Superboy #1
DC
Written by Scott Lobdell; Art by R.B. Silva (pencils), Rob Lean (inks), Eric Canete (cover)
Sep 20, 2011
DC Universe
Is Superboy a clone? An experiment? Half-Kryptonian, half-human? A ticking time bomb? A creature totally lacking human empathy? All of the above? Superboy #1 introduces all of these elements in a truly surprising first issue—surprising in that it’s quite good. The clean slate of the DC New 52 soft reboot is working out better for some than for others, and in this case, Superboy’s multiple incarnations and muddled history benefit from being stricken for a cohesive concept.
First, on the art: R.B. Silva accomplishes the difficult task of making what’s mostly a sterile lab environment full of talking heads captivating. He also wields a clean line that’s classic and pays attention to fine details without ‘90s-style noodling. Very clear storytelling; very pleasing stuff. (Also: the snazzy cover by Eric Canete doesn’t hurt).
Scott Lobdell pens a meaty book that sets up the players, whose circumstances put them at odds. The clone (Superboy), the scientist that ends up being in charge of him (“Red”), a woman brought in as an anti-Superboy security measure (Rose Wilson), and more. The way Superboy senses things and interprets input is fascinating; he’s clearly an alien intelligence (both literally and figuratively). The internal dialog of the imprisoned Superboy and the dialog between his attendants leaves you not knowing quite who you can trust, who’s on whose side, and who is really pulling the strings. It’s a fine, rather absorbing mystery.
The promise of leaving the lab sets up for the story’s continuation in the Teen Titans relaunch, also by Lobdell. Accordingly, I’m much more excited at the prospect of checking out that book now. (www.dccomics.com)
Author rating: 7/10
Average reader rating: 6/10
Most Recent
- Premiere: Mia Day Shares New Single “Mountain Song” (News) — Mia Day
- Tallinn Music Week, Tallinn, Estonia, April 3-7, 2024 (Review) — Virta, Musta Huone, Mari Kalkun, Sven Grünberg
- Picnic at Hanging Rock [4K UHD] (Review) —
- Joe Goddard of Hot Chip Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song “Moments Die” (Feat. Barrie) (News) — Joe Goddard, Hot Chip
- Premiere: O Slow Shares New EP ‘Every Time I Look In The Mirror’ (News) — O Slow
Comments
Submit your comment
June 9th 2012
12:31pm
Wow. That’s the only word that comes to mind. I’ve come to learn over the years that someone who has to rnmeid you every 4 sentences that they know what they’re talking about rarely does. I’m all for critiques, and think they are useful tools to pushing forward, but this reeks of a fan that feels HIS beloved character is no longer the same as he grew to love all these many years. I’m sorry, but anyone who knows Eric and the projects that he has lent his talent to know that he is a master of pacing and storytelling. From storyboard to pages, he has never failed to drag the reader/viewer into the action. Sadly, it always the ones that rnmeid you how professional they while writing an email asking how you attained a job, and hinting towards wishing you would loose it. Fandom is funny that way. “You don’t draw (insert fanboy character here) very well and now I think you should not be able to do things like eat or pay rent.” I think that sometimes people forget how cartoony and overtop some of the older Kirby era guys really were. We’ve been brainwashed by the Jim Lee’s and the Brian Hitche’s into thinking that if it doesn’t look like that then it’s not comics and it’s not good. Very sad. Haha. I could go on and on about this email and how I feel the exact opposite on just about every point, but what would it matter. I would never try to talk someone out of their own opinion. I just wish that they could realize that despite what they think they know, it’s just that…an opinion. I’ve had a number of conversations with various people, inside and out of the industry who all, from top to bottom, love Eric’s work on Ironman and anything else he has lain a line on. P.S. And I’m an artist, TRUST ME, I know a little something about this…hahahaha.