Binker
Superhero
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2005
- Messages
- 7,118
- Reaction score
- 185
- Points
- 73
SUPERMAN #659
Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Art by Carlos Pacheco, Peter Vale, and Jesus Merino
Cover by Al Barrionuevo
PLOT
After hearing Arion's foreshadowing of the future, Superman looks back at the time in his early years where a woman named Barbara Johnson was convinced the Man of Steel was a real angel. But in believing that, she takes the idea too seriously which causes some trouble on her part.
REVIEW
I was looking forward to this issue when it was the Krypto issue. But it got shelved and instead #659 took its place. That wasn't to say that I didn't want to see this issue at all. Actually, I was curious about it. While this continued the "Camelot Falls" arc, which in my mind was okay to lacking at times, I wanted to see what this was about. The cover showed Superman rising up, with people's hands trying to touch him, and his cape being red angel-like wings. Add that to the story, I was wondering about it. And now...
My reaction to this happens to be very positive. Some parts in me were skeptic over this but it turned out to be a very nice story in this issue. We already know Superman is seen as a christ-like figure, a modern day moses, and overall an angel. This issue focuses on one woman's belief that Superman IS an angel, which he doesn't buy, and the story that we're being told ties into what Arion said to Superman in the previous issue about the future. You could see that he is just someone doing good and he doesn't and couldn't see himself as anything beyond who he actually is. But its with this story that Superman saw more of himself in these people than a do-gooder.
The woman Barbara Johnson was, at first when we are introduced to her, a crazy person. She was obsessed over Superman as she thought he was an actual angel. But I felt that despite the fact that what she was doing was crazy, like gettign herself into trouble like beign next to drug dealers, robbers, etc and praying and seconds later Superman showing up, despite that she is also another person Superman looks at and is influenced at. When
he tells her straight that he is only a mana nd not an angel. But she doesn't change her mind at what she believes and instead of continuing what she did, she tells him why she thinks he's an angel. Thats where Superman finds out because she believed in him, that others went the same path and became heroes themselves in cleaning an area of Metropolis that was filled with drugs and gangs. And thats where she says:
"You see, up there? He sends his gifts to protect us. But also to inspire us to do better. So maybe "you're just a man," Mr. Superman, but tell me how are you not an angel?"
Overall, this was a nice story. This still starts up part 2 of "Camelot Falls" but it was nice to get something other than that story arc and focus on Superman and who he is that inspires others, even those in his city. I like the character of Barbara Johnson because she is one of people who showed Superman was more than what he himself thought he was. Since she was old and the flashback was when Superman started his carear, I doubt she'll be back. But also, she was here just to serve one plot. Now, Superman now knows that he inspires and if he falls in despression, he has Lois to help him.
RATING: 8/10
Next issue: Superman makes the desicion in light over Arion's future foreshadowing.
Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza
Art by Carlos Pacheco, Peter Vale, and Jesus Merino
Cover by Al Barrionuevo
PLOT
After hearing Arion's foreshadowing of the future, Superman looks back at the time in his early years where a woman named Barbara Johnson was convinced the Man of Steel was a real angel. But in believing that, she takes the idea too seriously which causes some trouble on her part.
REVIEW
I was looking forward to this issue when it was the Krypto issue. But it got shelved and instead #659 took its place. That wasn't to say that I didn't want to see this issue at all. Actually, I was curious about it. While this continued the "Camelot Falls" arc, which in my mind was okay to lacking at times, I wanted to see what this was about. The cover showed Superman rising up, with people's hands trying to touch him, and his cape being red angel-like wings. Add that to the story, I was wondering about it. And now...
My reaction to this happens to be very positive. Some parts in me were skeptic over this but it turned out to be a very nice story in this issue. We already know Superman is seen as a christ-like figure, a modern day moses, and overall an angel. This issue focuses on one woman's belief that Superman IS an angel, which he doesn't buy, and the story that we're being told ties into what Arion said to Superman in the previous issue about the future. You could see that he is just someone doing good and he doesn't and couldn't see himself as anything beyond who he actually is. But its with this story that Superman saw more of himself in these people than a do-gooder.
The woman Barbara Johnson was, at first when we are introduced to her, a crazy person. She was obsessed over Superman as she thought he was an actual angel. But I felt that despite the fact that what she was doing was crazy, like gettign herself into trouble like beign next to drug dealers, robbers, etc and praying and seconds later Superman showing up, despite that she is also another person Superman looks at and is influenced at. When
Superman doesn't make it in time to save Barbara when she is shot and ends up in the hospital
"You see, up there? He sends his gifts to protect us. But also to inspire us to do better. So maybe "you're just a man," Mr. Superman, but tell me how are you not an angel?"
Overall, this was a nice story. This still starts up part 2 of "Camelot Falls" but it was nice to get something other than that story arc and focus on Superman and who he is that inspires others, even those in his city. I like the character of Barbara Johnson because she is one of people who showed Superman was more than what he himself thought he was. Since she was old and the flashback was when Superman started his carear, I doubt she'll be back. But also, she was here just to serve one plot. Now, Superman now knows that he inspires and if he falls in despression, he has Lois to help him.
RATING: 8/10
Next issue: Superman makes the desicion in light over Arion's future foreshadowing.
. its part of the Arion story arc but could easily be a stand alone story.
