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Post by HoM on Jan 12, 2010 19:04:02 GMT -5
Please comment on this extra-special Annual!
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Post by Admin on Jan 12, 2010 22:49:33 GMT -5
As Charlie took the lead in writing this issue, I have no compunction about rating and feedbacking here.
There is an awe and wonder that Charlie has for Superman that never fails to come across, and this is nowhere in more evidence than in this issue. Just that first line says it all: "Superman soared..."
Edward Lytener's story arc is kinda heartbreaking. Here's a guy on top of the world, and then...
That cover by Nathan is simply awesome. With his villains lined up behind him, it looks like Superman is in for a tough year! Can't wait to see the other half!
Five stars! I hope everyone reads this important issue, launching a new era for the Man of Steel. Great place to jump on, but more importantly, a really good read and a very pretty picture.
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rapscallion86
Staff 
Subtlety: The mark of a good superhero. Right, Brainiac 5?
Posts: 99
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Post by rapscallion86 on Jan 14, 2010 0:20:49 GMT -5
WOW! That was my response to this issue. First off, this cover was phenomenal! It was so simplistic in design, but the delivery was beautiful with all of those villains standing behind Superman. The thing is, unlike Batman and Flash, Superman has never really had an epic Rogues Gallery besides Lex Luthor and Brainiac (and I guess Darkseid, but he's more of a DC villain in general I feel), but that cover made me reconsider! I was actually moved by what happened to Edward Lytener. I mean, it's a really really simple storyline, guy is in accident that takes away his chance at a normal life and tortures him physically, but it was good, wait for it.... because it was simple! The key was the delivery, which was spot on. Giving Edward all that back-story and showing him as a sympathetic, cool Everyman (who among us hasn't had a crush on Lois Lane?  ) and then crushing his life like that... harsh... and I love it. The stuff with Superman building the robots and being able to reconstruct the experiment recalled to a lot of Silver Age type stories. I mean, if he was smart enough, and with all of his abilities, Superman could pretty much do anything. That line with the dwarf-star hammer, reminded me of that old story where Superman used the dwarf-star key to open his Fortress of Solitude. Very epic, silver-age flavored story telling. Then of course there was the Legion! I made sure to pay extra attention to that part! (It's Nura Nal by the way, slight spelling error, unless she's an alternate universe dealy.) Superman hasn't worked with the Legion (I think) since Kruger's run in the book, and I think that him being friends with them has always been a really neat idea. So yay for that bond being shown! There were a few typos, but we all have them. This has made me very excited for more upcoming Superman stories this year, and I can't wait to read Adventures in two weeks. The way you dropped Action and Adventure in the story (I think twice?) was kind of corny but made it feel like it was part of a larger scope universe. Overall, 4 and a half stars. |
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Post by HoM on Jan 14, 2010 19:40:03 GMT -5
WOW! That was my response to this issue. What better reaction could we expect? I'm glad that Dave and I were able to wow you to such a degree! See what I did there? Oh, yes. First off, this cover was phenomenal! It was so simplistic in design, but the delivery was beautiful with all of those villains standing behind Superman. The thing is, unlike Batman and Flash, Superman has never really had an epic Rogues Gallery besides Lex Luthor and Brainiac (and I guess Darkseid, but he's more of a DC villain in general I feel), but that cover made me reconsider! Nathan continually blows away all expectations-- he's a recent joiner to the site, but he's quickly established himself as a brilliant artist, and his work on Batman, Suicide Squad and now Action Comics (and Adventure in two weeks!) have been phenomenal. Kudos to him! And the idea behind the cover was to tease what's coming in the future, and to show that Superman does have threats to his life every day of the week. Some of the characters that appear on this cover will appear in Adventure Comics, and some of the characters on Adventure Comics Annual's cover will appear in Action. The two books are symbiotic to each other, and it's going to be brilliant to highlight that as the months go by. I was actually moved by what happened to Edward Lytener. I mean, it's a really really simple storyline, guy is in accident that takes away his chance at a normal life and tortures him physically, but it was good, wait for it.... because it was simple! The key was the delivery, which was spot on. Giving Edward all that back-story and showing him as a sympathetic, cool Everyman (who among us hasn't had a crush on Lois Lane? ) and then crushing his life like that... harsh... and I love it. I'm so pleased you liked what we did with Edward. He was an interesting character that debuted strong in Pat's previous run and then kind of went to the sidelines, and we wanted to do something that showed respect to what came before but also stake our claim to the books. Edward was a character that I always liked to see, and wanted to take to a certain place within these pages. I'm a big fan of tragic characters-- not forcing it though, not making them tragic for tragic's sake, and I'm glad this didn't feel forced. He'll be a force to be reckoned after this short arc! He also makes his first DC2 cover appearance, I think  The stuff with Superman building the robots and being able to reconstruct the experiment recalled to a lot of Silver Age type stories. I mean, if he was smart enough, and with all of his abilities, Superman could pretty much do anything. That line with the dwarf-star hammer, reminded me of that old story where Superman used the dwarf-star key to open his Fortress of Solitude. Very epic, silver-age flavored story telling. To be honest, I have two favourite runs on Superman-- Jurgens, and then Morrison's. I got into Superman through The Death Of (though I purchased World Without first, for some reason  ) and that's what carried me into the world of DC (along with Knightfall). It was inspiring to read that stuff. Then with All-Star, Morrison captured a sensibility I'd never truly read, and that's the tone I want to convey in these stories. Dave's a Silver Age nut when it comes to Superman it seems, and I guess I am too, but to a lesser degree. All-Star Superman is my frame of reference for the character. Oh, that and Joe Casey's last year on the title back in the 00s! Ha! Then of course there was the Legion! I made sure to pay extra attention to that part! (It's Nura Nal by the way, slight spelling error, unless she's an alternate universe dealy.) Superman hasn't worked with the Legion (I think) since Kruger's run in the book, and I think that him being friends with them has always been a really neat idea. So yay for that bond being shown! It was important to have this scene in the issue. You've read it, so let the wild mass guessing begin, but something big is coming, and the Legion recognise the need to speak to Superman now, before they're unable to. What does that mean? Keep reading Action and Adventure! There were a few typos, but we all have them. DAMN YOOOU! ;d This has made me very excited for more upcoming Superman stories this year, and I can't wait to read Adventures in two weeks. The way you dropped Action and Adventure in the story (I think twice?) was kind of corny but made it feel like it was part of a larger scope universe. I don't care if it's corny, we're marking a line in the sand, and you're going to be pulled along for one hell of a ride. Action and Adventure are going to have two disparate tones to the titles, and they'll be nothing like corny, heha... Overall, 4 and a half stars. Thanks DL, hope to see you enjoy Adventure Comics Annual #1 too! |
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impulseallen
Staff
Much More Than The Guy Runs Fast and the Guy Who Talks to Fish!
Posts: 561
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Post by impulseallen on Jan 15, 2010 21:49:54 GMT -5
I'm gone for one issue and Edward's already been deformed! Curse you, Charlie!!! A really awesome issue. This whole black kryptonite(or more exactly, black IN kryptonite) mystery is pretty interesting. I really like how you showed Edward's usual day to day life before he got transformed(which I'm wondering, is that him on the cover with the green skin?). I thought it was cool you hammered in the fact that everything was going really well in Edward's life and then suddenly, bada-boom, it's gone. Great stuff. Looking forward to this new era in the Man of Steel's life on DC2! |
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Post by HoM on Jan 16, 2010 19:26:02 GMT -5
I'm gone for one issue and Edward's already been deformed! Curse you, Charlie!!! I know, right? Terrible A really awesome issue. This whole black kryptonite(or more exactly, black IN kryptonite) mystery is pretty interesting. And that mystery will be solved next issue, you're going to love this I really like how you showed Edward's usual day to day life before he got transformed(which I'm wondering, is that him on the cover with the green skin?). I thought it was cool you hammered in the fact that everything was going really well in Edward's life and then suddenly, bada-boom, it's gone. Great stuff. That was my making a comment on what's come before-- he had a good run in your run, and things were on the up-and-up until... well, things went on the down-and-down for him. His was a great story to write, had so much fun filling out his day. And yes, Nathan Kilburn introduced the Kryptonite Man (yessum!) to the covers of the DC2! Looking forward to this new era in the Man of Steel's life on DC2! Me too ;D |
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Post by lissilambe on Jan 18, 2010 15:24:33 GMT -5
This was a good issue, but it suffered in some areas, for me. It's hard to define some of where it didn't quite click for me, but there were elements that also worked really well, and in the end, it was a solid "tragic origin" for a Superman villain, and on that level, the story succeeded.
Lytener's story was really well done. The development of his "really good day" into the birth of Kryptonite Man was well-handled, and touched on various areas that I love to see in Superman stories, including someone with eyes on Lois.
The stuff on developing Superman robots and his times in the Fortress I was less sold on. For some reason, there are elements of that part that just don't work for me. I never bought Superman as a "super-scientist" and some of the other parts of the Fortress didn't gel.
And for me, Superman is optimism, and there were several parts in this "exciting new era for Superman" where Superman wandered near to angst territory that also seemed to contradict that core idea (for me) and the energy inherent in "brand new era".
A mixed bag, but some truly exciting stuff is promised, and some fun Silver Age feel, so it worked and next up is Adventure Comics Annual, and I do look forward the conclusion to this tale.
And yes indeed, a great cover offering the promise of the new era, with a great gallery of fiends looking out at us. Nicely done, Nathan.
take care
Don
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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2010 23:09:44 GMT -5
This was a good issue, but it suffered in some areas, for me. It's hard to define some of where it didn't quite click for me, but there were elements that also worked really well, and in the end, it was a solid "tragic origin" for a Superman villain, and on that level, the story succeeded. As the elements of the story that you didn't like mostly came from my contributions to the issue, I hope Charlie won't mind if I respond to your feedback. That's too bad. I always enjoyed seeing Superman as a paragon, not just as a strongman or a pillar of virtue, but as someone who regularly matches wits with polymaths like Luthor and 12th level intelligencs like Brainiac, and can always trick 5th Dimensional imps into pronouncing an unpronouncable name--- backwards! Besides that, Superman's father was the greatest scientist of a civilization far in advance of of our own, and while I wouldn't characterize Superman himself as a scientist, at least he comes by his apptitude honestly. And exotic wonders of the Fortress are a staple of Superman mythos, but sorry that didn't "gel" for you. A new era it is, but there's no escaping that these two annuals are also a transition, and while hope and optimism will not be in short supply, I don't think some dramatic foreboding or giving Superman something to think about contradicts either our mission statement or the character. If, however, this perceived angst sapped the energy or momentum of the story than I hope at least it will payoff in what is to come in the months ahead. We clearly have differing takes on the Man of Steel, as it seems what gave it the "fun Silver Age feel" are the elements you most disliked, so if this didn't work for you, I doubt you'll much enjoy the upcoming Adventure Comics annual--- though I will, of course, let you make that decision. Thanks for reading, Don, and for the feedback! |
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) and then crushing his life like that... harsh... and I love it.
) and that's what carried me into the world of DC (along with Knightfall). It was inspiring to read that stuff. Then with All-Star, Morrison captured a sensibility I'd never truly read, and that's the tone I want to convey in these stories. Dave's a Silver Age nut when it comes to Superman it seems, and I guess I am too, but to a lesser degree. All-Star Superman is my frame of reference for the character. Oh, that and Joe Casey's last year on the title back in the 00s! Ha!
