![\"Superman:](\"http:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/smos4.jpg\")
\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
By various (DC Comics)
\nISBN 1-84576-128-6<\/p>\n
I thought I’d give this compilation series a belated and much-deserved recommendation when the latest volume thumped onto my desk. If I have such a thing as a regular reader out there, he\/she\/it probably knows I’ve been a fan of the character since 1962 or thereabouts. All of which meant that when DC announced a fundamental reworking of the Man of Tomorrow in the wake of their 1986 Crisis on Infinite Earths<\/strong> project, I was more than a little alarmed.<\/p>\n Sure the big guy was in a bit of a slump, but he’d weathered those before. How could a root and branch retooling be anything but a pathetic marketing ploy that would alienate the real fans for a few fly-by-night Johnny-come-latelys who would jump ship as soon as the next fad surfaced? That new Superman was going to suck.<\/p>\n He didn’t. After the six part miniseries by John Byrne and Dick Giordano, the saga returned to monthly titles Superman<\/strong>, Adventures of Superman<\/strong> and Action Comics<\/strong> – which latter acted as a fan-pleasing team-up book guest-starring other stars of the DC Universe. Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway joined Byrne to create thrilling and visually exciting, contemporary and even socially aware slices of sheer exuberant, four-colour fantasy that were impossible to hate. Superman had always been great, but he was once again exciting. Rivetingly so.<\/p>\n This volume features not only the usual quota of Superman tales (Superman<\/strong> 7-8, Action<\/strong> 590-591 and Adventures of Superman<\/strong> 430-431) but also includes two issues of the Legion of Super-Heroes<\/strong> (#37-38) to reprint a classic back-writing exercise that solved an impossible post\u00e2\u20ac\u201cCrisis paradox whilst giving us old geeks a chance to see a favourite character die in a way all heroes should. Paul Levitz, Greg LaRoque and Erik Larsen augment the regular creative teams in a classy, unrepentant super-feast.<\/p>\n As I’ve previously mentioned, a major problem that most non-fans have with super-hero comics (apart from them actually having super-heroes in them) is the insane convolutions of in-house continuity. This all-readers-start-here opportunity to show doubters how good this genre can be is one all comics missionaries should exploit to the fullest. So that’s your wife\/girl-friend\/mother’s next present sorted then, no?<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a9 1987, 2005 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00c2\u00a0 By various (DC Comics) ISBN 1-84576-128-6 I thought I’d give this compilation series a belated and much-deserved recommendation when the latest volume thumped onto my desk. If I have such a thing as a regular reader out there, he\/she\/it probably knows I’ve been a fan of the character since 1962 or thereabouts. All of … <\/p>\n