'Superman Heroes' #1 Review: An emotional ride with Superman and people that matter to the man of steel
Spoiler alert for 'Superman Heroes' #1
After Superman revealed his secret identity to the world in 'Superman' #18, the world of DC Comics has changed like never before. 'Superman Heroes' explores the impact that devastating revelation had on the people who know him personally. It talks about heroes, both costumed and otherwise who have shaped Clark Kent into the man he is today.
This isn't a book that's heavy on the action — in fact, it has no fight scenes at all — but the quiet, emotional look at how each person very important to Clark has been affected by his choice and does provide some perspective on these characters and their relationships to the man in blue. Except for the mandatory Hall of Justice scene, there's a very minimal presence of superheroes in the story but honestly, we're not complaining.
Superman has always brought out the best and the worst in the people around him and that's doubly true in 'Superman Heroes'. Plastic Man, a character who's almost always been literally and figuratively two-dimensional, shows some surprising depth and Booster Gold finally gets to fanboy to his heart's content in a heartwarming chat with Superman.
But for Batman, one of Superman's closest allies, this landmark change to the world brings out some deep-seated resentment and jealousy. All put together, 'Superman Heroes' covers all the different ways in which people are reacting to Clark, taking his phony glasses off but it only really delves into the relationships he has built in his human identity.
Clark's conversations with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, both bring out his inherent humanity but this quality shines through the best in the scene where he's talking to his old high school chemistry teacher. You wouldn't think that a teacher could have had that much of an impact on Superman but he did help shape Clark Kent and the biggest change that the Man of Steel's monumental decision has brought about is erasing the line between the two personas.
Superman is Clark Kent. Clark Kent is Superman. Our world has known it for decades. Now his world knows it too.
'Superman Heroes' was released on February 12.
Is written by Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka; artists Kevin Maguire, Steve Lieber, Mike Perkins, Mike Norton, Scott Godlewski; colorists Paul Mounts, Gabe Eltaeb, Andy Troy, Nathan Fairbairn; and letterers Troy Peteri, Clayton Cowles, and Simon Bowland.