New Beginning

Some Legends and legendary stories never get old and in Superman we have the most popularly known origin and growth story in comic-dom, reworked in a whole new way that entertains with every page. We have had our share of the planet Krypton devastation and the boy who escaped and finally the boy growing up in Smallville as a kid with super powers. Here in this story we have the same and a whole bit more.
More importantly we also have a detailed description of the origins of the other brilliant and famous person from Smallville, Lex Luthor, also the eternal anti-superman super intelligent villain.

This volume details Luthor's initial friendship with Clark and the ways in which the brilliant wannabe scientist was always thwarted by his own brilliance, his impatience or the Neanderthal nature of his peers and teachers. His eternal quest for alien life from a very young age begs a question whether he was aware that Clark's one too. Left to the imagination here but it manifests itself in later pages with abject hate for Superman.
Luthor in his megalomaniac quest as the most supreme intelligent person on earth can never accept anyone else being the centre of attention on earth. Hence his eternal quest to destroy Superman.
We read this in numerous layers in this story. And also how jealousy blinds a person to an extreme degree.
All the other characters are here with a special mention for Ma Kent (Martha Kent) who has a strong connect with Clark and the way she keeps a continuous tab on her indestructible son. We also see Superman going to her when in abject crisis which sometimes is missed in a lot of other stories.
Excellent visuals, art and entertainment.

You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:

http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/04/...

Shadowhawk reviews Mark Waid’s 2003 ground-breaking origin story of the Man of Steel.

“A fascinating story about relationships, consequences, and identity that also helps to establish Superman as more than an American hero.” ~The Founding Fields

I don’t often re-read graphic novels. In fact, I rarely do that at all. But, there are some stories that are worth visiting again and again, which is where Mark Waid’s 12-issue origin story about Superman comes in. One of the other reasons I revisited this story was because I’m taking an online comics course through Ball State University – Gender Through Comics – and this graphic novel was part of our week 2 reading. It has been a really fun course so far (week 4 starts tomorrow), and I’ve really enjoyed some of the discussions that we’ve had till now, covering everything from comic book covers to portrayal of women in the various comics: Strangers in Paradise, the new Captain Marvel, Birthright, Ms. Marvel #1s from 1977 and 2006, and so on.

The course has been extremely fun and the one thing I’ve really enjoyed coming out of this are the interviews with the writers and editors. Interviewees so far have included Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise and Rachel Rising), Mark Waid (Daredevil, and Birthright, and Irredeemables), and then Kelly Sue DeConnick and her editors on the current Captain Marvel book, Stephen Wacker and Sana Amanat. If ever there was a chance to get into the minds of these creators about the work they do, this is it. While I haven’t enjoyed DeConnick’s Captain Marvel, her insights into the character and her beliefs regarding the same have been very much an eye-opener. The same applies to what Wacker and Amanat said during the interview. This coming week the guest is Gail Simone and for that I’m really excited, since she’s currently one of my top favourite comics writers, with all the work she’s done so far on Batgirl for New 52, and her Birds of Prey: The Death of Oracle graphic novel. Fun times!

Anyway, moving on, Superman: Birthright is a very unique book. For one, it contains a very big retelling of the Superman origin mythos, in that the core idea behind the hero is not one borne out of Clark’s daily struggles in Smallville (or even Metropolis), but from his experiences of a civil war in a war-torn African nation. Second, there are some heretofore unmentioned powers and abilities that were a surprise to me. Third, this is the only origin story I know of where Lex Luthor and Clark Kent knew each others as kids in Smallville, the other source being the hit TV show starring Tom Welling which I also loved and enjoyed. Fourth, the second half of the book is taken up with how Luthor is able to manipulate Superman’s inherited Kryptonian legacy and turn it against him, a concept that came up repeatedly in Smallville, but not in any other story as far as I can tell. Admittedly, I’m not conversant with a lot of the lore about the character over the 75 years of his existence, but I don’t think it has come up so starkly before, or so forcefully either. And fifth, this is a Superman story that sticks to the modern times, that feels relevant to a modern audience because of how Mark Waid shows the world and the characters catching up to modern technology: Superman able to avoid electromagnetic transmissions because he can see them, Lois Lane blogs on the Daily Planet’s site, Martha Kent and Clark exchange regular emails, and so on.

Another reason that this book is so good is because it goes back to the core elements of what the character and his world have come to mean to readers over the last 75 years. Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, the Kents, and Lex Luthor are all here. Together, they represent the core cast of Superman characters, and Mark Waid shows them all off in the story to a great degree. Every character does something meaningful and relevant, with their relationship to Clark Kent and Superman also being explored throughout. This is the kind of writing I expected and wanted out of the current New 52 version of Superman, and this is precisely what has been missing from it.

Let me clarify. Superman is just one side of a character with a double identity. Clark Kent is just as important and significant in the mythos as much as Superman is. Without one, the other is nothing. In Birthright, Mark Waid gives as much importance to the Clark Kent persona as he does to the Superman one. In fact, it is not up until Clark is in Metropolis and rescues Jimmy and Lois from a damaged news helicopter that we even see the red-and-blue caped costume, and this is happens in the middle of issue 4. Until then, it is very much like Smallville: Clark saves people while he is himself, without any thought towards hiding who he is. His experiences in Africa lead him to the conclusion that the only way he can fit in normally with other people is if they don’t know the truth about him, and to safeguard that truth, he needs to hide who is, and become someone else: Clark Kent the lion-wrestling global journalist becomes Clark Kent the mild-mannered, goof-up reporter for Daily Planet.

The way that Mark Waid builds up the character through those first three issues is remarkable, and since he is focusing only on Clark and his adoptive parents, he is able to give some real page-time towards making Clark Kent into a real character with motivations and beliefs.

It was a modern day retelling of Superman's origin set during the modern time well modern time circa 2003 so not to modern as it's 2019 now and the updated time is already 16 years past but still a fun fun read and it was fun read about Supes start in the modern times and we have almost all the major points like his journey as a secret superhero, his initial journey to earth, his search for his truth, creation of his dress, Louis Lane, Jim, Mr. White, Lex Luthor etc. and this deals with Clark's search for the way to use his powers for good and he tries to do that in Metropolis but he has Lex Luthor in his path who does his best to discredit Superman. And it was lotsa fun.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

Let me clear all the baggage out of the way in one bold claim: this is the best Superman story I have ever read, period. End of story. Sure, Geoff Johns wrote a pretty solid reimagining of Superman with Superman: Secret Origin and I've been told the Grant Morrison Action Comics, Vol. 1: Superman and the Men of Steel is meant to be grand but I don't care, I've encountered Mark Waid's vision and it is amazing.

For those who are new or have no clue in regard to the world of graphic novels, comic books and basic drawn superhero lore let me explain one quick thing. Superman: Birthright was part of the inspiration behind the recent Man of Steel movie. At least, most of the good ideas in that film were based on some of the breathtaking imagery and storytelling in this work of fiction.



To put it simply this is a fantastically amazing artwork. Not only are the pencilling and the inking jobs top class, but the plotting and story itself are so composed. There is a brilliant balance between the sheer joy of Clark Kent existing as Superman and Clark Kent; a wonderful retelling of the Superman legend; and also a further balance between subtlety, dialogue and melodrama. In short it is a work of brilliance.

n  WHY YOU SHOULD READ SUPERMAN BIRTHRIGHTn

MARK WAID'S REVIEW OF MAN OF STEEL

In short, if you are any kind of a fan of Superman, do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy of this. Better yet, do what I did and buy it. It should only be around 20 dollars or so if you go to right place and in my view it was 20 dollars well spent.

Hands down the best Superman story I've ever read. This series cum graphic novel beautifully captures the complexities that can exist in a stalwart character like Superman, while still having fun with the standards of his mythos (primarily his relationship with his parents, his friend vs. foe constantly changing history with Lex Luthor, his nerdiness as Clark Kent, etc.). There's a lot to Superman as a pop culture icon and as a character, and in this reboot of the comic, Mark Waid and artist Leinil Francis Yu examine every facet of those things. I'm really sad that this story has now been written out of continuity, but leave it to DC to open new venues for its characters, only to trap them back into outdated movie pitches or bizarre science fiction concepts with the title "crisis" preceding them.

