In the first issue of a three-parter, writer Mark Russell (One-Star Squadron and The Flintstones) and artist Michael Allred (Silver Surfer and Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams) launch Superman through their version of Superman Space Age #1. It’s a long and shaggy imaginary tale, told in the prestige (more pages) $10 format. What on earth are they thinking?? Let’s see if it’s a blast!
In 1985, Superman lingers above Earth’s atmosphere, watching destruction rain down on the planet, in the form of flaming streaks and blobs. Total death time. He strides around his Fortress, gathering his family close as it is wrecked by falling blobs. It’s bad, really really bad.
Then, we jump back to 1963, Smallville. Mom and Pop Kent, pitching hay, on the farm. From there, it’s a Forrest Gump-inspired fictionalized epic, with appearances by American presidents, flashbacks to the US involvement in WWII, moments on the front porch discussing Clark’s future, and so on.
Perhaps a tad too heavy-handed, this story. Oh, it hits all the key American nostalgia moments, and those of us Silver Age aficionados will smile wanly at the Cold War references, the appearance of Superman’s sidekicks, and the gosh darn moments following tragic events, where Lois listens to witnesses.
It’s an Extra-Biggie helping of nostalgia, then, slathered in a strongly-scented tendency to pile on the solemn speeches. The narration, the soliloquies, the general bathing in the reinvented events of the United States during the 60s, sermonizing, all (to my eyes anyway) delivered in a manner where we are meant to take seriously. The golden glow from the rearview mirror.
Allred’s art, in his strongly outlined style, heavy lines with men with strong eyelashes and piercing eyes, is a good fit. Mostly. I say mostly, as the proportions of his figures vary from panel to panel and the poses are a little staid. But the 60s DC comics WERE a bit staid, and the poses predictable. The colours were pale, the panels easy to navigate. Laura Allred’s colour work adds value here, keeping the 1960s-as-invented-for-2022 less disconcerting. Dave Sharpe is on letters.
But anyway, back to the conservative visuals (no splash pages, no ‘out of the box’ panel shapes, etc). They pull us back from seeing behind the curtain in this tale, keep us in line, keep the steady pace of the steady telling of the Space Age, as reinvented, edited, and represented. It’s like a box of chocolates, where you know what the flavour is, and keep those treats in the box to enjoy in limited doses.
What will the next issue bring, as we age out of Aquarius? Lay it on us!
DC Comics, Superman Space Age #1, 82 pages of content for $9.99 Teen
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