Superman and Superboy. Father and Son. Truth, Justice, Family!
Rocketed from his dying homeworld as an infant, he became his adopted planet’s greatest champion. Then he and his family—his wife, Lois Lane, and their son, Jonathan Kent—narrowly escaped the destruction of their entire universe.
They emerged on a new Earth, where a younger, brasher breed of superheroes held sway. And when the valiant young Superman of this strangely familiar reality fell in the line of duty, the original Man of Steel stepped out of the shadows to take his place.
Now, in addition to battling threats from around the world and across the universe, Superman must fight to earn the trust of his newly adopted planet’s other protectors—as well as his curious small-town neighbors. Most of all, he must teach young Jonathan how to harness his ever-increasing abilities and wield them in the service of truth and justice—as a child of two worlds, this grandson of Krypton’s potential is rivaled only by the dangers he will face.
From the New York Times bestselling creative team of Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason comes a celebration of family and heroism. Featuring every story from their modern-day classic for the first time in a single hardcover edition, the Superman by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Omnibus collects the team’s adventures from Superman #1-25, #27-28, #33-39, #42-45, Superman Annual #1, Superman: Rebirth #1, Superman Special #1, Action Comics #975-976, #1000, Super Sons #11-12, and Teen Titans #975-976.
Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.
In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.
He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.
In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane? It’s....the best Superman run of all time? Very possible.
I collected the majority of Tomasi and Gleason’s run as it was initially being released, and it is definitively THE title to read of the Rebirth era. I love Jon Kent so damned much, and I really dig seeing Clark as a father; continually getting a better sense of the man he is and his relationship with his son is (much like with Tomasi and Gleason’s also stellar Batman & Robin run) the heart of it all. There’s something cool about having a new element introduced into these characters’ lives that you just know is here to stay. It’s rare, and only really comes about with the best of creative teams; which is exactly what you get here.
I couldn’t recommend this enough. Get the Omnibus, read it all. Soak in all the Superman goodness.
Probably my favorite Superman run (besides All-Star Superman and For All Seasons). This has so much heart and is exactly what I want my Superman to be. He's all powerful and he flexes those muscles when he needs to in this book, but the relationship with Lois and Jon is so wonderful and funny and never cheesy (at least in my opinion).
Dar um filho para o Superman foi uma das melhores ideias para o personagem nas últimas décadas. Ao mesmo tempo que resgata um elemento importante do personagem original (ser ele próprio uma figura paterna, e não qualquer uma, mas o modelo de pai ideal, atualizado aos tempos), transmite uma sensação real de progressão narrativa do personagem (ou ao menos, a primeira significativa que me ocorre, desde a morte e ressureição nos anos 90). Isso dá suporte para que Jon Kent se comporte como uma criança "normal" num mundo de excepcionalidades, o que já altera a dinâmica do Superman com todos os demais personagens, dos vilões como Luthor, Bizarro ou Sr. Myzptlk, ao Batman e filho.
Também me ocorre que, embora a leitura que se tornou corrente principalmente pós-anos 90, de ver super-heróis como equivalentes aos deuses de uma nova mitologia, até pode render coisas interessantes (como Kingdom Come), mas se torna uma visão limitada e monótona sobre o personagem, enquanto uma verdadeira "essência" do Superman está em histórias como essas de Peter J. Tomasi, uma cruza entre a ficção científica pulp da Era do Jato nos anos 40-60, com uma imaginação delirante ao estilo Twilight Zone - ou seja, pura Era de Prata.
One of the worst things I’ve ever read. Completely childish and uninteresting. Besides the issue where Tomasi gives a history lesson through Superman to Jon about United States war veterans, this was a kids book.
I went into this picturing a remotely interesting run as Batman & Robin by Tomasi and Gleason wasn’t bad but this?
Really for me only 1 compelling story. Not even close to the same level as Batman & Robin. Was expecting so much more. Felt like it was written for a very young audience.
One of most heart warming runs I’ve ever read in my life. I love re-visiting this series. Everybody is a total BADASS in this book from Superman himself to Lois Lane, and most of all Jon Kent ! Tomasi & Gleason gave each of these characters a spotlight to show off what they can do ! Patrick Gleason, Doug Mahnke on artwork is STELLAR ! One of the greatest Superman runs EVER ! It will make you laugh, make you cry, make you mad, just rock your emotions period. So inspiring and amazing !
