In 1986, John Byrne was tasked with retooling the Man of Steel for a new time, for a new audience. He brought credibility to the character in The Man of Steel limited series, and in the process, he breathed new life into the character. It's now 17 years later, and it's clear to me now that Mark Waid and company are doing the same thing Byrne set out to do, but they're bringing a new degree of sophistication to the title character. This is a rich retelling and revamping of Superman's origin, and it's one that wisely fits more neatly with the popular take on the character to be found in TV's Smallville.
A young Clark Kent struggles with his desire to use his powers to help people and the reality that regardless of his intentions, his strength and abilities inspire fear, even in those who benefit as a result of his actions. When violence erupts as a result of a ruling tribe's frustration with demands for equality from the leader of an oppressed minority, Clark is forced to choose between those two harsh realities. Meanwhile, he has finally managed to gain access to the alien archive that was found in the ship that rocketed him to Earth, and from it, he draws inspiration.
Yu's visions of life on Krypton are stunning. John Byrne brought a much more alien and cold look to the world of Superman's birth, and while Yu doesn't discard that notion altogether, he plays around with various designs to reflect an evolution of a planetary society. He and Alanguilan bring an edgier look to the Man of Steel that nevertheless maintains his iconic and larger-than-life nature. They also convey his youth and wide-eyed inexperience, as wel as a keen observational eye and thirst for knowledge. McCaig's muted colors achieve a nice balance between a mature atmosphere and a wondrous appreciation for the exotic nature of the setting.
As for the core plot here, while well told, it's not exactly a new element. That's not to say there aren't new elements here. Waid has developed a wonderful new incarnation of Martha Kent here, one I can't wait to get to know better. The writer also hints at a much stronger connection between the Kents and Lex Luthor... a wise move, given what millions see on the television screens every week thanks to Smallville.
The most fascinating aspect of the script is Waid's inclusion of a spiritual context to Kal-El's powers. He refers to a glorious halo of color that fades after a living thing dies, and it brings out the wonder and glory of the character's powers while at the same time providing a tragic aspect as well. It reinforces the hero's drive to save as many lives as possible, and brings a tender mysticism to the Man of Steel.
