Eye on Comics
  • About/Submissions

Coming Clean

  • Reviews - DC

Superman #18
“Truth”
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Ivan Reis
Inks: Joe Prado
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover artists: Reis & Prado (regular)/Bryan Hitch (variant)
Editor: Mike Cotton
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99 US

I had a keen interest in this issue, as it brings together to major interests and influences in my life: the super-hero genre and journalism. The latter element isn’t as examined as prominently as I’d hoped in this issue, but it’s felt nevertheless as part of Clark Kent’s identity. Ultimately, this is the sort of story I was hoping we’d see when it was announced Bendis would take the reins of DC’s Superman titles. The focus here is on character above all else, as he shakes up the status quo of an iconic character’s existence. There’s an inspirational, hopeful tone to Superman’s confession to the world here, and it made for an enjoyable reading experience. But there are other questions to be explored – ethical failings and potential fallout that I hope Bendis examines in coming issues.

In light of recent events, Superman comes to question decisions he’s made in his life – chief among them, his choice to live a double life. He sets out to reveal to the world that he is Clark Kent, but before the big press conference, he’s got a few people close to him that need to know before everyone else.

Ivan Reis and Joe Prado have been a go-to creative team at DC for huge, action-packed epics, and while I find their art pleasing, I didn’t think it would be all that well suited for an issue that sets aside the bombastic elements of the genre in favour for a more reflective, character-driven focus. However, they manage to instill the enormity of the moment with their sweeping vistas of impossible and majestic cityscapes. The Thanagarian backdrop for the United Planets scene makes for an interesting contrast with the personal, introspective conversation Superman has with Adam Strange, for example, and the choice to present Superman’s press conference with a massive crowd against the enormity of the Daily Planet building also conveys how huge and pivotal this decision is.

There was a problematic sequence, visually speaking, later in the issue, though. The two-page spread featuring Superman’s press conference and the reactions of various super-heroes to the news on live TV didn’t flow well at all. It took me a minute or two to figure out the proper order in which to read the panels and – more importantly – the dialogue. It disrupted the moment, the story, which was unfortunate.

One of Bendis’ greatest strengths is his dialogue, especially when he brings larger-than-life figures down to earth through their words. I loved the hilarious exchange between the Man of Steel and Adam Strange, and it unfolds in the context of a utopian vision of government that actually takes action on critical issues. And Superman’s speech to the world about who he is was well crafted, capturing the essence of the character. It wasn’t just about revealing his secret identity, but about revealing why he does what he does, what makes him an essentially decent person.

Mind you, one of the most powerful scenes in the book was the one without any dialogue or narrative captions. Clark’s moment with Perry White was perfect, conveying everything one needs to know about their relationship. Bendis makes it perfectly clear these two men are more than work colleagues – they’re family. The writer also sets aside the bluster for which Perry is known and delves into a more vulnerable side of the character. I loved that page.

Bendis, through the characters, makes the wholly relevant point that Superman’s secret identity, years after his debut, serves no purpose. Initially designed to protect those close to Clark, things have played out so those same people are close to Superman in the world’s eyes. The one aspect that Bendis doesn’t explore here is the fact that Clark – and Lois, for that matter – has now compromised himself professionally and legally. Every piece he wrote as a reporter about Superman is now questionable. It’s ironic that by embracing truth – a central tenet of his profession – Clark has invited questions about his truthfulness and trustworthiness as a journalist. Furthermore, as a guy with a job, assets, a mortgage, presumably, he’s also made himself a different kind of target for those Superman has roughed up over the years. I get that point of this key issue was to celebrate the moral center of the title character, and as such, the writer has focused on a positive tone. My hope is that Bendis will delve into the consequences of this decision in the coming issues. 8/10

Follow Eye on Comics on Facebook or on Twitter.

December 15, 2019 Don MacPherson

Post navigation

Frail, the Conquering Hero → ← Land of the Freaks, Home of the Strange

One thought on “Coming Clean”

  1. Marcelo Soares says:
    December 16, 2019 at 12:59 am

    He has done it beautifully with Daredevil. He probably has a few more tricks to try this time.

Comments are closed.

Recent posts

  • The End of the World As He Knows It
  • Burnt-out Ends of Smoky Days
  • They Do Need Those Stinkin’ Badges
  • Future Tense
  • Teed Off
  • Scar Issue
  • Of Gods and Monsters
  • Genre Splicing
  • A Mouthful of Dollars
  • Striking the Wrong Chord

Categories

Archives

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Editorials
  • Features
  • Original Comic Art
  • Reviews – Action Lab
  • Reviews – AfterShock
  • Reviews – AiT/PlanetLar
  • Reviews – Archie
  • Reviews – Black Mask
  • Reviews – Boom! Studios
  • Reviews – Dark Horse
  • Reviews – DC
  • Reviews – DC/Vertigo
  • Reviews – DC/Wildstorm
  • Reviews – Devil's Due
  • Reviews – Drawn & Quarterly
  • Reviews – Dynamite
  • Reviews – Fantagraphics
  • Reviews – IDW
  • Reviews – Image
  • Reviews – Indy/Small Press
  • Reviews – Legendary
  • Reviews – Lion Forge
  • Reviews – Marvel
  • Reviews – Miscellaneous
  • Reviews – NBM
  • Reviews – Oni Press
  • Reviews – Other Media
  • Reviews – Quick Critiques
  • Reviews – Radical
  • Reviews – Slave Labor
  • Reviews – Titan
  • Reviews – Tokyopop
  • Reviews – Valiant
  • Reviews – Zenescope
  • Reviews- Humanoids
  • The New 52 Review Project

Search

Recent Posts

  • The End of the World As He Knows It
  • Burnt-out Ends of Smoky Days
  • They Do Need Those Stinkin’ Badges
  • Future Tense
  • Teed Off

Recent Comments

  • Marcelo Soares on Coming Clean
  • Perry on Scoop
  • R Phillips on “Fixed… With Tape”
  • Leslie on Avengers… Disassemble Those Guys
  • Perry Beider on 2018 Glass Eye Awards – Creators
April 2021
S M T W T F S
« Mar    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  

Archives

  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • April 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
Powered by WordPress | theme cats456