Superman: Up In The Sky

 

Superman: Up In The Sky

Although comic strips were around for centuries, its safe to say that the modern medium began with the man from Krypton. The Big Blue Boy Scout crash landed onto news stand back in April 1938, in Action Comics #1. Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster changed the course of history that day. In my view Clark Kent should go down in history as one of the most influential fictional characters; much as Sherlock Holmes, Macbeth, or Uncle Sam.

But as I don’t have a spare copy of a $3.2 million classic laying around, lets start with something more recent.

What am I reading? Superman Up In The Sky, April 2020, Issues 1-6. Written by Tom King, Illustrated by Andy Kurbert.

What’s it about? We follow Clark on a rescue mission. An interstellar voyage across the unknowable gulf of space, enduring impossible hardships, facing a variety of his deadly cosmic foes, all to save the life of a solitary abducted child.

What’s good about it? What a place to start this blog on! I love this book for so many reasons. The first being the premise. People often say “Superman’s boring, he’s just unbeatable, how can that be interesting…” and to that I point them to this book. Tom King nails the fundamental idea that makes Superman great: He saves the day. He’s a hero. He’s Hercules in a big red “S”. He will do everything he can to save lives and make things right. That’s what he does best. He’s at his best when Clark is driven by simple inevitable morals ingrained by his home-spun farm boy youth, coupled with his ability to take a give a beating like only a kryptonian can.  

In issue #2, in order to get some information on the missing girl, Clark must take part in a boxing match against Mighto. Mighto is a little used character but is as powerful as the Man of Steel. Supe’s and Mighto duke it out for page after page, round after round. Mighto taunts Clark, taking all this punishment over just a kid. But that’s the point, its never just a kid, and he will never not take the pain if it saves someone else. He can take it. That’s what makes Superman so Super.  

What did I struggle with? It’s knit-picky, but I’ve never really thought Superman should be so muscular. Big? Certainly. Strong? Absolutely. Shredded? Nah. He should be built like a tractor, not a tank. I much prefer the barrel chested guardian figure of Alex Ross’ or Frank Quitely’s Superman.  Andy Kurbert’s art is beautiful nether the less.

Would I recommend? 100%! Up in the Sky is a perfect launch point for exploring cape comics. Its an emotional, intermate look at a figure everyone thinks they know, married with the heart pounding action we love him for. It’s equal part soliloquy and chase sequence. A cracking book to share.