Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Vol. 1: Hero of Metropolis

Superman: Man of Tomorrow #1-6, 11-15

by Robert Venditti, Paul Pelletier (Artist)

No matter how many times Superman saves Metropolis, there's always some devious plot in the works!

Robert Venditti brings a new take on some of Superman's most famous villains. From Toyman to Metallo, the man of steel faces them all but with a familiar foe watching his every move, will he be able to save the city he loves?

Collected for the first time ever in print, Superman: Man of Tomorrow #1-6 and #11-15!

Genres: Comics, Superman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2021

About the author

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

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

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Being a hero is about everyone else. Doing what's right - the right way - for the right reasons." -- Superman, schooling the villain Metallo during their climactic fisticuffs

In the days after it was announced that DC Comics was dropping the Man of Steel's long-time motto "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" (I was not a fan of that decision, BTW, but time moves on) earlier this month I was sort of spurred on to check out a Superman title at the local library. How lucky I was to find Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Vol. 1 awaiting me on their new release shelf. It features nine streamlined, action-packed stories (moving "faster than a speeding bullet," you might say with a wink and a smile) depicting the veteran superhero fighting an eclectic line-up of foes on the streets of and in the skies over Metropolis amidst his day job as mild-mannered newspaper reporter Clark Kent. No pun intended, but this was a very uplifting graphic novel because it showed the titular character at his absolute altruistic best - without seeming too preachy and/or cornball, Superman sincerely just wants to protect the threatened citizenry, and on occasion he also urges them to pitch in and help each other when their city is once again under attack. Even when he finally appears to take a supposed day of rest (which is anything BUT a vacation, as readers will soon find out) in the one interesting story his super-friends Firestorm, the Flash and my fav Black Canary step in to patrol Metropolis for him. His gentle verbal sparring with co-worker/ wife Lois Lane - you know, because behind every great man there's a great woman - was also nice, as well. The stories, the illustrations, and - perhaps most of all - the tone of this collection were just perfection.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bunch of evergreen Superman stories featuring Superman as the Boy Scout. Superman comes across as preachy in some of this. At times, I thought it may have been intended for younger audiences. There's a running joke in each issue about Clark Kent ruining his suits and how Lois says they can't afford to keep buying him new ones. There was also this weird thing where the covers for each issue weren't actually covers. They were just one of the interior panels blown up to full size. I guess it was a way to pad the page count, adding 2 additional pages for each issue.

Paul Pelletier draws a great Superman.

[Subham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has gotta be one of the best Superman stories ever!

Its so good omg!

So it features a lot of one and done stories and set in Metropolis like Clark facing off against Parasite and then stoppig the Gambler and Toyman and it does well to show why Superman is the best and the hero we all need and a great team up with Lois and Jimmy constantly and has a great running gag about suits and all. The story with Atlas was so emotional like how he even saves his enemies and shows his strength and then the stuff with Luthor was fun and shows even people helping him stop the menace of Lex! And some fun stuff with Grikus which was a great story and shows how he cares for his opponents and not everything need to be a big fight and finally when Metallo attacks, how Superman defeats him and I love the way the story comes full circle with Parasite and that ending was epic and I just loved it in every sense of the word!

Its one of the best character intros and for a beginner they will like this volume and Superman too! I like how its one and done stories and shows the best quality of Superman and how he inspires us and saves even his enemy and the theme of redemptionw was great plus also highlighting the various supporting cast of Superman and I love the Lois-Clark dynamic and the pencils by Paul Pelletier are just the best! <3!

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

80% | B+ | Great

"Just shut up and kiss me, Smallville"

A collection of short stories centred around the Man of Steel's every day job of protecting Metropolis from a plethora of super villains and other threats

Now this, this is just some good ol' fun. It's packed full of hope, the moral that good always prevails, and yet it does this without being overly cheesy or boring. The characters are superbly written, perhaps due to the focus these stories have on character development over plot, and the Venditti does not drop the ball. Some of my favourite moments include the relationship between Clark and Lois who bounce off each other wonderfully, and how, despite having no superpowers, Lois is just as strong a presence as her husband. Honestly, it's just a feel good vibes book which perfectly captures the boy scout aspect of Superman. Since it's not constrained by DC continuity, this is a perfect book for those who aren't as familiar with the Man of Steel and don't want to invest a lot of time catching up on back issues and storylines.

[rosie (jason todd's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(⭐️4.75)

i don’t tend to write much in my reviews for comics/graphic novels, but this was genuinely so amazing. i adore superman and i really loved how his and lois’s relationship was portrayed in this — i loved how there were many different artstyles, and i really liked the overall story. superhero, against seemingly impossible odds, beats supervillain, with a cast of lovable side characters!

”i won’t allow luthor to control people with fear. no matter the cost.”

