Superman Suggestion Thread

[clownprince01]

Regarding All-Star Superman:

Does anyone know if there are plans to release it in one paperback volume? I know that it's getting an Absolute edition, so I would love to see this in one paperback, too. I prefer, when possible, to have my trades broken up as little as possible. For example, I waited to get Hush until it was in a single volume. I just like it that way when possible...kind of OCD I guess. I'm really interested in this story, but I'd rather wait to read it if I can get it in a format I prefer.

Anyway, back from the tangent - has there been any mention of a single volume paperback edition?

Not to my knowledge. I've only ever seen it come in two volumes. The only complete collection is the Absolute Edition. I agree it's kind of ridiculous but if you want to wait, you could be waiting for a long time. Having said that, there's not much wrong with the two separate volumes.

[dancj]

I think it's almost certain to happen at some point, but I think it's less profitable for DC than the other formats so it won't happen until they've got every penny they can out of the other formats.

[dupersuper]

There hasn't been an announcement for a single, paperback. But I wouldn't rule it out.

Especially with the movie coming out...

[Jimmy Bond]

Wrong thread.

[Jimmy Bond]

1. Superman: Secret Origin
2. Superman: For All Seasons
3. Superman: Greatest Stories Ever Told Vol. 1
4. Superman: Up, Up, And Away
5. Superman and the Legion of Superheroes
6. Superman: Earth One
7. Superman Adventures Vol. 1
8. All Star Superman
9. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow
10. Kingdom Come

[Brannon]

The only Post-Crisis Superman run that I've read in full is Byrne's run, which I loved. However I recently got my hands on all the Post-Crisis issues of Superman, Action and Adventures up till the return issues of Superman after his "death." I figured that would be a good stopping point. From browsing I've been impressed with what I've seen from the Ordway/Jurgans years.

I also recently got the full runs featuring Busiek/Pacheco and Johns/Frank. I've really liked what I've seen so far.

Would this pretty much cover the best of this period or are there others I should check out?

[Jimmy Bond]

Jeph Loeb's run was mostly strong, and Joe Kelly's Action, even better.

[Duy]

I also recently got the full runs featuring Busiek/Pacheco and Johns/Frank. I've really liked what I've seen so far.

Would this pretty much cover the best of this period or are there others I should check out?

I'd pretty much say so. The Johns/Frank run was REALLY strong, I think.

[Mr. Holmes]

I'd pretty much say so. The Johns/Frank run was REALLY strong, I think.

I used to like it, but looking back its far from Johns's strongest work. I like Frank's art, but Johns caused a lot of flux in continuity and regression of Lex to a mad scientist. His Superman reaffirms what the public believes about him as an outdated boyscout.

[Duy]

I used to like it, but looking back its far from Johns's strongest work. I like Frank's art, but Johns caused a lot of flux in continuity and regression of Lex to a mad scientist.

Between Superman and the Legion of Superheroes and Brainiac, I don't even see where Lex falls.

His Superman reaffirms what the public believes about him as an outdated boyscout.

Can't say I see it, because I think his Superman was a badass. A badass who did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, but a badass nonetheless.

Unless you think that being a boy scout is outdated, in which case, I think it's just a sad commentary on our times.


Having written all that, I want to make it clear I was talking about their run on ACTION and not SECRET ORIGIN.

[Mr. Holmes]

Between Superman and the Legion of Superheroes and Brainiac, I don't even see where Lex falls.

Up, Up, and Away, Last Son, etc.

Can't say I see it, because I think his Superman was a badass. A badass who did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, but a badass nonetheless.

I think stories like Birthright or Superman Beyond do a better job of showing Superman as a badass, or even recently in JMS's Earth One.

I also didn't like that Superman pretty much relied on the Legion, or relied on his rogues, or relied on Supergirl to actually be trimphant.

Unless you think that being a boy scout is outdated, in which case, I think it's just a sad commentary on our times.

Boyscout is fine (I was one back in the day!) but it seems like Johns just writes him as too old-fashioned. Contrary to what many think, Superman's brightly optimistic values are not old-fasioned, but Johns does not help with that. I don't get why writers feel the need to write him Donner-esque anachronistic.

[Duy]

Up, Up, and Away, Last Son, etc.

Sorry, I meant Johns and Frank's run.

I think stories like Birthright or Superman Beyond do a better job of showing Superman as a badass, or even recently in JMS's Earth One.

Gotta agree to disagree, bro.

I also didn't like that Superman pretty much relied on the Legion, or relied on his rogues, or relied on Supergirl to actually be trimphant.

Sure, but he was powerless for that LEgion run, and he still took the fight to Earth-Man. It was awesome. And the way he gets his powers back, seriously, it put chills down my spine.

Boyscout is fine (I was one back in the day!) but it seems like Johns just writes him as too old-fashioned. Contrary to what many think, Superman's brightly optimistic values are not old-fasioned, but Johns does not help with that. I don't get why writers feel the need to write him Donner-esque anachronistic.

I didn't see that problem with the Johns/Frank run, but I did see it in Secret Origin.

[Mr. Holmes]

Sorry, I meant Johns and Frank's run.

Fair enough, but it's the same writer, and the same vision, the way I see it.

Sure, but he was powerless for that LEgion run, and he still took the fight to Earth-Man. It was awesome. And the way he gets his powers back, seriously, it put chills down my spine.

Fair enough. It's just a consistent thing in Johns's run that Superman relies on someone else to beat the villain.

I didn't see that problem with the Johns/Frank run, but I did see it in Secret Origin.

Echoing what I said earlier, I feel it's the same vision. But then again, I thought Johns wrote Superman better pre-OYL.

[Duy]

Fair enough, but it's the same writer, and the same vision, the way I see it.

Sure, but something's got to be said for the art affecting that vision. It's like if I said "I really like the work Morrison and Quitely did on Batman and Robin," which would automatically exclude, say, the work Morrison did with Philip Tan, even if it was the same writer.

Fair enough. It's just a consistent thing in Johns's run that Superman relies on someone else to beat the villain.

Don't think that was really true - Superman handed Brainiac his ass good; Supergirl was off doing something else. Earth-Man also plowed through the Legion, and Clark punched his lights out.

Echoing what I said earlier, I feel it's the same vision. But then again, I thought Johns wrote Superman better pre-OYL.

Well, I think the first five books of Swamp Thing were excellent, and the sixth one was so-so. It's the same writer, but changing the artists from Bissette and Totleben to Veitch did change the tone somewhat.

[Jimmy Bond]

I liked Johns's run okay, but I hate Secret Origin.