The art is great throughout, no dips at all in quality.
The story wavered a bit though. Specifically I could have done without the Bizzaro stuff. That being said, some of the stories, namely Declaration and Independence Day, legitimately made me tear up. When it's just Superman, being the decent respectful guy he is, this omnibus really hits its stride, and those are even beyond a 5/5.
Also props for the depiction of Lois Lane. Really knocked that out of the park as well.
This book is 1128 pages, and I want more. One of the greatest Superman runs; one of the greatest DC runs, period. Will definitely reread.
I knew Tomasi's run was well-reviewed at the time, but I resisted the idea of Superman and Lois raising a 10-year-old son on a farm. That's the double edged sword of comics - nostalgia v new ideas. In this case, I didn't want the new ideas, but I was wrong. I REALLY didn't think I wanted to read about Superman and Batman bonding over their frenemy sons. I was wrong about that, too. These are great, fun, classic stories with a ton of charm and heart.
At times, the modern comic refusal to use text blocks worked against the storytelling. I think some of the ideas would have come through more clearly with a bit of exposition.
(actually a 4.5, too bad there's no half ratings) aside from a few duds (wtf was that road trip) this was a really fun run. black dawn arc was awesome, got a couple of my favorite villains with bizarro and mxy, and the family focus was great. whenever jimenez pops in the art is absolutely gorgeous, he really captures the energy of superman. hoping he finally gets put on the main book when mora leaves 🤞
4.25 stars. This book made me love Superman. Great stories. Great themes. Greater characterization. I can understand why this run gets so much praise. There is a ton of heart packed across these 40+ issues and I loved it. I’m excited to re-read.
Superboy’s house seems like you’d come over after school for dinner one time and then you’d make a point of never going over there again because his parents are nice but they won’t let him watch Dragonball Z or anything PG-13 and they do a whole thing before they eat that isn’t necessarily praying but it isn’t not and they preface things with “in this house” a lot.
After reading Batman and Son by Tomasi (5 stars), I am let down by this book. This had a few good stories but mostly mediocre. It seems to be written for a younger audience than Batman and Son. It was just OK 3/5
Superman has not been this exuberant since the Silver Age. While the death of his New 52 incarnation was perhaps too quick and painless, the return—or should I say, Rebirth—of his post-crisis predecessor feels like a return to an even earlier era of storytelling, one when adventures through time, space, and the multiverse could be resolved in the space of a few issues, and when continuity was a treat for loyal readers rather than a hurdle for newcomers.
But the return to this specific version of Superman is welcome too. Gone is the cocky, headstrong amateur fans had to endure for 5 years. Back is the confident yet competent father figure of the DC universe, who now, as an unexpected but natural development, is finally an actual father to a rambunctious Superboy.
Beyond just being a more likable and admirable character, the post-crisis Superman brings with him a rich and well-established canon, one which Peter Tomasi makes full use of. His storylines are rife with references to events decades—and sometimes worlds—apart, from Red Son to The Multiversity to The Death of Superman, which figures heavily from beginning to end. He does not reject the New 52 either, writing a followup to Darkseid War and including Superman’s newest power: the solar flare.
Unlike the greatest comic book runs, however, Tomasi’s lacks an overarching narrative (like Alan Moore’s Supreme) or dramatic conclusion (like Walt Simonson’s Thor). And though he refuses to rely on the clichés of lesser Superman writers—Louis as damsel-in-distress, Ma and Pa Kent as dispensers of wisdom, and, of course, Kryptonite as convenient depowering tool—he still leans on tropes of his own, mainly his need to abruptly shanghai his cast to and from other worlds to jumpstart the plot of nearly every arc.
Although Tomasi establishes Superman’s struggle to remain noble and old-fashioned in a darkening world as a unifying theme, particularly regarding his “no-kill” ethic, he does so intermittently and inconsistently (Is it okay or is not okay for Superman to rip through a dinosaur’s stomach?). Moreover, Tomasi’s colorful and light-hearted vision seems to make this idea redundant, leading to a lot of aimless moralizing.
