Book Review: Superman vol #1 (New 52)

Book: Superman volume #1: What Price Tomorrow? (issues #1-6) by George Perez 

Illustrations by Jesus Merino (issues #1-2, #4) and Nicola Scott (issues #3, #5-6)

Color by Brian Buccellato (issues #1-4), Brett Smith (issues #3-6) and Blond (issue #3)


Edition: Single Print Issues

Description:

As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics - The New 52 event of September 2011, comics legend George Perez and artist Jesus Merino present the new adventures of the Man of Steel!

Metropolis fears him. The Daily Planet agrees. This new volume of SUPERMAN finds our hero with a startling new status quo. As Superman finds ways to dodge the scrutiny placed upon him by the public and media, he must stop a monstrous threat to Metropolis - one that he somehow is the cause of! The next chapter in the legendary history of the Man of Steel is built here!


Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I know, that high rating is a tad shocking for anything Superman New 52 related (especially if you visit my blog quite regularly) but the first volume was actually good then the series started to go downhill at a steady rate. And the current DC You take on the Superman series really makes the New 52 version seem down right impressive.

The first issue gives readers a look at the new world of Superman, first with Lois Lane receiving a promotion from reporter to the new Executive Producer of the Planet Global Network (P.G.N.)'s nightly news division and Executive Vice-President of New Media. That a great title but it pretty much equates to getting Lois out of the way. Those are not the only changes, the Daily Planet was bought out by Morgan Edge and is now folded into his media conglomerate Galaxy Communications. The old Daily Planet building has been torn down while a newer updated version is in a new location in the city.

Lois may be in charge of the TV news, however Perry White is still in charge of the print division. Meanwhile, Jimmy who is still a photojournalist was mostly shown working with fellow Daily Planet photojournalist Miko Ogawa.

So, now where does that leave Clark Kent, well...he doesn't seem to be handling all the changes in good stride. He's mad that Lois and Perry have sold out their journalist integrity by working with Edge who if he had no opposition would turn the paper into another tabloid rag. But mind you Clark is also still working for the Planet but I guess that's not considered being a sellout that only pertains to just Lois and Perry. Prior to the New 52 Lois and Perry were the epitome of journalist integrity but that's a post for another day.

Anyway, while Clark was off flying around moping, as Superman he attempted to stop a couple of crooks who had stolen a tanker filled with hazardous chemicals but before he could end the situation a huge fire erupted from a nearby building and a huge fire ball took out the crooks.

The fire came from a strange creature that seemed to be made from fire and was actually giving Superman quite a bit of trouble in stopping. The creature appeared to be speaking some sort of language but the only word he could understand was Krypton. Lois although tucked away in the shiny new Daily Planet was able to get the story on air but without putting her staff in danger.

A surprise to the print staff was Clark getting the lead story especially since no one saw him in the area. But there was a surprise in store for him when he visited Lois and met her "friend" Jonathan Carroll.

Issue #2 finds Superman dealing with yet another mysterious creature speaking the same language as the first and this time, he was unable to see it. But thanks to quick thinking from Lois who was able to get Jimmy to keep the camera on Superman it finally allowed Clark to see what he was fighting. Meanwhile in a subplot it appears a homeless man and a hospitalized guard (who got caught in the fire from the first issue) may have a connection to the strange incidents plaguing both Superman and Metropolis.

Issue #3 finds yet another mysterious creature made of ice attacking the city, the creature was also speaking the same strange language. There is a connection with the creature and fellow Planet reporter Heather Kelley, the guard and the homeless man. This issue also focused on Clark's recently strange and uncharacteristic behavior that had him being very unreliable and moody.

Issues #4-6 had Superman being questioned by police about missing reporter Heather Kelley but also as Clark being questioned about his strange behavior by Lois. Superman also found himself ambushed by the three strange creatures but the after effects from the fight seemed to have caused a personality change. No longer was Superman there to protect the city he was now taking extreme measure to "save" it. All of this was culminating into a huge fight between Supergirl and the Man of Steel and not to mention the military possibly getting involved. But something wasn't right? This couldn't possibly be Superman. I don't want to ruin the ending because it's very interesting. But I will say that the Supergirl shown in issue #6 was better written than the one shown in the second volume in her own series.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to finally write up my review for this, perhaps on some level I don't want to write up the rest of the series when the quality dropped. Despite Lois getting the Rapunzel treatment of being "locked" away in the Daily Planet at least she wasn't too poorly written (I'm still not sure she would be working for Morgan Edge) and was actually shown a lot as opposed to how she was barely shown and very poorly written later on in the series. I loved the chemistry between Lois and Clark no matter if they're mad or angry with each other you can see how much they care for each other even if it is only as friendship.

There is this part of the New 52 that I never fully grasped which is why DC Comics wanted to create a world where people fear and hate superheroes? Anyway, this was a good read, I wish I could say that for the rest of the series.