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Superman: Birthright #1/2
Superman: Birthright - Part 1
VOLUME 40
SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT
Originally published as Superman: Bightright #1-6,
September 2003 - February 2004
The world knows that Superman fights for truth and justice... but what droe a farmboy from Kansas to divide his life between posing as a mild-mannered reporter for The Daily Planet and embarking on a career as Metropolis' heroic Man of Steel?
ACTION COMICS #245
Originally published in October 1958
The evil alien Brainiac reduced the Kryptonian city of Kandor and kept it imprisoned in a bottle. For the first time since saving the city, Superman shrinks down for an adventure in this miniature slice of his home world. Meanwhile on Earth, a renegade scientist poses as the Man of Tomorrow.
SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT
Originally published as Superman: Bightright #1-6,
September 2003 - February 2004
The world knows that Superman fights for truth and justice... but what droe a farmboy from Kansas to divide his life between posing as a mild-mannered reporter for The Daily Planet and embarking on a career as Metropolis' heroic Man of Steel?
ACTION COMICS #245
Originally published in October 1958
The evil alien Brainiac reduced the Kryptonian city of Kandor and kept it imprisoned in a bottle. For the first time since saving the city, Superman shrinks down for an adventure in this miniature slice of his home world. Meanwhile on Earth, a renegade scientist poses as the Man of Tomorrow.
Hardcover
Published October 1, 2017
About the author
Mark Waid
3,257 books1,309 followersMark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 3, 2024
Uma ótima história do Superman escrita por Waid, que traz brevemente sua origem, mas que da ênfase aos anos em que Clark busca entender seus poderes e como irá atuar como Superman.
Nesse primeiro volume, temos as primeiras 6 edições dessa minissérie se Waid, e pode-se dizer que a qualidade é bem boa, além de trabalhar aspectos do superman de maneira diferente do que estamos acostumados.
Após Waid mostrar a origem do Superman com Krypton, o roteirista rapidamente traz a história para a terra e com Clark já sendo um jovem adulto, buscando entender os segredos de Krypton e seu lugar na terra, tendo em vista que ele ainda não se vê como pertencente 100% a terra.
O diferencial de Waid é justamente conseguir trabalhar o Superman como uma figura que traz a esperança e busca realmente ajudar a população, se preocupando com o bem estar das pessoas.
Nesse primeiro volume, temos as primeiras 6 edições dessa minissérie se Waid, e pode-se dizer que a qualidade é bem boa, além de trabalhar aspectos do superman de maneira diferente do que estamos acostumados.
Após Waid mostrar a origem do Superman com Krypton, o roteirista rapidamente traz a história para a terra e com Clark já sendo um jovem adulto, buscando entender os segredos de Krypton e seu lugar na terra, tendo em vista que ele ainda não se vê como pertencente 100% a terra.
O diferencial de Waid é justamente conseguir trabalhar o Superman como uma figura que traz a esperança e busca realmente ajudar a população, se preocupando com o bem estar das pessoas.
November 27, 2025
Superman: Birthright, Part 1 is a truly awesome origin story, and I had a lot of fun reading this first part.
The story starts a bit slow, with Clark’s early adventures in Africa not particularly appealing to me. However, from the point he arrives home, this story really takes off.
It’s exactly what you expect from Superman’s origin, but it is written flawlessly. Clark is brilliant as both himself and Superman, Jimmy and Lois are both instantly likeable, and Lex is already establishing himself as such an intimidating villain.
I can’t believe how much this comic has taken it up a gear in such a short space of time. This volume delivers a near-perfect modernization of the core mythos. Don’t be surprised to see 5 stars come for Part 2!
The story starts a bit slow, with Clark’s early adventures in Africa not particularly appealing to me. However, from the point he arrives home, this story really takes off.
It’s exactly what you expect from Superman’s origin, but it is written flawlessly. Clark is brilliant as both himself and Superman, Jimmy and Lois are both instantly likeable, and Lex is already establishing himself as such an intimidating villain.
I can’t believe how much this comic has taken it up a gear in such a short space of time. This volume delivers a near-perfect modernization of the core mythos. Don’t be surprised to see 5 stars come for Part 2!
July 4, 2022
It’s almost sad that some of the best stories about Supes are retellings about its origins. This one makes a leap and tries very successfully to connect modernity with Superman morals. Its depiction of Lex Luthor is also very good, much in the vein of Lex Luthor: Man of Steel with a bit less of humanity. The drawing style is not much of my liking, but is spectacular as it can be on heavy action scenes.
May 29, 2018
Głównym spoiwem tej serii jest relacja Supermana i Lexa Luthora, która ma tu korzenie jeszcze w ich dzieciństwie. Trochę to sztucznie wyszło, ale postać Clarka się dzięki temu rozwija.
August 29, 2018
Nemám moc rád Supermana. Jeho origin je většinou nuda a je jedno, jestli ho píše Stračena nebo Johns... A pak si přijde Waid, a naprosto mě dostane.
December 5, 2020
Part of the DC Comics Graphic Novel Collection.
In the title story we get to see how Clark Kent made the choice to create a public persona in order to use his superpowers to help people. As Superman goes into action in Metropolis for the first time he meets lifelong friends and his most determined enemy.
Also included is 'The Shrinking Superman' from 1958 in which the Man of Tomorrow is confronted by an impostor from the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor.
I've never been a huge Superman fan, but Mark Waid's main story here is a solid and enjoyable retelling of how the character started his career as a superhero, sort of a 'Superman: Year One' type of thing (Hmm. I'll have to check to see if there is an actual 'Superman: Year One' out there...).
Suitably, there's a real tone of hope to this story and whilst there are occasional dark undertones, it feels upbeat and positive in a way that the 'introduction' of Superman should. Although the introduction in the book singles out 'Man of Steel' as being the movie equivalent, I don't think Zack Snyder's colourless, dour interpretation is anywhere near as good as this. Instead, this story put me in mind of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies that I adored as a kid (and have a great deal of nostalgia for as an adult).
Nostalgia also worked to the benefit of the back-up story in this book too.
Often in these Graphic Novel Collection books the throwback story marks an interesting point in comics history but serves as a reminder of how far comic book writing has come on in the intervening years. Here, however, I totally managed to embrace the campy storytelling of 'The Shrinking Superman' because it fondly reminded me of an old Superman annual that I read over and over as a kid.
Sure it's not a sophisticated story but you've got to love the ironic humour of the scene where the impostor Superman tries to disguise himself by putting on a suit and glasses, convinced that the real Superman couldn't possibly recognise him now.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
In the title story we get to see how Clark Kent made the choice to create a public persona in order to use his superpowers to help people. As Superman goes into action in Metropolis for the first time he meets lifelong friends and his most determined enemy.
Also included is 'The Shrinking Superman' from 1958 in which the Man of Tomorrow is confronted by an impostor from the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor.
I've never been a huge Superman fan, but Mark Waid's main story here is a solid and enjoyable retelling of how the character started his career as a superhero, sort of a 'Superman: Year One' type of thing (Hmm. I'll have to check to see if there is an actual 'Superman: Year One' out there...).
Suitably, there's a real tone of hope to this story and whilst there are occasional dark undertones, it feels upbeat and positive in a way that the 'introduction' of Superman should. Although the introduction in the book singles out 'Man of Steel' as being the movie equivalent, I don't think Zack Snyder's colourless, dour interpretation is anywhere near as good as this. Instead, this story put me in mind of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies that I adored as a kid (and have a great deal of nostalgia for as an adult).
Nostalgia also worked to the benefit of the back-up story in this book too.
Often in these Graphic Novel Collection books the throwback story marks an interesting point in comics history but serves as a reminder of how far comic book writing has come on in the intervening years. Here, however, I totally managed to embrace the campy storytelling of 'The Shrinking Superman' because it fondly reminded me of an old Superman annual that I read over and over as a kid.
Sure it's not a sophisticated story but you've got to love the ironic humour of the scene where the impostor Superman tries to disguise himself by putting on a suit and glasses, convinced that the real Superman couldn't possibly recognise him now.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com/ *
December 27, 2021
Siento que esta es de las mejores historias de Superman, sobre todo debido a la forma en la cual Clark se encontraba averiguando que hacer con el legado de su familia junto también a la orma en que los ent reaccionaron a su iniciativa de partir hacia Metrópolis para ondear el emblema de la casa de los El. Tenemos también el inicio de la enemistad con Lex al menos en el caso de Lex y Superman, también se me hizo que Lex es de los mejores villanos de Superman no solo debido a que es imponente sino también debido a su inteligencia que maneja la cual le hace planear varias cosas a su favor provocando también que tenga a la ciudad en la palma de su mano debido a la forma que el tiene de manejar a los medios sin contar al Daily Planet. Otra cosa que también me gusto fue que plantearon las bases de Lois Lane y Clark pero que las cosas no van apresuradas sino que se toman con calma y de una forma realista.
August 27, 2020
Por alguna razón los que hicieron esta colección de Salvat, pensaron que era necesario poner OTRA historia sobre el origen de Superman, "actualizada a los tiempos que corren", o lo que sea. Se que es solo la primera parte, pero hasta ahora no suma nada nuevo, más que tecnología actual y que el Daily Planet tenga un sitio web. Igual no es que no sea una buena historia, solo me parece un poco innecesaria.
November 8, 2022
Interesting enough (for a Superman comic), although we get some of the white saviour trope there and other clichés as usual.
February 18, 2025
El Superman definitivo
October 9, 2025
This was my introduction to American comics, and I think it served as a great entry point into Superman. Along with his origin story, you get introduced to the main players without lingering too long on any one character. The pacing is solid, and the dialogue feels natural enough—aside from a few awkward exchanges. Most panels were illustrated well, but I found the artist's style distracting in parts due to the way they accentuate facial musculature. This occasionally resulted in Lois Lane having a gigachad jawline, the teenage villains looking like AARP members, or Superman having a chipmunk-like, toothy smile. In some places, there’s just a lack of diligence—for example, the text and logo on Lois Lane's business card floating in the air or Superman's mom being cockeyed. Overall, nothing groundbreaking, but a great starting point.
November 2, 2018
Pues vaya con la originalidad. Lo recomiendo si eres un ser de otro planeta que nunca ha escuchado la historia del origen de Superman.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews