Superman '78: The Metal Curtain

Superman '78 #7-12

by Robert Venditti (Writer), Gavin Guidry (Illustrator), Jordie Bellaire (Colorist)

The hit series Superman ’78, set in the universe of the iconic 1978 Superman film, returns with a story that introduces Superman's foe Metallo!

When the planet Krypton exploded, its last son was rocketed across the cosmos and came to settle in a small town in Kansas. But what else came with him, and what if a piece of his home landed somewhere we never knew about? As Superman has become a symbol of strength and pride for America, the Soviet Union looks to crush that image with a creation of their own, built by their own might and forged by their own power—Metallo!

Robert Venditti (Superman: Man of Tomorrow) returns to Superman ’78 with new artist Gavin Guidry (Birds of Prey) in this brand-new adventure set in the world of Richard Donner’s Superman film.

Collects: Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #1-6!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superman, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, ebook

First published November 7, 2023

About the author

Robert Venditti is a New York Times bestselling author of more than three hundred comic books and graphic novels. Some of his works include the monthly comic book series Justice League, Superman ’78, Hawkman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics, X-O Manowar, Armor Hunters, and Wrath of the Eternal Warrior for Valiant Entertainment, and the graphic novel Six Days, inspired by the story of his uncle’s participation in D-Day. He has also adapted Rick Riordan’s global bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus novels, as well as Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia and Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz. His graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted into a feature film by Touchstone Pictures, and his work on The Flash was the basis for season three of the CW television series.

Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: Big Cold War clash/nostalgia bash and jingoistic tangle, wherein Clark/Kal-El and Lois spell a twosome love triangle.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-3 ◦ Issues #4-6

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the height of the Cold War, a chunk of kryptonite landed in the Soviet Union. The Russkis didn't know what to do with it until...

1978. Metropolis. Superman has made his presence known to the world. He's defending truth, justice, and the American way. You know, everything the Russkis hate. So, the Russkis create a kryptonite-powered supervillain named Metallo. His aim? Destroy Superman and the capitalist superpower for Mother Russia!

Robert Venditti's Superman '78 comic book series is great, and I'm not normally a Superman fan. I am, however, a huge fan of the Richard Donner film starring the late Christopher Reeve (the one and only Superman, imo), and this series is basically novelizations of the sequels that were never made. I hope they continue this series...

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun alternate take on Metallo. This would have made a much better Superman IV, frankly.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maximum : 10

Art : 6
Pretty basic...I assume to fit in with the 1978 era

Writing : 6
Nothing really new

Storyline. : 7
A cold war Russian threat...with a nice finish.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cheesy love letter to a more classic approach to Superman. The characters feel authentic and slip effortlessly into the story. Overall, it embodies the ideas of belief and hope in a quick and easy to digest way.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.3 stars

Another fun adventure for the Christopher Reeve Superman, with a few too many little things that irked me to rate any higher.

Also, while I did like Gavin Guidry’s artwork, it was a little too similar to the late Steve Dillon’s for my liking. He needs to stop leaning so heavily on his influences and develop his own style.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second graphic novel in the Superman '78 series is a lot of fun. Unfortuntley it's let down by some uneven artwork & a fairly simple plot. The Russian/American politics is dumbed down to the level of the film Rocky IV, but I suppose this is a comic so it can't be too deep & thoughtful.
On the plus side it's good to see Chrsitopher Reeve's Superman & his supporting cast of friends & enemies brought to life once again.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superman '78: The Metal Curtain

Fearful of America now that Superman has arrived, the Russians create Metallo to destroy the Man of Steel and reassert dominance over the United States of America.

Venditti's story captures the Reeve era wonderfully and is 'Superman' at its best, one man protecting all the people. The idea of Superman as both inspiration and aspiration is well conveyed and the climax is excellent. The artwork is a bit of a letdown. I would have liked to see a bit more of an attempt at making the characters resemble their on-screen counterparts.

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just missing a spark to elevate it.

[Rob Schamberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I realized that this would have been Superman IV and that it was a subtle nod to Rocky IV, yo, I was all in. Beautiful to look at with a story that’s full of hope and wonder.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable graphic novel.

[Shevek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es bastante curioso leer este cómic, porque está ambientado en los 70 y tiene una estética acorde, pero la narrativa no puede ser más actual. Es muy descomprimido, hasta el punto que me lo leí del tirón sin apenas darme cuenta. Aunque se queda un poco tieso en las escenas de acción y algunas expresiones faciales son demasiado caricaturescas, me ha gustado mucho el dibujo. Le va muy bien a Superman por aquello de la versión cinematográfica de Donner que está en el subconsciente colectivo. El color es absolutamente grandioso; Bellaire es muy prolija y a veces no destaca tanto, pero aquí se sale. Con el guion ya puedo tener más pegas, porque es muy explícitamente maniqueo, sobre todo al final. Pero a nivel de estructura funciona bien y dispone situaciones y contextos para que aparezcan los principales secundarios de Supes. Me eché un rato muy bueno, la verdad.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rocky 4 meets Superman 78 and it is a great sequel as well as a great story.

