DC Comics' Earth One line of original graphic novels are meant as a means to free creators from the shackles of continuity, allowing them to tell fresh stories with some of the DC superheroes we know and love.
The third volume of Superman Earth One is now on store shelves and while it isn't bad, it's easy to feel like similar tales about the Man of Steel have already been done, and done better, than what is presented here.
The story picks up with the world concerned by Superman's powers and his willingness to interfere in international politics. This fear leads the U.N. Security Council to fund the research of Alexander and Alexandra Luthor, a brilliant scientist couple who may be able to bring Clark's powers down to a human level. Clark himself is writing for the Daily Planet, though his co-worker Lois Lane is suspicious of him, especially since Clark manages to score an exclusive interview with Superman. He is also fumbling his way through his social life, oblivious of how much his neighbor, Lisa, cares for him. All the while another extraterrestrial threat looms on the horizon. Some spoilers ahead.
Surprise, it's Zod. In case you weren't aware Zod is a villain, his ridiculously over-the-top get-up in this screams "I am evil." Not that anybody really seems to notice. Zod strolls into the UN Security Council like it's no big deal, sits down, and immediately starts talking about how he can kill Superman for them, somehow aware of all the events that have recently transpired on Earth. Nobody asks who he is, where he came from, or why he wants to help. And with almost no objections the UN agrees. Did I mention Zod is wearing a black and red outfit, hood up at all times, with gloves that have spikes all over them? The UN is terrified by Superman, but somehow is willing to perfectly accept the help of another Kryptonian (and a much scarier looking one, at that) with no question.
But Superman doesn't know any of this. All he knows is Zod claims to be his long, lost uncle, and wants to be friends. Superman is at least a little suspicious, but there is one point in particular where the entire sequence of events that make up the end of Vol. 3 could have simply been avoided. He knows something is off about Zod. Luckily enough, Superman has a supercomputer housed within his spaceship, with files on Krypton and his people's history. Martha Kent mentions Superman might want to travel to the artic and use the machine to learn more about Zod. Superman agrees, but says it would take too long and he is busy.
Lo and behold, after Zod attempts to kill Superman, Clark decides it might be a good time to check out those files. He flies to the arctic and learns everything about why Zod is a certified crazy person. Why was that so hard? It wouldn't have taken Superman an hour to fly to the arctic, check the computer and fly back prior to Zod's ambush, thus completely ruining Zod's plan. This wouldn't be such an obvious gap in logic if writer J. Michael Straczynski hadn't made Martha Kent specifically point out to readers that Clark has a machine that likely knows everything about Zod.
It all feels a bit forced. Zod and Superman eventually battle it out, with Straczynski throwing in a few "Kneel before Zod" variations along the way. The fights themselves feel disjointed. There are several instances where large gaps of action happen between panels, with Superman flying through the sky in one panel and Zod hovering over his body on the ground in another.
The ending feels off too, as a new villain who blames Superman for the death of a loved one vows to take revenge.
Straczynski does a good job developing the relationships between Clark, Lois and Lisa here, and his witty dialogue between characters injects the story with some much needed humor. Adrian Syaf on art duties draws a menacing Zod, and the battles between the two supermen, even if disjointed, do truly feel like a clash of the titans.
There are aspects of Vol. 3 to enjoy, but they each come with a caveat. The battles are fun but they don't flow well. The writing is enjoyable, but the story makes some leaps in logic that will have readers scratching their heads. All in all, Superman Earth One Vol. 3 isn't a bad Superman story. It just isn't a good one either.
Story
★★★☆☆
Art
★★★☆☆
Overall
★★★☆☆
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