Heart, Brain, Courage" title="The Man of Steel Lacks Heart, Brain, Courage" style="float:left;" />It’s been two days since I saw Man of Steel and I haven’t stopped talking about it. Wait, let me revise that. It’s been two days since I saw Man of Steel and I haven’t… [more]

Review: Superman Unchained #1

Markisan Naso — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 16:44:55 +0000

Superman Unchained #1" title="Review: Superman Unchained #1" style="float:left;" />Superman Unchained #1 Written by Scott Snyder Art by Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair Letters by Sal Cipriano Published by DC Comics Review by Markisan Naso Rating: 6 (of 10) SPOILERS! When I… [more]

Zack Snyder’s Revisionist The Man of Steel

Julian Darius — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:10 +0000

The Man of Steel" title="Zack Snyder’s Revisionist The Man of Steel" style="float:left;" />The Man of Steel is very much Zack Snyder’s. But that doesn’t mean what we thought it did. (As usual, here there be spoilers.) Prior to the film’s release, super-hero fans had a lot of… [more]

Is Superman Still Relevant in a Postmodern World?

Forrest Helvie — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:00:47 +0000

Superman. The name alone conjures up images of capes flapping in the skies over thriving metropolises, walls exploding as a rock-hard fist punches through them, and criminals quaking in fear before a hulking mountain of… [more]

Deconstructing the Deconstructions: Hyper Drama and Realism in Superman: Secret Identity

Tom Shapira — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:00:51 +0000

Superman: Secret Identity" title="Deconstructing the Deconstructions: Hyper Drama and Realism in Superman: Secret Identity" style="float:left;" />Part of the essence of the superhero genre lies in hyperbole; by this I mean to say that in a superhero “story” (here referring to the output of Marvel, DC and they many succors and… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #6

Cody Walker — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:00:04 +0000

Action Comics #6" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #6" style="float:left;" />The Anti-Superman Army that was teased at the end of the previous issue appears at the beginning of this issue. It appears that the Dealmaker from the first issue (who has popped up a few… [more]

The Last Days of Superman

Paul O'Connor — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:57 +0000

Superman might be the world’s most popular superhero. He’s also among the most difficult to write. Through the years we’ve seen Superman travel through time, endure the heat of the sun, and perform so many… [more]

Jesus Christ Superman

Stuart Warren — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:45 +0000

The irony of Superman in the age of Postmodernism is that our world has no need for saviors. Often I find myself in the middle of arguments where I defend Superman to my peers as… [more]

5 Things I Hope Man of Steel Takes from Superman: Birthright

Mike Greear — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:00:20 +0000

Man of Steel Takes from Superman: Birthright" title="5 Things I Hope Man of Steel Takes from Superman: Birthright" style="float:left;" />Zack Snyder’s new Superman reboot flick, Man of Steel, is a mere two weeks away at this point, and here in New York City, us city folk have been treated to a new Gillette promotional… [more]

Superman’s Rejection of American Exceptionalism

Forrest Helvie — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:00:59 +0000

In February of 1940, Superman ended World War II and prevented the future Cold War altogether through flying around the world by capturing both Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin and delivering them to international authorities… [more]

On “How Superman Would Win the War”

Julian Darius — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:57 +0000

One of the best Superman stories – and probably one of the most important super-hero stories ever told – is also one of the shortest. What’s more, the story didn’t appear in a Superman comic;… [more]

It’s Superman Week at Sequart!

Julian Darius — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 11:00:27 +0000

With Man of Steel debuting later this week, Sequart is proud to announce Superman Week, debuting tomorrow — Monday, 10 June. Superman Week is our third themed week, following on the success of last month’s Star… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #5

Cody Walker — Fri, 31 May 2013 11:00:59 +0000

Action Comics #5" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #5" style="float:left;" />Smack in the middle of the first story arc, the narrative shifts to the past for a tale about the rocket that brought baby Kal-El to Earth. Morrison promised in the supplemental material to issue… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #4

Cody Walker — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:34 +0000

Action Comics #4" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #4" style="float:left;" />While the first three issues of Grant Morrison’s Action Comics could never match up to the perfection of All-Star Superman, the series had established a slow, methodical unveiling of Superman’s mythology in a way that… [more]

1986: The British Invasion, Part 2: Grant Morrison in 1986: Superman & Captain Britain

Peter Sanderson — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:16 +0000

The last installment examined Grant Morrison’s early, partly comedic Batman prose story, “The Stalking,” which was published in the United Kingdom in 1986. In the 1986 British Superman Annual Grant Morrison did another text story,… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #3

Cody Walker — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:00:09 +0000

Action Comics #3" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #3" style="float:left;" />Gene Ha takes over on art duties for the first seven pages of issue #3 in order to show what Krypton was like. The first page of issue #3 depicts Krypton as a colorful utopia… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #2

Cody Walker — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:11 +0000

Action Comics #2" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #2" style="float:left;" />In the supplemental material in the issue, Grant Morrison writes, “Superman is mankind at its best, and Lex Luthor is us at our worst . . . but they’re both us.” It’s a sentiment that… [more]

The Adolescent High Conceptualist: Shameless? Part 5

Colin Smith — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:00:28 +0000

Continued from last week. It would take Millar almost a decade to develop a style that was as controlled and effective as his ideas were consistently intriguing. The first substantial evidence of this would appear… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #1

Cody Walker — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:00:20 +0000

Action Comics #1" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #1" style="float:left;" />On page 1, panel 1, the first dialogue in the comic goes to real estate developer Glen Glenmorgan says, “and it’s a done deal! How about a drink to celebrate this turning point?” to a… [more]

Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics — Introduction

Cody Walker — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:00:15 +0000

Action Comics — Introduction" title="Humanity, Heroism, and Action: Grant Morrison’s Action Comics — Introduction" style="float:left;" />For years now, the problem that all Superman writers must face is how to show the heroism and humanity in the world’s most powerful and recognizable hero. Prior to the New 52, Geoff Johns and… [more]

Shameless? The Super-Hero Comics of Mark Millar: Part 1, An Introduction

Colin Smith — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:00:35 +0000

It’s too good a story not to be treated with suspicion. Asked to recall his first comic by Lee Randall of The Scotsman in 2009, Mark Millar declared that he could remember the matter “exactly”.… [more]

Orson Scott Card, Homophobia, and Superman

Julian Darius — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:44:26 +0000

DC provoked outrage, a few days ago, by hiring Orson Scott Card, sci-fi writer and noted homophobe, to write Superman. The comic in question isn’t one of DC’s current titles. In fact, it’s a new,… [more]

The Death of Printed Press Could Spell Trouble for Superman

Chance Thulin — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:00:46 +0000

It is no secret that printed media has slowly been dying for the past few years; a slow and progressive death in a conflict of textile fulfillment and information efficiency. The ramifications of this digital… [more]

Sitting Down with Superman: Q&A with the Man of Tomorrow

Stuart Warren — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:00:17 +0000

The world wasn’t ready for Superman. For what could be expected when comics were only budding and bursting from the confines of syndicated sequential art, with their pithy quips and political yarns? Fantastic worlds had… [more]

Theology and Bullshit

Jack L. Smith — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:00:40 +0000

To be honest, the end of the world has always scared the shit out of me. To be clear, I’m not referring to the threat of nuclear war or massive global climate change that would… [more]

Bringing Superman Out of the Dark

Mike Greear — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:39 +0000

Last week, I called DC a bunch of tone-deaf morons (or something along those lines) and said that they need to lighten up in their approach to super-hero cinema. This is because they seem to… [more]

Deconstructing Death and Vigilantism: A Dark Knight Eulogy

Stuart Warren — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:00:52 +0000

Death is not welcomed in DC, but occasionally, and fortunately, an opportunity arises to talk about death and its greater significance in the DC timeline. In the introduction to Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader,… [more]

Bromancing: the Extracurricular Partnership and Relationship of Batman and Superman

Nathan Harmon — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:00:30 +0000

The last son of Krypton is alone. Superman is one of a kind (excluding his cousin and clone and other Kryptonian beings that happened to survive). The Dark Knight is a loner. He is an… [more]

The New 52: A Year in Review

Stuart Warren — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 11:00:53 +0000

When I opened Action Comics #1 and saw Superman, I was stunned. It was probably a shared reaction. There Superman was, standing on a guard rail with a malcontent in his arms, a host of… [more]

Young Romance

Mike Greear — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:00:06 +0000

If there’s been one thing on my mind lately, it’s love. Not just how it pertains to personal matters, but just the concept of it in general. For instance, love at first sight. This has… [more]

Roots: Elliot S! Maggin, Alan Moore, Superman & “Last Son Of Krypton”

Colin Smith — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:17:56 +0000

1. Wherever you look, there he is. And if he isn’t there, well, why not? Because even today in 2010, there’s still something distinctly peculiar about any modern-era superhero comic which appears to bear no… [more]

On DC Comics Presents #50, by Mishkin, Cohn, Swan, and Shaffenberger (1982)

