The Return of Clumsy Clark and Goofball Jimmy

[samurainoir]

In the last year or so, we've seen the return of an arguably more "iconic" version of Clark and Jimmy after Byrne and co gave use a more confident post-Crisis Clark Kent that played High School Football.





On some levels it is entertaining to see these characters in a manner that we haven't seen in decades. However it does bring some interesting issues into play when it comes to contemporary continuity... he still remains married to Lois Lane. Or does this open up some interesting dynamics that we didn't get to see pre-Crisis. Everyone in the world questioning what The Daily Planet's top reporter sees in Clark Kent.

Although Perry should know better.

[jds1911a1]

Actually even the pre reboot clark wasn't this clumsy this is closer to the early 70's Clark before Morgan Edge put him on TV or the Christopher Reeves Richard Donner version. Which untimately is closest to the 30's Clark

While I am not a huge fan of the Reboot superman he has now been around for 20 years. This may be a step towards a new reboot post infintie crisis and 52 I just hope if there is a reboot it has better planning than the Byrne one.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Superman has already gotten a reboot, DC just won't come out and say it. Trying to piece together Superman's history is like putting together one puzzle from four boxes. There's a bit of the Silver Age, a lot of the Reeve movies, a good chunk of the post-crisis, some STAS/JLU and quite a bit of Smallville in there.

Personally, I'm enjoying the Superman books more than I have since around Zero Hour, so I'm all for it. I just wish they'd do a definitve "Life Story of Superman" like they did WAY back in Action #500.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

Personally, I'm enjoying the Superman books more than I have since around Zero Hour, so I'm all for it. I just wish they'd do a definitve "Life Story of Superman" like they did WAY back in Action #500.

Ditto...I really like the way Geoff Johns is handling the character and his continuity. Looking forward to the cross-over arc with the LSH. Hopefully Johns will be on the title for a long while.

I wish DC would revive DC Comics Presents and team Superman with various heroes every month...it hasn't been done in a long while and there's a lot of modern characters, as well as some classic old ones, I'd like to see him team-up with, ala the recent Waid/Perez Brave and the Bold...just some old-school fun stuff!

[Vortigern99]

Love the artwork, love the feel of the Donner/Lester films, love the clever scripting! But I have to say it seems odd, and out of continuity, for Perry to be chastising Clark for his lack of friends... when Clark is married to Lois freaking Lane!

[samurainoir]

I wish DC would revive DC Comics Presents and team Superman with various heroes every month...it hasn't been done in a long while and there's a lot of modern characters, as well as some classic old ones, I'd like to see him team-up with, ala the recent Waid/Perez Brave and the Bold...just some old-school fun stuff!

It seems lately that Superman/Batman has become that kind of anthology team up title. Every issue seems to be chock full of guest stars, both old and new. Some interesting choices have been made throughout the books run.

I have to admit that I wasn't big on the Kubert artwork, but I think Gary Frank's stuff really sizzles. Particularly when you start to see Frank's style kind of letting in some Christopher Reeve and Curt Swan influences.

[thunderbolt]

Byrne's Kent was one of the few things he got right in the revamp. He was a goofball when it came to covering his ID, but underneath still a hardball reporter. He was channeling a bit of George Reeves. I don't care for the bumbling idiot Kent as portrayed in the movies.

[The Toyroom]

Ya know it's hard to believe that it's already been 20+ years since Byrne's "Man of Steel" reboot mini-series...

[jds1911a1]

Ya know it's hard to believe that it's already been 20+ years since Byrne's "Man of Steel" reboot mini-series...

thay's cause were all gettin old

[Werewolf]

Is that the Super Powers Brainiac?

[The Toyroom]

^ Yes it is the 80s version of Brainiac.

[jds1911a1]

Is that the Super Powers Brainiac?

Actually he predated Super powers bay about a year. he was introduced in the 35th anniversary issue of Action comics (#335??) I have it in my collection the same issue also introduced the armored luthor. I actually liked this Braniac best of all his incarnations

[davidb]

Just noticed another change - they've had Perry start smoking again. Several years ago, he had a heart attack (IIRC) and quit. Very nice touch to have the no smoking sign in the background, too.

[LadyZod]

I'm pretty sure Infinite Crisis provided a soft reboot in terms of the Superman books. Some things have changed from Byrne reboot, and some have stayed the same. Kind of like they merged the precrisis and postcrisis Superman in midstride. That's why they renumbered Superman back to it's original numbering and did away with Adventures of Superman. Think of that as the soft-boot starting line.

I'm one of the few that don't mind a reboot, as long as I'm given a clue about it. Just a quick timeline, to keep things straight. Continuity is spoken about by precrisis crazies as though it is some kind of great disaster. It don't have to be. It can be good too.

I kind of like the Alan Moore Supreme style of reboot. Where we just pick up where Supreme is now, and in the issues, we're given flashbacks of his past in the new continuity to fill in the holes (done in either Golden Age or Silver Age style). It didn't involve a whole miniseries or anything, just a here we are, here is where we were, and here we go.

[palitoy]

I really like the way this artist depicts Clark Kent.