Yet even the weakest issues are lifted up by the artwork of Patrick Gleason. While his character designs usually conform to industry standards, his splash pages are inventive and ambitious, and his saturated palette perfectly compliments the tone of Superman. One also never gets the sense that Superman is either overmatched or undermatched in battle—even when the outcome is never in doubt.
With the latest DC reboot, Infinite Frontier, already underway, the Man of Steel’s future is once again uncertain. As is the nature of comic books, his origins and present circumstances will continue to be revised and rewritten. Yet for now at least, Peter Tomasi has put him on sure footing for whatever comes ahead.
Despite the uniformly high praise it gets, this book failed to wow me. It doesnt have the abysmal lows of New 52 Supes, but it certainly doesnt hit the same peaks either.
I have a few issues with this book: 1. Its mostly boring, low stakes, and uninteresting, even for the majority of the multi arc narratives.
2. Superman gets weirdly nationalistic and SEVERAL issues go on and on about war and veterans and America. This would make sense for Captain America, not Superman. I know several writers have injected their own spin on Superman as patriotic or a god figure but Superman is a citizen of the world and a champion of the oppressed without borders and allegiances. The borderline propaganda for the USA that permeates this book really turned me off to it. Im an American and even I thought it was too much. It felt like one of the writers/authors wish fulfillment for a military comic.
3. The arcs are bad: The Tween Titans issues are awful. I was mostly skimming them after a certain point. The Bizarroworld issues are marginally better but not great either. The New 52 merging with Rebirth arc was undercooked but alright, and the convergence of the Supermen to save the multiverse was decent but anticlimactic. Nothing really left a lasting impression though.
4. Characterization is either lacking or off. Lois lacks any real agency and just serves to wait at home for Jon and Clark while being sassy. Jon’s “conflicts” as a child and the parenting involved aren’t heartfelt or nuanced, just thinly veiled, oversimplified morals being mega-phoned through Lois and Clark. “The world doesn’t owe you anything.” “Help people.” Nothing new or interesting or especially not subtle.
The worst offender by far is Superman himself though. He’s weirdly aggressive and snappy, especially with Jon. With the way Jon calls him “Sir” most of the time, it felt like a military family dynamic. and it wasn’t appealing at all.
On top of that, Superman doesn’t really go out of his way to actively seek peace or protect people much in this book, which is very out of character. Tomasi and Gleason seemed to have interpreted the entire character as “punch hard and proselytize”. He’s so one note and aimless and there’s zero romance between him and Lois, and really there’s no Clark Kent dynamic either. While Lois has been reduced to a housewife in some loveless military family, Superman has been reduced to Superman but in all the worst ways.
5. I will say, the art is consistently good throughout. That’s the most I can be bothered to compliment this book on.
In summary, its not offensively bad but its really not good either. Here’s to hoping the concurrent Action Comics run is better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It's become a truism that it's difficult to come up with a fresh take on Superman. That everything has been said, that the concept itself is old fashioned and something radical needs to be done. Enter Tomasi and Gleason: here is a new page but firmly rooted on the character's long history and set traditions, yet one that feels current, fun and relevant. It's actually far more difficult than what it looks like, and they do it masterfully. The introduction of Jonathan Kent, Clark and Lois' son and the temporary 'small town middle america' setting are so novel yet logical that they became the basis for the current, successful, Superman and Lois TV show. Gleason also draws much of this volume with his unique art, but the unfortunate twice monthly schedule (unnecessary and inexplicable, IMHO) means many fill in artist. Fortunately there is a "house style" and nothing feels too out of place.
My only real drawback, which is not just for these stories and characters, is that the current micro focus and "hot takes" on characters means that world building and supporting characters sometimes are put aside. Sure, we have the Kents and the neighbours (which are not supporting characters in fact, just keep reading for a not so surprising twist), but nothing compared to the Metropolitan cast of characters historically associated with Supes.
Still, much to recommend and a great companion piece for the Super Sons book from the same creators.
If you love Superman, you’ll without a doubt enjoy this book. Following rebirth Superman and his journey from undercover hero to the new Superman, along with the hurdles of raising a son with power like his son, this book includes not only new elements, but also respect the past and the core of what Superman is. His beliefs, values, sense of right and wrong, all present and used properly. Every story is almost like a Saturday morning cartoon, featuring action, interesting concepts, but also a message at the end, whether it be to always do what is right even when it’s hard, or to believe in yourself and never doubt. That’s what makes me a Superman fan, the small moments like that. The fact that you can feel something from just reading about two character standing in the golden grass of a farm, speaks volumes to the character of Superman and the legacy that’s been created. Overall a solid read with really interesting stories from both Superman and Jon’s perspective as well a solid stories with them together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A thoroughly overrated era of Superman. For all the stink made of Brian Michael Bendis and DC aging up Jon Kent following this run, I was expecting what they actually do with a young Jon Kent and Lois and Clark as a family to be a lot more interesting than it actually was (though I recognize a lot of peoples love may come from Super Sons, which are some of my favorite parts of this collection).
This run is not without its highlights. I adored #7, where Jon, Clark, and Lois attend the county fair, which really leans into what this run does best. #39 is my favorite issue of the entire run, where Clark and the Justice League brighten up the lives of children who are terminally ill with cancer. Far too often though, it seems like this run gets bogged down in arcs like “Multiplicity” and “Black Dawn” that have such big cosmic action without a grounded story that has me tuning out when I’m reading it.
This books makes me fall in love with the Superfamily. From Lois’ symbolic strength, to Clark and Jon’s “father-and-son” encounters had me turning for more! Tomasi and Gleason clearly know how to write Superman to be a loving, at times naive, yet strong willed character and is doing everything he can to ensure Jon can continue his wealth of HOPE for the Supermen of tomorrow. Jorge Jimenez by far carries some of these stories, but Gleason’s pencils can’t be something to complain about. More minor stories that I couldn’t have cared less about throughout the book with writers and artist who lacked the rhythm and flow Tomasi and Gleason created in prior issues. And to “put the cherry on top” JL members (Batman mostly) intersecting these stories make me appreciate how vastly open these stories can be. Overall loved it.
With this long-running Superman tale, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason have done what many consider to be impossible: told Superman stories that are not only fresh and unique but also highlights the character’s core values. This run has just about everything: humor, science fiction, action, family and so, so much heart. The dynamic between Jon and Clark is the standout aspect of the entire series and the focus on family is central to why this book was so successful. Their character arcs are essential to this book’s success and they’re really powerful. Not every story arc in here works but some of them, like the Dinosaur Island one, are some of the best Superman stories ever told in comics. I LOVED so much of this run; I maybe just wish there was more of a through line with the narrative throughout.
This omnibus had its moments but they were few and far between. The art quality is wonky at best, the plot is repetitive and the twists are done with little thought.
The family piece has the same feeling to me, always the same, no growth (or maybe the same lessons learned time and time again). I hoped to see some of the challenges fathers face with their children reflected in Superman's story but I personally couldn't find many (considering how long this omnibus is).
A common situation is to see a challenge then a long exposition, next information like "This is something I can blow away to cosmos" and the threat is no more. To me, most of the time the long expositions aren't rewarded with a satisfying conclusion.
Something closer to 3.75 stars. I loved the first half of the omnibus with Superman’s son’s introduction to all of the characters of the DC Universe. While latter half’s plot didn’t grip me as much, I stuck around for the touching moments between Superboy and his friend and family. Superman learning to be a dad and the son of Superman learning to be just that make for some very endearing coming-of-age stories, not the biggest, baddest, most consequential Superman stories, no world-ending threats or anything along those lines, but heartwarming, cozy, sitcom-esque adventures.
Particular stand out issue is the one where Lois, Clark, and Jon all go to the fair as a family. Adorable stuff.
For me, All-Star Superman is the benchmark by which all other Superman stories are judged. While I enjoyed my intro to Jon Kent and the family dynamics of this comic, it’s not in my mind an essential tale. The first third of the omnibus deals with some continuity related stuff that’s fairly weak and as it moves from there things improve.
Nonetheless, Gleason and Tomasi are a reliable pair and I’d read more of their stuff. For what it’s worth, their Batman and Robin is tighter than this.
another "Super" Superman book, as i really want to get to know the character better. Last month i read Superman For All Seasons and i am eager to check out some more Supes. Tomasi and Gleason are a powerfull combo as i really loved their Batman & Robin (they write a fantastic Damian Wayne!) And Supersons was great aswell. The artwork and story are a blast, and this is another amazing book from this duo.