Superboy #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Pier Gallo
It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that Adventure Comics #1 hit stands with the creative team of Geoff Johns and Francis Manpul, telling a six issue story about Superboy that most assumed was planned to go longer than six issues. But six is what we got, six fun issues that were over far too quick, and then Superboy was dumped back into supporting casts again. Thankfully someone at DC realized that Conner Kent, the Boy of Steel, had much more to offer the extended universe then a role as a bit player in Teen Titans and the random issue of Superman, and he’s been granted his own solo title for the third time. The third time, what’s so different this time? The first volume was cancelled at #100, and as mentioned, his run in Adventure Comics went six issues. The second volume was even written by DC’s Golden Boy, Geoff Johns. This volume is written by the rising star of their Vertigo imprint, Sweet Tooth writer Jeff Lemire.
What does he bring to the table though, that past writers may have lacked? That sets him apart from those that came before? Well, that’s still up in the air, but in one issue he sets the stage for several things. Like the importance of Smallville in the book at times almost reminded me of James Robinson’s treatment of Opal City in Starman, I mean, by no means to that extent, but the city is important, it’s not just a setting, and with Smallville it should definitely be more than just a setting. The supporting cast, while still primarily made up of the same few people (Lori Luthor, Simon, Ma, Krypto), remains intact and benefit from….simply being remembered. Lori and Simon are particularly interesting, as Lori, while potentially a love interest, is a blood relative as the niece of one of the man he was cloned from. Simon, on the other hand, feels like a cross between Pete Ross and Lex Luthor, as he is being positioned as Conner’s best friend, but at the same time is a little too mad scientisty for his own good. The dynamics work, and they do a great job helping to flesh the character out, let it never be said that the supporting cast is not important.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a franchise marked with the classic S shield without some usage of a classic villain, and thankfully the one Lemire brings in for this issue is given more justice than he has had in a while. Better than that though is that Lemire joins the ranks of the few writers still at DC that remember Tactile Telekinesis, which to this day remains one of my favorite super powers that nobody seems to remember. The fight in this issue is pretty intelligently handled, as while Superboy looks good fighting a foe that’s gone three rounds with the Man of Steel, neither he nor his opponent come out looking weak. He really does feel like a teenage Superman esque character, one who is still learning about himself and his place in the world. It’s funny, actually, seeing Conner in action without his fellow Titans is a much different experience, and if anything, it’s more rewarding for the reader. He’s less of a tanking meathead, and more of….well, Superman.
Pier Gallo is not a name I’m familiar with, and looking at his resume in comics….there’s a reason why. He’s, apparently, a fresh talent to the industry, or at the very least to the big two, but he is perfect on this book. Teenagers who look like teenagers, everyone with their own distinct look, and like I mentioned earlier, even the city is given personality. On top of all of that, I really like the way he draws Connor, as he doesn’t look overly bulky but at the same time he doesn’t look too small to be Superboy. It’s the happy medium of mass that, in terms of Superman, is the difference between Ed McGuinness and Dan Jurgens. Between a character who looks like a superhero but could still pass as a normal person, and one who you can’t imagine ever fooling anyone. This issue is just a visual treat, and I especially love Gallo’s take on the classic Superman villain who looks amazingly menacingly.
This issue is truly a success in most every way, as a first issue it’s accessible, and most important it doesn’t feel like a stunted experience. Too often do first issues take their time setting things up to be built on in later issues to the extent that twenty-two pages fly by with nothing happening, and Lemire gave us a story that didn’t leave readers finishing the book and feeling let down at the lack of anything happened. If this book maintains this level of story quality going forward, this could easily be one of the bright spots of DC’s line up.
Overall?
8.5/10
