Reddit reviews Superman: Peace On Earth (Superman (DC Comics))

I am a big superman fan (so much so that my golf towel is a superman logo), and the way I got into him wasn't much like everyone did on here from what I can see. Normally before then I batted an eye at things superman since he seemed like a very generic character to me at the time, muscle bound men with capes who wear tights is a tad generic to the casual observer but then I found that Supes was more complex than that. I never really picked up a superman book, let alone read one, until I finished reading Superman: The High-Flying history of America's most enduring hero. Although not a graphic novel liker someone who wanted to get into the comics initially would do, it's basically a character bio depicting the events of what happened to the character, how DC comics was formed, and the lives of those that created him (Jerry Seigal and Joe Schuster). After finishing this book I was hooked, I wanted to know more about superman. I know it's not cannon but I got hooked on smallville, believing that it was canon for a short time given it's consistency starting out with the entire superman mythos in other media (grew up on farm, wasn't told he was an alien until well into his childhood etc). Now without further ado, I am going to run through some of the best superman stories and some of the worst (or comically amusing if you're looking for a laugh).

The Good

• Superman: Secret Origin : If you are looking for an origin story, and this one is considered to be the most modern and maybe the official origin story for the man of steel (although I could be wrong, somebody challenge me on this if I am) and frankly I am quite enjoying it. It has elements from the Smallville TV show even though the creative team that made it wanted it to stand alone from the TV show, even though there are some key elements that deviates it from the TV show. My only problem, The time in which the events transpired from issue to issue skip, one issue he could be in his pre-teens, the next he is a young adult working at the planet. If you are looking for such an origin story this one is for you.
  
  
• Superman: Birthright: Another origin story, it's not secret origin, and it has no familiar attributes like it either. Instead we are thrust into Clark's life as a journalist before he comes home to make the decision to help others and prepare his superman attire. I am still reading this one as well but I haven't had the time to finish anything. Anyway, be sure to give this one a try.
  
  
• Superman: Earth One: Another origin story, I am starting to set a pattern here. This Superman is a more complex and to many a much more satisfying take on the character since we get a version of Clark going through the motions of growing up and deciding what he wants to do with his life. Also some other things that revolve around the life of Clark Kent to become superman.
  
  
• Superman: Secret Identity: Last one, I promise. This book is neither in canon, nor does it strike any familiarity with other superman books. Instead we are thrust into a universe where Superman exists in comic books much like ours, and the book itself revolves around a kid named Clark Kent who is routinely picked on for sharing the secret identity for the man of steel. This book is interesting in the fact that it focuses more on Superman's secret identity as if it was given more focus and attention as his superhero career.
  
  
• Superman: Red Son: So, what would happen when Superman err Clark Kent was brought up and raised by the Soviet Union? Read this one to find out. The primary themes to this story are the topics of nature vs nurture, plus abuse of power.
  
  
• Superman: Peace on Earth: Alex Ross fan? Let's just say that whenever Superman decides to try to create peace on earth it doesn't always goes according to plan. This book explores superman's attempts to do just that but with resistance in his efforts. This book's primary message is that global issues are more complicated than they seem, much so that even a being like superman can't easily solve them.
  
  
• Superman: Kingdom Come: Superman and the rest of the justice league come out of retirement to stop the bad guys. Personally, I wasn't aware that superman aged until I was told about this issue.
  
  
• The Death of Superman: People are going to attack me in saying that this was only acclaimed and sold enormous amounts of copies because DC wanted to boost sales and that it occurred during an era where the comic book bubble was about to pop. From an investment standpoint the issues that make up this book might not be worth anything if you are a trader but many have found this one hard to put down
  
  The Bad
  
  
• Try reading the material for the flagship New 52 title, I dare you.
  
  
• DC Archives: Superman: I might be being cruel here but this book is a collection of the Golden age superman. It's definitely not the best thing you can read if you are getting into superman, but it's an amusing look into the character's publication past where he was a psychopath with Intermittent Explosive Disorder who always used violence to get his way. It carries very little narrative for an actual story but keep in mind that Joe and Jerry were highschool kids when they wrote and illustrated this.
  
  

Read this sometime. It's a very good story in and of itself.

Superman geek chiming in here. The character has for a long time been given messianic overtones in the comics and movies, I would imagine probably going all the way back to the 1940s after DC gained full control of the character away from his creators, who were Jewish and appear to have taken inspiration from aspects of Moses' background. From World War II onward, Superman has been portrayed as the quintessential WASP All-American, and much like in other examples of American literature and folklore, his stories tend to include both direct and indirect references and symbolism coming from Christianity.

I would say Man of Steel has more obviously intentional Christ symbolism than any of the previous film iterations (which had their own: Jor-El dialogue about Kal-El being "the light to show the way" to the people of Earth in the 1978 movie; in Superman Returns, Superman seemingly sacrificing himself for humanity and falling back to Earth in a cruciform way, then "dying," or going comatose at least, before getting up and leaving an empty tomb hospital bed later). In MOS he does the cruciform thing again, and is framed in one scene with a stained-glass window depicting Jesus in the background. He is once again depicted as a "Christ figure," vaguely indeed, however I take him to be still very clearly a flawed human kryptonian (as evidenced by decisions he has to make in the film in which there are no good options even with all his powers) who nevertheless tries every day to live selflessly. For me personally, the character is not a messiah stand-in and I don't look to him for my theological interpretation, but he does fit the bill as a man trying to live out a Christian life (he's a methodist, apparently) and would fit alongside Don Quixote and Jean Valjean as other literary characters from which I draw inspiration.

Allegorically, I see Superman as a depiction of America itself, or American ideals, rather than Jesus. He has the power to do incredible things, but for that reason he also has to be careful because his intervention in the affairs of the world can have severe unintended consequences. For further reading on that, check out Superman: Peace On Earth, a story in which he decides that the greatest gift he can give to humanity is to end world hunger. As he embarks on this mission, however, he realizes that even with amazing powers he can't create economic sustainability in impoverished and famine-stricken regions, nor can he garner trust from warlords who see him as a weapon of the US government.

Finally, I enjoyed Man of Steel quite a lot, but I can understand the criticisms from those who are wanting a more light-hearted movie; they definitely went for a much more solemn tone than the Reeve version (which is also a favorite of mine).

Superman Peace on Earth. Probably my all time favorite story. This is also the story I used to explain to my wife my fascination with Superman.

http://www.amazon.com/Superman-Peace-On-Earth-Comics/dp/1563894645

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