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Superman Unchained #1-9
Superman Unchained
Superman Unchained
b Comics best writers, comics best painters, comics best heroes meet ...
finally released!
b
Only one person can be called hero from the metropolis to the whole world, and the starry sky far away. From the moment he came here, the dawn of the age of heroes began. Superman fights endlessly for truth and justice everywhere. But before the dawn comes, darkness appears. Another superhuman who has incredible powers that can not be compared to humans arrives on Earth. A superhuman who has the power to end a man of steel. Superstar artist Scott Snyder (Batman: Earlon) and legendary artist Jim Lee (Justice League) resume the story of a hero with a modern interpretation on the widescreen. Includes writer Scott Snyders directors cut on 9 issues.
b Comics best writers, comics best painters, comics best heroes meet ...
finally released!
b
Only one person can be called hero from the metropolis to the whole world, and the starry sky far away. From the moment he came here, the dawn of the age of heroes began. Superman fights endlessly for truth and justice everywhere. But before the dawn comes, darkness appears. Another superhuman who has incredible powers that can not be compared to humans arrives on Earth. A superhuman who has the power to end a man of steel. Superstar artist Scott Snyder (Batman: Earlon) and legendary artist Jim Lee (Justice League) resume the story of a hero with a modern interpretation on the widescreen. Includes writer Scott Snyders directors cut on 9 issues.
Paperback
First published December 9, 2014
76 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
About the author
Scott Snyder
1,784 books5,178 followersScott Snyder is the Eisner and Harvey Award winning writer on DC Comics Batman, Swamp Thing, and his original series for Vertigo, American Vampire. He is also the author of the short story collection, Voodoo Heart, published by the Dial Press in 2006. The paperback version was published in the summer of 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
November 14, 2020
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: Flawed and overwritten, it’s a bit deus-ex future tech, but nonetheless proficiently sufficient, standard-issue Superman.
Notes: Flawed and overwritten, it’s a bit deus-ex future tech, but nonetheless proficiently sufficient, standard-issue Superman.
May 18, 2015
This one worked for me, but it may be because I'm already a huge fan of the character. I genuinely like Superman. I think that it's awesome for a superhero to be a reallyreallyreally decent person who is always striving to do the right thing.
And, yeah, that makes him pretty vanilla to a lot of readers.
Superman Unchained is supposed to (I'm guessing from the title) show off his badass side.
UNCHAINED! Rowr!
My favorite part of this wasn't Superman going nuclear on bad guys, though.
In no small part, that's due to the fact that I didn't really think he was anymore 'unchained' in this thing than in his regular titles. I mean, he's a freakin' BEAST! Unless he goes off the reservation, there's not much more he can show off power-wise, you know?
No, the part of the storyline I loved was the friendship stuff between him and Batman. The dialogue between the two of them reminds me why I loved the old Superman/Batman comics so much. Nicely done, Snyder!
And it doesn't hurt that Jim Lee is fantastic at bringing out Clark's inner cool guy with his artwork.
Growr! Kansas FTW!
The plot?
Well, shit falls from the sky, nuclear weapons go off, alien technology is misused, GeneralRoss Lane wants to destroy Hulk Superman, and there's a Secret Weapon called Wraith being wielded by the military that follows directions too well.
Oh, and Lois saves Superman's ass again.
I also enjoyed flipping through the collected covers in the back of this one.
For some reason, this was my favorite.
Get this review and more at:
And, yeah, that makes him pretty vanilla to a lot of readers.
Superman Unchained is supposed to (I'm guessing from the title) show off his badass side.
UNCHAINED! Rowr!
My favorite part of this wasn't Superman going nuclear on bad guys, though.
In no small part, that's due to the fact that I didn't really think he was anymore 'unchained' in this thing than in his regular titles. I mean, he's a freakin' BEAST! Unless he goes off the reservation, there's not much more he can show off power-wise, you know?
No, the part of the storyline I loved was the friendship stuff between him and Batman. The dialogue between the two of them reminds me why I loved the old Superman/Batman comics so much. Nicely done, Snyder!
And it doesn't hurt that Jim Lee is fantastic at bringing out Clark's inner cool guy with his artwork.
Growr! Kansas FTW!
The plot?
Well, shit falls from the sky, nuclear weapons go off, alien technology is misused, General
Oh, and Lois saves Superman's ass again.
I also enjoyed flipping through the collected covers in the back of this one.
For some reason, this was my favorite.
Get this review and more at:
July 20, 2016
An unchained reading!!!
This TPB collects “Superman Unchained” #1-8, which is the complete mini-series, along with an art gallery with alternative covers for the issues in the run.
Creative Team:
Writer: Scott Snyder
Illustrators: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen & Scott Williams
UNCHAINED POWER
(staring at Superman’s shield presented in several screens)
…a symbol. It stands for you’re about to have your ass kicked.
Superman Unchained is a mini-series (eight issues) set in the continuity of the DC’s New52, but without worrying about much of what was is happening in other comic books related, so you don’t need to read anything else to fully enjoy and understand this storyline.
While nowadays the title may remember you to “Django Unchained”, I can tell you that here, it’s a tribute to the now iconic cover of Superman #233 (1971), drawn by the living legend Neal Adams.
And while this story isn’t about Superman losing his weakness to Kryptonite as in the above mentioned old comic book, you can bet that…
…Superman is indeed unchained here!
Learning to get deeper into the understanding of his own powers and therefore being able to use them in brand cool new ways.
NEVER-ENDING SURPRISES
Be careful, Lois.
Never, Smallville.
Scott Snyder is indeed a clever writer able to bring new angles, “re-writing” history of characters where you think that everything was already done with them. Like in Batman with his cunning inception of “The Court of the Owls”, an “old” threat to Gotham City, existing for more than a century, where Batman thought was merely an urban legend; here in Unchained, Snyder does it again, introducing a character that “it has been around” for 75 years, with the same habilities than Superman but with power levels far, far superior than his, and that Superman wasn’t aware of its existence.
Writing for Batman doesn’t automatically qualify you to write for Superman. Both are comic book characters, but they are quite different characters. A kind of story that works beautifully for Batman, it won’t work at all for Superman. However, I can tell you that Scott Snyder proved with Unchained that he really understands both iconic characters, and he’s well aware when he’s writing for one of them. He knows that they are different, he’s able to adapt himself to deliver the right story for the character that he’s writing and to get the best of them.
THIS IS THE ONE…
…I suppose Superman doesn’t get a vacation house.
I have read some stuff of New52’s era concerning Superman like H’el on Earth and Doomed and while those stories were pretty good and quite entertained, I do believe that Superman Unchained is by far, the best story about Superman that you can read, set in the mentioned comic books’ period.
When Superman arrives to help, people is glad to see him. Batman is friend of him. Lois Lane is a fearless reporter and providing key useful assistance. Lex Luthor is spine-chilling intelligent, with a clear view of the big pictue, one step ahead of everybody. Superman isn’t showed as just a muscle guy but as a smart man, dealing with menaces not only with punches but also with scientific knowledge and strategy.
Also, the cover gallery at the end of the TPB with the alternative covers of each issue, is a wonderful visual experience since they employ many of the best artists to draw those alternative covers.
If you are Superman fan, this is your book, and if you can get only one story of New52’s Superman…
… this is the one!!!
This TPB collects “Superman Unchained” #1-8, which is the complete mini-series, along with an art gallery with alternative covers for the issues in the run.
Creative Team:
Writer: Scott Snyder
Illustrators: Jim Lee, Dustin Nguyen & Scott Williams
UNCHAINED POWER
(staring at Superman’s shield presented in several screens)
…a symbol. It stands for you’re about to have your ass kicked.
Superman Unchained is a mini-series (eight issues) set in the continuity of the DC’s New52, but without worrying about much of what was is happening in other comic books related, so you don’t need to read anything else to fully enjoy and understand this storyline.
While nowadays the title may remember you to “Django Unchained”, I can tell you that here, it’s a tribute to the now iconic cover of Superman #233 (1971), drawn by the living legend Neal Adams.
And while this story isn’t about Superman losing his weakness to Kryptonite as in the above mentioned old comic book, you can bet that…
…Superman is indeed unchained here!
Learning to get deeper into the understanding of his own powers and therefore being able to use them in brand cool new ways.
NEVER-ENDING SURPRISES
Be careful, Lois.
Never, Smallville.
Scott Snyder is indeed a clever writer able to bring new angles, “re-writing” history of characters where you think that everything was already done with them. Like in Batman with his cunning inception of “The Court of the Owls”, an “old” threat to Gotham City, existing for more than a century, where Batman thought was merely an urban legend; here in Unchained, Snyder does it again, introducing a character that “it has been around” for 75 years, with the same habilities than Superman but with power levels far, far superior than his, and that Superman wasn’t aware of its existence.
Writing for Batman doesn’t automatically qualify you to write for Superman. Both are comic book characters, but they are quite different characters. A kind of story that works beautifully for Batman, it won’t work at all for Superman. However, I can tell you that Scott Snyder proved with Unchained that he really understands both iconic characters, and he’s well aware when he’s writing for one of them. He knows that they are different, he’s able to adapt himself to deliver the right story for the character that he’s writing and to get the best of them.
THIS IS THE ONE…
…I suppose Superman doesn’t get a vacation house.
I have read some stuff of New52’s era concerning Superman like H’el on Earth and Doomed and while those stories were pretty good and quite entertained, I do believe that Superman Unchained is by far, the best story about Superman that you can read, set in the mentioned comic books’ period.
When Superman arrives to help, people is glad to see him. Batman is friend of him. Lois Lane is a fearless reporter and providing key useful assistance. Lex Luthor is spine-chilling intelligent, with a clear view of the big pictue, one step ahead of everybody. Superman isn’t showed as just a muscle guy but as a smart man, dealing with menaces not only with punches but also with scientific knowledge and strategy.
Also, the cover gallery at the end of the TPB with the alternative covers of each issue, is a wonderful visual experience since they employ many of the best artists to draw those alternative covers.
If you are Superman fan, this is your book, and if you can get only one story of New52’s Superman…
… this is the one!!!
June 7, 2022
Scott Snyder and Jim Lee team-up for a great Superman story. What if someone even more powerful than Superman has been here for years and he's been working with a group to manipulate world events behind the scenes. They'll do anything to make sure America stays on top. A great little run that ties up all its plot threads by the end of the series.
July 16, 2025
When I cracked open my brand new hardcover copy, beautiful splash pages welcomed me with dazzling art by Jim Lee and Scott Williams. However, the middle part was rendered unviewable because of the gutter loss. This was what you get when you skimp on your "deluxe" hardcovers. DC opted for the cheaper glue binding which caused the gutter loss. I wish it went with the much durable cloth binding.
The thing with being the first and greatest superhero was that many writers and artist have already created volumes and volume of 'greatest tales". This was what challenged modern creators and that did not include the publisher veering away from edgier tales because of license agreements to promote a wholesome character.
With Superman Unchained, writer Scott Snyder has managed to craft a tale worthy of Superman. It helped that he had Lee and Williams collaborating with the imagery. However, Snyder has found a way to give the world one of the best modern Superman stories; go big and remain true to the character.
In Superman Unchained, Snyder revisited the core idea of Superman. As writer Grant Morrison elucidated in a few key phrases in the first page of his All Star Superman; "Doomed planet. Desperate Scientists. Last Hope. Kindly Couple", this summed up Superman. Snyder revisited the Superman idea and gave it his own twist; "what if there was another Superman? What if this alien champion worked with the government?" Interesting approach, at the very least, it gave Superman someone he could physically struggle against to overcome.
I enjoyed reading Superman Unchained. The Jim Lee line art ensured that I would enjoy it, but it was the Scott Snyder story that I was able to savor after I've closed its pages.
The thing with being the first and greatest superhero was that many writers and artist have already created volumes and volume of 'greatest tales". This was what challenged modern creators and that did not include the publisher veering away from edgier tales because of license agreements to promote a wholesome character.
With Superman Unchained, writer Scott Snyder has managed to craft a tale worthy of Superman. It helped that he had Lee and Williams collaborating with the imagery. However, Snyder has found a way to give the world one of the best modern Superman stories; go big and remain true to the character.
In Superman Unchained, Snyder revisited the core idea of Superman. As writer Grant Morrison elucidated in a few key phrases in the first page of his All Star Superman; "Doomed planet. Desperate Scientists. Last Hope. Kindly Couple", this summed up Superman. Snyder revisited the Superman idea and gave it his own twist; "what if there was another Superman? What if this alien champion worked with the government?" Interesting approach, at the very least, it gave Superman someone he could physically struggle against to overcome.
I enjoyed reading Superman Unchained. The Jim Lee line art ensured that I would enjoy it, but it was the Scott Snyder story that I was able to savor after I've closed its pages.
November 16, 2014
To properly review Superman Unchained I’m gonna have to talk about spoilers so, right at the top, if you’re planning on reading this comic - and I think it’s worth it, so do - and you’re not ok with knowing details, come back and check out this review once you’re finished with the book. The quick verdict on Superman Unchained is that it’s a bit overlong, it has good and bad parts to it, the ending is very iffy, but overall it’s worth a read.
Alright, super spoilers ahead!
In 1938 (the same year Action Comics #1 was published), scientists sent out a signal into space. The response came almost immediately in the form of a super-powered alien called Wraith. Wraith became the United States’ secret weapon and was what fell on Hiroshima in 1945, not an atomic bomb. With Wraith came alien technology which led to the accelerated development of human advancement in the 20th century.
Elsewhere, a terrorist group called Ascension want to implement their luddite agenda and reverse the flow of alien tech and send humanity back to a 1930s standard of living, to advance without aid from the stars.
OK, let’s start with the positives. The first issue came out in June 2013, at the same time as Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, and this 9-issue series only just ended in November 2014. There were a lot of delays but with Jim Lee as the principle artist, you had to expect that - he’s always like this. He’s not the fastest draughtsman but he’s a comics legend for a reason and his work on this series is really good. Right from the start with the BIG fold-out page of the space station that Superman has to save, to the BIG set pieces of Superman and Wraith fighting robots over Tokyo, the alien fleet, and on and on, Lee’s brand of BIG art is perfectly suited to this project.
And joining Lee is another big name, Scott Snyder, the acclaimed and bestselling writer of New 52 Batman, among others. Everything about Superman Unchained says BIG - the creative team, the scope of the story, the 9 issues - it’s an ambitious comic. I appreciate that they put a lot of effort into it for Superman’s 75th anniversary and Snyder does do a lot of good in this story.
Arguably the hardest thing to get right is Superman’s character. How to keep him as his real character without making him seem bland and uninteresting? Snyder’s able to maintain Superman’s sense of justice and purpose in some amazing set pieces. The space station plummeting to Earth in the opening chapter is one, though my favourite was the collapse of the world’s tallest building in the next chapter. Superman cycles through the choices in his head, thinking of one that’ll save most of the people in the building and immediately discarding it because some people will die - he has to pick the solution that saves EVERYONE. And he does because he’s Superman! There’s also a really tense urgency to the sequence as it starts off with 16 seconds to make a move, and counting down, panel by panel, to zero.
I love that Lois plays a big part in the story too. She’s written true to form as strong-willed, resourceful and smart, but she’s also very capable, being General Lane’s daughter. She can fly a plane, she’s willing to put her life on the line for what she believes - I really enjoyed her scenes in this story, and she even saves Superman’s life at one point!
Lex too is the classic scheming villain who remains Superman’s greatest enemy and Batman and Wonder Woman have some excellent cameos - Batman especially; his fight against Wraith was awesome! Snyder incorporates all of Superman’s essential characters from Jimmy to Perry to Lana, all the way through, in a great encapsulating story looking back on, and celebrating, Superman’s 75 years.
I want to say that the new character Wraith is as great but he just isn’t. He certainly has some positives to him, like the way he tries to become Superman’s friend and mentor - he has more developed superpowers that Superman could have if he knew about them. One scene I liked was when he told Superman to blink rapidly when he used his eye lasers and you got this really cool machine-gun-like visual of red bullets flying out of his eyes! There is a sense of personality to Wraith before he fulfils the role you know he’s there to fill: the physical threat to Superman.
But that’s only up to a point because he does become the villain and once he does, all prior characterisation is gone. He’s suddenly a one-dimensional baddie who wants to kill Superman and loves America. And why does he love America so? I understand that that’s where he landed but he’s an alien who’s quite intellectually advanced - why ally yourself with such a jingoistic ideal like nationalism so completely? I just don’t buy it.
The other aspect of Wraith that I hated the most was when he tried to make Superman “face reality”. He informs him that his life as he’s living it is an illusion and that in 10, 20, 40 years, everyone he loves will be older and dead (in the case of Perry) while he’ll be forever young. Why Wraith does this, or more accurately why Snyder felt this was important to shoehorn into the story, is baffling to me. This idea of reality with Superman is such a useless and moot one, I don’t know why it’s even done at all. He’s Superman! The alien from outer space who lives among us who can fly and shoot heat lasers from his eyes, etc. - reality?!
But it’s even more useless when you look at the covers of most of the issues: 75 Years, they say. And not only has Superman not aged, neither has Lois, Jimmy, Lex or Perry! Because Superman the comic, like all superhero comics, does not take place in real time. Everything takes place in a bubble - that’s why these characters, all of them, not just DC but Marvel too, are forever young, as well as their casts. Aunt May’s been a hundred years old for 50 years now! Enough with this reality nonsense - we’re talking Superman, and that has no place alongside the character. It’s a useless argument from Snyder/Wraith and a pointless diversion in the book.
The idea that alien tech is why humanity has developed in leaps and bounds these past 70+ years is a really tired and dull conspiracy theory. I dislike that Snyder made it a reality, undermining human ingenuity, even for this story, as if something like an iPad couldn’t happen because we as a race are too dim to figure it out. And speaking of alien tech, the all-powerful crystal shards were a lazy macguffin.
Also, Lois Lane and Clark not being a couple has been the norm for a few years now, since the New 52 launched in fact, and I’ve been ok with that. But this story - they really needed to be a couple for this one. Because that farewell at the end when they have a tender moment before Superman flies off to his supposed doom would’ve had so much more weight to it with the characters’ history: their relationship, their marriage, their love - that would’ve really made for a powerful farewell.
But it’s the New 52 and Superman’s with Wonder Woman because DC Editorial says so. And so their scene at the end is just weird - why would Superman be like that to someone he’s not romantically linked with? This isn’t really Snyder’s fault, he’s constrained by the new continuity, but it’s still a failing.
