The Summer of Superman Special has a lot going on, and that’s by design. Not only does it land on the same week as Superman Day, but it’s also setting the stage for an upcoming wave of Superman-based titles. To that end, Summer of Superman Special #1 utilizes three different writers and three different artists to tell a story that spans three different eras of the Man of Steel’s life.
That story features Clark Kent fighting off the Fatal Five’s Validus at three different points in his life: when he was a teenager and still ‘Superboy’, on the eve of his best friend Lana Lang’s wedding to John Henry Irons, and a point in the future. It’s a genius storytelling device that allows for challenges both physical (Validus proves to be a pretty tough foe) and mental (a young Superboy is shocked that he isn’t marrying Lana, while an adult Clark gives Lana the talk she needs to get past her wedding jitters).
The writers assigned to each part of the book are also quite fitting. Mark Waid tackles the “past” section; he’s slated to write a younger Clark Kent’s adventures in Action Comics and recently delved into the past of Krypton with the “Phantoms” storyline in said title. Dan Slott, making his DC debut, is going to be writing his own Superman title with Superman Unlimited. And Joshua Williamson, who’s been working on the main Superman title, has an eye on the Man of Steel’s future – especially as it pertains to the events of the DC All-In Special.
DC
Most of the Summer of Superman Special is illustrated by Jorge Jimenez, who has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best working in the business. Jimenez can deliver some great action sequences: Acts 1 and 3 feature Superman and Validus battling through time that’s intercut with things that have happened or will happened (eagle eyed DC fans should look out for certain moments), while Act 2 sees them duking it out in a tornado. My favorite moment has Superman rapidly pummeling Validus with punches, then diving into the storm to save his adoptive father Jonathan.
But Jimenez also has an eye for the quiet moments, whether it’s young Clark and Lana studying on the Kents’ porch or Clark looking on as Lana and John trade vows. The same could be said of Belen Ortega, who performs finishes on Act 3 of the book; her style meshes perfectly with Jimenez’s. Dan Mora delivers an ominous two-page spread that hints at the future to come, and even those two pages are a joy to behold.
Summer of Superman Special #1 accomplishes its Superman-sized storytelling goals, delivering a story that the Man of Steel’s fans will love – and might win over some new ones in the process. Bottom line: there’s never been a better time to be a Superman fan.
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