Superman: Year One #1 Review

Writer: Frank Miller

Artist: John Romita JR

Rating: 7 of 8

Superman: Year One #1

Sometimes, when a book, or film, is received negatively, I can understand it. It could've been the acting, the characterization, or maybe it was specific scenes that let people down. But other times, I don't really get it. This is one of those times.

After finishing the issue, I could hardly wait for more and I really wanted to see more of Miller's take on the Man of Steel. So, after reading, I was eager to see other people's takes on the issue. I was really surprised to see just how negative they were. I couldn't understand what they were seeing that I didn't.

For me, there was a lot I liked. Romita's art really stands out at times, like early on, with Krypton's destruction. There, he adds a lot of volume and a range of colour to the explosions. When baby Kal-El is rocketing away from the planet's destruction, we're treated to some truly outstanding visuals.

We get a great piece of sequential art as baby Kal gets closer and closer to Earth. We see his reaction besides Earth, showing him waking up, being surprised and almost afraid, then more accepting of his destination. 

But one of the best things Miller and Romita do is showing just how scared, alone and confined Kal really is when his pod closes. I do feel Miller used a bit more narration than he needed to, but it's still a very strong moment. Usually, whenever we've seen Kal rocketing to Earth, we've seen it from the outside and even if we've seen in, we don't usually get his point of view. This was a great decision, adding a new layer to his journey, only helping to add to the comic.

After Clark goes to high school, a lot of the issue's focused on some pretty constant, extreme bullying from a bunch of boys, but one in particular. It illustrates just how powerless anyone can feel in the face of bullying. How you want it to stop, how you'd want to stop it, but don't know how. How you might make it even worse by trying. It shows just how horrible bullying really is and I applaud everyone involved for tackling it and showing just how hard it can be to stop.

I do feel later on, the bullying took on a more sinister edge that it didn't need to, especially when it had already gone pretty far. I also wish that Clark had stayed with the person in question after, to be there and comfort them, given what happened and what nearly did. 

Near the end, Clark makes a surprising decision that might not entirely fit his character, but it could be an enlightening experience, one that could help shape him into who he'll later be. Ultimately, despite any flaws, it's an amazing issue and a great start to the series. I highly recommend it, though know at times it can be pretty upsetting, which is mainly down to the bullying and the strong feeling of helplessness. It can be a pretty different take on a young Superman, though refreshingly so. Give it a read as soon as you can!