Tag: superman

Superman: Birthright written by Mark Waid

gurinskasLeave a comment
image

[Edit: Originally published January 14, 2017]

This is the first actual Superman comic I’ve ever read. My media consumption up until this point has mainly been, “Smallville” the TV show, “Man of Steel” and “Batman vs Superman.” It was interesting to see how Superman’s origins in Birthright compared to Smallville and MoS. 

I really love that it (like Smallville) had Lex and Clark in Smallville together, however, in Birthright they’re the same age and in school together. Every time it flashed back to their friendship I wanted to cry. It was pretty clear to me that Lex was abused and Lex has a shitty dad in both Smallville and BvS, but I think the abuse Lex went through in Birthright, is probably more along the lines of the “daddy’s fists” in BvS than Lionel’s manipulations in Smallville. 

I would say that this is a definite must read for fans who are into the Lex/Clark relationship, because, along with Lex being the villain of the comic, we get a lot of really great flashbacks to Clark and Lex in Smallville too. 

Seeing Clark emerge as Superman and form his identity as “mild mannered reporter Clark Kent” was interesting too. It’s also interesting to note, that it’s because of Lex that Clark finds out about his Kryptonian heritage.

I would also die for Lois Lane. Like, wow, what a woman. She is fabulously written. Fans of Lois will not be disappointed by how she’s portrayed here. She’s the intrepid reporter we all know and love.

Birthright is all around I think an excellent introduction to Superman comics. I’ve always struggled with entry points when reading something as nebulous as comics and from what I’ve been told, DC tends to get more confusing that Marvel. I wouldn’t really know, I found Marvel just as confusing to find an entry point for. As far as Superman is concerned I would highly recommend Birthright as a place to start.  

You can find it here.

Related Reviews: Smallville: City

Snaps:

image
image
image

Smallville: City by Devon Grayson

gurinskasLeave a comment

[Edit: Originally published on March 31, 2016]

Possibly the gayest tie-in novel for a show I’ve ever read. The flirtations of Lex Luthor have literally no bounds. It reads like fanfiction. Though I suppose it kind of technically is. It’s just sanctioned by the show and published. 

The plot: Lex Luthor and Clark Kent spend a week in Metropolis together and shit gets fucked up. The Japanese mafia, a “professional alien-hunter” (Spoiler alert: it’s a guy who’s watched way to much X Files and thinks he’s Fox Mulder), and dates that go abysmally. You have to wonder if it’s possible for Clark and Lex to go a week without shit going to hell. 

Now, obviously, there is no canon gay stuff. Clark is still living life through a Lana Lang filter, and Lex is still using sex as a filler for physical affection. Not to mention that Clark is six years younger than Lex and a teenager. 

As far as where the book fits in to the Smallville TV show. I’d say probably somewhere in season two. Clark is listed as being 16, so season two would make a lot of sense, but I couldn’t give an exact location between episodes. It’s been a while since I watched season two.  

If you like Superman and you like Smallville, I would highly recommend checking out at least this one tie in novel. (I have not read and there for cannot recommend any of the others.)

For interested parties the book can be purchased here.

Related reviews: X Men: Evolution Vol 1 and X Men: Evolution Vol 2

Below are some of the snaps from my live-snapping of the book.