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Superman: Miniseries
Superman: The Many Worlds of Krypton
One lone survivor of Krypton became the greatest hero in the universe--Superman. But before its destruction, the Man of Steel's birthplace was home to legions of heroes and heretics who molded their society into the technological wonderland it would become. Take a look into the time before there was a Superman and walk with his ancestors to uncover the tales of their lost civilization!
From some of the industry's greatest creators come the life and times of Jor-El, father of Superman; the story of a forbidden love that would ignite a civil war and lead to the eventual destruction of the entire planet; and the Kryptonian legends that defined their history.
Collects World of Krypton (Vol. 1) #1-3 and The World of Krypton (Vol. 2) #1-4, with stories from Superman #233, #236, #238, #240, #248, #257, #266 and Superman Family #182.
From some of the industry's greatest creators come the life and times of Jor-El, father of Superman; the story of a forbidden love that would ignite a civil war and lead to the eventual destruction of the entire planet; and the Kryptonian legends that defined their history.
Collects World of Krypton (Vol. 1) #1-3 and The World of Krypton (Vol. 2) #1-4, with stories from Superman #233, #236, #238, #240, #248, #257, #266 and Superman Family #182.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
About the author
Paul Kupperberg
753 books54 followersPaul Kupperberg is a nearly 50-year veteran of the comic book industry as a writer and editor for DC Comics, Archie Comics, Marvel, Bongo Charlton, and many more. He is also the author of more than three dozen books of fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, as well as of short stories, articles, and essays for Crazy 8 Press, Heliosphere, Titan Books, Stone Arch Books, Rosen Publishing, Citadel Press, Pocket Books, TwoMorrows, and others.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 26, 2022
Marking it as DNF because I didn't read every single story in it. If you like Superman, you should like this. It was very 60s in some ways, I must say.
July 11, 2018
This is NOT identical to
Superman: The World of Krypton
by any means. Most of what is in that volume is here, and I did not reread it. This volume does not include the stories from Superman #367 and 375 or The Man of Steel #1 (the latter did not really need to be there other than to compare in one volume how Byrne and Mignola drew a script with identical texts), and that volume does not include the Paul Kupperberg World of Krypton series from 1979,which is what made me grab this from the library. Although Kupperberg wrote an introduction that is reproduced here in which he discusses it. Back then, I think DC was wary about publishing too many pre-Crisis stories, although that theory doesn't hold water because the first section of this book has stories from the 1970s that were printed in that volume.
Kupperberg's story retells some of the material from the first section, including Jor-El's gold rocket ship, then includes some weirdness of a machine determining marriage compatibility falling in love with Lara Lor-Van, and Kal-El working as Jor-El's assistant in a way that's not very well explained. Necessary plot points are covered, like the seizure of Kandor by Brainiac (who is never actually seen), where most of the people who believed Jor-El lived, Zor-El's abandonment of Jor-El to Argo City, and Jor-El's experiments with Beppo and Krypto. Byrne's story is darker and more resonant, but both stories are powerful and seem easily comparable to the capitalist class's current dismissal of climate change theories that is likely to kill us all.
Kupperberg's story retells some of the material from the first section, including Jor-El's gold rocket ship, then includes some weirdness of a machine determining marriage compatibility falling in love with Lara Lor-Van, and Kal-El working as Jor-El's assistant in a way that's not very well explained. Necessary plot points are covered, like the seizure of Kandor by Brainiac (who is never actually seen), where most of the people who believed Jor-El lived, Zor-El's abandonment of Jor-El to Argo City, and Jor-El's experiments with Beppo and Krypto. Byrne's story is darker and more resonant, but both stories are powerful and seem easily comparable to the capitalist class's current dismissal of climate change theories that is likely to kill us all.
April 16, 2018
3.5 stars. I liked these stories. Different versions of Krypton from different creators and eras. Something for everyone's tastes, though nothing here is much like the new SyFy tv series. Of course, my favorite version of Krypton is still the crystalline Richard Donner movie version. :) This is a nice collection for the curious and casual Superman fan as well as the comic book completist.
March 27, 2018
I enjoyed this volume of featuring the World of Krypton. It did have some of the same stories as the last volume I had read. The difference was that it had a 3 part mini-series spotlighting on Superman's parents. I didn't want to put it down and didn't mind reading the stories that was in the volume I had just read. All I can say that is was very enjoyable to read and looking forward to the upcoming Krypton series on The Sci Fi Channel.
This is also a way to kick off the 80th anniversary celebration of Superman and anticipating the 1,000th issue of Action Comics which is being released next month. A must for Superman fans both old and new.
This is also a way to kick off the 80th anniversary celebration of Superman and anticipating the 1,000th issue of Action Comics which is being released next month. A must for Superman fans both old and new.
November 5, 2018
Krypton is trippy even without Kandor city. Why they weren't planning to abandon the place long before it made 'splodey noises is an unsolvable mystery. The flame forest? Oh, just a forest that just erupts into flames after dark. Lines tossed out a la, "Oh, meteors fall all the time on Krypton." A crystal forest with crystal monsters. Mutant children with no thumbs and giant telepathic heads.
