Written by John Byrne
Art by John Byrne; John Costanza; Dick Giordano; & Tom Ziuko
Cover Art by John Byrne & Dick Giordano
SUMMARY:
Released in late July 1986 (with an October 1986 cover date) by DC Comics, it’s the second issue of a six-part mini-series restarting Superman’s continuity after the game-changing Crisis on Infinite Earths saga. Entitled “The Story of the Century!,” it’s the after-shock of Superman’s stunning public debut. Now patrolling Metropolis in the familiar red, blue, & yellow, the mysterious Man of Steel rockets to the top of Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane’s priority list.
A series of frustrating dead ends pushes Lois to use desperate tactics to score her exclusive interview. Yet, could some interloper named Kent looking for work outrace her to the year’s biggest headline?
REVIEW:
With John Byrne steering this ship, Superman: The Man of Steel # 2 is a terrific read for all ages. Keeping things simple, Byrne freshly updates Superman’s cast for the mid-80’s in a soft re-launch. On the one hand, this ‘rookie’ Superman comes off as a not-quite-naïve adult Boy Scout flying around in super-hero tights. He isn’t quite Christopher Reeve’s Superman, but this Man of Steel treads closer to that ideal than DC had previously depicted him. Yet, Byrne conveying Lois in a manner similar to her Margot Kidder incarnation has her earning this issue’s MVP honors.
Byrne’s handiwork extends to the solid visuals – there’s no mistaking his down-to-earth creative style. The artwork is nicely suited to his script. Suffice to say, Superman: The Man of Steel # 2 retains its charm thirty-five years later.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Editor Dick Giordano’s “Meanwhile …” column is on the back inside cover. A brief “DC Checklist” of issues released the week of 7-24-86 share the same space.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
