SUPERMAN #176
"A Little Help"
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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DC Comics
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Ian Churchill
Artist: Norm Rapmund
Colors: Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
While I still think the three-month "Our Worlds at War" crossover was ill-advised, its aftermath continues to serve as a goldmine of storytelling potential for the Superman titles. Loeb offers up yet another thoughtful, grounded story that focuses more on the "man" than the "super," but it's marred by art that just doesn't suit the more introspective tone of the script.
The Man of Steel's been haunted by the events of the Imperiex/Brainiac-13 War, and a friend suggests he seek out some help. Yep, Superman goes to see a therapist. He struggles with grief over friends lost during the war -- like Aquaman -- and with darker impulses he needs to keep under control. He also shares the latest development in his relationship with his wife.
"Superman sees a shrink." It sounds silly when summed up like that, but the way in which Loeb presents the idea makes a lot of sense. I was relieved that the real emphasis isn't about finding a cause for the patient's problems, but about taking responsibility for his feelings. The psychiatrist isn't there to "cure" Superman, but merely to act as a sounding board, an impartial party who doesn't see him as a hero, a teammate or husband.
It's too bad Churchill had to fill in as penciller for this issue. His more conventional super-hero style was all wrong for this story. Sure, he conveyed the ferocity of the opening fantasy scene, but given that this is a story about inner turmoil, not super-hero fisticuffs, his Liefeld-inspired, overly-thatched art comes off as a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.
While Loeb's script is strong, just how forthcoming the title character is with his new confidante struck me as odd. While the writer conveys how uneasy the hero is with this new experience, Superman still seems to reveal far more than he needs to about his personal life. The woman is taking notes right in front of him; surely that would give him pause. It would for anyone, but this particular patient has life-and-death secrets that must be kept. It's a minor point, but it did take me out of the story for moment or two.
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