[Tyler Bucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I don't have to know, Lois. I just have to believe."

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to Venditti’s first Superman 78 comic.

This was a really good follow up to the first one. The villain is Metallo. We get a great cameo by Lex Luthor. A nice US vs Soviet subplot. This was a lot of fun.

It’s hard to place this in the timeline though. I thought it took place after Superman 2, but Superman takes Lois to the Fortress of Solitude in this and she’s clearly never been before.

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well told Superman tale in the vain of the Donnor film. Venditti does a masterful job capturing the voice of the original Superman film cast. Reeves sounds like the Clark fans have been captivated since he stroll on the scene in December 15, 1978. Margot Kidder has all the feisty snark you'd expect in the story as well. Venditti is also aided by the great artwork by Gavin Guidry. The colors worked really well here as well giving the story the early 80s retro feel it needs. What's great about the story is that felt like a natural progression from the earlier superman films. The inclusion of the Russians as the antagonist gave me Rocky 4 vibes for sure. It is remarkable how this story of the drive towards peace between the two major world powers Russia & the USA is still relevant today. Venditti really understands why Superman is important especially when Supes tries to convince Metallo that America is not the enemy but that we are all human beings first. Supes wins the battle by doing what a hero should do he rescues the innocent Russian people caught in the crossfire of his battle with the Kryptonite powered Metallo. Even while in the midst of a fierce battle Superman never loses sight of the most important key to victory, saving life. It is almost sad we do not get Superman tales like this in the main continuity anymore. I guess many see the idea of truth, justice and the American way as old fashion. Whenever Robert Venditti is on the character I have always enjoyed his insight into the character. This book is no exception. I definitely reccomend picking up this book. Here are few other DC comics books by Venditti worth a read: Justice League: Vengeance is Thine, Justice League 8, Superman '78, Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Vol. 1: Hero of Metropolis, Hawkman, Vol. 1: Awakening, & Damage, Vol. 1: Out of Control.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published by DC Comics in 2024.
Written by Robert Venditti.
Art by Gavin Guidry and Jordan Bellaire

Synopsis

These are the further adventures of the Christopher Reeve Superman from the movie series that ran from the late 1970s into the 1980s. It has the feel of those movies in the simple and clear art style and the look of many of those characters. Interestingly, Superman looks nothing like Reeves and Clark Kent only looks like him from time to time.

The plot of Superman '78: The Metal Curtain is pretty simple. The Soviet Union has created a super soldier suit powered by a giant hunk if Kryptonite. The suit is pretty much an Iron Man suit (I know, wrong publisher) with the added benefit that it's fuel weakens the Man of Steel.

The Soviet Union is fearful of Superman. They perceive him as a weapon of the United States (because the events of Superman IV haven't happened yet) and plan to use the suit to defeat Superman and America...

My Review

I really liked the clean art style of this graphic novel. The plot is simple, direct, and the circumstances are dire. The only thing I did not like was the way Superman ended up winning - it was too simplistic and too short. It felt like a cheesy movie plot ending, which is exactly the vibe that they were going for. I guess that makes it a success.

I rate this graphic novel 4 stars out of 5.

See all of my reviews of DC Comics materials here: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/sear...

[Mykhailo Gasyuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Альтернативне продовження класичних фільмів про Супермена, де в сов’єтів опинився шматок криптоніта, і вони вдало його вставили в механічний обладунок Лекса Лютора, таи самим ще й створивши альтернативну історію походження для Метало. Спочатку Метало і Супс б’ються, потім миряться, стандартний примітивний сюжет. Метало наче був ідеологічно підкований, але чомусь Супермену вдалося його переконати буквально в кілька фраз.

Зі смішного. Традиційно сов’єцький побут зображено поверхнево, так, як його транслювали назовні совки, і так, як сприймали совків на заході. Причому сприйняття це не тогочасне, не характерне для 1978 року, а більше підходить для мітологізованої сучасності. Тому в коміксі є сов’єцький фермер (просто як американський, тільки в фуфайці і вухатій шапці), а совки на вулицях, бува, носять бейсболки (за що в ті часи можна було мінімум попасти у в’язницю, а максимум - прочитайте про тих, хто попався на торгівлі джинсами).

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DC series cashing in on name recognition and celebrity? Bite your tongue

This is the second series/miniseries to tell stories set in the classic Superman (1978) movie universe. Now, we're dealing with a Metallo from the USSR. A soldier from the Kremlin, he's full of that late 80s stereotypical belief of Soviet superiority. They've stolen Luthor's prototype kryptonite powered battlesuit and plan on using it to knock Superman down a few pegs.
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If you loved the first movie and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, you're in luck. This feels just like they're doing one of those 80s film-to-comic book adaptations. ('Return of the Jedi' from Marvel, anyone?)
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Bonus: Blink and you missed the GL 'cameo'. (Hint? Callsign: Highball)
Bonus Bonus: Blink and you miss the 4-sided Earth appearance (Bizarro #1, please!)

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the continuation of the Christopher Reeve Superman films and continues to weave between the cheesy 1970s style characterisations and a more serious Cold War tone.

We still get Clark building up the courage to tell Lois he's Superman, we still get the plucky Lois Lane of those films doing anything for a story, we still get the over the top theatrics of Lex Luthor.

I like the artwork, while the characters don't look exactly like the actors from the films, it's close enough for the most part. Also, it feels like Gavin Guidry based his version of Lois Lane's father on James Coburn, which I enjoy. If this is a continuation of the films it makes sense that the characters would be based on era appropriate actors. Pretty sure Braniac was based on David Bowie last time around.

[RunningRed NightBringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comic story set in the same universe as the 1978 Superman. From details mentioned, it appears to adapt only from the original film and ignore the events of the sequels.

Superman struggles with admitting his secret identity to Lois but has to deal with a bigger threat, Metallo. In this incarnation he's a Soviet Union soldier wearing Luthor's power armor, powered by a chunk of kryptonite.

I'm rather enjoying these stories. I think Robert Venditti did an amazing job of capturing the essential character of Chris's Superman and Clark Kent, Gene's Luthor and Margot's Lois Lane. It really does feel like an adaptation of a movie.
And Gavin Guidry's art. Check out that cover. He nailed this version of Superman's idealistic charm. This is a story of Superman untainted by later Dark eras and gritty deconstructions.

[Alex Sarll]

The trailer for James Gunn's effort suggests we're about to get the best Superman film for decades, but all the same, I hope DC keep making these occasional return visits to the definitive Reeve/Donner take. As the title suggests, the threat this time is Metallo reimagined as a Soviet anti-Superman project. Frankly, when both the art and the writing catch the whole core cast so well, the antagonist could have been any old no-mark and I'd still have loved it, but reading this when I did, I can't deny there was an extra thrill in having a Kremlin asset storm into Washington, announcing his intention to end the American way on live TV – and then someone strong of arm and pure of heart being there to stop him. If only.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okayish follow up to the last series, and this one is set during the cold war era, and Metallo is reimagined as a soviet soldier and you see Superman vs Metallo multiple times and at the same time you have the romantic tension between Lois and Clark and their growing relationship and then in the end the big hero moment vs the villain and the plot twist, and ngl it felt like a movie from that time with sudden twists and melodrama and all, but it was a fun read showcasing that era and it captures it really well! I really loved this time around too! Definitely read it once, its fast paced and you can finish it really fast! I wonder if they will do a sequel to this in the future!

[Khurram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book out of pure nostalgia. It is an okay quick read with the artwork of the 70 - and 80s movies. I would have rated this 3.5 stars. There is just not enough action to push it up.

Russia has declared war on Superman as the symbol of America. Powered by Superman's greatest weakness, it is time to find out who is the true people's champion. On a personal level, as Superman and Lois are getting closer, Clark is seen to fade more into the background.

The story is okay. The artwork is the man selling point of the book. The fights are pretty one-sided. Lois and Superman relationship is blossoming, but is their a green eyed monster in Clark?

[Adam Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot’s daft but I love the way it captures the tone of the original films. Unlike the previous instalment I’m not sure this would have been all that cracking a movie, though. Metallo (as depicted here) isn’t a great villain. Compared to fighting Zod & co, it seems like this guy would be a walk in the park. Also it’s not really explained how he gets powers that are separate from the suit (unless it was so subtle I missed it?). Also, not sure the Russians would have been all that keen.
Good fun though and great to spend time with this iteration of the characters again.

[Nipun Fernando · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in the Superman ‘78 series, I decided to read this entry. Set in the universe of the Superman films with Christopher Reeve, Superman ‘78: The Metal Curtain sees The Man of Steel face off against another foe from the comics: Metallo. Characters from the films return in this adventure alongside characters from the comics, such as Lois Lane’s father General Sam Lane. I loved this book just as much as I enjoyed its predecessor, and strongly recommend the Superman ‘78 series to fans of Christopher Reeve’s Superman films, who would love to see more adventures.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Metallo. Set a 1978 with the Superman characters from the Christopher Reeve movie, the character of Metallica was created as a Soviet union enemy of the state he then comes and tries to destroy Superman, but in the end with the help of Lex Luther Superman overcomes Metallo and makes the world a better place. I really enjoyed the use the characters from the movie. I thought that was a very creative use, and it would’ve been a great movie if they ever made this.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope there's at least one more and the series in collected in a nice deluxe hardcover.
They are really well drawn, told and coloured stories.
In issue 6, there's a beautiful splash page of Superman telling us he believes in us. Lex Luthor is a lot of fun, I just need to remember he's the Hackman/Donner version and it's great.

[Brandon Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

High quality. Read it in one sitting. Wish it was longer.

Again, great to have a piece of Americana that doesn't make me want to bang my head.

Would have been a great film. Lovely to see an unproblematic view of American values that properly makes billionaire criminals the bad guys.

Nostalgia meter filled, on to the next thing.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was above average.

I liked the message it told and the story was good enough. It read pretty fast. I liked the first volume better but its always a treat to see Donner's Superman come to life again. Also they honor all the actors who are no longer with us. It's what makes comic books so special. Bringing something back to life, when real life cannot.