That said, that scene in the final chapter is the least of the problems with the ending. Superman Unchained’s finale is what really lets down the book for me. The book up til then was a bit sketchy, but it was still good for the most part. The ending is so bad that it completely recolours the rest of the book, much like the way Man of Steel ended.
So, throughout the story Superman’s been faced with no-win scenarios which he’s managed to turn into win scenarios because he’s a clever dude. You tell him that he can’t save everyone and he dismisses that as an option and looks for a solution where he can save everyone - and this he does successfully several times.
At the end, Lex presents Superman with a no-win scenario - that Superman readily accepts as his fate. An alien fleet, made up of Wraith’s people, is headed to Earth to apparently murder us all because of our tech, even though their tech is more sophisticated (I really didn’t understand their motivations at all). Lex gives Superman a bomb to fly into the middle of the fleet and detonate, killing them all, as well as Superman. To Lex, it’s win-win. And yet Superman goes along with this plan!
He doesn’t even think twice about it, he just does what Lex tells him to do. It completely counteracts the whole message of the book. There’s even a strange flashback sequence playing alongside this where young Clark is giving CPR to a dead man because he won’t accept that he accidentally killed him, and he manages to bring him back. It’s like Snyder is telling the reader all the way through, Superman is the ultimate problem solver, the ultimate superhero, and then with that ending he’s saying, eh, forget that, Superman’s just a tool!
The more troubling message is: Superman doesn’t respect life. Or, he only respects HUMAN life and alien lives are disposable. Even though the aliens are as intelligent as humans, as we see through Wraith, and Superman himself is an alien! Why is Superman suddenly so willing to commit genocide?! It doesn’t make any sense and completely and totally shatters the image of the character that Snyder’s spent the past 9 issues building up.
I wish I could say that Superman Unchained was up there with Snyder’s Batman but it just isn’t. Snyder certainly tries though I feel his invention and imagination gave out in the final act of the story leading to an incredibly weak conclusion that brings the whole work down. As far as Superman books go, this isn’t one of the best, nor is it as epic and important as DC’s marketing would have you believe, but it’s certainly not among the worst. It’s somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the good.
Oh well, here’s to a better Superman story for the 100th anniversary!
Alright, super spoilers ahead!
In 1938 (the same year Action Comics #1 was published), scientists sent out a signal into space. The response came almost immediately in the form of a super-powered alien called Wraith. Wraith became the United States’ secret weapon and was what fell on Hiroshima in 1945, not an atomic bomb. With Wraith came alien technology which led to the accelerated development of human advancement in the 20th century.
Elsewhere, a terrorist group called Ascension want to implement their luddite agenda and reverse the flow of alien tech and send humanity back to a 1930s standard of living, to advance without aid from the stars.
OK, let’s start with the positives. The first issue came out in June 2013, at the same time as Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, and this 9-issue series only just ended in November 2014. There were a lot of delays but with Jim Lee as the principle artist, you had to expect that - he’s always like this. He’s not the fastest draughtsman but he’s a comics legend for a reason and his work on this series is really good. Right from the start with the BIG fold-out page of the space station that Superman has to save, to the BIG set pieces of Superman and Wraith fighting robots over Tokyo, the alien fleet, and on and on, Lee’s brand of BIG art is perfectly suited to this project.
And joining Lee is another big name, Scott Snyder, the acclaimed and bestselling writer of New 52 Batman, among others. Everything about Superman Unchained says BIG - the creative team, the scope of the story, the 9 issues - it’s an ambitious comic. I appreciate that they put a lot of effort into it for Superman’s 75th anniversary and Snyder does do a lot of good in this story.
Arguably the hardest thing to get right is Superman’s character. How to keep him as his real character without making him seem bland and uninteresting? Snyder’s able to maintain Superman’s sense of justice and purpose in some amazing set pieces. The space station plummeting to Earth in the opening chapter is one, though my favourite was the collapse of the world’s tallest building in the next chapter. Superman cycles through the choices in his head, thinking of one that’ll save most of the people in the building and immediately discarding it because some people will die - he has to pick the solution that saves EVERYONE. And he does because he’s Superman! There’s also a really tense urgency to the sequence as it starts off with 16 seconds to make a move, and counting down, panel by panel, to zero.
I love that Lois plays a big part in the story too. She’s written true to form as strong-willed, resourceful and smart, but she’s also very capable, being General Lane’s daughter. She can fly a plane, she’s willing to put her life on the line for what she believes - I really enjoyed her scenes in this story, and she even saves Superman’s life at one point!
Lex too is the classic scheming villain who remains Superman’s greatest enemy and Batman and Wonder Woman have some excellent cameos - Batman especially; his fight against Wraith was awesome! Snyder incorporates all of Superman’s essential characters from Jimmy to Perry to Lana, all the way through, in a great encapsulating story looking back on, and celebrating, Superman’s 75 years.
I want to say that the new character Wraith is as great but he just isn’t. He certainly has some positives to him, like the way he tries to become Superman’s friend and mentor - he has more developed superpowers that Superman could have if he knew about them. One scene I liked was when he told Superman to blink rapidly when he used his eye lasers and you got this really cool machine-gun-like visual of red bullets flying out of his eyes! There is a sense of personality to Wraith before he fulfils the role you know he’s there to fill: the physical threat to Superman.
But that’s only up to a point because he does become the villain and once he does, all prior characterisation is gone. He’s suddenly a one-dimensional baddie who wants to kill Superman and loves America. And why does he love America so? I understand that that’s where he landed but he’s an alien who’s quite intellectually advanced - why ally yourself with such a jingoistic ideal like nationalism so completely? I just don’t buy it.
The other aspect of Wraith that I hated the most was when he tried to make Superman “face reality”. He informs him that his life as he’s living it is an illusion and that in 10, 20, 40 years, everyone he loves will be older and dead (in the case of Perry) while he’ll be forever young. Why Wraith does this, or more accurately why Snyder felt this was important to shoehorn into the story, is baffling to me. This idea of reality with Superman is such a useless and moot one, I don’t know why it’s even done at all. He’s Superman! The alien from outer space who lives among us who can fly and shoot heat lasers from his eyes, etc. - reality?!
But it’s even more useless when you look at the covers of most of the issues: 75 Years, they say. And not only has Superman not aged, neither has Lois, Jimmy, Lex or Perry! Because Superman the comic, like all superhero comics, does not take place in real time. Everything takes place in a bubble - that’s why these characters, all of them, not just DC but Marvel too, are forever young, as well as their casts. Aunt May’s been a hundred years old for 50 years now! Enough with this reality nonsense - we’re talking Superman, and that has no place alongside the character. It’s a useless argument from Snyder/Wraith and a pointless diversion in the book.
The idea that alien tech is why humanity has developed in leaps and bounds these past 70+ years is a really tired and dull conspiracy theory. I dislike that Snyder made it a reality, undermining human ingenuity, even for this story, as if something like an iPad couldn’t happen because we as a race are too dim to figure it out. And speaking of alien tech, the all-powerful crystal shards were a lazy macguffin.
Also, Lois Lane and Clark not being a couple has been the norm for a few years now, since the New 52 launched in fact, and I’ve been ok with that. But this story - they really needed to be a couple for this one. Because that farewell at the end when they have a tender moment before Superman flies off to his supposed doom would’ve had so much more weight to it with the characters’ history: their relationship, their marriage, their love - that would’ve really made for a powerful farewell.
But it’s the New 52 and Superman’s with Wonder Woman because DC Editorial says so. And so their scene at the end is just weird - why would Superman be like that to someone he’s not romantically linked with? This isn’t really Snyder’s fault, he’s constrained by the new continuity, but it’s still a failing.
That said, that scene in the final chapter is the least of the problems with the ending. Superman Unchained’s finale is what really lets down the book for me. The book up til then was a bit sketchy, but it was still good for the most part. The ending is so bad that it completely recolours the rest of the book, much like the way Man of Steel ended.
So, throughout the story Superman’s been faced with no-win scenarios which he’s managed to turn into win scenarios because he’s a clever dude. You tell him that he can’t save everyone and he dismisses that as an option and looks for a solution where he can save everyone - and this he does successfully several times.
At the end, Lex presents Superman with a no-win scenario - that Superman readily accepts as his fate. An alien fleet, made up of Wraith’s people, is headed to Earth to apparently murder us all because of our tech, even though their tech is more sophisticated (I really didn’t understand their motivations at all). Lex gives Superman a bomb to fly into the middle of the fleet and detonate, killing them all, as well as Superman. To Lex, it’s win-win. And yet Superman goes along with this plan!
He doesn’t even think twice about it, he just does what Lex tells him to do. It completely counteracts the whole message of the book. There’s even a strange flashback sequence playing alongside this where young Clark is giving CPR to a dead man because he won’t accept that he accidentally killed him, and he manages to bring him back. It’s like Snyder is telling the reader all the way through, Superman is the ultimate problem solver, the ultimate superhero, and then with that ending he’s saying, eh, forget that, Superman’s just a tool!
The more troubling message is: Superman doesn’t respect life. Or, he only respects HUMAN life and alien lives are disposable. Even though the aliens are as intelligent as humans, as we see through Wraith, and Superman himself is an alien! Why is Superman suddenly so willing to commit genocide?! It doesn’t make any sense and completely and totally shatters the image of the character that Snyder’s spent the past 9 issues building up.
I wish I could say that Superman Unchained was up there with Snyder’s Batman but it just isn’t. Snyder certainly tries though I feel his invention and imagination gave out in the final act of the story leading to an incredibly weak conclusion that brings the whole work down. As far as Superman books go, this isn’t one of the best, nor is it as epic and important as DC’s marketing would have you believe, but it’s certainly not among the worst. It’s somewhere in the middle, leaning towards the good.
Oh well, here’s to a better Superman story for the 100th anniversary!
May 13, 2021
"He is a light lost in the darkness."
My second read and it's still great. This is a book that's hard to discuss in detail without spoilers, especially because it's still so new, so I'll have to be fairly vague about the plot.
I feel like Scott Snyder has hit a home run and written an all time classic Superman story, much in the same vein as All Star Superman or Superman For All Seasons. Supes experiences real growth, he really seems to change in strength, powers, self-awareness, and confidence. In stories, the protagonist by definition should experience a change in character, but that rarely seems to happen with Supes or when Character A is thrown into "new" but predictable Scenario B. This is not that book.
Snyder embraces the humor, aliens, grandiose fight scenes, military authority, and sci-fi conspiracy theories that Supes titles are known for. He's created a great and multi-faceted conflict, a fascinating and powerful foe for Superman, while framing it all in a well-crafted tale of suspense that carefully and excitingly unfolds until the last few issues. While this does sometimes have the feeling of a "smash em up" story, Snyder tempers that hyperbole with humor, morality, philosophy, and emotion. I found myself unsure where the story was going, not in a sloppy or directionless way, but that each issue seemed to twist and inflate the story until it was staggeringly huge and unpredictable. I rooted for Supes like a true fan boy, and he doesn't disappoint. He's not the usual New 52 jerk, cynical or selfish. He's strong and admirable, but somehow the humanly-flawed superhero we always know he can be.
I don't think I've ever used the word breathtaking for illustrations, but that's what they are. Jim Lee is an illustrator god, backed up by the incredibly talented illustrator Dustin Nguyen and inker Scott Williams. (I would name all artists involved but the list is just too long. Thanks, all.) This book looks beautiful, dripping with perfect color and incredible macroscopic scenes. The extra artwork in the back was amazing. This had to be promotional marketing, because there are like fifty alternate issue covers and random art from every DC artist you can think of. Brilliant.
I had a blast reading this. My only criticism actually disappeared on the second read. There's plenty of humor! I was probably just reading too fast. Supes has a great repartee with his powerful friend and Jimmy Olsen, who's comic relief himself. General Lane and Lois exchange sarcastic insults. And even Batman has some great one liners. And the humor does well to diffuse the incredible amount of suspense.
My quick understanding of the plot, if you're interested...
So while there's plenty humor for balance, this feels less like a silly adventure than an action-packed soul quest. I often found myself smiling or reveling while reading, it's just that kind of story, but Unchained is generally darker and more contemplative than other Superman stories, even more than All Star. Know that going in and chances are good that you'll enjoy this as much as I did. Because this belongs among the all time greatest Superman stories.
February 2, 2018
It’s been a long journey and after nine issues which ran over the course of eighteen months, Superman Unchained by current Batman writer Scott Snyder and all-star artist Jim Lee is finally released in a deluxe edition volume; just in time for Christmas.
As Superman/Clark Kent continues his battle for truth and justice, his role as Earth’s mightiest hero is set to challenge when he encounters “Wraith”, a secret weapon for the US military since World War II who is more powerful than the Man of Steel.
It should be noted that the first issue of Unchained was published on the same week that the cinematic reboot Man of Steel was released. Whilst I enjoyed (with caution) Zack Snyder’s film for being a bold and controversial approach to the mythos of Superman, Unchained does seem to counter/acknowledge a lot of the messages from that film. An example from this is that Superman is not an ally to the military unlike the film, stating a key moment in the comic as General Sam Lane questions Superman’s “heroism” as despite his attention to save everybody, he cannot kill the evil that happens in this world, letting people to live in misery and die suffering.
Snyder has stated his approach to Superman would be similar to what he did in his first major arc on the Batman title: The Court of Owls; in as much as it’s a character piece about how Superman is challenged, physically and psychologically. Ultimately, Unchained doesn’t quite capture that psychological note like Batman, who is a more appropriate character who can plunge into the nine circles of Hell. Superman’s strength is not the darkness unlike his friend from Gotham City, but really the light and there are certain passages which describe him as a living star, which has always been a key theme throughout the character’s history, especially in the quintessential Superman story: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman.
During the course of this nine-issue story, Snyder has fun with the supporting cast from Lois Lane who doesn’t need a superman to save her from a plane about to crash; to Lex Luthor whose villainy is cleverly defined here as “mind over muscle”. However, the scene-stealer is one dark knight detective whose skills of outsmarting those who are more powerful than him is a great excuse for a lack of any superpowers. Granted his limited appearance in the book, one sequence in which Batman dispatches every batmobile against Wraith is just another great reason why the dark knight can kick ass.
In the case of the central antagonist Wraith (an acronym for "William Rudolph's Ace in the Hole"), there is a level of ambiguity towards what his true attentions are, but in the end he stands more as a physical opponent for Superman. This is when Jim Lee comes in as he illustrates some of his best work with impressive panel work such as Supes preventing Burj Khalifa to collapse. Amidst the epic imagery Jim Lee provides, the artwork from Dustin Nguyen who does the backup stories provide small but touching character moments including Clark’s childhood in Smallville.
While this doesn’t capture the psychological drama of Batman: The Court of Owls, Snyder (who can be accused of being too wordy) presents a story that reignites Superman’s true strength which is being the light against the darkness of our world, while Jim Lee provides some of the best work in his long career as an artist. As The New 52 is now in its third year, Superman Unchained is the most interesting story about the Man of Steel in recent years.
As Superman/Clark Kent continues his battle for truth and justice, his role as Earth’s mightiest hero is set to challenge when he encounters “Wraith”, a secret weapon for the US military since World War II who is more powerful than the Man of Steel.
It should be noted that the first issue of Unchained was published on the same week that the cinematic reboot Man of Steel was released. Whilst I enjoyed (with caution) Zack Snyder’s film for being a bold and controversial approach to the mythos of Superman, Unchained does seem to counter/acknowledge a lot of the messages from that film. An example from this is that Superman is not an ally to the military unlike the film, stating a key moment in the comic as General Sam Lane questions Superman’s “heroism” as despite his attention to save everybody, he cannot kill the evil that happens in this world, letting people to live in misery and die suffering.
Snyder has stated his approach to Superman would be similar to what he did in his first major arc on the Batman title: The Court of Owls; in as much as it’s a character piece about how Superman is challenged, physically and psychologically. Ultimately, Unchained doesn’t quite capture that psychological note like Batman, who is a more appropriate character who can plunge into the nine circles of Hell. Superman’s strength is not the darkness unlike his friend from Gotham City, but really the light and there are certain passages which describe him as a living star, which has always been a key theme throughout the character’s history, especially in the quintessential Superman story: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman.
During the course of this nine-issue story, Snyder has fun with the supporting cast from Lois Lane who doesn’t need a superman to save her from a plane about to crash; to Lex Luthor whose villainy is cleverly defined here as “mind over muscle”. However, the scene-stealer is one dark knight detective whose skills of outsmarting those who are more powerful than him is a great excuse for a lack of any superpowers. Granted his limited appearance in the book, one sequence in which Batman dispatches every batmobile against Wraith is just another great reason why the dark knight can kick ass.
In the case of the central antagonist Wraith (an acronym for "William Rudolph's Ace in the Hole"), there is a level of ambiguity towards what his true attentions are, but in the end he stands more as a physical opponent for Superman. This is when Jim Lee comes in as he illustrates some of his best work with impressive panel work such as Supes preventing Burj Khalifa to collapse. Amidst the epic imagery Jim Lee provides, the artwork from Dustin Nguyen who does the backup stories provide small but touching character moments including Clark’s childhood in Smallville.
While this doesn’t capture the psychological drama of Batman: The Court of Owls, Snyder (who can be accused of being too wordy) presents a story that reignites Superman’s true strength which is being the light against the darkness of our world, while Jim Lee provides some of the best work in his long career as an artist. As The New 52 is now in its third year, Superman Unchained is the most interesting story about the Man of Steel in recent years.
February 7, 2019
The Good:
It's a nice classic Superman story with aliens, terrorists, Luthor, flashbacks of Clark's youth in Smallville the Trinity and some good twists, the lack of references to other New 52 titles makes it a good one-shot read to newbie readers of the Man of Steel and Jim Lee's artworks are just over the top.
The Bats-Supes interactions reminded me a lot old Superman-Batman stories I used to read when I was a kid.
The Bad:
General Lane, Los' dad, seemed to me an awful mix between a copy and paste version of dear old General "Thunderbolt" Ross hunting Marvel's angry green goliath and
the villainous Colonel Quaritch from James Cameron's Avatar (2009).
The Ugly
The Ascension's sub-plot was near to ridiculous and almost every character in this mini-series acted like a chatty big-mouth.
July 24, 2016
This is the best superman story I've read and I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of Snyder.
The one thing I'd say is don't bother with the deluxe unless you want about 80 pages of old superman front covers to look through....pointless IMO.
Edit: after reading this a second time I'm knocking a star off.
The one thing I'd say is don't bother with the deluxe unless you want about 80 pages of old superman front covers to look through....pointless IMO.
Edit: after reading this a second time I'm knocking a star off.
