A run that paid meaningful homage to the Silver and Bronze Ages, as well as Richard Donner’s films…
On the whole, there are two runs on Superman I’ve truly loved since John Byrne’s Man of Steel rewrote the character back in the ’80s. One of them is Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason’s time chronicling the young life of Superboy Jonathan Kent from the 2010s. The other is Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s marvelous Action Comics run from the 2000s that was deeply influenced by Richard Donner’s vision of Superman, as portrayed by Christopher Reeve.
Well that latter run is getting an Absolute Edition come 2024, according to DC.
Dig the official solicitation info, released by DC on Friday:
Frank’s new cover, in progress
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN BY GEOFF JOHNS & GARY FRANK
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by GARY FRANK and FRANK SIBAL
Cover by GARY FRANK
Experience Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s legendary Superman trilogy like never before. Presented in DC’s prestigious oversize hardcover format, the Absolute Edition collects the complete Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman: Brainiac, and Superman: Secret Origin, together for the first time! Featuring Action Comics #858-863 and #866-870; Superman: Secret Origin #1-6; and stories from Action Comics Annual #10, Superman: New Krypton Special #1, and Action Comics #900, along with character designs by Gary Frank, a script by Geoff Johns, an extensive cover gallery, a brand-new double-spread slipcase cover by Gary Frank, never-before-seen pencils, and more!
—
A few thoughts:
— The 640-page, oversize, slipcase hardcover lists for $150 and is due May 28, 2024.
— Johns was able to synthesize the best of Superman from the Silver to Modern Ages. You get heavy doses of the Mort Weisinger-driven world building, interwoven with the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve films, as well as aspects from the Bronze and Byrne periods. It’s not perfect — the ending kind of fizzles because it’s not really an ending. But the highs are high and among the very best Superman you’ll read.
— Johns’ run was actually lengthier than this: Missing are his collaborations with Donner, Adam Kubert, Eric Powell and others. But I suppose that’s what omnibi are for. (Hmmm. Shouldn’t there be a Geoff Johns Superman omnibus?)
— I am not a Legion fan but the story here is exceptionally accessible and that is no mean superfeat. I really dug it.
—
MORE
— ALEX ROSS and PAUL DINI’s WORLD’s GREATEST SUPER-HEROES to Get New ABSOLUTE EDITION. Click here.
— ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: GEORGE PEREZ to Get New Hardcover Edition. Click here.
September 16, 2023
“A run that paid meaningful homage to the Silver and Bronze Ages”
A restoration, not an homage. . .at least until 2011.