Review: Superman Unchained #1

Writer:  Scott Snyder
Penciller:  Jim Lee
Inker:  Scott Williams
Colors:  Alex Sinclair
Letters:  Sal Cipriano

I have a confession to make…..I’ve never been the biggest Superman fan.  The only Superman book I can remember buying as a kid was the “Death of Superman” when he fought Doomsday.  He’s never appealed to me as a character because of how powerful he is.  With all that said, if now isn’t the time for me to take a chance on a Superman comic, I don’t know if it will ever happen.  Man of Steel will be released in theaters this week, and Superman Unchained #1 is now out at the same time.

This is DC Comics’ heavy-hitters of Scott Snyder (currently writing Batman) and Jim Lee (former penciller of Justice League and Co-Publisher of DC Comics).  Can this dynamic duo create enough excitement in me to enjoy Superman as a character?  Let’s find out.

What I Liked

Jim Lee draws an epic-looking Superman.  Lee shows off with giant splash pages, to really display how he can make Superman look like a badass.

With this being the first issue, Snyder introduces us to the familiar Superman cast of Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Lex Luthor.  I am also glad that Snyder made reference to Clark Kent no longer working at the Daily Planet (which took place in one of the other Superman titles a few months back).  We also see that Luthor is a prisoner and not running LexCorp.  Bonus points for references to other DC heroes as well.

I’m very intrigued with the villain we meet.  I am assuming this is an entirely new character created for the New 52.  That has always been a problem I’ve had with Superman.  For me to be fully invested in him, I have to believe that he can possibly lose.  And not from a villain utilizing Kryptonite.  I want to find out why this new villain is supposedly working on the side of the good guys as well.

What I Didn’t Like

As much as I enjoyed Lee’s artwork, I think he went overboard with the humongous image of Superman and a space station.  Was it really needed?  Could that page space have been better utilized?

Plus, how many times are we going to see Superman saving people in the manner that he saved them in this issue?  It reminds me of Superman Returns.  I’m sure it’s happened in other Superman movies as well.

I also wonder how long will Jim Lee remain as artist.  Hopefully Snyder’s writing will be enough to keep this book at the top of the sales chart and on my “must read” list.

Summary

Overall, Superman Unchained #1 was an okay comic.  I’m intrigued enough to read this opening arc and see where things go.  No new ground was broken, but DC did a nice job of hopping on the marketing momentum from Man of Steel.  I still say Snyder and Lee should have taken over the Superman ongoing series.  But that book doesn’t have the eye-catching “number one” on the cover to attract new readers.  Plus “Superman Unchained” just sounds silly.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE