Superman # 1 Review

Superman I found an average read. It just fell far too short for a # 1. It's not that the ideas are bad. In fact, some good ones. We get the new status quo of a young and single Superman and him being more of a crusading journalist, than just some reporter guy who just uses the Daily Planet as his cover. I loved that they gave Clark some passion regarding his job but the writing felt tedious and Superman seems to have gotten boring five years later. I feel,Morrison and Johns seems to be getting the voice but here he sounds too retro or too much like pre-relaunch Superman. He's not got the charisma, enigma, toughness, nor the edge.  The ironic thing? The last pages where Clark meets Lois' new guy was well written but what I got out of it was not what I think DC was hoping. I don't feel one iota of empathy for Clark. What the heck is he pining for? Why should he even be pining? The character has just kicked off in a new relaunch and he's acting like Peter Parker. Ballsy guy from Action with oddles of confidence and passion , smart reporter giving Lois puppy dog eyes in issue #1? Sorry, DC, pity is not the way to get readers to empathize with Clark. I hope this is a sign for Clark to pick himself up and move on but it still felt too out of sync. You took for granted we would root for him and Lois because you had a version of him married to her in the old books? Stop being lazy and a slave to tradition. This is a new book. A new era. Your audience is younger and modern or alternatively, as in lapsed readers, grown-up. Treat it and us as such.

I liked the art. But I would give this book 3 stars only because it was not a bad book but it feels too average for a # 1 book. And unlike say Justice league, I did not really leave it on a high and eager to read more.

Best Panel: Not too keen on anything really.I guess I will go with this splash page.