Superman

Jan 27, 2009 Trin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphicnovel

In some ways, what Waid is trying to do with this graphic novel is the exact opposite of what Tom De Haven was attempting in his (prose) novel It’s Superman. That book returns Supes’ origin story back to the 1930s, the era when the character was conceived; Birthright updates it to modern times with things like an internet-savvy Martha Kent and a Lois Lane who’s striving to break stories on The Daily Planet’s blog.

While it did not blow me away quite like It’s Superman, Birthright was still really...more

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Aug 19, 2007 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphicnovels

Superman: Birthright is one of these slow burns that have become so popular with origin stories these days… the actual Superman costume doesn’t appear until around 50 pages in, which for some, I think, will be a dealbreaker as to whether or not they enjoy the collection as a whole. I don’t have a problem with this kind of decompressed storytelling so long as its done well... my problem is that it's rarely done well. I don't read a ton of genre comics lately, but those that i do are practically p...more Superman: Birthright is one of these slow burns that have become so popular with origin stories these days… the actual Superman costume doesn’t appear until around 50 pages in, which for some, I think, will be a dealbreaker as to whether or not they enjoy the collection as a whole. I don’t have a problem with this kind of decompressed storytelling so long as its done well... my problem is that it's rarely done well. I don't read a ton of genre comics lately, but those that i do are practically paralyzed by this problem. I'll have been reading Daredevil for 3 months before i realize that the creative team hasn't actually had Daredevil appear in the book for the length of a season in nature.

Waid's walking a fine line here, but he succeeds far more than he fails. For example, the first issue of the series details Clark Kent’s globe trotting reporter days in South Africa and deals heavily with the political unrest of that country. Not your typical “Superman vs. Brainiac” throwdown, but it provides so much to the overarching story- Superman’s sense of fairness and justice, an explanation as to why he does what he does, an indication of his reasoning behind using the “S” on his chest. Waid takes what I’m sure some readers would find a hard-to-approach subject and blends it seamlessly with the character. It helps not only to make Superman more current, but also to diversify him a bit.

The book seems heavily influenced by the WB series Smallville which I can’t say that I watch with any degree of regularity, but one of the big attractions of the show from what I hear is the relationship between Lex Luthor and Clark Kent. This might provide for some excellent TV, but it wreaks havoc with the current continuity wherein Clark and Lex didn’t meet until Superman appears in Metropolis. Incidentally, the Clark/Lex dynamic WAS present in the Silver Age books, making my point again in favoring those stories over the new ones, but i digress for now.

Waid comes up with a wonderful way of shoehorning a Lex/Clark friendship into the book without making it seemed forced or obvious. The Lex Luthor scenes in Birthright are some of the strongest I’ve ever seen with the character, and really reinforce his status as a bad, bad person rather than a corrupt businessman. In the end, I think this aspect of Birthright strikes exactly the right balance- people who are fans of Smallville or the old Superman continuity can be happy, and those folks who like Byrne’s revamp of the Superman mythos can ignore the relationship with no damage done to Byrne’s choices, which were sound and still make a kind of sense even today.

I’ve said very little about the art. Leinil Francis Yu is a name that I haven’t encountered much… he did a run on Wolverine while I was working in a store that sold comic books that I thought was pretty good, but I haven’t seen much else by the guy. He’s not a traditional choice for Superman, but in this case, non-traditional is a good thing. His style reminds me at times of Jim Lee’s and Mike Mignola’s mixed together. He does some wonderful fight scenes toward the end of the book. I did think that his style wasn’t quite suited for some of the quieter down scenes toward the beginning of the story, especially the Smallville sections (which, to be honest, occasionally dragged the book down a bit).

Birthright fits right in with many of the Superman classics, and i can't recommend it enough. It's out in hardcover right now and you can probably snag it for about $25 from most online retail outlets. If that's still too rich for your blood, wait a few months- i'm getting the feeling that this is going to be an "evergreen" trade paperback, which pretty much means it will always be in print... in both hard and the eventual softcover editions.

Now if someone would only work this hard to make the regular monthly titles this good.(less)

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May 15, 2013 Ali M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of Mark Waid's recent work on Daredevil, and someone who's just fond of Superman in general, I figured it was high time I checked out Birthright – Waid's modern retelling of the infamous Superman origin story. It was just as solid as I expected. Mark's writing fits the character, and the way he tweaks the pillars of the canon to fit the world today (e.g. The Daily Planet being more of a global, realtime, online news network instead of just a print newspaper) feel logical and seamless. T...more

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Apr 14, 2013 CuriousLibrarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I really loved this book. My father has always been a major Superman fan, so I saw a lot of Superman stuff growing up. Superman as portrayed in this book reminded me quite a bit of the old TV shows from my father's childhood that we watched endlessly on VHS during my own. And I haven't seen that iteration of Superman in a long time.

This book is very much an exploration of the relationships in Clark's life. Coming into manhood, relating to the Kents, his feelings about his past both here on Eart...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a perfect introduction to Superman, because it gave me all the juicy background info I so crave. Major comics like this can seem overwhelming, considering their history dates back to the 30’s. As a newcomer, I was able to jump in and follow along with little confusion. Diehard fans might have known what to expect while reading, but my lack of knowledge just made things more surprising and interesting.
That said, I have two issues with this series, which prevented me from clicking that fo...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

This got 5 stars from me because I generally just don't care about Superman. Thus, like with the novel be Tom DeHaan, "It's Superman!" when a Superman story can interest me to a major degree, it's impressive. Of course, it's hard to tell that from what I've reviewed, but to be fair, All-Star Superman is also widely regarded as a masterpiece of Superman stories.

Birthright does a new origin story and yet isn't boring. The updated Daily Planet, the Smallville-esque way of incorporating Lex into Cla...more

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Sep 10, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again a DC reboot attempt to modernize The origin of Superman, bringing him into the modern era of The computer and email. His adventures with a Nelson Mandela-like leader in Africa lead him to recognize the need for a symbol for people to trust. He eschews masks and says people tend to distrust those who wear them.

At the heart of the story is Clark's quest for his own identity. He adopts the mild mannered persona in order to Create a difference between himself and his fancy clad alter ego...more

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Oct 17, 2009 jjmontreuil rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-superman-trinity, comics-gns

The second-best Superman comic, after Grant Morrison's All-Star version, and in many respects a better choice for readers disinterested in the Superman perceived as old-fashioned and associated with decades of impenetrable (& frequently nonsensical) continuity. Birthright is a sleek, smart update, paying due respect to the important tropes without being strangled by them.

Waid's writing deftly handles the cast, with standouts being his sympathetic depiction of Lex Luthor and his "special-nee...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Wendy B rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: school-books, comics-manga

I'm trying really hard to raise this review to three stars, but I can't. I just don't like Superman and for all of Birthright's efforts to make the kryptonian more human, I still don't like him. So be prepared for a fully biased character unappreciation post, thinly disguised as a review!

This is a retelling of Superman's origin story, updated to suit our modern times. It opens with the destruction of Krypton and baby Kal'El's parents' difficult decision to risk shipping him off to who knows wher...more I'm trying really hard to raise this review to three stars, but I can't. I just don't like Superman and for all of Birthright's efforts to make the kryptonian more human, I still don't like him. So be prepared for a fully biased character unappreciation post, thinly disguised as a review!

This is a retelling of Superman's origin story, updated to suit our modern times. It opens with the destruction of Krypton and baby Kal'El's parents' difficult decision to risk shipping him off to who knows where. Move on to Clark Kent in Africa reporting on the violent conflict between two neighbouring tribes. Clark frequently but secretly uses his powers to protect Kobe Asuru, the Ghuri tribe's leader. He ultimately fails to protect the man, but succeeds in saving his legacy when he reveals himself to fight the opressers. He comes to understand that his purpose, to do good and be a good man by giving his all, as taught by his parents, is limited by the need to keep his heritage a secret. When he returns to the Kent farm in Smallville, he decides that its time to take up his birthright - the "S" symbol and whatever it means. With the help of internet savvy Martha Kent, he puts together his costume as well as his disguise as the mild-mannered reporter - much to Jonathan Kent's disappointment.

Clark's motivations are somewhat questionable. Is he saving the world because he cares about it and wants to be the good man his parents raised him to be? Or because he gets a thrill from it? Either or both is fine, but I'd rather the book have allowed him to figure that out and let him be more than just the proverbial boy scout. A friend and I had a discussion comparing Superman to Captain America and we concluded that Cap was a better "boy scout" because he did good because that was who he was and he empowered and encouraged people to do the same. Superman has always seemed to do the right thing basically because he was taught to and has the power to do so. However, Clark did show a lot of anger and even hatred in the scenes when he was confronting bad guys. It implied that there was an edge that Clark could step over.

Otherwise, there just wasn't enough of a personality defined, beyond the one he and Martha formulate for his mild-mannered reporter role. This is one of the two places where Superman fails for me: he really has no personality beyond the boy scout. Reason number two is the fact that he is pretty much a god in human form and he does not relate to me in any way. I have similar issues with Wonder Woman. Sure she's a female and has to deal with sexism, but she's also invulnerable and hangs out with gods and is made from clay. Does she even menstruate? How do I truly relate to her? Maybe it's because I started with Marvel first, but I just have never been able to get into these two iconic DC characters because I could not relate to them in any way. They are above humanity, no matter how much they try to blend into it with their concocted alter egos. (Batman is similar, but perhaps his humanity makes me give him a pass.) Meanwhile, in spite of the out of this world powers the X-Men have, Marvel has always maintained their humanity as something readers can completely relate to.

But I digress.

I read this for the Gender through Comic Books course, so I will touch briefly on some issues related to that. As Superman, Clark Kent is supposedly the epitome of manly manliness. In physical form, Leinel Francis Yu's art certainly maintains that image, often making him larger than life, but we did get a few moments of Superman showing non-kryptonite induced weakness, such his sappy resignation letter where he felt he'd failed to do the good he intended. Waid even allows Superman to cry, which, I understand, has been a cause for contention among fans. Real men don't cry! I did appreciate this attempt to allow Superman to have and openly express sadness, loneliness and loss.

In the female corner, we have Lois Lane, the feisty, stubborn reporter. I'm not sure if she's changed much in her personification. I've always known her to be this way and appreciated her depiction here, even if it seemed to be the standard for her. She remains a strong, independent female character, but I like that her dominant traits aren't associated with being a "bitch." She is, first and foremost, a reporter intent on getting her story and a person who is unwilling to let bullies get away with anything.

Plot-wise, I really did not enjoy the forced connections between Clark and Lex. I understand that in Smallville , Clark and Lex had a relationship. That is brought up here, but then I'm forced to believe that, on top of everyone's inability to see the similarities between Clark and Superman, Lex, his friend, has some how completely excised everything about Smallville from his memory, including his friendship with Clark. Lex has, however, been working diligently with the kryptonian information and materials he found and uses it to bring down Superman, for whom he has a deep, deep hatred. Why? Well, because. He sets about to discredit Superman and his motives, culminating in an elaborate hoax involving a kryptonian "invasion," but the people see through it and fight at Superman's side.

Frankly, I could have done without this completely. I understand that Lex is supposed to be a big part of Clark's life, but I really did not enjoy this depiction. It demeaned Lex's intelligence and just made him come off as crazy with undefined jealousy. Oh and somewhere in there, Clark got a brief insight into who his birth family was and why they sent him away. This was also extremely disappointing because, with this supposedly being about Clark wanting to embrace his birthright, he is the only person who didn't put any effort into researching his origins, even when Lex started broadcasting images from Krypton. Excellent investigating reporting there, Clark.(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 Brad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc, comic-books, graphic-novel, great-art

There is a little over a decade of comic book writing I need to catch up on. I loved comics and collected religiously from my early teens to my mid-twenties, then I drifted away from comics for a long time. Only now, now that my kids are discovering comics, have I found my way back to this world I love so deeply, and now that I am back in comic book land, I get to come to fantastic works I missed out on the first time around. Enter Superman: Birthright.

With the possible exceptions of Batman, Spi...more There is a little over a decade of comic book writing I need to catch up on. I loved comics and collected religiously from my early teens to my mid-twenties, then I drifted away from comics for a long time. Only now, now that my kids are discovering comics, have I found my way back to this world I love so deeply, and now that I am back in comic book land, I get to come to fantastic works I missed out on the first time around. Enter Superman: Birthright.

With the possible exceptions of Batman, Spider-Man and the Hulk, Superman has the most well known origin story. Even those who've never read a comic or seen a superhero movie are likely to know the origin of Superman. They know he is the last son of Krypton (even if they've never heard of Jor-el). They know he was adopted by a childless farming couple in the American prairies (even if they don't know it's in Smallville, Iowa). They know that he goes to the big city and hides his alien identity behind a pair of glasses and a bumbling demeanour (even if they don't know he is a jornalist named Clark Kent and that the city is Metropolis). They know he is the most powerful being on Earth.

We all know these things because it has been told and retold countless times, in comics, in cartoons, in multiple movies, in multiple television shows, in dime-store novels; we know these things because they have become the target of satire or criticism or celebration in sit-coms, comedies, plays, academic theses and even literary works.

So with that level of cultural saturation -- a saturation that goes well beyond the comic nerd sphere of influence -- how in the Multiverse can anything new be brought to the generative myth of Superman? Much to my surprise, very easily and with excellence.

The key is in the recognition, which has since become an integral part of Superman's existence, that no one on Earth would be too pleased with a sublimely powerful, indestructible alien wandering around doing good deeds. Superman / Clark Kent / Kal-el is simply not welcome around these parts. No matter how much good he does, he can be either a potential enemy to us all or an unwelcome deus ex machina who can only make our decisions -- even our destructive decisions -- meaningless because he has the potential to correct them and save us, against our will, from ourselves.

It seems like a small thing, perhaps, but it is far removed from the dazzling Superman, the perfectly good and beloved Superman, the completely accepted Superman, who existed from his creation to the Christopher Reeve films and beyond. He was the Superman that only the "bad guys" would fear because if you were a good guy you'd have nothing to fear from the Last Son of Krypton. But that's not the world we live in now. We live in a world of chronic xenophobia, paranoia and insecurity, and there is nothing secure about a super-alien who can do damn near anything.

In Birthright, Mark Waid recognizes the truth about Superman's near omnipotence, and he expresses it through the two most important human men in Superman's life: Pa Kent and Lex Luthor. The former tries to warn Superman of humanity's fears and convince his son to stay hidden and avoid conflict. The latter embodies humanity's paranoia, only ramped up to the levels that only a mad ultra-genius could attain, putting Luthor in a position to make a power grab using the best possible tool -- Superman himself.

Details of Luthor's power grab aside, Pa winds up being correct, and the world is not happy about the rise of Superman, even less so when Lex Luthor's plans come to fruition, and nothing Superman does to thwart Luthor's plans for domination can overcome the damage done to his own trustworthiness at the hands of his greatest enemy (a man/boy with whom Clark Kent was once a friend).

It's powerful, it's refreshing, and it leads seamlessly into this summer's newest expression of the Superman origin in the Man of Steel. We've heard Kevin Costner's Pa telling Clark that maybe he should have let others die to remain hidden. Some have been appalled by that idea, but the idea was Waid's and for a legion of comic book fans who prefer to have their superheroes in a world like our own, it is an embracing of verisimilitude that will make Superman relevant once again. And no matter how good the movie is, Birthright already exists and has done the job for nerds everywhere.

Yep ... we'll always have Birthright, but wouldn't it be wonderful if Man of Steel was excellent too?.(less)

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Apr 05, 2012 David Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superman

So I was looking for a definitive modern origin story for Superman, something akin to Batman Year One. I pick this one up, and come to find out, it's no longer considered canon. Whatever, DC. Your canon is screwy as all get out.

The first couple of issues are different. They follow a pre-Supes Clark in Africa where he wrestles lions, races zebras, and helps minority tribe become politically viable. It may just my dumb liberal guilt, but I'm a little uneasy with a super-powered white boy solving...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Brandon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This sat on my shelf for quite awhile. I started it a few times but always got distracted by something else. This weekend, I finally took some time to not just read it but really soak in the entire story.

Waid and Yu take on the not-so-enviable task of retelling Superman's origin for the millionth time while updating it for a modern audience. The story clicks so well because the common complaint most people make when Superman comes up is that he's not relatable, and here Waid and Yu make him so.

O...more This sat on my shelf for quite awhile. I started it a few times but always got distracted by something else. This weekend, I finally took some time to not just read it but really soak in the entire story.

Waid and Yu take on the not-so-enviable task of retelling Superman's origin for the millionth time while updating it for a modern audience. The story clicks so well because the common complaint most people make when Superman comes up is that he's not relatable, and here Waid and Yu make him so.

Over the weekend, I read the Superman 2000 proposal for the first time. Back in 1998, writers Mark Waid, Grant Morrison, and Mark Millar, along with editor Tom Peyer, submitted a 21 page proposal in an effort to usher in a new era for the Man of Steel. Much of the 1990's saw Superman become increasingly marginalized in his own series of books: stories tended to focus on Clark Kent, Lois Lane and the Daily Planet and Metropolis supporting cast instead of the far more interesting idea of a powerful alien that can fly and shoot lasers out of his eyes. The group wished to make Superman larger than life, increasing his power, re-introducing the love triangle between him, Lois and Clark, and shifting Lex Luthor from evil businessman back to scary mad scientist. Unfortunately, DC got cold feet and rejected the proposal.

It wasn't until a few years later that Waid and Morrison got their own shot at writing the Man of Steel, while Millar has yet to tackle him beyond an Elseworlds tale or two. Morrison is responsible for All Star Superman, a twelve issue series that serves as a beautiful send-off and final story, where here Waid writes a terrific origin that streamlines the beginning of Clark Kent's rise to becoming Superman without seeming like it's trying to do that.

The proposal also details how the writers would approach the idea of continuity and how to make all of the past stories "fit" with the rest of the DC universe and the recent past of Superman comics. There's a great line where instead of using the tired trope of a "cosmic reset button" as DC has been wont to do before, they decide to adopt a policy of "include and transcend." It's that policy that makes both All Star Superman and Birthright work. There are so many wacky, awesome, situations that can only happen in comics things that Superman has been known for that writers abandoned throughout the late 80s until the early 2000s in favor of gritty, dark, "realistic" approaches to the characters that comics stopped feeling fun. Meanwhile, both Marvel and DC wonder why kids have stopped reading comics despite the fact that their properties are actually more popular than they've ever been.

Birthright realizes Superman as the person Ma and Pa Kent raised. Sure he thinks of himself as Clark Kent underneath it all and during those first 18 years of his life before he goes out to explore the world on his own, but Superman is who he is, a man with the desire to be as good as his immense power allows him to be. While the overall story demonstrates how lonely being Superman is, there are several little nuances that get to the heart of what it must feel like to be him. His vision allows him to see into all sorts of different spectrums, including the aura each living thing gives off that disappears when they die. As a corollary to that idea, Superman is a vegetarian. And I just love that because it makes so much sense. How could a guy that works to save as many living beings as he possibly can ever slaughter one for food when it's possible that he doesn't even need food?

This is a great collection and worth anyone's time who has a passing fascination with the Man of Tomorrow because, ultimately, Superman represents all that is good and decent about humanity, and who wouldn't want to experience that?(less)

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May 05, 2013 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I just read Superman: Birthright for the first time. It is the new origin story of the Man of Steel. As I wrote previously, I am new to graphic novels. I know the basic story of Superman, and from what I understand it is not much different, but it is has been modernized. Small details bring it up to date. Clark Kent works for a newspaper which, as we know, is becoming obsolete in our instant media society. When Clark went to work for the Daily Planet, there was discussion of their online news re...more I just read Superman: Birthright for the first time. It is the new origin story of the Man of Steel. As I wrote previously, I am new to graphic novels. I know the basic story of Superman, and from what I understand it is not much different, but it is has been modernized. Small details bring it up to date. Clark Kent works for a newspaper which, as we know, is becoming obsolete in our instant media society. When Clark went to work for the Daily Planet, there was discussion of their online news reporting. It is just a small detail, but one example of the modernized storyline.

The new movie, Man of Steel, is based on this new version. I really understand why the story takes the point of view it does. In this version of Superman’s introduction to humans, we are afraid of him. I know what you’re thinking, he’s Superman, why be afraid of him? Well, if we had never heard of this hero and a stranger showed up who could perform these amazing feats (flying, immunity to gun fire and lasers from his eyes!) it would be understandably terrifying.

Clark’s human father has been afraid for the world to find out the truth about his son. He knows as a people, we are afraid of what we don’t understand, of what’s different. There’s also a lot of debate today about whether there is life outside of Earth. Having undeniable proof of that could cause any number of problems. This could shake the core beliefs of so many people. It could cause panic, riots or worse from a society not yet ready for that reality.

I don’t think the credits for the movie listed Lex Luthor, but he plays an important role in the book. We also learn about the history and relationship of the young Clark and Lex. This helps us understand how and why the young Lex becomes the maniacal man he is today.