[Jon Von · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was thinking of the Venditti run of XO-Manowar and found he did a Superman series. I've only read a few Superman comic collections, so let's introduce a little. This series did an exceptional job with exploring the classic formula. Each story had a clear message. Allowing Superman to ask ethical questions over the foes he faces. Lois Lane and Jimmy are big characters. It's snappy but sort of syrupy and sentimental. It's wholesome family fare of punching eco-beasts.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is crazy how refreshing "classic" Superman can be. This is the definition of a feel good comic, you can't help but have a smile on your face while reading. Robert Venditti's issues here are light and relatively disposable like the majority of done-in-one comics, but he gets everything so right that it is a crying shame that he was never given the main Superman book. However, Paul Pelletier )who handles the majority of the pencils within) and the rest of the art team are the real unsung heroes here. These issues look great and once again I am reminded how woefully unused and unknown Pelletier is.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally cannot say enough how much I ADORED this collection. Robert Venditti really captured, not just Superman as a character, but also his relationship with Lois (LOVED the running joke about him ruining his suits) and Superman's adventures. Page-turners, interesting, with as much heart as action--and with all the best villains! I mean... I seriously wanted more! I read this book slowly so as to savor it--which is something I haven't done in a long time. Please, please, PLEASE tell me there is going to be a volume 2. These canon-adjacent (for lack of a better term--comics that are not really in the main story line, but definitely tie into what is established about the character and his world) are honestly some of my favorite stories right now. I loved the Flash collection I recently read by Gail Simone. That volume and this one were both chances for readers to just go on adventures with the characters. They're perfect and I love them and... MORE PLEASE!

[OmniBen · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Zero spoiler review) 2.75/5
A competent yet fairly formulaic collection of Superman stories, weighed down by either being over too soon, and not properly setting up and paying off a decent premise, or for simply existing in the first place, for there are one or two absolute stinkers here. The art was mostly strong throughout, with Paul Pelletier's pencils being the star, yet as with most modern comics books, were dragged down by muddy colouring and digital inks. Funnily enough, when a colourist as skilled as Jordie Bellaire gets on the book, even modern colouration looks good.
Venditti is a perfectly serviceable storyteller, even if there is nothing exemplary on offer here. Although his overt insistence on a 'hopeful' Superman was overdone to the point of absurdity. I don't want dark and dreary Superman necessarily, but I don't want him to be so sugary he is needing his foot amputated due to diabetes either. Given what DC did to Superman soon afterwards, this would seem classic by comparison. Serviceable though far from spectacular. 2.75/5


OmniBen.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superman: Man of Tomorrow Vol. 1: Hero of Metropolis

Superman keeps a careful watch over the city he calls home, always ready to defend it with his life - much to the chagrin of his wife.

This is an excellent collection, with a fine sense of character and excellent artwork. The running joke about Lois despairing about the cost of replacing Clark's suits gets funnier the more it's repeated. There is an absolutely wonderful page where Clark takes to the skies in search of Lois, shedding his office suit as he flies upward - perfectly realised artwork.

[hel · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECT PERFECT SAM ILY FOR THE REC the clois dynamics in this were gold. i loved the ongoing joke about him losing his suits and them including it in their household budget😭😭

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The best day of my life will be the day the world doesn't need me anymore"


really liked the different styles of this one, and Superman's Day Off might be the coolest and most wholesome concept I've seen in a comic book so far :')

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up on a whim, ended up being really good!

Lots of great artists.

Highlight for me was Clark and Lois. Their relationship was just done so well, and was a lot of fun.

[Rob Schamberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite version of Superman is him as the ultimate helper, and that’s the version we got here.

[Dan Trudeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid collection of back-to-basics Superman stories that was a refreshing break from some of the bleak stuff I've been reading lately. There's nothing world shattering about them, and sometimes the writing is a bit too on-the-nose, but it's a good example of how entertaining Superman can be if you avoid over thinking him and trust what he represents. Plus, the art is top notch.

[Samuel Villar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because it's not Brian Michael Bendis.

Because it's not Brian Michael Bendis. The story was good, it's the way Superman would act, and it has his secret identity intact.

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Venditti's Man of Tomorrow reads as a collection of classic Superman adventures in a modern setting. Which, in certain aspects, is great - we get a positive and upbeat Superman, you don't need a lot of background to understand what's going on, and all the classic staples of Superman (save for the Fortress of Solitude) are present. On the other hand, the dialogue can be overwritten (like many older comics), and the timeline can be a little confusing. For example, Lois and Clark are married, which indicates this is later in Superman's career. However, classic villains like the Toyman seem to be just starting out, which indicates an earlier period of Superman's career. It's a minor thing, but it did take me out of the book a bit.
The artwork is solid, though only one issue visually stood out to me (the Atlas one. If you know, you know). It's nice to follow a married Superman and Lois and see more day-to-day domestic concerns with them, though I wish Venditti did more with this then the clothes gag. My main issue with the book is that most of the time it's just okay. I'm on board for a collection of one-off Superman tales without much recurring threads, but the tales still need to grab me on an individual basis. I really liked the Atlas, Metallo, and Luthor issues, but most of the time I wanted more of a pull than I got. I understand Venditti only had 16 pages to work with each issue, but books like Superman: Red and Blue have shown how effective even shorter Superman stories can be. I guess I just expected more, having followed Venditti's work for years and knowing he left Justice League for this. It's by no means a bad book - There's just much better Superman stories out there.