The reason this story works on so many levels for me is that it takes into account all the identities that Superman creates for himself. Kal-El the alien has always seemed his truest identity to me, because it is as this alien that he approaches the world. Sure, he adopts Clark's bumbling nature to hide potential links to Superman, but it is Kal's choice to adopt the values of his parents, ultimately, once he discovers his Kryptonian background. Like any great American story, this book is about choosing who you will be and how your actions will reflect on yourself and your personal legacy.

Yu's artwork is nothing short of the best Superman artwork I've ever seen. He looks both majestic and menacing, particularly in his last showdown with Lex Luthor. The sketches become a lot harsher, the lines messier and presto, you have a Superman who I believe would go after wife-beaters with ferocity Shuster and Siegel intended.

This book is a must-have for anyone who loves the potential for growth in the Superman franchise.

4.5 Stars
Let it be known that this was the book that made me a Superman fan.
This modern retelling of Superman's origin story is everything I never knew I wanted.

Granted, this is my second time reading a Superman solo book, so maybe I'll find better stories (looking at you All Star. The hype is real.) But the fact is, I connected to this story, I smiled, laughed, I even got emotional. Mark Waid takes this invulnerable character and humanizes it in ways I wasn't expecting. At the end, this book is the bittersweet story of a young man who loves this world, but who doesn't belong here. Of a man longing for answers and never quite getting them, but when Clark sees those images of his people wearing the Symbol, he knows what's missing in his life, is the hope that they all brought, is the hope that he wishes to carry on here, because, as a child of Krypton and Earth, that's his mission, his birthright.

Damn did I love this book. The beginning in Krypton, even though is well known, it is still heartbreaking, but how Waid connects both the opening and the ending of this book is beautiful. The first time that we see Clark we're immediately seeing not only the joy and the inspiration he seeks to give everyone he cares about, but his doubts and insecurities too. In the midst of Clark's job, trying to protect, write and learn from Mr. Asuru, a symbol of revolution, protection and equality in Ghana, there are beautiful illustrations of Clark being free. Of Clark, the young man, smiling while flying, laughing while playing with lions and thoughtful while learning about Krypton. It is a great introduction to his characters and it gives a great reason of why he isn't Superman yet.

Throughout the book, we see him finding his own identity, embracing both Kryptonian legacy, but also, always proud of being a child of Smallville, honoring both Jonathan and Martha Kent. And let me tell you, the relationship between that family makes me so damn happy and emotional. What a wonderful dynamic to keep Clark human, in the moments where he's lost or defeated he has his parents there. Also, what a perfect, positive and intimate way to build both Clark's identity, Superman, and his Clark Kent -Daily Planet employee- persona.

Of course, all the classic names are in this title. Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Lex Luthor. What's new and interesting is Lex's introduction to the story, how he met Clark for the first time and their relationship, their parallel and connection. It gave this book another layer of complexity. Luthor was the only person who really understood Clark, who understood his pain of not belonging, of being isolated from everyone else. A pain that's always there, Clark is always the outsider, just as Luthor still is. Great stuff, really.

I don't know if I can keep writing about this book because I plainly loved it. And I don't have the proper words to explain why I loved it so much. Why I connected, why I'm so glad I finally gave this character a chance. It is never too late to appreciate what Superman means. If you haven't read much of this character, I wholeheartedly recommend this title.

Also, can I say how beautiful it was reading this book while listening to the Man of Steel soundtrack? Best thing ever.

Oh man, I just want to go back in time and punch me in the face anytime I thought or said that Superman was boring. READ A FUCKING COMIC BOOK. I would like to yell. Oh well, I'm doing it now and I still have five more Superman titles waiting on my bookshelf and I can't wait to dive into more.

I you plan to read this, here I'm hoping you can appreciate Clark and his journey as much as I did.

I really didn't know how to take this book when I first read it, but I definitely felt that it wasn't true to Superman.

This was what I was hoping for from Superman for All Seasons, but didn't quite get. One reason Birthright was such a good retelling of Superman's origin, was that it made his story much more modern and relevant. And it did this without changing the core of his story or personality.
Johnathan and Martha Kent helping Clark come up with his disguise was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book! Also, you can really see why Clark falls so hard for Lois in this one. Awwww! I'm such a sucker for stuff like that!

Mark Waid's take on the Superman origin story is one that's lauded by many fans as among the best Superman tales of all time. And reading it, it's easy to see why, with its re-imagining of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor as boyhood friends whose relationship informs both of their lives as adults. From there we follow not only Clark's adoption of the Superman persona, but Luthor's rise as a successful scientist and billionaire businessman, whose success is far more due to the strange visitor from the planet Krypton than he cares to admit. It's an approach that takes its inspiration from the premise of the then-popular Smallville series, but builds on it in new and thrilling ways.

And yet I finished the book slightly disappointed. Part of the reason for this was how, apart from a touching development at the end, the story pretty much ends up where it has always been. This is hardly a criticism, but given that much of what Waid does was already done by John Byrne in his legendary Superman: The Man of Steel, Vol. 1 relaunch in the 1980s, it made much of what Waid does in these pages less of a fresh take than an entertaining riff on someone else's character-defining work. What Waid does with it is certainly enjoyable, but I finished it questioning whether it deserved fully the stature it enjoys among the fanbase today. Simply put, as good as it is, it's been done before, and in many respects to better effect.

I really did not think I could love Superman any more than I already did, but every time I read one of his comic books (which, sadly, is not very often) it's like I rediscover my love for him. I'm very behind on my comic book reading and rereading. And I've been meaning to read this forever, but life gets in the way and there was always something else to do. I'm glad I finally had a sick day, though, and read this. I don't know what I was expecting, but this kind of knocked my socks off. I actually started getting emotional during certain parts - which actually doesn't take much when it comes to my fave heroes. I think I've reached a new level of geekiness though. Hurrah.

Anyways, this was definitely five star worthy. The story was great and the art was beautiful. I think I blew up my sister's phone sending her so many snapchats.

A good introduction to Superman.

This volume is more of an origin story, and deals with Superman’s search for a place in the world, how he decides to use his powers for mankind’s good, and how the world tries to come to terms with him. Unlike some stories, Superman is already in his mid-twenties and starting out as a reporter. The story features his first encounter with Luthor. Waid is good at finding logical reasons for things, like Superman’s costume and why nobody else escaped from Krypton. He even explains Superman’s disguise; I never thought somebody could come up with such a good explanation for something so absurd. The attraction between Clark and Lois is believable and written well.

The story and characters are strong, with a lot of humor and heart, and people all have their own wit and energy. Waid doesn’t try to make Superman too whimsical or too gritty. Lex Luthor is kind of sympathetic. The artwork is good, although some might find it a little too rough or bright.

Sometimes, though the story explores subplots that you might not care about, like Luthor’s time in Smallville. Also, Luthor’s plan is pretty infeasible and has a bunch of plot holes. It’s also implied that Luthor gets off on a technicality at the end, despite the crazy and terrible things he’s done. Luthor also feels like a Bond villain in this tale. Some of the dialogue can be pretty on-the-nose.

A fresh, accessible and human story overall.

Absolutely magnificent, filled with action, sci-fi, drama, comedy and a bucketload of emotions. It's been a long time since I had this level of satisfaction after reading a comic book.

Birthright is written to near perfection, with Mark Waid presenting the readers with an unbelievably relatable and modern Superman. Many writers just write Superman stories without actually knowing the character and they end up giving us titles like in the disastrous New52 and post-Tomasi era Rebirth series. Mark Waid understands it well that Superman is not just a guy in a blue suit and red Cape who fights big monsters and villains, but also a symbol of hope and above all, just a man who is trying to do some good.

The supporting characters really feel like they are supporting something. They are not just there for the sake of being but play key roles and have personalities, which many comic books lack nowadays. The book also explores Lex Luthors back story which is extremely well written. It has added a lot of depth to his character. In Superman mythos, Metropolis is just as big a supporting character as Lois Lane, Perry White and Jimmy Olsen. And here, Metropolis feels alive. The city feels like it has an identity.

If you are a Superman fan and haven't read this comic book yet, go and grab a copy now. If you are not a Superman fan and haven't read this book, go and grab a copy NOW!