The story has some real emotion. It is excruciating for his Kryptonian parents to say goodbye to their only child. Not knowing what kind of life he will have so far away, knowing that his differences will isolate him from the people of Earth, but sadly recognizing this as his only chance. We see the conversation in which Clark explains to his human father that he is the man he is because of him. We feel the longing Clark has to learn the truth of his past. Where is he from? Where are his birthparents? Why was he sent to Earth? We understand the fear of Ma and Pa Kent when they watch their son grow up, always wondering when his other parents will come for him, and knowing they would be unable to stop them. This is really great story telling. This first installment (originally in 12 parts) of the Big Blue has a really touching ending. I am looking forward to reading his next adventure!

As far as the art, I did not like it for the telling of Superman. I did not think I liked it at all, but when I looked at some of the pictures in and of themselves I enjoyed many of them. There are numerous sketches that are beautifully done, however, throughout the book several illustrations of people’s faces were kind of creepy. At the beginning of the book when Kal-El’s parents are sending him to Earth, some of the drawings of little baby Kal were quite hideous (one with his iconic curl was cute). It was one of the ugliest baby faces I’ve seen. Many times Clark Kent had some buck tooth thing going on. I know he acts a bit dorky as his cover, but that was way too much. I guess I have a specific image of the characters and many of the styles in the novels just don’t match up.
(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Adam Luptak rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Superman: Birthright, Mark Waid explores the origin of Superman - not simply his exodus from his dying homeworld, but instead his decision to put on a suit and use his abilities to help people. The book strives to bring the origin into a modern setting, doing a remarkably good job: while there is a little bit of "look, we're using the Internet in the comics," having Clark chatting with Martha over instant messenger is a great way to externalize his inner struggles and crises of confidence, an...more

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Jan 17, 2009 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

Hands down the best Superman story I've ever read. This series cum graphic novel beautifully captures the complexities that can exist in a stalwart character like Superman, while still having fun with the standards of his mythos (primarily his relationship with his parents, his friend vs. foe constantly changing history with Lex Luthor, his nerdiness as Clark Kent, etc.). There's a lot to Superman as a pop culture icon and as a character, and in this reboot of the comic, Mark Waid and artist Lei...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Zach Danielson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, superhero, superman, dc-multiverse

This is an updated retelling of Superman's origin for modern readers, and it does an excellent job of establishing this iconic character as both the farmboy from Kansas and the last son of Krypton. The plot is little different—I'm not sure where (or if) this fits into existing continuity—but everything fits with the essence of the Superman story.

It's been a while since I read Superman for All Seasons, but this might be even better. Both succeed because they make the "big blue boy scout" accessib...more

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May 29, 2011 Gregory Gay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: superhero, graphic-novel, read-in-2011, dc

I don't tend to read many Superman stories. Barring the sheer insanity of the Silver Age, the character is just too perfect/goodie-two-shoes/etc to interest me.

Still, I have a soft spot for stories that really dive into his mind, that get at the heart of WHY he is such a farmboy. In that light, this alternate retelling of Superman's origin does a pretty good job.

It's a modernized version of the classic origin story, much in the vein of Smallville (except much, much better), where Superman real...more

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Jun 18, 2012 M rated it 3 of 5 stars

The origin of Superman seems to get polished off every few years. While the simple four-panel explanation from All-Star Superman rings truest to my comic-trained senses, I give Mark Waid kudos for his modernization. After a troubling tour of Africa, young Clark Kent decides to adopt a more forceful persona and truly accomplish something in the world with his abilities. Setting out for Metropolis, the orphaned alien must contend with former friend Lex Luthor as well as questions about his alien o...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Sean Kottke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, 2013

A super origin story that relocates one of the 20th century's most well-known sagas in the 21st century, like New 52 nearly a decade before New 52. It plays the "Smallville" game more cleanly than "Smallville." Lex Luthor is more mad scientist and less charismatic genius than I like, but the theme and variations on father/son dynamics and preservation of the core elements of the Superman story are quite appealing. I love the bit where Clark Kent changes behind a billboard for a cell phone compan...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Marisha Rodeback rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit-1-12

This graphic novel, "The Origin of the Man of Steel" tells the story of Clark Kent's coming to Superman. There is a back history of how Ka'El was discovered and was welcomed into the Kent family. Also, in this version Lex Luther and Clark Kent were neighbors, classmates, and friends, even though Lex was the new kid and a little odd. It describes their falling out and Lex's voyage to villainy. Kent is an international reporter and gets involved with some political dissension in Africa. He tries t...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Jake rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, dc-comics

This was a really good book. There are basically two parts: The beginnings of Clark moving to Metropolis and becoming Superman, and how Lex Luthor became the man he is today.

I liked the experiments Clark had to conduct with being a superhero. And there's one scene where he's in Africa and he's wrestling with a lion. I don't know, I like little things like that.

At first, I was confused as to why Mark Waid put that thing with the African tribes in here at all, bt now I see that it has to do with i...more

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May 27, 2011 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics, graphic-novels, read-in-2011, get-for-dave

This was what I was hoping for from Superman for All Seasons, but didn't quite get. One reason Birthright was such a good retelling of Superman's origin, was that it made his story much more modern and relevant. And it did this without changing the core of his story or personality.
Johnathan and Martha Kent helping Clark come up with his disguise was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book! Also, you can really see why Clark falls so hard for Lois in this one. Awwww! I'm such a sucker fo...more

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Aug 05, 2009 Bria rated it 4 of 5 stars

It never really occurred to me to be all that interested in Superman, because I never knew before this that it could be at all believable.

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Jan 15, 2009 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Here's the thing: I want to love Superman. I've always wanted to love Superman. On paper, he's everything I love in a character: a big, blue, slightly square Boy Scout trying his best to do what's right. Those have always been my favorite characters. But the few Superman books I've read have failed to capture my interest or attention, and I began to worry I'd never find the proper hook into the character.

Then I read Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright.

I don't have to describe this book. It's essent...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Craig rated it 3 of 5 stars

This started out really strong, with Clark Kent in Africa, interacting with a charismatic rebel leader. If this had been developed further, it might have really turned into something special. As it is, it's yet another re-imagining of Superman's origin and too much time is spent with the egotistical Lex Luthor and his petty attempts to make Superman look bad so he can swoop in and save Metropolis from the imagined threat. How many times has that basic story been re-used? The artwork by Leinil Yu...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Ketan Shah added it

Mark Waid's writing shines in this exploration of what made Clark Kent decide to be Superman.A strong character driven story with great dialogue. He even intelligently addresses the idea of a pair of glasses being Superman's only disguise.Leon Francis Yu's art perfectly complements the writing.His ability to draw real people like Clark's parents as well as big fight sequences really makes this a joy to read.The first chapter,set in Africa was particularly impressive.And Clarks relationship with...more

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Sep 07, 2010 Banah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, owned

My absolute favorite Superman story, and the first that ever made me like him. This series reinforces the "Clark Kent is real, Superman is not" identity and humanizes the Man of Steel.

It's a retelling of Superman's origin that is closer to Smallville canon than the original Golden Age story, with a Lex Luthor who lived in Smallville and befriended Clark Kent. The story spans from Clark's arrival on earth to his early adventures in Metropolis.

While Leinil Francis Yu's art is an acquired taste t...more

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Oct 24, 2009 John rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

Good story, superb artwork, interesting and new take on how Clark Kent decides to accept the awesome responsibility of earth's protector, the roadblocks he faces in the journey, and how he finally earns the trust and confidence of humanity. We also find some interesting notes on the reason for Superman's flamboyant costume; it was a calculated thing; meant to reassure us that he wasn't trying to flummox us. Anyway, for those of you who have a Superman fetish like I do, even at age 56, grab the b...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Abhinav rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-read

You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/...

Shadowhawk reviews Mark Waid’s 2003 ground-breaking origin story of the Man of Steel.

“A fascinating story about relationships, consequences, and identity that also helps to establish Superman as more than an American hero.” ~The Founding Fields

I don’t often re-read graphic novels. In fact, I rarely do that at all. But, there are some stories that are worth visiting again and again, which is where Mar...more You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/...

Shadowhawk reviews Mark Waid’s 2003 ground-breaking origin story of the Man of Steel.

