It’s a bird!
David
It’s a plane!
No, it’s Superman!
75 Years ago, a small comics publisher named DC released
Action Comics #1 featuring, among other stories, the first appearance of
Superman, that strange visitor from the planet Krypton with powers and
abilities beyond those of mortal men.
Disguised as Clark Kent, a mild mannered reporter for….Well you all know
the story.
Yes, Superman is 75 years old and while he doesn't look a
day over 35, he has become a worldwide icon and the first true “super” hero to
exist. Love him, hate him or just not
sure which way to go, he is the original and in my opinion, still the best
Superhero there is. I know all the
arguments about him: he is too powerful,
he has too many abilities, no one would ever be that “good” or “noble” if they
had all that power, Batman can always beat him, and his costume, really, red
underwear on the outside and a cape?
Don’t get me wrong, I love Spidey and Lynda Carter will always be the
perfect Wonder Woman, and The Avengers movie is the best superhero movie yet
filmed, but Superman is still, to me, THE Superhero.
DC seems to agree as they are turning June 12-14, 2013 into
a Superman tribute. We have the new Man of Steel movie landing in theaters on June 14, and I think it is fair to say that it is the movie that I hear the
most buzz about. I am so mad that I’ll
be at a conference during the premier that even now I am plotting as to how
soon I can see the movie and if I will wait to see it with my sons or just go
and see it and then take them so I can see it twice! I know, tough choices. However, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013,
Superman Unchained #1 will be available at your friendly neighborhood comic
shop. You will, of course, stop by the
Dragon’s Den and Gamer’s Gambit to get your copy, but you have several options
to consider.
Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Jim Lee and Scott
Williams, Superman Unchained is DC’s love letter to the comic BOOK fans of
Superman. Besides the talented main
creative team, DC has lined up a host of other top notch artists to provide
variant covers highlighting Superman throughout his 75 year career. These covers are iconic images from the
different ages of comic books. They are
a great collection of Superman images from the Golden Age, the Modern age, new
52 and many more. I've included them
below so you can see just how fantastic they are. Some, like Bruce Tim’s 1930s cover is a
younger artist creating a period piece of Superman, while Neal Adams is a
Bronze Age icon who was actually drawing Superman during that time. All of them are a fitting tribute to Superman
in the many decades he has graced the covers of a comic book.
I hope you will take the time to stop by and pick up a copy
of Superman’s Birthday Present to you.
Forget what you think you know about the character and take some time to
meet the first and still the best Superhero!
And if you need some recommendations about other Superman stories to
read, look for me around the stores.
I’ll be the guy wearing one of my many Superman T-Shirts lurking near
the 4 foot Superman S shield on our wall…
