J.Bone not only did the cover for this issue, he did the interiors! Yay!It's Superman's birthday and everything is adorable, from Lex Luthor being cranky about not being invited to the party, to Batman explaining pinatas to the readers
A not so good review from Adam Dechanel for the Superman Homepage
Story - 2: Quoting Myra in a script by David Odell "Jeez, they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel these days!" Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mastermind of our time is jealous of a birthday party? This is just Dora & Diego in capes isn't it? I appreciate them trying to filter the Lex/Superman dynamic down to the base level for children, but even they wouldn't buy a story like this.
Art - 3: Ugh, the constant smiling makes you think Colgate should be paying for advertising, even more than Mattel for enforcing this book's existence! It's just not fun anymore, it was nice to see the character designs for other Superman villains but everything just seems so 'cookie cutter'.
Cover Art - 4: Superman takes centre stage in this book for once!... Hey, is that ME in the bottom corner... ooh I'm famous! Joking aside it's a nice fun, family friendly cover - where the heck is my slice of that gigantic cake??
The art is "Ugh!" Really? Adam apparently doesn't like smiling or cookies. I think somebody needs a hug. Super bonus points for quoting from Supergirl, though.
Here's another review. This time by Doug Zawisza for Comic Book Resources!
This Johnny DC title does what no title in the DC Unverse proper did this year –- it wishes Superman a happy birthday. After all, it's not every day that a globally recognized, American legend turns 70. To celebrate, a Superman museum is opened in the Johnny DCU, much to the lament of the Flash.
Fisch provides a serviceable title, easily approachable for younger readers with just enough nods and winks for the older crowd that is trying to help foster comics reading for those newer comics fans. The art is simplistic, but well crafted, as it replicates the chunky feel of the toy line these heroes are based upon.
Lex Luthor, of course, shows his bald head to ruin the affairs of the day, with a mischievous plan that smacks of the types of schemes he used to cook up in the Superman stories of the 1960s.
In a time when Superman seems to be encountering a great deal of strife, a title like this does provide a nice reminder that comics were once geared towards a less stressed-out readership. The fact that it includes a recognition and celebration of Superman's birthday with his best friends and his dearest family members only adds sweeter frosting to the birthday cake.
A "less stressed-out readership"! I like that. I really do read this book every month...okay, it's my job. I read the scripts in order to work up a cover idea. But I would be reading this series anyway because I think Sholly is doing such a great job of updating the old World's Finest, Superman Family and Justice League type stories from the 60's. You know, when Batman used to smile and villains were foiled by Green Lantern wearing a rubber Superman mask! When Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite were just imps causing mischief not bizarre dwarfish demons tearing up the Universe with death-hungry powers.
Anyway, here are some more Super Friends covers! Count the smiles!
best,j.
7 comments:
I'm 29, and I love this book. The appeal for me is not just the art, but in the level of creative problem-solving throughout.
It takes a lot of work to boil down the entire DCU into an all-ages, good-time affair. This book succeeds on every level.
Har! Swashbucklin' Starro's splendid.
I spend my time walking through a grim post-Apocalyptic landscape with only my long coat, my pet mutant rat and my big gun for company (the North of England has gone a tad downhill of late),
and I have to say, I always find the prospect of fun, frolics and smiles kinda refreshing.
~ John
Good lord. If you can't say something nice about a comic book aimed at 3-year-olds, don't say anything at all!
The art wasn't "ugh." The art was "yay!"
Joe - Great to hear! I agree with you completely. I think the difficulty must be in choosing villains. Quite a few have been..."misused"* in the regular DC Universe which could make it hard to put said villain in a book aimed at children.
Jon - Thanks, Jon. Here's hoping Mattel does a Pirate Starro action figure in the next wave.
John - If Johnny DC ever needs a new ad campaign they should turn to your story for inspiration. "Comic books for a new Armageddon!"
Rachelle - I know, right? Can I paraphrase your comment for my business cards? "J.Bone's art is YAY!"
best,
j.
*"misused" Specifically refers to Dr.Light who appears in an upcoming issue of SF. I had to ignore what he's become and just think of the Super Friends version as a brand new entity. But what if a kid goes looking for more Dr.Light in a regular DC book? Yeesh!
I just picked this up.
Looks great!
Man, Superman is severely not amused by that giant starfish pirate. What a stick in the mud.
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