This page features reviews of the Superman comics that I have read and enjoyed.



Superman Comic Review
Superman #141 (1st series) November, 1960
"Superman's Return to Krypton"
Artist: Wayne Boring

This is one of my favorite comics of the silver age reflecting the best kind of Superman stories of the time. The editor was still Mort Weisinger, and the themes of these Superman stories were grand in their scope.

(A note to readers: Do not confuse this story with the other return to Krypton story from the same period, where Superman meets his parents in a "Back to the Future" type scenario. The following tale was not reprinted in "The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told", but in my opinion, should have been.)

As this story, Superman is sent into space to confront a strange creature (looks like a big pink balloon) that is heading toward Earth. As Superman approaches, it speeds away, and Superman hurries after it. However, he pours on the super-speed a little too much, and ends up breaking the time barrier.

No sooner does Superman materialize into the past than he recognizes- a Red Sun! Superman quickly realizes that he is orbiting Krypton, and lands before his power runs out. Powerless, he wanders onto the set of a Kryptonian movie studio and they mistake him for an extra because of his "strange costume." (Which is strange, because his super costume is hardly disimiliar from the regular outfits worn on Krypton)

Superman is glad to have a chance to earn a living on Krypton, since he has no ready cash, and accepts the misconception. As he works, he catches the eye of a beautiful movie star named Lyla Lerrol. (called Lyla Lerror at first, probably a misspelling) Superman is smitten, but at the end of the day, he picks up his cash and explores the streets of Krypton.

Soon, Superman sees a news report of a young scientist about to be married to a beautiful woman- Jor-El and Lara, his parents! Superman witnesses their marriage and becomes friends with the young newlyweds. Jor-El sees potential in his future son and gets a job for Kal as an assistant scientist.

Coincidentally, Lyla shows up for dinner one night at Jor-Els and Superman falls head over heels in love with her. Torn between the fact that Krypton and his parents are doomed and the romantic feelings that he has for Lyla, Superman is in emotional turmoil. Soon, fate intervenes and Superman and Lyla are locked in a whirlwind romance.

However, throughout their romance, their are violent reminders of the doom that awaits their planet in the form of earthquakes and tremors. Superman knows that their romance is doomed, but he cannot leave what he sees as his one true chance for happiness. This kind of depth in the character of Superman had not been seen much before, so the story is somewhat before its time. Of course, for continuity, Brainiac shows up to shrink Kandor, and Superman's future foster parents are spied upon from Krypton by Kal using a super-powerful telescope.

In the third act of this story, the story progresses quickly. Superman decides to stay on Krypton to meet his fate with his loved ones. Another interesting decision, considering all the people he's supposed to save on Earth, and his "true" love, Lois Lane. This is a human decision, based on his feelings, not at all representative of the stiff, heroic mold that Superman had been resigned to for so long. It would be a few years yet before Marvel would come and make the "human" superhero with such flaws popular.

Anyway, Superman and his father find more evidence that Krypton is doomed, which adds to Superman's uncertainty. The book's defining moment comes together at a celebratory toast by Superman, Lyla, Jor-El and Lara. "To this moment, to the four of us, no matter what tomorrow brings."

The next day, Superman is called back to the movie set for a final day of shooting. The scene calls for Superman to enter a space ship alone for his scene, but then a "fateful accident" occurs. A space creature on loan from the Kryptonian Zoo gets loose and charges into the space ship, breathing super-powerful flames into the exhaust port. This is enough force to blast the ship into space, off of Krypton.

Lyla watches helplessly as Kal-El is lifted into space, never to be seen again. (A great wordless panel) The ship flies far out into space, and soon passes by the rays of a yellow sun. Superman regains his strength, and starts to go back to Krypton, but quickly changes his mind. "Fate can't be changed!...Earth needs me!" Superman breaks the time barrier again, and materializes just in time to miss a horde of deadly green kryptonite meteors heading toward Earth. A painful reminder that Krypton and everyone on it has perished. Superman soon returns to Metropolis, eager to see his friends. "It all seems like a strange, incredible dream..."

What a great story this is. Superman is presented with a human moral problem that can't be solved with super-powers. For the first time in his life, he is also completely at home. During the Weisinger years, Superman was shown as a character that longed to part of his Kryptonian heritage. His fortress and knowledge of his past was an intregal part of his make-up, quite different from the down-to-earth Superman of today. Lyla was the love of his life, and with her there were no roles to play, and no disguises. He was content with his family, and grew to know his real parents in a way he never could before. Despite the "spacey" theme of this story, this is one of the most human Superman stories I've ever read.

Another note to fans: Lyla makes another appearance in Alan Moore's Superman annual in 1986. This guest stars Batman, Wonder Woman and Robin at Superman's birthday party. Another great Superman tale. Maybe I'll review that one next time.

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