The good thing: Jor-El's wife, even in the earlier installments is portrayed as a daring pilot and her husband's equal for the most part (albeit in sexy pantsuits).
The good thing: Jor-El's wife, even in the earlier installments is portrayed as a daring pilot and her husband's equal for the most part (albeit in sexy pantsuits).
April 6, 2018
This is a fairly solid set of stories. There are three main sections, with the first two being related and the third being a completely distinct version of Krypton.
1. "The Fabulous World of Krypton" back-up tales from the early and mid-70s, by various creators, are a mixed bag of oddities. The origin of Krypton's name story survives its hokeyness only thanks to being framed as a fable told to children. There's some El family back story, some continuity patches (in case you've ever desperately wanted to know why the sector's Green Lantern didn't save Krypton) - most of it is entirely readable but entirely forgettable.
2. Paul Kupperberg and Howard Chaykin's 1979 "World of Krypton" miniseries. Framed as Superman viewing his father's diary, it's basically Jor-El's story. For longtime fans, there are TONS of little continuity nods - including references to stories from the first section (the "courtship" of Jor-El and Lara is reproduced almost entirely) and it dovetails nearly with the Silver Age classic "Superman's Return to Krypton" - and it's a fairly compelling tale in its own right. At this early stage of his career, Chaykin had developed very few of his storytelling tics, leaving pages that are crisp and clear on storytelling, but a little light on memorable images or any clear style or personality.
3. John Byrne and Mike Mignola's four-part "The World of Krypton" from '87-'88. Probably because I grew up on Byrne's vision of Krypton, this was my favorite. The repeating opening motif of each issue worked well to set the changing scene, and Mignola's artwork (even young Mignola working with two different inkers/finishers) is visually striking.
None of the three sections are essential reading, but each of them, particularly the two miniseries, have enjoyable moments and should entertain most Superman and sci-fi fans.
1. "The Fabulous World of Krypton" back-up tales from the early and mid-70s, by various creators, are a mixed bag of oddities. The origin of Krypton's name story survives its hokeyness only thanks to being framed as a fable told to children. There's some El family back story, some continuity patches (in case you've ever desperately wanted to know why the sector's Green Lantern didn't save Krypton) - most of it is entirely readable but entirely forgettable.
2. Paul Kupperberg and Howard Chaykin's 1979 "World of Krypton" miniseries. Framed as Superman viewing his father's diary, it's basically Jor-El's story. For longtime fans, there are TONS of little continuity nods - including references to stories from the first section (the "courtship" of Jor-El and Lara is reproduced almost entirely) and it dovetails nearly with the Silver Age classic "Superman's Return to Krypton" - and it's a fairly compelling tale in its own right. At this early stage of his career, Chaykin had developed very few of his storytelling tics, leaving pages that are crisp and clear on storytelling, but a little light on memorable images or any clear style or personality.
3. John Byrne and Mike Mignola's four-part "The World of Krypton" from '87-'88. Probably because I grew up on Byrne's vision of Krypton, this was my favorite. The repeating opening motif of each issue worked well to set the changing scene, and Mignola's artwork (even young Mignola working with two different inkers/finishers) is visually striking.
None of the three sections are essential reading, but each of them, particularly the two miniseries, have enjoyable moments and should entertain most Superman and sci-fi fans.
February 10, 2025
2.5*
The first 2/3 of this collection would have received 3 stars, but the final 1/3 pulled it waaayyy down. As Kupperberg asks, in his introduction, MY Krypton is based on the comics of the 1950s-1960s. My brother and I read the whole gambit of titles, existing then, from DC. The first 2/3 of this book has the artwork like that era and the stories have the same look and feel.
Unfortunately, the final third (late 1980s) takes a different approach. The story of Krypton, Kal-El's parents, and how they sent him to Earth are turned upside down and have a much darker and less coherent world and events. The artwork is also different and not in an appealing way.
Younger readers may relate more to this version; this is pretty much what Kupperberg's intro is about. Pick the one that is YOURS. There's something for a variety of generations here.
The first 2/3 of this collection would have received 3 stars, but the final 1/3 pulled it waaayyy down. As Kupperberg asks, in his introduction, MY Krypton is based on the comics of the 1950s-1960s. My brother and I read the whole gambit of titles, existing then, from DC. The first 2/3 of this book has the artwork like that era and the stories have the same look and feel.
Unfortunately, the final third (late 1980s) takes a different approach. The story of Krypton, Kal-El's parents, and how they sent him to Earth are turned upside down and have a much darker and less coherent world and events. The artwork is also different and not in an appealing way.
Younger readers may relate more to this version; this is pretty much what Kupperberg's intro is about. Pick the one that is YOURS. There's something for a variety of generations here.
January 14, 2023
Say for one story, that’s very janky, this book is quite a surprise.
We have here a collection of many tales and stories from the doomed planet, Krypton.
While it just began as a plot point to explain how Superman was so well… super, the mythology explained in the years after Action Comics #1 has painted us with an interesting picture of how his world actually was.
Many stories like where the name Krypton came from to what could have been of Kal-El if the planet hadn’t been destroyed.