October 26, 2021
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
Superman is going through his day saving people but when the terrorist group Ascension targets him and theres trouble all over the world he has to step up and solve them but he meets a new hero WRAITH and we discover his origins and connections to American military and meanwhile missiles are going off everywhere and its a big challenge for Clark as it will take his all to stop this terrorist group and save everyone and maybe discover more secrets about Wraith and also fight Sam Lane. Also how Lois, Jim and Lex are involved is amazing and I love how all of them have their own stories and plans. Plus the coming of Batman and Wonder Woman here too was awesome!
I like how in the end when faced with annihilation, Wraith steps up and shows Clark how to be a hero and the way he taught him to use his powers was awesome too. Lois is so well written here and shows why she and Clark are the best pair. Its an amazing book with great writing and a tight plot and the story comes perfectly together in the end. Plus the art of Jim Lee is legendary, he makes each page look like a million dollars and well compliments will be less to describe this book. It still remains one of the best New 52 era books and Snyder's writing is immaculate here. A MUST READ!
Superman is going through his day saving people but when the terrorist group Ascension targets him and theres trouble all over the world he has to step up and solve them but he meets a new hero WRAITH and we discover his origins and connections to American military and meanwhile missiles are going off everywhere and its a big challenge for Clark as it will take his all to stop this terrorist group and save everyone and maybe discover more secrets about Wraith and also fight Sam Lane. Also how Lois, Jim and Lex are involved is amazing and I love how all of them have their own stories and plans. Plus the coming of Batman and Wonder Woman here too was awesome!
I like how in the end when faced with annihilation, Wraith steps up and shows Clark how to be a hero and the way he taught him to use his powers was awesome too. Lois is so well written here and shows why she and Clark are the best pair. Its an amazing book with great writing and a tight plot and the story comes perfectly together in the end. Plus the art of Jim Lee is legendary, he makes each page look like a million dollars and well compliments will be less to describe this book. It still remains one of the best New 52 era books and Snyder's writing is immaculate here. A MUST READ!
November 1, 2015
You should know, if there was a scale of ranking for heroes, I'd put Superman in the sub-zeroes. That's how much I don't like the character. He's so damned boring and everything is super (heh) convenient for him. Yeah, no.
BUT.
This is Snyder. So he manages to make me give a 4 star. Because Supey is sort of interesting in this one.
Seriously though, the book is pretty great. I loved the cinematic storyline and panels to match. It's Kal El, so everything is larger than life. The art was the glossy kind which I'm fond of, and I liked it when everyone's eyes go all scary red. Plus, this happened:
Oh, who am I kidding? It was the Batman appearance that did me in. Bruce is so chill in this one, it's great.
That line about the Batmobile insurance? Freaking hilarious!
The thing with Snyder's writing though, is that it always goes off into this dramatic, didactic narration which I'm not a fan of. He's a genius at creating detailed people, but he won't let us absorb the beauty of the story. And the whole Lois and the pretty gemstone thing was confusing.
Those are minor complaints though. I'm pretty happy to recommend this one for the dialogue, the Bruce and Clark friendship (which I have loved forever), corn bagels and really cool art. Applause for this epicness:
I always love it when the icon of my home city is held up by a surfing ad.
BUT.
This is Snyder. So he manages to make me give a 4 star. Because Supey is sort of interesting in this one.
Seriously though, the book is pretty great. I loved the cinematic storyline and panels to match. It's Kal El, so everything is larger than life. The art was the glossy kind which I'm fond of, and I liked it when everyone's eyes go all scary red. Plus, this happened:
Oh, who am I kidding? It was the Batman appearance that did me in. Bruce is so chill in this one, it's great.
That line about the Batmobile insurance? Freaking hilarious!
The thing with Snyder's writing though, is that it always goes off into this dramatic, didactic narration which I'm not a fan of. He's a genius at creating detailed people, but he won't let us absorb the beauty of the story. And the whole Lois and the pretty gemstone thing was confusing.
Those are minor complaints though. I'm pretty happy to recommend this one for the dialogue, the Bruce and Clark friendship (which I have loved forever), corn bagels and really cool art. Applause for this epicness:
I always love it when the icon of my home city is held up by a surfing ad.
June 5, 2015
Anne and Sam both have solid reviews of this, and I agree with both of them, it's well worth reading.
The art is solid, big, and epic as it needs to be with Supes.
Batman is the comic relief in this book, which I absolutely LOVED. Makes sense, as Snyder knows him so well, and he's here as a secondary character, but still a very important one.
There's a line about having the Batmobiles insured that made me laugh so hard, and there's also a panel where Superman tells a bad guy that it's great to have paranoid friends, and the next panel Batman is whistling innocently with a smile on his face....so perfect because you just need some humour, and Batman is the least funny character, except since Snyder managed to make him a bit more human...
But back to Supes...
There's a great solid story underneath the plot, about what he stands for, who he is, and what he means, and it's right on the point, and even Lex in his own way gives him props.
Which is promptly ruined by a stupid ending.
The ending goes against the main crux of Superman...he doesn't kill. Anyone. Alien, plant, animal, human or otherwise. He also solves problems and thinks things out...yet at the end of this he just reverts to flying bomb mode.
It's kinda disappointing, and the flashbacks to Kansas are good. But ruined when we get to the end.
As Sam rightly points out, There's a moment between Lois and Superman....and he gives her a damn hug after she says thanks....WTF.?
You can't have him 2-timing Diana? Not even for his big story? I mean, 75yrs of Superman and you don't have him kiss Lois before he flies off to meet his end? Nope.
Despite that, there is much to enjoy still. The bad guy, Wraith, is interesting for the first half of the book...even if the name is overused...FFS, Detective Comics just had a Wraith as well...
The art is solid, big, and epic as it needs to be with Supes.
Batman is the comic relief in this book, which I absolutely LOVED. Makes sense, as Snyder knows him so well, and he's here as a secondary character, but still a very important one.
There's a line about having the Batmobiles insured that made me laugh so hard, and there's also a panel where Superman tells a bad guy that it's great to have paranoid friends, and the next panel Batman is whistling innocently with a smile on his face....so perfect because you just need some humour, and Batman is the least funny character, except since Snyder managed to make him a bit more human...
But back to Supes...
There's a great solid story underneath the plot, about what he stands for, who he is, and what he means, and it's right on the point, and even Lex in his own way gives him props.
Which is promptly ruined by a stupid ending.
The ending goes against the main crux of Superman...he doesn't kill. Anyone. Alien, plant, animal, human or otherwise. He also solves problems and thinks things out...yet at the end of this he just reverts to flying bomb mode.
It's kinda disappointing, and the flashbacks to Kansas are good. But ruined when we get to the end.
As Sam rightly points out, There's a moment between Lois and Superman....and he gives her a damn hug after she says thanks....WTF.?
You can't have him 2-timing Diana? Not even for his big story? I mean, 75yrs of Superman and you don't have him kiss Lois before he flies off to meet his end? Nope.
Despite that, there is much to enjoy still. The bad guy, Wraith, is interesting for the first half of the book...even if the name is overused...FFS, Detective Comics just had a Wraith as well...
August 8, 2016
I'd probably go with a 3.5 in the end.
This is basically a standalone story for Superman New52. So you don't really need to read anything prior to this to enjoy it. You get a information dump the first two issues, which is a lot to digest (and where my negative points show) because it's a bore to read through some of these pages. A lot of exposition. Which is odd since Snyder doesn't do that with Batman.
The good part of the story comes in with Wraith and Superman talking. Different views, despite them both being good people, wraith follows orders, Superman does his own thing, yet you get to see who the "true" hero really is. I liked their back and forth. I also enjoyed getting to see a small moment in Clark's life as a boy. So those story moments worked.
Also I love the art here. I know some don't like his style but this and Hush are some of my fave art for comics. So for me, it works real well. The art looks amazing when fighting too, the coloring is also top notch.
The bad comes down to bogged down story with too much talking, and a neat ending, when it deserved to be deeper, or bigger, or maybe both. Overall a entertaining Superman story for sure, better than 80% of the Superman run, which is pretty sad, but a well done "Superman" story where get to see the Man of Steel in action.
This is basically a standalone story for Superman New52. So you don't really need to read anything prior to this to enjoy it. You get a information dump the first two issues, which is a lot to digest (and where my negative points show) because it's a bore to read through some of these pages. A lot of exposition. Which is odd since Snyder doesn't do that with Batman.
The good part of the story comes in with Wraith and Superman talking. Different views, despite them both being good people, wraith follows orders, Superman does his own thing, yet you get to see who the "true" hero really is. I liked their back and forth. I also enjoyed getting to see a small moment in Clark's life as a boy. So those story moments worked.
Also I love the art here. I know some don't like his style but this and Hush are some of my fave art for comics. So for me, it works real well. The art looks amazing when fighting too, the coloring is also top notch.
The bad comes down to bogged down story with too much talking, and a neat ending, when it deserved to be deeper, or bigger, or maybe both. Overall a entertaining Superman story for sure, better than 80% of the Superman run, which is pretty sad, but a well done "Superman" story where get to see the Man of Steel in action.
July 25, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Only a couple of writers in the comic book business have an incredible understanding of Superman’s character. From his humanity to his destructive powers, his secret identity as Clark Kent to his mantle as the world’s greatest hero, there isn’t a more complex reality for him to embrace and only a few writers are able to grasp its subtleties and properly convey it in stories revolving around him. With the impressive and staggering creative power that comes with a team like superstar comic book writer Scott Snyder and legendary artist Jim Lee, there is no surprise that fans are rewarded with an exquisite character-centric plot, detonative action sequences, and marvelous artwork to complement it.
