Written by Brian Azzarello.
Art by Jim Lee; Scott Williams; Richard Friend; Sandra Hope; Matt Banning; Eric Basaldua; Danny Miki; Trevor Scott; Tim Townsend; Joe Weems; Alex Sinclair; Rob Leigh; & Nick J. Napolitano.
Cover Art by Jim Lee; Scott Williams; & Alex Sinclair.
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2005, this 160-page paperback compiles Superman # 210-215 from 2004-2005. Previously, one million random humans (including Lois Lane) have ominously vanished from Earth. Even Batman & Wonder Woman suspect that this baffling enigma is irreversible. Weeks later, having previously confided in a terminally ill Father Daniel Leone in Metropolis, a disturbed Superman brings his new friend to visit the Fortress of Solitude.
Among its possessions is a silvery metallic orb containing ‘The Phantom Zone.’ Having deduced Superman’s intentions, Batman dispatches Wonder Woman to thwart the Man of Steel from potentially recreating ‘The Vanishing.’ Further complicating matters is the enigmatic spy-mercenary, Elias Orr, who is deployed by a shadowy organization with evidently sinister motives. Orr’s objective is revealed to cross mortal lines into both super-technology and ancient magic.
The Fortress is destroyed by Superman’s Arctic battle with Wonder Woman. Still, she reluctantly allows him to continue probing the secret of ‘The Vanishing.’ Within a reconfigured Phantom Zone of his own design, Superman explores a seemingly idyllic paradise intended as humanity’s refuge in the event of Earth’s destruction.
Contemplating his role as Earth’s self-appointed savior, the Man of Steel finds that not all its residents forces worship peace within this sanctuary. Along with robot duplicates of Jor-El, Lara, & Clark Kent, a reunited Superman & Lois must face off vs. his father’s worst foe in a fiery showdown to save a million lives.
Meanwhile, an abducted Father Daniel’s fate may be linked to the destruction of Superman’s fabricated dreamworld. With the meaningful location of a new Fortress revealed, it is indicated that the world will move on soon forgetting the mysterious ‘Vanishing.’
Note: This title was also previously released as a hardcover.
REVIEW:
Jim Lee’s art squad conjures up a veritable trove of visual magic; their work is equal to what Michael Turner’s Aspen Comics team does illustrating the futuristic Superman: Godfall. Hence, the best asset of Superman: For Tomorrow, Volume 2 (i.e. the cover image) consistently speaks for itself.
Yet, much like Turner & Joe Kelly’s iffy plotting in Godfall, fault lies with Brian Azzarello’s top-heavy storyline. Azzarello strives for a thought-provoking impetus where Superman tries re-engineering Jor-El’s strategy to save all rather than just one. Aside from its biblical allusions, For Tomorrow’s pretentious second half is a slog to read before bursting into apocalyptic combat for the outcome. It’s really then no surprise then that neither charm nor some humorous relief matter in Azzarello’s dark script. Instead, along with occasional profanities, he opts for Orr’s misogyny directed at Wonder Woman and the enigmatic villainess, Halcyon, as a dubious bonus for readers.
More indignity comes at the expense of Father Daniel, who would have likely made a welcome addition to Superman’s recurring Metropolis cast. Horrifically bio-engineering Daniel into a monstrous super-soldier makes little sense, let alone conveniently casting him off the way Azzarello does. All it does is further spell out how condescending Azzarello’s melancholic Superman is — no matter the good intentions from either Azzarello or the Man of Steel himself.
While For Tomorrow’s creative team merits credit for trying to concoct an ambitious storyline, Volume 2 is a downcast reading experience.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Jim Lee pens a two-page afterword. All the Lee-Williams-Sinclair covers are reproduced in a full-page format. Lee provides a two-page project sketchbook. Azzarello, Lee, Williams, & Sinclair offer their various acknowledgements. Lastly, there’s a single biography page introducing the creative team’s four main players, as well as Leigh and Napolitano.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
