|
|
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive version of a classic.,, 24 Oct 2003
I should say here that I am not a comic book reader on a regular basis. This book took me by surprise. It made me realize what I loved about the Man of Steel when I was six years old and spent every penny I could beg from my dad on buying Superman comics. It made me realize, also, what Superman means to me now, thirty some-odd years later, and how there is still resonance and life for this great literary creation (and I'll back that up with detailed arguments if I have to) all these years since his creation. Superman, here, is a man, and a man of conscience. His greatest power has never been his strength or his speed or his invulnerability. It has always been his conscience, his need to set things right, to save lives, to basically "do the right thing." In "Superman for All Seasons," his humanity and his conscience are brought out and emphasized. It is easy to lose sight of those two attributes, and even DC has lost sight of them before. Not here. They are front and center, for your attention. And you should pay attention. Loeb, Sale and Hanson put Superman/Clark Kent back in his roots, showing his life on the farm, his first love, and the tragedies and triumphs that make him who he is. He is not simply a "big blue boy scout" here. He is a man of conscience, and someone who broods a lot, and someone who doesn't have all the answers. But what he does have, he gives freely, and he does his absolute best at all times. Other readers have commented on the differences between Batman and Superman, but they all come down to this: Batman is motivated by vengeance. Superman is motivated by responsibility.Responsibility is underrated. Vengeance is more sexy, but what quality would you rather have in a fireman? This is a "corny" story. It's about responsibility, and caring for people, and doing the right thing. And yes, there's even a dog. I hate to use the word "values," since it has been co-opted by people who have no interest in the true matters of the heart, but this story has them. It's worth reading if you're six or if you're forty-six, regardless of whether you care about comics or not, simply because it finds the heart - the essence - of this hero, and it reflects the heart of what is good about Superman. And by extension it shows what is good about the society that created Superman as a literary figure. I cannot recommend "Superman for All Seasons" more highly; it is essential for students of American culture, for people who still dream, and for people who want a good story well told.
|