Written by Jeph Loeb.
Art by Tim Sale & Bjarne Hansen.
Cover Art by Tim Sale & Bjarne Hansen.
SUMMARY:
Released in 1999 by DC Comics, this 208-page paperback collects 1998’s Superman For All Seasons # 1-4 mini-series. Its segments are titled in order by the season (but not necessarily from the same year). Each issue is narrated by a different member from Superman’s supporting cast, as their insights prove vital to the ongoing story arc.
Spring: Told through Jonathan Kent’s sage perspective, he observes how his 18-year-old son awkwardly realizes that it’s time to leave Smallville after a tornado ravages the town. After sharing his secret with a bewildered Lana Lang, a lonely Clark Kent moves away to Metropolis. It isn’t clear how many years have then lapsed.
The astonishing presence of Superman coincides with Clark’s arrival as a rookie journalist for The Daily Planet. The Man of Steel’s interception of a nuclear missile targeting Metropolis has dual significance. Specifically, it draws the interest of Clark’s colleague, Lois Lane, and glowering resentment from the city’s other ‘superman,’ Lex Luthor.
Summer: As a jaded Metropolis sophisticate, Lois Lane contemplates the Man of Steel’s seemingly too-good-to-be-true intentions. More so, she acknowledges that Superman’s mutual enmity towards Lex Luthor is really a boon for a career. After Superman rescues an unconscious female fan from an overnight fire, Luthor senses a nefarious opportunity.
Fall: Seen through Lex Luthor’s eyes, a humiliating overnight stay in the Metropolis city jail expedites his desired revenge against Superman. Lois gains a brief insight into Clark’s private life before an unknown virus cripples Metropolis. Only a few, including Superman and a conveniently well-protected Luthor, are unaffected. With Luthor’s help, it’s up to the Man of Steel and an unexpected ally to douse the city with the airborne antidote. The price, however, is a tragic casualty.
Clark despondently comes home to Smallville while a triumphant Luthor gloats.
Winter: Reuniting in Smallville for the first time since their high school graduation, Lana and Clark poignantly observe the humble adults they have become. Encouraged by Lana and his parents, it’s up to Superman to save Smallville from a flood. Clark realizes that he must accept his responsibility as the world’s savior. Meanwhile, in Metropolis, Lois Lane curiously ponders the simultaneous absences of Clark and the Man of Steel.
Note: This title has been re-released multiple times, and its formats include hardcover and digitally.
REVIEW:
One included observation from Smallville’s co-creators, Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, describes the timeless Superman For All Seasons as reminiscent of a John Ford film. That assessment is accurate, but this All-American take on Superman also ingeniously mirrors Frank Capra’s filmmaking style. Predictable as it may be, readers will get the feel-good experience of Luthor’s ruthlessness losing to Clark’s humble innocence and the human spirit, as personified by Smallville.
Keeping such a familiar origin tale simple yet insightful, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s creative teamwork is beautifully rendered. More so, this duo’s classy storytelling would be hackneyed in nearly any other team’s hands. More so, what is so impressive is the story’s heartfelt vibe. Superman For All Seasons, in that sense, is conveyed as if it were fresh from a Norman Rockwell painting.
Excluding the usual components like Krypton, the Lois & Clark romance, the Fortress of Solitude (apart from a brief wink), and an assortment of outlandish villains, a far greater balance between Superman and his supporting cast is achieved. Hence, Superman For All Seasons, as an introspective, is a masterpiece for fans of any age.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Tim Sale’s full-page cover precedes each segment.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