I guess my favorite interpretation is where Jor-El was a scientist adventurer and Lara Lor-Van was a daring astronaut and they fell in love while in their duties, or at least I like that interpretation much more than the Black Mirror-esque version of the planet that has been shown for a while now.
A very fun collection, pleasantly surprised indeed.
We have here a collection of many tales and stories from the doomed planet, Krypton.
While it just began as a plot point to explain how Superman was so well… super, the mythology explained in the years after Action Comics #1 has painted us with an interesting picture of how his world actually was.
Many stories like where the name Krypton came from to what could have been of Kal-El if the planet hadn’t been destroyed.
I guess my favorite interpretation is where Jor-El was a scientist adventurer and Lara Lor-Van was a daring astronaut and they fell in love while in their duties, or at least I like that interpretation much more than the Black Mirror-esque version of the planet that has been shown for a while now.
A very fun collection, pleasantly surprised indeed.
August 11, 2022
Famous for its last son, the planet Krypton has fascinated readers and writers of the Superman mythos practically since its invention in 1938. In this collection, readers are offered a glimpse of the world that gave birth to Superman.
The drawings are of their time, the colouring is four inks but the imagination of the strange new world is the key to this volume's success.
The drawings are of their time, the colouring is four inks but the imagination of the strange new world is the key to this volume's success.
June 15, 2025
The way Krypton changes in the minds of writers over the decades says a lot about how the western notion of dystopia has shifted over time.
And Krypton is a dystopia, even when it appears Utopian its a world hampered by bureaucracy, arrogance, or violence.
In this way, stories of Krypton often highlight that Superman's best qualities come from Earth.
And Krypton is a dystopia, even when it appears Utopian its a world hampered by bureaucracy, arrogance, or violence.
In this way, stories of Krypton often highlight that Superman's best qualities come from Earth.
August 13, 2025
A sort of handy microcosm of Superman as a character really. The best bits are the goofy nonsense, then there’s a whole patch of annoyingly sentimental rubbish and then a half arsed attempt to inject some grit into the narrative before, again, settling on sentimentality again. I doubt I’ll ever see the appeal of Superman beyond All Star
April 7, 2018
The history of krypton
Like most anthologies, this runs the gamut. Most of the stories are good, the art satisfactory. This is an entertaining volume, that should be read by any superman fan.
Like most anthologies, this runs the gamut. Most of the stories are good, the art satisfactory. This is an entertaining volume, that should be read by any superman fan.
September 8, 2021
Bunch of stuff here, but the first World of Krypton is especially interesting. It is a good biopic about Jor-El. - 7/10
December 13, 2021
These stories provide some background of Krypton. I can’t say that they cover anything particularly intriguing except for when those events relate to Kal-El, and most of that is already well known or covered in his origin stories.
Even so, readers may pick up tidbits here and there. For example, I didn’t know that Jor-El was involved in the Phantom Zone project, or that Lara was an astronaut before she gave that up for child rearing, apparently. That’s one version, anyway.
There’s a strange series from the 1980s that gets into cloning as a source for strife on Krypton. Three of the issues show us that history, and then it gets repeated in a very talky and boring fourth issue as Superman relates all of those events to Lois on a date.
In this version, Jor-El is more of a history buff who watches videos of Lara working as the Kryptonian head archivist. Kal is conceived in a test tube, basically, and Kal and Lara never meet until their end.
John Byrne, who wrote this version, does this to set up Earth as the world where Clark gains feelings and humanity. However, in making Krypton so cold and sterile, Byrne also ironically makes Keypton less conducive to human interest, drama, and thus any good storytelling at all.
One downside of a collection like this is that certain details may get retconned, making those details only irrelevant to a different comic age’s Krypton. Still, the collection offers some decent stories, though none are very exciting or memorable.
What these stories may show most of all is that Krypton is only interesting as a setting because it blew up. Krypton may have given Superman the substance of life, but it is Earth that gave him a life of substance.
Even so, readers may pick up tidbits here and there. For example, I didn’t know that Jor-El was involved in the Phantom Zone project, or that Lara was an astronaut before she gave that up for child rearing, apparently. That’s one version, anyway.
There’s a strange series from the 1980s that gets into cloning as a source for strife on Krypton. Three of the issues show us that history, and then it gets repeated in a very talky and boring fourth issue as Superman relates all of those events to Lois on a date.
In this version, Jor-El is more of a history buff who watches videos of Lara working as the Kryptonian head archivist. Kal is conceived in a test tube, basically, and Kal and Lara never meet until their end.
John Byrne, who wrote this version, does this to set up Earth as the world where Clark gains feelings and humanity. However, in making Krypton so cold and sterile, Byrne also ironically makes Keypton less conducive to human interest, drama, and thus any good storytelling at all.
One downside of a collection like this is that certain details may get retconned, making those details only irrelevant to a different comic age’s Krypton. Still, the collection offers some decent stories, though none are very exciting or memorable.
What these stories may show most of all is that Krypton is only interesting as a setting because it blew up. Krypton may have given Superman the substance of life, but it is Earth that gave him a life of substance.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews