It is wild to think about how fast time flies. When you pick up Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special from your local comic shop three decades after the original, you might also grab some ibuprofen. Regardless, it’s an excellent era to return to, as we have the four “new” Supermen featured in this return special by returning writers and artists from the era. We are in a for a treat with Dan Jurgens, Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Jerry Ordway, Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett, and Brett Breeding, joined by some current superstars to make this special. What will this special add to the legacy of that epic story?
This special has a hefty price point, so choose your cover wisely. Some variants recreate the original die-cut covers that introduced the new Supermen, which is neat, but I don’t think I can muster up enough nostalgia for that price tag. The main cover by Dan Jurgens is an excellent wraparound cover that features the four Supermen in their original style along with a long-haired Superman. How long before the Mullet vs Long Hair battles return? No matter the hairstyle, Jurgens’ style is always excellent.
The Special has a framing sequence by Dan Jurgens with art by Travis Moore that plans the story in modern times with Lois Lane being Editor-in-Chief and gathering the staff to cover Cyborg Superman’s attack on S.T.A.R. Labs. Ron Troupe plays a big part in delivering Perry White’s notes from the original era of the four Supermen’s first appearance. That segues into a story of Troupe in the neighborhoods dealing with the aftermath of Doomsday’s attack. This portion is the best of the bunch, as Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove sync back into their ’90s groove. This Return Special and the Death Anniversary have been excellent additions to the Man of Steel’s early days.
The next portion takes us to an early adventure of the Eradicator by Jerry Ordway on script and art. Ordway’s style is timeless, and he does not miss a beat with his adventure; this feels straight out of an issue of Action Comics from the time. Ordway does an interesting job of explaining why some villains were not around to take advantage of Superman’s death. Following that adventure is a Superboy story by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett, which Superboy fans will love. I enjoyed the technology updates Kesel and Grummett inserted into their story; they also deliver a fun Mike Carlin homage with their cabby.
The special wraps up nicely by featuring some different views of Superman’s return and the classic black suit he wore. There is a tiny bit that reminds readers of Cyborg Superman’s origins, and I like how that tied into his motivations for starting the attack. I wish Cyborg Superman would’ve been a bit more successful with his portion of the story, as it could’ve given him some great character moments instead of a quick shutdown by the other Supermen. Going back to my original question of what the Special brings to the Return story, it brought on some beautiful additions to Steel and Superboy’s early appearances and also reminds us of how amazing that creative group still is.
Creative talent from the Return of Superman era return to show some fun glimpses back in Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1. They show that the magic of that era is alive and can be revived at any time. Excellent add-ons to the Supermen’s first appearances and a great reflection on one of the worst stories the Daily Planet ever ran.
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