One of the things I had in mind when I made this blog site was that I wanted to take a look at comics in new ways and really understand comics and what the writers were trying to say in them. I wanted to start this off by taking a look at one of the newest runs of The Man Of Steel, Geoff John and John Romita Jr.'s run on Superman. I am starting off with issue 32 and will continue from there.
(NOTE: Please have a copy of the comic when reading this dissection so that you can read along with my post.)
Cover
I quickly wanted to mention the cover first because if you want to count how it fits into the comic besides just being a cool cover, it shows the transformation into Superman we see Clark do on page 13. I found that to be a cool nod to the story and that the cover wasn't simply just a gimmick.
Page 1
The story starts 25 years ago, set at the Ulysses Research Center, where we learn a "class 5 hazardous leak" is occuring in the lab. Looking at the clues on the page, it takes a while to figure out exactly what is going on. But based on the page, one can infer that these people who a running scared are from dimension 2 due to that being dimension that has broken. There is a map Romita Jr. draws that shows there are 5 dimensions all on different parts of the Earth. Dimension 2 is located three miles below Omaha, Nebraska.
Now first off, let me say I don't understand or know too much about the dimensions besides the fourth dimension personally, so I am just going by what Johns has wrote, and let me just say, the whole background on this was really cool. Johns created a entirely realistic type of universe that makes a lot of sense in a way. From this page, it is easy to gather what comes next, but lets continue on.
Page 2
On the next page, we learn the director of the research center has locked the lab so that no one can leave. Peter, the scientist who we see running with his wife Mary and their son(no name yet) is guessing that this is due to the strange matter having to be contained so that all of dimension 2 is contained.
So from what I gather, dimension 2 is exactly like how we live on Earth, except it's just on a lower level than us. This will be key to note later on in the story.
Page 3
After accepting their fates, Peter tries to convince Mary that they can still save their son by sending him to the fourth dimension. Peter says that they know there is life there and that they have a gateway to take the son there. They have seen images from the planet and know that the world isn't so different from there. The conversation Peter has with his wife is a play off of Clark's parents debating whether or not to send him to Earth and is very heartbreaking to see.
I still love the science of this all as they explain more about their dimension and their side of the story. Also I love the play on the original last son of krypton story.
Page 4
On the fourth page, Mary is crying and still trying to understand if this is the right thing to do. She finally understands and they tell their son goodbye as he is somehow transported to the fourth dimension.
This page was all for the artists and their job to portray the baby leaving the third dimension and heading to the fourth. I really love the artwork here, but it is a tad confusing as to how that transportation through dimensions work.
Page 5
This page is merely a play on the original Superman movie showing the baby heading to the fourth dimension. There isn't much to say about it besides the fact that he holds a picture of his family in the space craft he is in.
Page 6-7
A double spread shot of Superman punching a cyborg Gorilla. Yep.
Page 8
As Superman delivers his finishing moves on the gorilla, Jimmy Olsen is seen trying to get a good shot of the picture. From this page, it could be implied that Jimmy could be close to losing his job if he doesn't get good shots soon.
Page 9
Now we are at the Daily Planet, where Jimmy is trying to convince Mr. White, the editor in chief, to take the picture. Mr. White is questioning why Jimmy even needs the money for this job when his parents left him tens of millions of dollars after they mysteriously disappeared. Jimmy says because they will come back, making a big re-entry and will take back all of the money Mr. White finally gives Olsen a voucher as someone calls Mr. White to their attention.
I liked this page because it shows Geoff did his research and that he was calling back on things that happened in the Super books in the past, like Jimmy becoming rich, though as the page shows, fame is not all it's cracked up to be. I liked that Geoff was also trying to bring back some of the charm of the Daily Planet cast by bringing Jimmy back into the picture.
Page 10
It is no other than Clark Kent who shows up at the planet now. Perry White wanted to talk with him when Jimmy asks what he is doing there since he quit, which is another nice continuity nod. After Jimmy leaves, we notice Jimmy only got a small amount of money with his voucher, which shows even with how nice Perry is, that wasn't a good shot Jimmy took. Anyways, Clark and Mr. White begin to talk about how the headlines of the world involving Superman and Lex Luthor are probably bad for the world, but they are good for journalists like The Daily Planet.
I love all of the continuity that Johns is doing on this book, it shows his commitment to moving the line as a whole in a new direction without forgetting things of the past.
Page 11
The reason Perry asks Clark to come to the planet is because he wants to hire Clark back into the planet. Clark says even if he wanted to come back, why would Mr. Edge even allow that when Perry interrupts and says that he is still editor in chief and that he can hire anyone he wants. Perry says he knows and has been hiring even more like Jackee Winters. Perry says that Clark need to open up more and that he had chances to ask out Lois but never did, which is why a guy like Jonathon Carroll is dating her. Perry says it doesn't have to be anyone at the planet, but he needs to let someone in.
I really loved this page and it shows everything Johns is trying to do in this book, which is open up Clark more. And also, again, loving the continuity. And keep a close eye on the name Jackee Winters as we see her on the next page.
Page 12
This page is designed to show us how alone Clark is these days. His girlfriend Wonder Woman is busy dealing with her family issues. Lois and Jackee Winters are getting hit on by Lombard(I guess the Daily Planet crew are enjoying a night out.) Batman is busy when Clark calls him which leads him to just making a meal for himself while Jimmy just wants to know where his parents are and gettig no help from a firm his parents are in relations with. On the last few panels of the page, Clark is eating a meal his mom used to make and then washing the dishes.
I really loved this page because it shows at the end of the day, what a Superman without Lois...without Jimmy..without his parents...without anyone he cares for is like. Just alone, he's not evil, but secluded and with no friends. It's a bit sad to see.
Page 13
On this page, Clark is looking at his family album and looking at his Earth parents...which are very old in the pictures Clark is looking at. Maybe I just have a bad memory, but didn't his parents die at his senior dance. I don't remember them being so old at the time? Anyways, Clark hears danger and is off to help, which like I said, his transformation on the cover is the exact same outfit he has in this page, which was a nice nod.
I liked this page for what it stood for, as it emphasized how alone Clark was these days.
Page 14
Alright, so page 14 shows a large black object that is shooting out lightning. Superman heads towards the objects to see who is controlling it.
This page took a while to understand what was going on.
Page 15
As Superman tries to get into the object, someone from inside blasts him all the way back into the city. After this, we see a shadowy figure with a scythe, who seems to not only that Superman is Clark Kent, but has taught him to always get up when is knocked down. The mysterious man appears to be watching this all in a mysterious location.
This is where the story gets interesting, who is this mysterious man?
Page 16
We then see the being who blasted Superman out of the sky, a evil alien who does not speak English. The alien and Superman begin to fight.
Not much to say here, except one thing I noticed is that this looks like the same blue energy used by the family who sent their son to this dimension. Could this be related to that?
Page 17
Things take a turn for the weirder as the alien somehow messes with Clark's eyes and is then able to cut him with his weapon.
Just what is going on here?
Page 18
The alien uses the blue energy to hit him hard once again. Right before the alien can deliver another blow(which he grumbles something we can't understand), a blue light appears between Superman and the alien.
Again...seems like we are in for a shock on each page. I can't say I mind.
Pages 19-20
We see a man who appears to be speaking the same language as the alien attack the alien. Superman gets back up to help fight and the man who speaks alien charges for a final attack.
It's easy to infer that this man is the same person whose parents transported to the 4th dimension in the first few pages.
Pages 21-22
A finishing blow to the alien, which causes a destructive blast.
Page 23
Superman thanks the man for the help...the man is surprised Superman is speaking English. The man is shocked to realize he is in America.
I have to say, I really love the art Romita is bringing to this book. He conveys emotion very well.
Page 24
The man says the alien's name was Klerik and that he came here to destroy the man's home planet, the man thought his threat's where empty though since he figured his home was already destroyed. We finally have a name! The man calls himself Ulysses, I guess his parents named him after the research center.
Finally we get some answers! As suspected, this person is the baby from D2 who was sent here by his parents.
Pages 25
The last page shows Ulysses, happy to realize he isn't alone anymore.
And..done! It's books like these that remind me why I love comics and why Geoff Johns is one of the best at what he does. This was fantastic entry by Geoff into a book that was already running and did a wonderful just not losing any plot points that already occurred and made a good reason for why this story was being told now. Romita Jr.'s artwork is also nothing to laugh about, each page is full of raw emotion and delivers feels that need to be had in order for us to completely understand the story Johns is trying to convey.
This was a great issue and keep on the lookout for my dissection of issue 33 soon! Do you like my dissections or have any comments to make about them? Tell me at my Twitter handle @DragonPiece.
Thanks for reading.
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