What is Superman Unchained about? While he vows to save anyone in danger, his actions still remain ill-advised by certain elites with power. Featuring key characters such as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Lex Luthor, dawning their respective personalities to perfection, from sarcasm, comic relief to high-intellect cynism, this stand-alone graphic novel introduces a mysterious being who has been living right under the nose of Superman for countless years. While its intentions remain unknown at first, he serves as a messenger of change for Superman by questioning his title of a hero. While Superman is challenged on his beliefs and his way of life, his end is envisioned and only he can decide what will happen next.
Set within the New 52 era of DC Comics, the story focuses on Superman’s exploration of his own strengths, weaknesses, powers, and responsibilities. Collecting issues #1-9 as well as bonus material regrouping an incredible amount of variant covers for the single issues and a Superman Unchained Director’s Cut, this cutting-edge take on Superman succeeds in summarizing the reasons why he remains one of the greatest heroes alive.
Self-contained, perfectly-detailed and rendered to perfection, Superman Unchained showcases the creative team’s ability to expand the Man of Steel’s lore while paying their respect to the multi-level story-telling that is often accomplished with this hero, from Superman’s personal growth to his intergalactic interventions. Seamlessly introducing a character without the struggles of achieving believability, Scott Snyder does a terrifyingly good job in establishing its personality while circumscribing it with a role in the grander scheme of things. Where the story also shines is in the colloquy between various characters, where intriguing questions are raised and answered, without overstretching the plot in unnecessary directions.
Just as expected from the title, Superman also goes all out in this graphic novel and proves the world why they should be happy that he is pure of heart. To brilliantly illustrate his godlike powers and the beauty of his strength, Jim Lee channels his greatest penciling skills and delivers eye candy. Highlighting the Man of Steel in all of his glory, Jim Lee’s visionary artistic style conveys all the ideas you would associate to this hero, from gracefulness to hope. Not only does Jim Lee fully uses double-page spreads to draw incredible scenarios and poses, the colourist who worked on this project elevated the artwork to unmatched levels with injections of explosive, bright, and dynamic colours. Even if the storytelling were to be unimpressive for the reader, the artwork alone allows this graphic novel to be relevant and a must-read for comic book fans.
Superman Unchained is an incredibly stunning and action-packed exploration of the Man of Steel’s devoir towards humankind as he’s summoned to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
December 19, 2014
It wasn't as bad as Brian Azzerello's run on Superman, but it was almost as confusing.
Also, Ivan Reis should have been the main artist. Not Jim Lee.
Also, Ivan Reis should have been the main artist. Not Jim Lee.
September 8, 2025
An ambitious, blockbuster Superman story created for his 75th anniversary. Snyder weaves multiple threads together—Lex Luthor scheming in the shadows, Lois Lane caught in her own investigation, and a powerful new foil in Wraith, who challenges Clark’s ideals on strength and morality. The story balances world-ending stakes with intimate flashbacks to Superman’s Kansas roots, giving it both heart and spectacle.
Jim Lee’s art is the real showstopper—massive set pieces, bold linework, and detail that makes every page feel larger than life, enhanced by Alex Sinclair’s colors that make the battles explode off the page. From Superman tearing free of chains to showdowns in orbit, the book is visually stunning throughout.
A modern epic that captures both the might and the humanity of Superman—perfect for fans who want classic heroism told with blockbuster scale.
Jim Lee’s art is the real showstopper—massive set pieces, bold linework, and detail that makes every page feel larger than life, enhanced by Alex Sinclair’s colors that make the battles explode off the page. From Superman tearing free of chains to showdowns in orbit, the book is visually stunning throughout.
A modern epic that captures both the might and the humanity of Superman—perfect for fans who want classic heroism told with blockbuster scale.
September 24, 2025
No estamos ante la mejor historia de Superman, pero sin duda es la más palomitera de cuantas he leído del gran azul. Como dijo alguien de Whakoom, es Superman en 4K.
La espectacularidad no viene del guion de Scott Snyder, que se toma demasiado tiempo en arrancar para ser solo 9 números, y luego hacer un final demasiado abrupto y simplificado, sin llegar a lo misterioso y sorpresivo de su "El tribunal de los búhos" de nuestro querido cruzado enmascarado de Gotham.
Su épica y por lo que vale la pena leer "Superman. El hombre de acero: Desencadenado" viene del dibujo del coreano Jim Lee (sí, el mismo de "Batman: Silencio" -"Hush" en el original-), y de esa aparición del némesis de Superman, otro alienígena que sabe aprovechar aún mejor los poderes que le otorga la luz solar, y que tiene por nombre "Espíritu" ("Wraith" en el original). El enfrentamiento entre ambos extraterrestres está servido, y es de una espectacularidad sin precedentes.
También son dignas de admirar las páginas de flashbacks con la infancia del hombre de acero en esos tonos ocres y dibujadas por Dustin Nguyen (el mismo de la secuela de la ya mencionada "Hush", "Batman: Corazón de silencio", del que tengo pendiente leer "Batman: Final del juego", y "Robin&Batman", adquirido de saldo, como este mismo tomo que nos ocupa, al 50% de dscto). Así mismo de dicho dibujante lo disfrutaremos previamente en cada uno de los epílogos que finalizan cada capítulo.
En resumen, haceros con esta obra si queréis entretenimiento sin grandes sobresaltos ni tramas elaboradas, aparte de maravillaros con el arte de los dibujantes ya citados, y encima tener portadas alternativas inspiradas en la edad de Oro, Plata, Bronce y moderna de multitud de otros grandes artistas: Gary Frank, José Luis García López, Tom Grummett, Kerry Gammill, Jerry Ordway, Francis Manapul, Sean Gordon Murphy, etc.
Para rematar, en esta edición saldada plagada de buenos extras tenéis el Director's Cut, donde Snyder pone a disposición de los lectores sus anotaciones y primeras páginas del guion de "Superman: Unchained", y se incluyen los dibujos a lápiz de Lee de esas mismas primeras páginas, lo que la convierte en un must-have. Valoración final: 3'75 ⭐Krypton de 5.
La espectacularidad no viene del guion de Scott Snyder, que se toma demasiado tiempo en arrancar para ser solo 9 números, y luego hacer un final demasiado abrupto y simplificado, sin llegar a lo misterioso y sorpresivo de su "El tribunal de los búhos" de nuestro querido cruzado enmascarado de Gotham.
Su épica y por lo que vale la pena leer "Superman. El hombre de acero: Desencadenado" viene del dibujo del coreano Jim Lee (sí, el mismo de "Batman: Silencio" -"Hush" en el original-), y de esa aparición del némesis de Superman, otro alienígena que sabe aprovechar aún mejor los poderes que le otorga la luz solar, y que tiene por nombre "Espíritu" ("Wraith" en el original). El enfrentamiento entre ambos extraterrestres está servido, y es de una espectacularidad sin precedentes.
También son dignas de admirar las páginas de flashbacks con la infancia del hombre de acero en esos tonos ocres y dibujadas por Dustin Nguyen (el mismo de la secuela de la ya mencionada "Hush", "Batman: Corazón de silencio", del que tengo pendiente leer "Batman: Final del juego", y "Robin&Batman", adquirido de saldo, como este mismo tomo que nos ocupa, al 50% de dscto). Así mismo de dicho dibujante lo disfrutaremos previamente en cada uno de los epílogos que finalizan cada capítulo.
En resumen, haceros con esta obra si queréis entretenimiento sin grandes sobresaltos ni tramas elaboradas, aparte de maravillaros con el arte de los dibujantes ya citados, y encima tener portadas alternativas inspiradas en la edad de Oro, Plata, Bronce y moderna de multitud de otros grandes artistas: Gary Frank, José Luis García López, Tom Grummett, Kerry Gammill, Jerry Ordway, Francis Manapul, Sean Gordon Murphy, etc.
Para rematar, en esta edición saldada plagada de buenos extras tenéis el Director's Cut, donde Snyder pone a disposición de los lectores sus anotaciones y primeras páginas del guion de "Superman: Unchained", y se incluyen los dibujos a lápiz de Lee de esas mismas primeras páginas, lo que la convierte en un must-have. Valoración final: 3'75 ⭐Krypton de 5.
July 26, 2020
So it’s official. I’ve now read my first full Superman story and I can say it was good. ( I read Action Comics 1000 but I don’t count that as a full story) Snyder does a good job with this one. There are a few plots going on here and as they start to seem like they are getting wrapped up, you realize they are all connected and lead to a big finale. Jim Lee’s art work pairs with this perfectly. There’s the threat of this new super powered being working with the military. The military also has all these new weapons designed just for Superman and there was a terrorist organization using some tech they made to basically restart civilization and Supes has to deal with all of this. This was pretty dope.
January 14, 2015
Every once in a while, I pick up a Superman comic to mix things up a bit. With the exception of Superman: Red Son, I always finish the comic vaguely disappointed.
While this particular collection has some great, bold art by Jim Lee, some big action sequences -- including a great countdown sequence, features classic characters like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, Batman, Wonder Woman, and introduces a new worthy adversary for Superman in Wraith, it still fell flat due to my personal lack of interest in the Big Blue and Red Boy Scout.
Next time I get the urge to give Superman another try, I think I'll pick up a Justice League comic instead, just so Superman will be diluted among other superheroes I find more interesting, which is pretty much all of them.
While this particular collection has some great, bold art by Jim Lee, some big action sequences -- including a great countdown sequence, features classic characters like Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, Batman, Wonder Woman, and introduces a new worthy adversary for Superman in Wraith, it still fell flat due to my personal lack of interest in the Big Blue and Red Boy Scout.
Next time I get the urge to give Superman another try, I think I'll pick up a Justice League comic instead, just so Superman will be diluted among other superheroes I find more interesting, which is pretty much all of them.
May 6, 2016
This is actually my second time reading this. I bought the individual issues when they came out but they were bi-monthly at best, so it was very hard to stay into the story with the huge delays and wasn't that impressed. I chalked my dislike up to the delays.
Reading it now, my opinion hasn't changed that much. The story is a thinly veiled reminder on why Superman basically stays outside the law. The plot involves another alien with similar powers to Kal, but he's been working for the US government the whole time. Mix that with a 1 part terrorist group (but with good intentions!) and 1 small part Lex Luthor and you end up with a lot of interesting pieces but not really a great deal of depth. I found that it never quite made it above average.
The art is superb of course. Jim Lee is basically at the top of his game.
Reading it now, my opinion hasn't changed that much. The story is a thinly veiled reminder on why Superman basically stays outside the law. The plot involves another alien with similar powers to Kal, but he's been working for the US government the whole time. Mix that with a 1 part terrorist group (but with good intentions!) and 1 small part Lex Luthor and you end up with a lot of interesting pieces but not really a great deal of depth. I found that it never quite made it above average.
The art is superb of course. Jim Lee is basically at the top of his game.
May 6, 2019
I grew up with comics books. I LOVE comic books. But these days, I rarely read the classic titles. At least not without a twist. I'm much more likely to read "Red Son", where Superman lands in the Soviet Union than whatever he's actually up to these days. I think that's why I enjoyed "Superman Unchained" so much. This was a comic experience like it used to be. No more. No less.
Here, we find out that the government has had a secret Superman-type alien of it's own since long before Superman arrived. Because of this,, he's soaked up a lot more of the suns rays and is more powerful than our hero. They fight a couple of times. An alien invasion is thrown into the mix. Noble sacrifices abound. All in all, some solid Superman stuff.
Here, we find out that the government has had a secret Superman-type alien of it's own since long before Superman arrived. Because of this,, he's soaked up a lot more of the suns rays and is more powerful than our hero. They fight a couple of times. An alien invasion is thrown into the mix. Noble sacrifices abound. All in all, some solid Superman stuff.
May 18, 2016
Best modern Superman story period. The only downside of this 9-issue series collected edition is that you want so bad for Scott Snyder and artist Jim Lee to continue a run on Superman. This dynamic duo does everything right here. First Scott gives a perfect picture of Superman means to us today and still pays homage to what the character has come to mean to us all. It this story Scott asserts the point that Superman is about doing what is right even if it hurts or even if that puts him at odds with the USA's sometimes questionable military complex. What is important in this story is that Clark Kent aka Superman is faced with a dilemma of not just the unstoppable power of Wraith, who is actually stronger than him, but the idea of what his purpose will be to the world. My favorite part about this story is when he confronts General Lane about the secret and deadly missions carried out by the U.S. covert organization, THE MACHINE. The General believes Superman to be a coward because he simply will not take the easy route of destroying evil by destroying dictators or using his powers to with an iron hand stomp out the evils of the world. It is easy for one to want to use force at times to resolve conflicts but you do so at the peril of becoming the evil you are trying to confront. Superman is very powerful but it is in his weakness and willingness to not always wield that power that his true power shines. Superman to me has always been about this godlike figure coming down to not just save us but guide us to being our better selves. In the end Superman just doesn't defeat evil physically but he actually changes the mind of those who would do evil. That is inspirational. I am glad someone at DC Comics finally understands the character.
Jim Lee's artwork is mesmerizing in this book. I really loved the full page spreads in this graphic novel. This is what happens when you put the best artist and writer together. They create a masterpiece. Superman fans looking for a cinematic and thought provoking superhero story will love this book. It definitely one of the best limited series I have read in a long time.
Jim Lee's artwork is mesmerizing in this book. I really loved the full page spreads in this graphic novel. This is what happens when you put the best artist and writer together. They create a masterpiece. Superman fans looking for a cinematic and thought provoking superhero story will love this book. It definitely one of the best limited series I have read in a long time.
September 15, 2025
I'm tempted to start a Chain Letter encouraging Goodreads user to check out this compilation (Deluxe edition or not) as it represents a pretty effective coming together of Messers Snyder, Lee and Nguyen.
I won't give away too many plot points, but in a nutshell Superman is presented as a superhero with doubts and insecurities, a man who is (in the view of Luthor, anyway) clearly just making it up as he goes along, which means he doesn't actually stand for anything (which I felt was a pretty sly way by the writer to acknowledge the torturous task of reconciling an iconic character with 75+ years of writers and storylines).
Also, due to the enormity of some of the threats he faces, we get to see Kal-El go balls to the wall in terms of using his powers and some choice gadgets from the Fortress of Solitude. Behold!
There are some tasty cameos as well, and, Snyder being Snyder, Batman steals one of the coolest sequences with his ludicrous "stealth suit" and a very creative use of iconic Batcave artifacts and gadgets.
On the whole, definitely worth letting this one off the chain!
I won't give away too many plot points, but in a nutshell Superman is presented as a superhero with doubts and insecurities, a man who is (in the view of Luthor, anyway) clearly just making it up as he goes along, which means he doesn't actually stand for anything (which I felt was a pretty sly way by the writer to acknowledge the torturous task of reconciling an iconic character with 75+ years of writers and storylines).
Also, due to the enormity of some of the threats he faces, we get to see Kal-El go balls to the wall in terms of using his powers and some choice gadgets from the Fortress of Solitude. Behold!
There are some tasty cameos as well, and, Snyder being Snyder, Batman steals one of the coolest sequences with his ludicrous "stealth suit" and a very creative use of iconic Batcave artifacts and gadgets.
On the whole, definitely worth letting this one off the chain!
April 22, 2016
Superman Unchained tells a fairly good Superman story enough to keep you entertained as you kill time. There is nothing so special with this, only some typical things you see in a Superman story: a villain brute, space aliens, a lot of Lois Lane doing a lot, the government, the DC trinity, Lex Luthor in the background and a lot of nuclear warheads.
It clearly has Scott Snyder-isms like some lessons in mythology, a play with chemical terms that might or might not really exist and tons of expositions. This guy balances words with story and action in a tight rope, and manages to cross the endline entertainingly. Though I admit that Snyder is a Batman writer.
On the art side, we do not have a problem as Jim Lee takes the pencils and drew the hell out of the comics, with all those expressions and muscles alike. The two might not be the best partners for a story, but thet did a passable job here.
My gripe with Superman Unchained is that there is too much going on in the story. It is a mashup of so many things you might lose interest in one. I mean like, I just don't care about Ascension, because there are too much subplots that one won't be invested in all of them.
I am yet to read a gpod Superman run in the New52, but so far the best thing I get is The Men of Tomorrow. Superman Unchained is much forgettable than that. Still a good read though.
It clearly has Scott Snyder-isms like some lessons in mythology, a play with chemical terms that might or might not really exist and tons of expositions. This guy balances words with story and action in a tight rope, and manages to cross the endline entertainingly. Though I admit that Snyder is a Batman writer.
On the art side, we do not have a problem as Jim Lee takes the pencils and drew the hell out of the comics, with all those expressions and muscles alike. The two might not be the best partners for a story, but thet did a passable job here.
My gripe with Superman Unchained is that there is too much going on in the story. It is a mashup of so many things you might lose interest in one. I mean like, I just don't care about Ascension, because there are too much subplots that one won't be invested in all of them.
I am yet to read a gpod Superman run in the New52, but so far the best thing I get is The Men of Tomorrow. Superman Unchained is much forgettable than that. Still a good read though.
February 27, 2017
True, I was a bit skeptical at first, but this beast of a story sure did rattle a few of my internal cages...
It was amazing to see Superman try to grab hold of the situation which at some points seems completely lost, but you know S, he has a great tenacity to see all things ending well...
Snyder certainly knows how to bring the story and Jim Lee brought his ideas flawlessly into some great artwork..
This is one part of New 52 that certainly merits a good vote... and a big audience.
So if you find this somewhere, don't hesitate ! You'll be pleasantly surprised
It was amazing to see Superman try to grab hold of the situation which at some points seems completely lost, but you know S, he has a great tenacity to see all things ending well...
Snyder certainly knows how to bring the story and Jim Lee brought his ideas flawlessly into some great artwork..
This is one part of New 52 that certainly merits a good vote... and a big audience.
So if you find this somewhere, don't hesitate ! You'll be pleasantly surprised
May 31, 2016
Tried twice. Really didn't like this one.
July 24, 2019
За Супермена я рідко берусь, хоча під час перегляду серіалу Смолвіль на мене найшло бажання прочитати щось більше про цього героя. Нажаль, серії Superman i Action Comics в New 52 залишали бажати кращого і мені зіпсували погляд на Кларка і його альтер его, але цей комікс якраз було те, що мені потрібно. Хороші бійки, цілком порядна кількість персонажів, не шедевральний, але цікавий сюжет (хоча не без своїх дивацтв, але я цьому не надавав великого значення) і дуже барвисті кольори та гарні малюнки від Джима Лі. Після прочитання склалось враження, що протягом дня дивився хороше, супергеройське кіно. Комікс може здатись занудним та банальним, але як на мене, це цікаве, нескладне та мальовниче чтиво на вечір.
June 7, 2016
So I just finished the last issue of Superman Unchained, and it was better than I expected it would be. Well for a Jim Lee book, anyway. I'll say it once, and I'll say it again, Jim is the single most over hyped person in comic books, ever. EVER. Apparently, anybody who read Uncanny X-Men in the early 90s had their childhoods defined by the book. I wasn't a year old when Lee's first issue with Claremont released, needless to say I didn't read it when it came out, nor do I plan to. From what I've read of Jim Lee books, usually the writing underwhelms. You'd think that such a big name would get the opportunity to draw some really cool comics, but instead readers get the poorly written Batman: Hush, the insanely written ASSBAR, and the abysmally written first two arcs of Geoff John's Justice League series. I haven't read anything else of Lee's, but Superman: For Tomorrow sounds boring, and WildC.A.T.s and that Max Farraday book both sound and look like self-indulgent comic book vanity projects, which is something I'd use to describe a Todd McFarlane book. His work on Heroes Reborn looks like complete shit, no offense, but his Fantastic Four cover is one of the ugliest pieces of shit I've ever seen him produce.
Ah, whenever Jim Lee comes up, I tend to wander and get flustered more than I should. Is Superman Unchained any good? Well, it's interesting, I'll give it that. It's a change of pace for Scott Snyder, who predominantly writes horror comics. It's not a bad change, and somewhat refreshing, especially compared to the majority of output at DC Comics. The story introduces "Wraith," and if you can get past the silly 90s-esque name and the silly 90s-esque design (thanks, Jim Lee), he's a neat character, though I doubt he'll ever be a "classic" Superman villain, like Lex, The Parasite, or Metallo. I like him as a foil to Superman, he's got the powers, but more experience, works with the American military, and makes very questionable decisions in his career. Unfortunately, Superman already has a foil in Lex Luthor, who is also in Unchained. Lex Luthor, oh yeah. He shows up here and there, as if Snyder needs to prove he can write him and Supes, but I felt that he could be cut entirely from the book with minimal change to the story. Wraith's power set also isn't terribly original, with the stronger-than-thou antics lifted straight from Doomsday a la The Death of Superman, a "shocking" book that was only ever meant to draw attention from people who didn't actually read comic books. Yeah, Wraith is a silly name for a badguy, and considering how weak the explanation for his name was in the comic, I'd guess the name was Jim Lee's idea, since he loves to keep the 90s alive.
There's this terrorist group called Ascension, I think, and their goal was to have non-alien technology, I think. They also set off literally every nuclear missile in the world, because reasons. What they are, I can't remember. You'd think setting off literally every nuclear missile in the world would be a big deal, but it isn't. The missiles get dismantled, as you'd expect, before they can do any damage. Wonder Woman gives a one-off comment on how the world isn't in a nuclear standstill anymore, but that's the last we hear of it. Back to Ascension, they vanish halfway though the story, with the only contribution being made is to provide Lois Lane with the MacGuffin. It does MacGuffin-y stuff, but it's never properly explained what it's actual capabilities are. Maybe it does, I just don't remember.
There is some good action, I'll admit. Ascension has its drones, the US military has similar drones for some reason, there's Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Wraith, a falling spaceship the looks like the Carrier from The Authority, and so on. Maybe that's why the comic is as long as it is. Most of the story, which is full of peaks and valleys, mostly exists to set the stage for big action sequences. One positive thing I'm willing to say about Jim Lee is that he can draw action. Anytime he isn't drawing some big fight, the artwork stagnates. Often, Lee will crank out really obvious poses, like the generic image of a muscly guy standing, looking at the reader, with his arms slightly bent and fists clenched. For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, and many more. There's other poses he uses, but that's beside the point. I think I may realize why Jim Lee books secretly suck. He's really only suited for action, anything else is boring. Action heavy plots often sacrifice story for movement, so Jim Lee books with lots of action are kind of dumb. Story heavy plots push out action in favor of talking, brooding, and philosophizing, which is unsuited for Lee's style. Superman Unchained strikes a balance in the middle, juggling action bits and story bits from scene to scene, creating a somewhat happy medium between Lee's action and Snyder's writing, and with little tug-of-war between the two over the book.
Superman Unchained is a decent book, but it's clear to anybody that has read Snyder's other books that this isn't his best effort. Lee does a decent job, but his non-action scenes draw attention to how overdrawn and busy his work is, like something out of the Transformers movies. A fun popcorn book, but nothing will stick out. 3 stars.
Ah, whenever Jim Lee comes up, I tend to wander and get flustered more than I should. Is Superman Unchained any good? Well, it's interesting, I'll give it that. It's a change of pace for Scott Snyder, who predominantly writes horror comics. It's not a bad change, and somewhat refreshing, especially compared to the majority of output at DC Comics. The story introduces "Wraith," and if you can get past the silly 90s-esque name and the silly 90s-esque design (thanks, Jim Lee), he's a neat character, though I doubt he'll ever be a "classic" Superman villain, like Lex, The Parasite, or Metallo. I like him as a foil to Superman, he's got the powers, but more experience, works with the American military, and makes very questionable decisions in his career. Unfortunately, Superman already has a foil in Lex Luthor, who is also in Unchained. Lex Luthor, oh yeah. He shows up here and there, as if Snyder needs to prove he can write him and Supes, but I felt that he could be cut entirely from the book with minimal change to the story. Wraith's power set also isn't terribly original, with the stronger-than-thou antics lifted straight from Doomsday a la The Death of Superman, a "shocking" book that was only ever meant to draw attention from people who didn't actually read comic books. Yeah, Wraith is a silly name for a badguy, and considering how weak the explanation for his name was in the comic, I'd guess the name was Jim Lee's idea, since he loves to keep the 90s alive.
There's this terrorist group called Ascension, I think, and their goal was to have non-alien technology, I think. They also set off literally every nuclear missile in the world, because reasons. What they are, I can't remember. You'd think setting off literally every nuclear missile in the world would be a big deal, but it isn't. The missiles get dismantled, as you'd expect, before they can do any damage. Wonder Woman gives a one-off comment on how the world isn't in a nuclear standstill anymore, but that's the last we hear of it. Back to Ascension, they vanish halfway though the story, with the only contribution being made is to provide Lois Lane with the MacGuffin. It does MacGuffin-y stuff, but it's never properly explained what it's actual capabilities are. Maybe it does, I just don't remember.
There is some good action, I'll admit. Ascension has its drones, the US military has similar drones for some reason, there's Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Wraith, a falling spaceship the looks like the Carrier from The Authority, and so on. Maybe that's why the comic is as long as it is. Most of the story, which is full of peaks and valleys, mostly exists to set the stage for big action sequences. One positive thing I'm willing to say about Jim Lee is that he can draw action. Anytime he isn't drawing some big fight, the artwork stagnates. Often, Lee will crank out really obvious poses, like the generic image of a muscly guy standing, looking at the reader, with his arms slightly bent and fists clenched. For example: 1, 2, 3, 4, and many more. There's other poses he uses, but that's beside the point. I think I may realize why Jim Lee books secretly suck. He's really only suited for action, anything else is boring. Action heavy plots often sacrifice story for movement, so Jim Lee books with lots of action are kind of dumb. Story heavy plots push out action in favor of talking, brooding, and philosophizing, which is unsuited for Lee's style. Superman Unchained strikes a balance in the middle, juggling action bits and story bits from scene to scene, creating a somewhat happy medium between Lee's action and Snyder's writing, and with little tug-of-war between the two over the book.
Superman Unchained is a decent book, but it's clear to anybody that has read Snyder's other books that this isn't his best effort. Lee does a decent job, but his non-action scenes draw attention to how overdrawn and busy his work is, like something out of the Transformers movies. A fun popcorn book, but nothing will stick out. 3 stars.
November 5, 2021
SCORE: 60 | C+ / B-
TRIGGERS: graphic violence
REVIEW: Sadly, I did not love this one. The premise is interesting, but the story itself feels bloated with far too much exposition and unnecessary dialogue. I've always been a fan of stories where Superman goes up against an equal of sorts when it comes to power level so this story had potential to become a favourite of mine. However, I personally didn't find the villain compelling, especially when the writer also made the creative decision to add Lex Luthor into the mix as well. The art though? 10/10 as always with Jim Lee. They being said, I don't think we need the what felt like 40 pages of Superman covers at the end. Overall, not as enjoyable as I would have hoped, but not terrible either.
TRIGGERS: graphic violence
REVIEW: Sadly, I did not love this one. The premise is interesting, but the story itself feels bloated with far too much exposition and unnecessary dialogue. I've always been a fan of stories where Superman goes up against an equal of sorts when it comes to power level so this story had potential to become a favourite of mine. However, I personally didn't find the villain compelling, especially when the writer also made the creative decision to add Lex Luthor into the mix as well. The art though? 10/10 as always with Jim Lee. They being said, I don't think we need the what felt like 40 pages of Superman covers at the end. Overall, not as enjoyable as I would have hoped, but not terrible either.
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