Superman | Youseph Tanha

Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

Not long ago I came across an NPR article about a special hardcover edition of “Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”

In 1986, DC Comics decided that Superman’s dense 48-year history had grown too confusing for new readers. Worse, his backstory contained elements that seemed slightly twee in light of the tonal sea change that was beginning to take place in comics. It was the year of grim, violent books like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, which showed readers the superhero genre’s sinister side.

Superman, on the other hand, had over the years featured such sunny conceits as Krypto the superdog, with his tiny red cape.

So DC cleaned house, rebooting the Superman franchise from scratch. Going forward, nothing would remain of what readers had come to know about the Man of Steel. Henceforth, he would be the lone survivor of Krypton — no dog, no cousin Supergirl, no shrunken Kryptonian city in a bottle, peopled by hundreds of thousands of microscopic (though similarly super) people. Gone, too, the Fortress of Solitude. Even archnemesis Lex Luthor would morph from mad scientist into billionaire businessman, trading his skintight purple getup for a crisp bespoke suit.

In 1986, DC Comics decided that Superman’s dense 48-year history had grown too confusing for new readers. Worse, his back story contained elements that seemed slightly twee in light of the tonal sea change that was beginning to take place in comics. It was the year of grim, violent books like Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, which showed readers the superhero genre’s sinister side.

Superman, on the other hand, had over the years featured such sunny conceits as Krypto the superdog, with his tiny red cape.

So DC cleaned house, rebooting the Superman franchise from scratch. Going forward, nothing would remain of what readers had come to know about the Man of Steel. Henceforth, he would be the lone survivor of Krypton — no dog, no cousin Supergirl, no shrunken Kryptonian city in a bottle, peopled by hundreds of thousands of microscopic (though similarly super) people. Gone, too, the Fortress of Solitude. Even archnemesis Lex Luthor would morph from mad scientist into billionaire businessman, trading his skintight purple getup for a crisp bespoke suit.

I also learned that the book was written by Alan Moore, who has written other comics such as the “WATCHMEN“, “V For Vendetta“, and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen“. When I learned that Alan Moore had written “Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow” I had to pick up. Which I did and read it in one sitting.

I found “Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?” to be a very good ending to the original Superman story line and think anyone interested should read it. It really is good and worth the cost. The Deluxe Edition that I picked up also includes a couple of other Superman Comics written by Moore. “Superman: FOR THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING” as well as another story between the man of tomorrow and Swampthing.

“Still Me” by: Christopher Reeve

StillMeUSpap Put very simply, “Still Me” is a book written by Christopher Reeve where he writes about his experiences as an actor and about his horseback riding accident which produced his paraplegia and its effects on his life.

I am a fan of Christopher Reeve and what happened to him was just awful. It’s quite interesting to read how he deals with his life after the accident and what his life was like before his horseback riding accident and after.

The book starts out well and good. Bouncing between happier times and what his life was like after the accident. Before you know it he is describing in great detail what happened to him and his horse. The beginning of the book reads a lot like a man who has been though more therapy then any normal person could realistically afford. Halfway through though, you start to really get a sense of who Christopher Reeve was. Almost like halfway through the book he started speaking his mind and was not so influenced by his therapy. The book is also filled with hope that one day thanks to all his hard work and the work of medical scientists a cure for his paralysis will be found within his life time.

Christopher spend a lot of time in this book talking about how he started out in theater. Working as a stage hand, learning as much about the trade as he cold. Eventually Christopher Reeve made his way as an actor. It’s been a real eye opener for me learning about all that goes into a play production. Having close friends heavley involved with the theather I never really thought about all that is needed to put on a play in a theather. But now I feel I have a much better understanding.

My favorite Christopher Reeve movie is “Somewhere in Time“, followed by “Superman“. Both of which are very much worth seeing if you have not.

I remember the day Christopher Reeve passed away. October 10, 2004. It just seemed so gut wrenching that such a good man, such a positive man, with all the hope he gave people left us. I remember that date well. I made a little memorial for him on my website quoting the final pages of Superman Comic issu #75, The Death of Superman.

Like weary boxers who have gone the distance, the combatants collide in one last explosive effort.

In the years to come a few witnesses will tell of the power of these final punches… That they could literally feel the shock-waves.

Others will remember the enormous crater that resulted from the sheer force of the blows.

But most will remember this sad day, as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell.

For those who loved him, one would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son, this is the darkest day they could ever imagine.

They raised him to be a hero… To know the value of sacrifice.

To know the value of life.

And for those who served with Superman in the protection of all life, comes the shock of failure.

The weight of being too late to help.

But it will.

For a city to live a man had given his all and more.

But it is to late.

For this is a day, that a Superman Died.

Like weary boxers who have gone the distance, the combatants collide in one last explosive effort.

In the years to come a few witnesses will tell of the power of these final punches… That they could literally feel the shock-waves.

Others will remember the enormous crater that resulted from the sheer force of the blows.

But most will remember this sad day, as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell.

For those who loved him, one would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son, this is the darkest day they could ever imagine.

They raised him to be a hero… To know the value of sacrifice.

To know the value of life.

And for those who served with Superman in the protection of all life, comes the shock of failure.

The weight of being too late to help.

But it will.

For a city to live a man had given his all and more.

But it is to late.

For this is a day, that a Superman Died.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very difficult to put down once I opened it. I highly recommend it if you where a fan of Christopher Reeve or a fan of theater.

Superman: Red Son – Book Review

What would have happened if the rocket ship carrying the child Superman had left Krypton just twelve hours later? Because of the Earth’s rotation, Superman would have landed in the Soviet Union‘s Ukraine region. Rather than fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way, Superman is described as the Champion of the common worker who fights a never-ending battle for Stalin, socialism, and the international expansion of the Warsaw Pact.

At least that is the theory behind the DC Comic’s, Superman: Red Son. The result is a very different world then we are used to thinking about in regards to Superman comic books.

This was a great read. I really enjoyed it cover to cover.

Kingdom Come Review

This last weekend I finished reading “Kingdom Come“. Which is a comic book mini-series that takes place in the future with an aged Superman and Batman. The story is great and the art is nothing short of amazing. I have been reading a lot of these comic mini-series lately and so far have enjoyed them all.

Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics. It was written by Mark Waid and painted by Alex Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea. Set some 20 years into the future of the then-current DC Universe, it deals with a growing conflict between “traditional” superheroes, such as Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League, and a growing population of largely amoral and dangerously irresponsible new vigilantes. Between these two groups is Batman and his assembled team, who attempt to contain the escalating disaster, foil the machinations of Lex Luthor, and prevent a world-ending superhuman war.

I think of this story as a big “What if” story. It’s wroth the time to pick it up and read it. I would like to talk about it in more detail. I am just worried about ruining it for people who have not read it yet. But it’s a good book and if you get the chance I hope everyone will read it.

The comic dose such a good job of letting the reader know each characters personality as well as their abilities. Even if you don’t the back story of each character, the book dose such a good job of making you feel like you do from page one.