Superman: La Odisea

Superman Post-Crisis #34

by Graham Nolan (guion y dibujo), Chuck Dixon (guion)

Al llegar a la edad adulta, el joven Clark Kent viaja al extranjero para meditar en sus poderes y en su propósito en la vida. Un eucuentro casual en París lo lleva a un país remoto en los Himalayas, cuya gente libra una lucha heroica contra un invasor extranjero.
A medida que prosigue su odisea personal, Clark busca la paz interior y saborea un romance agridulce. Y cuando surge la violencia, al fin se revela el camino del destino que le espera.

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

50 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Graham Nolan is a veteran comic book writer, artist, and publisher and the recipient of the prestigious Inkpot Award for his contributions to the comic arts. He is the co-creator of the iconic Batman villain, "Bane", the creator of "Joe Frankenstein", "Monster Island", The Chenoo", "Sunshine State" and now, "Alien Alamo".

Reviews

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Explores one of Superman's earliest adventures.

Decent art by Graham Nolan, but a forgettable plot with jingoist elements that could have been much better, had such elements been avoided. Loved the cameo, though.

[Joni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historia corta de Superman en sus albores cuando ni siquiera usaba traje e iba descubriendo sus poderes. Clark Kent conoce una joven en París y perseguidos por chinos comunistas escapan a Buthran donde el padre de ella es un líder espiritual razón por la cual sufren los atentados por ser acusado de peligro libre pensador libera mentes. Bastante facho todo. Hay un pequeño cameo de Batman. El arte está bien para la época.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham Nolan and Chuck Dixon compose a story set during Clark's pre-Metropolis years. Wanting to find himself, Clark Kent has taken a gap year travelling the globe. While in Paris, Clark attracts the attention of an alluring woman. Her father is the spiritual leader of a small besieged Asia country. Terrorists from China seek to kidnap the young woman as leverage for the surrender of the land to Big Bad China. Thus, Clark travels to her native land to ensure her safety.

For once, Clark Kent has a love interest without the initials of LL. But that's not what is so refreshing about this story. It's the direct response that opposes the Communist Chinese and how they bully smaller nations such as Taiwan or Tibet into becoming a part of their Empire.

Using terms like 'Chi-Coms' and the severe beat-down Superman gives the Red Army are things you would not see in a DC Comic in 2020. China is considered too much of a vital fan base, that studios and publishers will edit scenes, even entire films, that are not considered China friendly. (We do the same for the Russians and Middle-Eastern Muslim nations too!) But this book was published over 20 years ago, when it seemed that any and everyone was willing to stand for a 'FREE TIBET.'

My wife is very pro-Tibet and this is the sort of graphic novel that if you sought an end to Chinese Communist rule, it truly will inspire you. Seeing The Man of Steel finally take a stand for justice was so refreshing. In case you forgot, Supes was very much like Sweden with it came to the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and The Gulf War.

They really don't make comics like this anymore.

Oh, and that Easter egg. Freakin' awesome!

[Sam Schember · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but short origin-ish story where Clark decides to be a hero.

[Julian Munds · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple short one off story. Vaguely racist. Certainly jingoist. DC can and has done better.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid coming-of-age Superman yarn.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Superman one-shot is a 'reminiscence' story told by an older Superman reflecting back on his travelling days as young Clark Kent in Paris and in a fictional Himalayan country not unlike Tibet, including a dalliance with a prominent local girl he rescued in Paris. While this story is very typically Superman, the locations bring a freshness to it, away from Metropolis, and Terri makes a welcome change from Lois Lane too, with the invading Chinese Army replacing Lex Luthor. The artwork was decent enough and the writing was pretty good too, and the cameo by a young Bruce Wayne made me smirk. I don't often enjoy Superman much with all the crazy space stuff and Kryptonite rays from villains in other dimensions, but this one was fairly down-to-Earth, relatable and likeable. 4/5

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly good story. It shows a younger Clark Kent as he reflects on his abilities and his journey to discover what her really wants. The ending is bittersweet and full of heart.

There are some negative reviews of this comic, most spouting pro CCP talking points.

Ignore them.

They are merely paid shills that most likely hate the country of Bhutan. Or are paid to hate it anyways. The spirit of freedom echoes in the hearts of all people, and the boot of tyranny can never fully stamp it out.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, Superman wrestling with the weight of the duty that comes with his powers is something I eat up, and the narrative framing has a dynamism I love.
Also, its wild how this thing gets away with acknowledging the Tibetan liberation struggle.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is an elseworlds type story. superman as a 18-21 year old, no superboy, doesn't know how powerful he is. this also is not the pulitzer winning clark kent telling the story. this clark is in his thirties and unaware of a fairly major story - the execution of an old friend by china for her political views - don't know how he could have missed the lead up to this on the wire services. even vic sage (?) would have covered it in his newscasts. other than that a great story w/art by graham nolan.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sé que este comic va bastante más allá de "los chinos comunistas son malos", pero como insisten bastante en el temita, para la mitad del comic (que de por sí es bastante corto) ya estaba un poquitín hinchado, aunque la historia de amor entre Clark y la hija del Dalai está bastante bonita.

[Variaciones Enrojo]

Tomo especial. Edición mexicana.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edición mexicana, tomo unitario especial. Ejemplar con la portada damnificada.