Colin Smith — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:00:57 +0000

DC Comics Presents #50, by Mishkin, Cohn, Swan, and Shaffenberger (1982)" title="On DC Comics Presents #50, by Mishkin, Cohn, Swan, and Shaffenberger (1982)" style="float:left;" />Nothing ever ages worse than a typical product of the moment just before a paradigm shift. October 1982’s “When You Wish upon a Planetoid!” shows no sign at all of what was to hit the… [more]

On Adventure Comics #332, by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte (1965)

Colin Smith — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:54 +0000

Adventure Comics #332, by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte (1965)" title="On Adventure Comics #332, by Edmond Hamilton and John Forte (1965)" style="float:left;" />The received wisdom has it that the future world of the Legion Of Super-Heroes was originally an inspiringly optimistic, comfortingly cosy, super-scientific utopia. And there are amateur pundits given to insisting that the Legion will… [more]

Comic Book Dads

Mike Greear — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:47 +0000

Yesterday, my friends Wes and Andrea welcomed into the world their beautiful new daughter, Annabelle Fay. I was there along with members of their family to accompany them on their big day, and even though… [more]

John Carter Vs. Superman

Mike Greear — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:22 +0000

With the recent release of the Disney film John Carter (which may or may not still be in theaters by the time you read this piece, judging by the film’s reviews) it seems pertinent to… [more]

Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman: Science Fiction or Science Fiction Appropriated?

Forrest Helvie — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

All-Star Superman: Science Fiction or Science Fiction Appropriated?" title="Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman: Science Fiction or Science Fiction Appropriated?" style="float:left;" />Like traditional literature, graphic novels and comics approach the science fiction genre in a variety of different ways, and this should come as no surprise given the various approaches to sequential art in the United… [more]

Project Rooftop

Mike Greear — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:05 +0000

If you’re a comic book aficionado and you’re not familiar with the design web site “Project Rooftop,” let me enlighten you (and ruin your afternoon as you spend the next several hours going over the… [more]

Chronicle Reaction

Mike Greear — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:32 +0000

Chronicle Reaction" title="Chronicle Reaction" style="float:left;" />I’ve just returned from watching the new film Chronicle, a superhero found footage movie from director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis. Despite my dislike of the majority of the found footage movies that I’ve… [more]

On Bill Finger and Wayne Boring’s “The Girl in Superman’s Past”

Colin Smith — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:53 +0000

It’s hard to tell at first from looking that the Clark Kent of 1959’s “The Girl In Superman’s Past” is desperately in love. Yet despite the absence of the typical signs of comic-book romantic longing… [more]

Aiming Below the Belt

Mike Greear — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:00:04 +0000

I was speaking to a friend of mine recently who lives primarily in Thailand but has been staying in the U.S. temporarily, and I asked her if she was familiar with Superman. She said yes,… [more]

Moore, Gibbons, and Superman Annual #11: For the Story that Has Everything

Andrew Edwards — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:02 +0000

Superman Annual #11: For the Story that Has Everything" title="Moore, Gibbons, and Superman Annual #11: For the Story that Has Everything" style="float:left;" />Superman Annual #11 is a comic that stands as a classic for all the right reasons. Its main characters are the archetypal centre of the DC Universe, a “holy trinity” of superheroes – Superman, Batman,… [more]

A Man of the Times

David Balan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:00:48 +0000

In the year 1942, America was embroiled in global conflict – she had entered World War II. There was a remarkable upsurge of patriotism in the populace, running rampant through the whole culture. Seeking to… [more]

How to Level a Lumpy Playing Field

Gene Phillips — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:00:45 +0000

In The Linking Myth I stated that I thought that the Jungian approach to understanding the myths in all the stories humans tell proved superior to any linguistic analysis. Or, to put things in a… [more]

On Superman Vs. the Amazing Spiderman

Colin Smith — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:00:56 +0000

Superman Vs. the Amazing Spiderman" title="On Superman Vs. the Amazing Spiderman" style="float:left;" />Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man was the most impossible thing. It simply could not be. It was a category error, a fanboy’s absurd daydream, a conceit to be associated with an alternate Earth where each family… [more]

Put Your Money Where Your Panel Is: On Action Comics #1

David Balan — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:28 +0000

Action Comics #1" title="Put Your Money Where Your Panel Is: On Action Comics #1" style="float:left;" />Action Comics #1 is a simple story with a simple premise – introduce the character Superman, make the readers care about him, and put him in a dangerous test to set up for the next… [more]

Superman Returns Prequel #4: Lois Lane

Julian Darius — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:00:23 +0000

Superman Returns Prequel #4: Lois Lane" title="Superman Returns Prequel #4: Lois Lane" style="float:left;" />Five years ago, around the release of Superman Returns, I began a look at its four-part prequel mini-series, examining how it changed Richard Donner’s original films and what it revealed about Superman’s five years of… [more]