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is a collection of stories that capture the essence of what Superman stands for. Each individual issue highlights Superman's role as both a powerful hero and a compassionate, principled individual.

One of my favorite aspects is the focus on Clark Kent's contributions to solving various crises. This adds depth to the character by showcasing his investigative and problem-solving skills.

The portrayal of Clark and Lois as a married couple in this iteration is cute and highlights the mutual dependence they have on each other, each providing unique support in their own ways.

One criticism is that the stories are somewhat formulaic, following a "monster of the week" format, this doesn't really allow the series to have a clear storyline.

My favorite issue is the Atlas story, it emphasizes that Superman's strength lies not only in his physical power but in his unwavering determination and moral values, which inspire others to act selflessly.

In short the story effectively represents the modern mythos of Superman, capturing the core aspects of the character, while offering a mix of engaging stories, character development, and moral themes.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
Looks like I stumbled across a non-continuity Superman book. I had incorrectly assumed that this was the post-Death Metal/post-Future State beginning for Supes, but instead is a classic-esque Superman book. Lois knows but no one else does, not married, no Jon yet, etc.... kind of the "good old days" of Superman, but in a modern setting.
Overall, not bad. Writing is good and art is fine. Some classic villains show up: Parasite, The Gambler, Toyman, Prankster, Metallo, and even some one off crimes and aliens... and of course Lex Luthor. But all in all, this is a straight forward Superman comic for someone not deeply entwined with the current storylines.
Recommend.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venditti's crafted a set of timeless stories of Superman's altruism, of a loving husband and wife working for a better tomorrow. He does a nice job spotlighting Superman's inherent optimism without being treacly, while adding some good twists to classic motifs and villains. Pelletier's a dynamic artist, and the fill-ins are largely good as well, although the coloring in the Prankster story sucked all the color (pun intended) from the story.

I particularly liked the exchange with Atlas when he returns to retake his burden beneath the world (although the acknowledgements to Superman of the other heroes were a bit heavy-handed).

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was read over the course of a long time because I inadvertently took a break from it after starting. The stories are more and less all self-contained, allowing it to be read here and there. However, the story does coalesce by the end in the closing chapters. That being said, I think the beginning stories are a little repetitive, but there are some real gems in here, especially in the latter half, and I think it is worth a read. Like any good Superman book, there is plenty here to make you feel that which is most important -- hope.

[Chris Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of mostly unconnected short stories (except for a running gag about Superman hurting the family budget by ruining so many suits). The stories aren’t very compelling. This presents a naive worldview that nobody is evil, just misunderstood. It’s easy enough for Superman to say this, since he’s just about invincible, but if he wasn’t around to stop the bad guys they’d continue to do evil things.

[Roberto Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensasional collection for starters in the saga of Superman

Robert Venditti and Paul Pelletier deliver a solid volume of Superman Stories, aided by other talents in the art department, but this is a mostly Venditti a Pelletier gig, and many of these ar the best sigles stories of the character in a long time. A back to basics approach for rhe character, and continuity free.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good anthology for Superman stories. My favorites being Weight of the World and What Makes a City as both of them show the positive impacts of a person like Superman. As because of him the citizens are willing to help out and are willing to stand together with Superman.

[Daniel Farrelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. Read it because of a recommendation for "supermans day off" which was indeed the standout issue. Very schlocky. Felt like a Saturday morning cartoon. If that's what your into, I can see you really enjoying this.

[Seth Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superman: Man of Tomorrow Vol.1

What is essentially a classic Superman story told with a modern flair, MOT Vol 1 brings what makes Superman - the classic, feel-good, do-good hero. What makes this stand is his connection to Lois Lane and good, decent reporting.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Superman

Venditti captures the heart of why we love the Man of Tomorrow with plenty of exciting anthology stories. Fun little reads. Recommended for any lover of the Man of Steel.

[Chris W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessential Superman. True fans of the character will love this, and newer readers will find this very accessible.

It's like Superman the Animated Series: episodic, easy to enjoy, fast-paced, and entertaining for both comic fans and non-comic fans.

[Jaime Guzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories were average fair but the art was really good.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, pleasant Superman comics.