Review: Superman The Stranger #3

Superman The Stranger #3 came out last week continuing this Black Label look at a populist Superman in the 1930s. As I have said in prior reviews, this really is a throwback to the earliest Siegel/Shuster stories where Superman is battling social problems and not alien overlords. 

Writer/artist Wes Craig continues to weave a fascinating story in this new universe. There is no Kent wisdom here. Smallville didn't happen. Instead Superman's world view is formed by his life as an orphan and his life experience, dealing with corruption everywhere and seeing how it has hurt the 'common man'. That makes his actions in this book more understandable as he lashes out against the system.

But I also like that this is a Superman who is still learning, still unsure of himself, still trying to figure out what he should be doing. And there is no better ally to help him figure that out than Lois Lane. We met the plucky reporter earlier in the book but she shines here and deserves the cover spot. She also isn't the powerful investigative reporter we have in the main universe. She is also still learning, navigating. So seeing these two together, stronger together, and trying to help. It works well.

Lastly, Luthor looms large as the villain here but one of my thoughts from last issue bears fruit here. Luthor is hearing voices who are guiding him down the dark path he is on. Chilling.

Craig's art is pitch perfect for the series. It is dark and moody, Film Noir-ish, and also 'art deco' leaning into the aesthetic and making the story resonate.

The story is compelling, making this one of my favorite books on the stands these days. On to details.

Review: Superman The Stranger #2

Superman:The Stranger #2 came out this week and was one of the best reads of the week for me. This is a Golden Age sort of Superman operating in the 30's. He is a populist hero. He doesn't have the wisdom of the Kents in his background. And he simply wants to help. 

Wes Craig is the writer and artist on the book and he has a clear direction he is going at here. This is a Superman trying the help the ordinary people being crushed by the system that exists around him. That makes him progressive to some and a danger to others. In this issue we see how he is trying to right wrongs that he sees around him with his physical presence. He is almost Batman-like in his approach.

Unlike last issue, the politics here aren't nearly as 'in your face' or preachy. That was one of my quibbles with the first issue. But here, the tone is tempered a bit. We are shown the issue. It isn't ham-fisted. We aren't told the issue. It is embedded in the story. 

I read comics for the story. So seeing this naive Clark trying to live a life and do what's right is a fun ride. Seeing elements ripped from Fleischer studio cartoons or the earliest of early Superman stories props up the sentiment of the story for old time fans like me. 

But it is the visuals that really struck me here. From those nods to early stories, to the inkiness of the dimly lit jazz clubs, to the very innovative page constructs of the Luthor epilogue that adds to the story, the art here is one to linger over, savor. In particular, the Luthor pages were mesmerizing as the complemented the words and feel of that scene so well.

I liked this issue a lot and look forward to seeing where this goes from here.

Review: Superman The Stranger #1

Superman The Stranger #1 came out last week, the first issue of a mini-series written and drawn by Wes Craig. This is my first major work by Craig so I was interested in seeing where he would go with this Superman in the 30's angle. 

I have to say I am a little bit up in the air right now. This first issue had high points and low points. But I wonder if this is going to be a politically preachy book and that always feels more like homework than fun. 

It is clear that Craig is setting up this Superman as a populist hero, looking out for the little people. This is a Superman without the Kents, without knowledge of Krypton, whose powers are slowly growing. He wants to do good; he wants to help people. Not having the Kents around is an interesting wrinkle because it means his ethics aren't the wisdom of Ma and Pa, it's internal.

And this harkens back to the earliest Siegel and Shuster stories where Superman was more about every day issues than intergalactic super-villains. Pick up any Chronicles and you'll read him fighting landlords, owners of unsafe mining communities, warhawk military men, abusive husbands, etc. I am not against a Superman fighting small crimes.

This comic seems to veer into a story where we will see Superman fighting bigots. And Superman fighting rich people. And Superman fighting bigoted rich people. And letting criminals go. I'll have to see where this goes. 

But it came right on the heels of the message of Absolute Superman #23, where Superman doesn't bring evil rich people to justice but instead disperses their wealth. And now here where the knife-wielding robber is the victim allowed to go free, it felt like a double-down on messaging. 

Craig's art is perfect for the story though, a mix of Fleischer Studios and Tim Sale. Really lovely stuff.

On to the issue.