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Getting into comic books can be an intimidating task. While Superman is one of the most recognizable pop-culture icons around, I would bet that the majority of people who know him could not name more than two or three of his villains, or know that pink kryptonite turns Superman gay. Let’s be honest: with a backlog of approximately three thousand comics, numerous mini-series, one-shots, newspaper strips, movies, and more than a few TV shows, it can be tricky for a newcomer to know where to start. I’ve selected five graphic novels which I believe make an ideal introduction to the character.
The idea is not to get you up-to-date on the latest happenings in the DCU (which would be a far more substantial investment of time), but to give you a feel for the character and his appeal--to be newcomer friendly. I’ve selected the books based on quality, readability, modern appeal, and tried to steer clear of stories steeped in ancient continuity.
Without further ado, the list:
1. Superman: Birthright
One of the most recognizable, identifiable elements of Superman is his origin story. Let’s be honest, Superman #53 (volume 1, 1948) is more than a little dated by today’s standards. Birthright is a modern retelling of the Superman origin and it depicts him as a character rather than as a symbol—something desperately needed in his stories. Birthright is a great place to start.
While not canon, All Star Superman takes all the silliest Golden Age stuff and wraps it up in a neat, tongue-in-cheek package that is astonishingly appealing and clever: well worth the read. It also briefly introduces a number of classic elements that will aid recognition in future reading (for example, the Superman Robots, the Phantom Zone, and the Fortress of Solitude).
Sometimes the villain really upstages the hero. A lot of people find Superman unappealing, dopey, and a bit bland. Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, told from the perspective of Superman’s arch nemesis, is a nice way to get a reader thinking about the heavier issues the character addresses. It also does a good job of lending Big Blue a more intimidating, badass persona. This is the book I recommend to die-hard Batman fans that claim Superman is boring or passé by comparison.
As this book benefits from some knowledge of Superman history, I struggled with whether or not it should be included on this list. Ultimately decided it was worth the mention. While having watched Superman II would be sufficient preparation for the plot, it should still be accessible for the complete newbie. Soupey might seem a bit ‘dark and brooding’ than he should and the symbolism is admittedly a bit clumsy, the art and characterization should be more than enough to win over some fans.
While not strictly a Superman comic, he does feature as the prime mover of the book. A well written and surprisingly literary story, Kingdom Come is enjoyable by comic fans and literature fiends alike. As one of the greatest “must read” comics of all time, you can’t go wrong starting here. While even fans of the genera might have trouble identifying all of the esoteric elements, characters, and plot points pulled from decades of comic history, ignorance of these things in no way degrades the experience.
Intentionally left off the list:
Superman for all Seasons -- Though it is a great book that really deserves to be on the list, I thought one origin story was enough. Birthright does the job with a little more suspense and better illustration, though perhaps lacking the same kind of emotional impact.
Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to comment!
-Reckless Enthusiasm
Do I see (with my microscopic vision) a little shoutout in number 3?
ReplyDeleteI have to say, even with my, um, "distaste" for Superman, I totally agree with the list. While I haven't read Birthright yet, I plan to; and the same goes for All Star. LL: Man of Steel is an amazing read and Kingdom Come/ For Tomorrow are a couple of the best books I've ever read.
You, sir, may just have convinced me to *consider* Superman a readable character.
Also, it's worth noting that this blog is becoming one of my favourites. If there were a professional 'Blogger' career, you could use me as a reference. :)
Now. Do one for Batman.
I think a lot of people think Soupey is boring, but I think it is really more an issue of him being hard to write for. When he is written pulpy, it comes off cheesy rather than tongue-in-cheek. When you write him with strong characterization, he either comes off too brooding (a flaw in For Tomorrow) or too boyscout.
ReplyDeleteHis character is deigned to fight the big planetary threats like Brainiac or Darkseid, and you can't really sympathize with that the way you can with a more personal character, like Batman. I think he demands a different kind of writing, maybe one that is a little more distanced from "traditional" comic style, is all.
Batman is next on the list! Stay tuned.