The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
“Kneel Before Zod!” - General Zod (Superman II)
We are all familiar with the story of Superman. The last son of Krypton falls from the sky and is raised in Kansas only to gain super powers and become Earth’s defender of truth and justice. Superman is one of the 20th century’s most popular and traditional messiah/Christ figures.
Kevin J. Anderson’s The Last Days of Krypton takes us back before the birth of Kal-El and the destruction of Krypton. The novel focuses on the lives of a super scientist, Jor-El, and a high level government bureaucrat, Commissioner Zod during the final year or so of the planet Krypton. Both have high hopes for the future of their planet that will help their fates to cross for both the good and ill of the planet. Krypton is a self-proclaimed paradise, yet its development has stagnated due to isolationism and an entrenched distrust of change. We all know before the first page that the planet is doomed (or else there would be no Superman). What follows is a tragic political drama that is a fairly gripping read, because while we know how the story ends, we don’t know how the characters get there.
That being said, I would recommend this book for advanced readers, or those who are really into Superman and comic books. A lot of my enthusiasm for this book is based a lot upon me geeking out about Superman. So if you have ever heard of the Bottle City of Kandor, or know where Supergirl is from, then you HAVE to read this book! 
May 27th, 2008
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
What would you do if you were the smartest person in the world, had impenetrable skin, and that nagging feeling that you just never belonged? If you are Doctor Impossible you would become a supervillain and try to conquer the world. And when the world’s heroes stopped you time and time again? Well, you would just keep on keeping on, never giving up on your dreams of world domination. Statistically speaking you are bound to win at least once, and when you are taking over the world one win is all you need.
This novel is a wonderful homage to superhero comics. It pits the quintessential supervillain (Doctor Impossible) against the archetypal superhero team (The Champions). If you have ever read Superman, Justice League, or the Avengers, or even seen the movie The Invincibles then you are already familiar with the world of superheroes and how the epic battle between good and evil plays out over and over again. In the superhero world people have extraordinary powers that they receive either by birth, an industrial/scientific accident, or by extraterrestrial means. Some have super speed, some have super strength, some are magicians, and some wield magic. And supervillains try to take over the world, sometimes by political intrigue, or by destroying the moon, or by creating a race of giant murderous ants. In the superhero world the extraordinary is rather mundane. Battles between superpowered peoples take place everyday, and the devastated cities they leave behind them is just a normal part of living in the big city.
Austin Grossman captures the normalcy of this superhero world acutely. What happens when a 500lb cyborg walks down the street? The cement crumbles beneath her, and she gets embarrassed because everyone stops and stares. What happens when a supervillain in street clothes gets recognized at the local coffee shop? He quickly hides behind a napkin mask and dukes it out with the heroes the best he can, all while screaming “You will all bow before me!” The reader gets a real inside look at just how human superhumans really are on page after captivating page.
This novel was a treat. It has a extensive list of colorful quirky superhumans, it’s campy, their is adventure, humor, action, drama, and is above all is a great superhero story. This novel could totally work as a Superman or an Avengers story. The book is appropriate for anyone, but readers 14 and up who are very into superhero comic books will probably enjoy it the most.
May 12th, 2008
Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith
Who hasn’t dreamt of being a superhero? I have, and to be honest I still do. Yes, I am 29 and I daydream about being a superhero. But it’s all good because it only takes up like 75% of my day. I think I sleep and eat that other 25%… and work… and family… and read… and video games. How do I fit 150% of stuff in a 100% day? 
Jeff Smith, the creator of Bone, has produced a wonderful new spin on the Captain Marvel mythos. Billy Batson is a young homeless boy who is called upon by the ancient wizard Shazam to be a force of good in the world. By saying a magic word, (Shazam!), he turns into the mighty superhero Captain Marvel. Although he has similar powers to Superman, I believe he is far superior because he has the heart and the outlook of a child. These new powers of Billy’s are put to the test when he comes up against the villains of Mr. Mind (an intelligent worm) and Dr. Sivana (a super genius that happens to be the Director of Homeland Security). He does have help along the way. He guide for this journey is the talking tiger Talky Tawny and his little sister who shares his powers Mary Marvel. He can also rely on the ghost of the wizard Shazam who resides in the Rock of Eternity (which is located before space and time!).
I really enjoyed this for a variety of reasons. First off Jeff Smith’s art is astounding. A color comic has never looked this good. I was entranced by how he drew the ideas from the book from many different religious traditions, while making everything entirely accessible to readers of any age. Another aspect of the book is how great the characters are. They all have internal struggles, that are externally expressed with great dramatic effect. Billy as Captain Marvel is at once a kid and an adult and must balance the two. Mary Marvel is a six year old girl with powers to match her brother, but she never loses her sense of fun. This book has great depth but yet is still relevant for the young or young at heart. Smith also adds in references to the our own world, our fear of terrorism and how our government has reacted. Although this could have been very preachy it really adds a new flavor to the story, and I think it works well as a representation of how a child would respond to the world we live in.
All in all, this is a fun read. If you like Bone, if you like superheroes, you’ll love this. Highly recommended for all ages.
April 22nd, 2008
Godland by Joe Casey & Joe Scioli
What a wonderful graphic novel. This comic is a new riff on the Kirby Fantastic Four. Adam Archer is an astronaut that gets evolved into a superhero by a group of aliens. His powers transform his body so that it totally looks all glow-y; like he is about to explode. Not only that but he has super strength, the ability to fly, can shoot energy projectiles, and even teleport. He has an extensive supporting cast: three sisters (the supportive one, the adventuresome one, and the who looks after him), an alien ally (a giant green dog, like 15 feet big), the US government, and a cadre of colorful villains (a floating skull, a robot, and a dude in a big castle and his daughter).
This is the most fun I have had reading a graphic novel since the first hardcover of Invincible Vol. 1. It feels like anything can happen at any moment any where. The locales range from Mars to the Arctic, to New York and Las Vegas. The villains are appropriately over the top and continually challenge Adam Archer to explore the limits of his new powers. This volume also sets the groundwork for mythology of this comic universe, literally how the universe was created and its impact on Adam Archer and Earth. It’s mind boggling delightful. 
April 11th, 2008
