SUPERMAN #174
"Every Blade of Grass"
Recommended (8/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Steve Lieber
Colors: Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
Though I don't know if it boosted sales or not, overall, the "Our Worlds at War" crossover was a creative flop. Occasionally, we got a good story that tied tangentially into the event (Batman: Our Worlds at War #1, Supergirl #61, for example), but in the end, the main plotlines just weren't that compelling. After reading Superman #174, though, I was almost thankful for "Our Worlds at War," as it made for a touching, human story here and a promising new subplot in the Superman titles.
Unable to track down his adoptive parents, Clark sets to rebuilding the family farm and home -- using his powers, of course -- as Lois watches her husband work through his pain. Word comes that one of the Kents has been found, but the other remains among the missing. Meanwhile, a change is made to Superman's costume in honor of those lost during the recent cosmic war.
Steve (Whiteout) Lieber on a Superman story? Could have knocked me over with a feather. It was a pleasure to an artist less associated with the mainstream bringing his unique style to one of DC's flagship titles. Lieber's grittier, more realistic style is perfectly suited to the human tone of this issue -- as opposed to the thoroughly superhuman and alien tone of other recent Superman comics. The final page, though, was jarring, as it was rendered done by regular penciller Ed McGuinness, making for a brief and unnecessary inconsistency in the art.
Though I wouldn't have wanted so much exposition so as to intrude on the quiet story being told in this issue, a little bit of background information would have been welcome. I remain in the dark as to exactly what catastrophe befell the state of Kansas in the DC Universe, for example.
"His heart is so big, it makes it all that much easier to break." This is but a sample from Loeb's compelling narration, in the voice of Martha Kent (via her journal). There's so much insight into the characters there... not just the title character, but others as well, notably Martha herself. It's Loeb's narration that grabbed my attention when he first started on this title in the fall of 1999, and it remains the book's greatest strength.
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