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Oct 29, 2010 Issue #33 - Fall 2010 - Interpol By Mark Redfern

The hook of Superman: Earth One is that although both Clark Kent’s teenage adventures in his hometown of Smallville and his early years as Superman in Metropolis have been well chronicled, the time period between those two has been left largely unexplored. So in Earth One, Clark is a 21-year-old who comes to Metropolis unsure of his purpose. He flirts between various careers, using his powers to easily join both a professional football and baseball team and his advanced brain to work as a research scientist at a big corporation. Clark is reluctant to embrace the great responsibility that comes with his great powers, nor is he overeager to work for a cash-strapped Daily Planet. But catastrophic events force Clark to confront both his alien origins and his Super destiny.

Superman: Earth One is the first in a planned new series of graphic novels penned by top writers that exist in their own universe outside of DC’s regular continuity, allowing the writers more freedom (similar to Marvel’s Ultimate universe). Writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis do present a rarely seen side of The Man of Steel, a Clark Kent at first reluctant to use his powers for anything other than personal gain. Eventually it builds up to the familiar tropes of Clark meeting Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Perry White for the first time, and Superman: Earth One does end up treading previous ground more than is being touted. Superman fans will still find much to enjoy here. (www.dccomics.com)

Author rating: 6/10