“A fascinating story about relationships, consequences, and identity that also helps to establish Superman as more than an American hero.” ~The Founding Fields

I don’t often re-read graphic novels. In fact, I rarely do that at all. But, there are some stories that are worth visiting again and again, which is where Mark Waid’s 12-issue origin story about Superman comes in. One of the other reasons I revisited this story was because I’m taking an online comics course through Ball State University – Gender Through Comics – and this graphic novel was part of our week 2 reading. It has been a really fun course so far (week 4 starts tomorrow), and I’ve really enjoyed some of the discussions that we’ve had till now, covering everything from comic book covers to portrayal of women in the various comics: Strangers in Paradise, the new Captain Marvel, Birthright, Ms. Marvel #1s from 1977 and 2006, and so on.

The course has been extremely fun and the one thing I’ve really enjoyed coming out of this are the interviews with the writers and editors. Interviewees so far have included Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise and Rachel Rising), Mark Waid (Daredevil, and Birthright, and Irredeemables), and then Kelly Sue DeConnick and her editors on the current Captain Marvel book, Stephen Wacker and Sana Amanat. If ever there was a chance to get into the minds of these creators about the work they do, this is it. While I haven’t enjoyed DeConnick’s Captain Marvel, her insights into the character and her beliefs regarding the same have been very much an eye-opener. The same applies to what Wacker and Amanat said during the interview. This coming week the guest is Gail Simone and for that I’m really excited, since she’s currently one of my top favourite comics writers, with all the work she’s done so far on Batgirl for New 52, and her Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle graphic novel. Fun times!

Anyway, moving on, Superman: Birthright is a very unique book. For one, it contains a very big retelling of the Superman origin mythos, in that the core idea behind the hero is not one borne out of Clark’s daily struggles in Smallville (or even Metropolis), but from his experiences of a civil war in a war-torn African nation. Second, there are some heretofore unmentioned powers and abilities that were a surprise to me. Third, this is the only origin story I know of where Lex Luthor and Clark Kent knew each others as kids in Smallville, the other source being the hit TV show starring Tom Welling which I also loved and enjoyed. Fourth, the second half of the book is taken up with how Luthor is able to manipulate Superman’s inherited Kryptonian legacy and turn it against him, a concept that came up repeatedly in Smallville, but not in any other story as far as I can tell. Admittedly, I’m not conversant with a lot of the lore about the character over the 75 years of his existence, but I don’t think it has come up so starkly before, or so forcefully either. And fifth, this is a Superman story that sticks to the modern times, that feels relevant to a modern audience because of how Mark Waid shows the world and the characters catching up to modern technology: Superman able to avoid electromagnetic transmissions because he can see them, Lois Lane blogs on the Daily Planet’s site, Martha Kent and Clark exchange regular emails, and so on.

Another reason that this book is so good is because it goes back to the core elements of what the character and his world have come to mean to readers over the last 75 years. Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, the Kents, and Lex Luthor are all here. Together, they represent the core cast of Superman characters, and Mark Waid shows them all off in the story to a great degree. Every character does something meaningful and relevant, with their relationship to Clark Kent and Superman also being explored throughout. This is the kind of writing I expected and wanted out of the current New 52 version of Superman, and this is precisely what has been missing from it.

Let me clarify. Superman is just one side of a character with a double identity. Clark Kent is just as important and significant in the mythos as much as Superman is. Without one, the other is nothing. In Birthright, Mark Waid gives as much importance to the Clark Kent persona as he does to the Superman one. In fact, it is not up until Clark is in Metropolis and rescues Jimmy and Lois from a damaged news helicopter that we even see the red-and-blue caped costume, and this is happens in the middle of issue 4. Until then, it is very much like Smallville: Clark saves people while he is himself, without any thought towards hiding who he is. His experiences in Africa lead him to the conclusion that the only way he can fit in normally with other people is if they don’t know the truth about him, and to safeguard that truth, he needs to hide who is, and become someone else: Clark Kent the lion-wrestling global journalist becomes Clark Kent the mild-mannered, goof-up reporter for Daily Planet.

The way that Mark Waid builds up the character through those first three issues is remarkable, and since he is focusing only on Clark and his adoptive parents, he is able to give some real page-time towards making Clark Kent into a real character with motivations and beliefs.(less)

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Sep 29, 2008 Nicholas rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good story that resonates with the Superman Returns film. All of the adventure and fun of a superman story are present, but I just didn't like the characterization very much. Clark seems a little cocky and arrogant. Confident in his powers and his ability to just change the world. To me, Superman is by nature a brooding and solitary figure who is struggling just to fit in. I didn't like all the side-panel smirks he was giving people who said ironic things about his identity every four or five...more

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