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Superman Returns: The Movie and Other Tales of the Man of Steel
A fascinating collection of Superman tales features the thrilling movie adaptation, along with a compilation of classic stories collected from various Superman titles. Movie tie-in.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Martin Pasko
329 books9 followersMartin Joseph "Marty" Pasko (born Jean-Claude Rochefort) was a Canadian comic book writer and television screenwriter.
Pasko worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his superhero stories for DC Comics over three decades. He wrote Superman in various media, including television animation, webisodes, and a syndicated newspaper strip for Tribune Media Services, as well as comic books. He also co-created the 1975 revamp of Doctor Fate.
Pasko worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his superhero stories for DC Comics over three decades. He wrote Superman in various media, including television animation, webisodes, and a syndicated newspaper strip for Tribune Media Services, as well as comic books. He also co-created the 1975 revamp of Doctor Fate.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2022
A graphic novelization of the 2006 movie Superman Returns. It fulfills the role as it plays out the movie in the same way, with similar dialogue to match. Though, as someone who watched the movie back then, this comic appears to make it much more fast pace than the actual product. Some scenes were shortened down, cut, or slightly reworked from the movie. This also includes some additional text in place of others and more scenes with Superman in his Clark form that help build up his characterization a little better too. Not too bad, but I felt that it almost ended as soon as I began to read it. The art is top-notched though, I enjoyed what I read. Now there are 5 other stories of Superman included on here, all of which were published since his origination up to 2006.
The Origin of Superman (1973): A special issue early on in the original series that explains Superman's alien origin and how he became who he is through the influence of his adoptive parents. In which, he becomes the beloved hero the whole world loves and a defender of justice. Despite the dated art style, the storytelling is solid in explaining his origins 4.5/5
A Night At The Opera (2000): Takes place when Lois & Clark are now a married couple, and invited out by Lex Luthor to watch an opera. Luthor shows more interest in Lois, making Clark uneasy until he hears of a series of disaster awaiting outside. Leaving to save civilians from potential destruction, we see more of Luthor & Lois discussing of old scars left behind of an almost affair between them. An assassin comes to kill Lex, but not right before Superman blocks the bullet. The couple are suspicious that it was all a setup, but it is clear that Lois has no regrets of marrying Superman. 4/5
The Second Landing (2002): Superman crashes into the middle of a Little League baseball game. The kids all work together to pull Superman out of the rubble until he wakes up. He was in the middle of a fight with Major Force. MF knocks Superman out a couple of times as he tries to lure him away from civilians, and gloats about his superiority as a killing machine while Superman restrains himself too much. The Man of Steel corrects him that his niceness is not a weakness, and unleashes his full force on Major Force, melting him in the process. He fixes the damages that was left behind, even playing a baseball match with the kids. 4.5/5
Walking Midnight (2004): As New Year's approaches the globe, Lois spends the evening with the Kents while Superman goes out fulfilling some requests sent by admirers around the world. These range from helping a man propose to his girlfriend, playing with orphans, delivering a pregnant lady to the nearest hospital, giving moral support to troops, helps a lonely stranger be not so alone on the Eve of the New Year, stopping a Neo-Nazis from blowing up a nightclub, and fulfills a dying man's last wish to see him if he's real. The Kents explain this was something they use to do to Clark when he was little, always making sure everything was okay right before midnight struck. In which, he does the same for the globe as a superhero, and right after, celebrates the last minutes with Lois. 4.5/5
Lois & The Big One (2005): A short story that begins with Lois complaining about how she lost the big chance of an interview with Superman to Clark. Remarking of Clark's ineffectiveness of being a qualified reporter to do the job. She notes about the right questions he should be asking since nobody knows anything about him (origins, affiliations, love life, etc.), but admits Clark is right to ask about his morality. While ranting, Clark zips out to save a falling child from the window, and his toy, before making an appointment for an interview with Lois. 4/5
I picked up this graphic novel because of the nostalgic meaning I have of the movie, re-watching it recently when I got my hands on this. These other stories added on here, shows what truly the Man of Steel is. A defender of the weak, and bringer of justice. An icon to look to and know who is always there when in the darkest hours. Superman is one of the first superheroes made, and without him and his standings, we wouldn't get to have this variety of other superhero characters to look forward too. I would say this is an enjoyable tribute to both the movie and Superman himself.
The Origin of Superman (1973): A special issue early on in the original series that explains Superman's alien origin and how he became who he is through the influence of his adoptive parents. In which, he becomes the beloved hero the whole world loves and a defender of justice. Despite the dated art style, the storytelling is solid in explaining his origins 4.5/5
A Night At The Opera (2000): Takes place when Lois & Clark are now a married couple, and invited out by Lex Luthor to watch an opera. Luthor shows more interest in Lois, making Clark uneasy until he hears of a series of disaster awaiting outside. Leaving to save civilians from potential destruction, we see more of Luthor & Lois discussing of old scars left behind of an almost affair between them. An assassin comes to kill Lex, but not right before Superman blocks the bullet. The couple are suspicious that it was all a setup, but it is clear that Lois has no regrets of marrying Superman. 4/5
The Second Landing (2002): Superman crashes into the middle of a Little League baseball game. The kids all work together to pull Superman out of the rubble until he wakes up. He was in the middle of a fight with Major Force. MF knocks Superman out a couple of times as he tries to lure him away from civilians, and gloats about his superiority as a killing machine while Superman restrains himself too much. The Man of Steel corrects him that his niceness is not a weakness, and unleashes his full force on Major Force, melting him in the process. He fixes the damages that was left behind, even playing a baseball match with the kids. 4.5/5
Walking Midnight (2004): As New Year's approaches the globe, Lois spends the evening with the Kents while Superman goes out fulfilling some requests sent by admirers around the world. These range from helping a man propose to his girlfriend, playing with orphans, delivering a pregnant lady to the nearest hospital, giving moral support to troops, helps a lonely stranger be not so alone on the Eve of the New Year, stopping a Neo-Nazis from blowing up a nightclub, and fulfills a dying man's last wish to see him if he's real. The Kents explain this was something they use to do to Clark when he was little, always making sure everything was okay right before midnight struck. In which, he does the same for the globe as a superhero, and right after, celebrates the last minutes with Lois. 4.5/5
Lois & The Big One (2005): A short story that begins with Lois complaining about how she lost the big chance of an interview with Superman to Clark. Remarking of Clark's ineffectiveness of being a qualified reporter to do the job. She notes about the right questions he should be asking since nobody knows anything about him (origins, affiliations, love life, etc.), but admits Clark is right to ask about his morality. While ranting, Clark zips out to save a falling child from the window, and his toy, before making an appointment for an interview with Lois. 4/5
I picked up this graphic novel because of the nostalgic meaning I have of the movie, re-watching it recently when I got my hands on this. These other stories added on here, shows what truly the Man of Steel is. A defender of the weak, and bringer of justice. An icon to look to and know who is always there when in the darkest hours. Superman is one of the first superheroes made, and without him and his standings, we wouldn't get to have this variety of other superhero characters to look forward too. I would say this is an enjoyable tribute to both the movie and Superman himself.
July 12, 2022
Six stories, beginning with the adaptation of the movie 'Superman Returns' in which the Man of Steel attempts to pick up the threads of his old life after being absent from Earth for five years.
The other stories retell Superman's origins, have him match wits with Lex Luthor and spend New Year's Eve answering calls for help around the world.
The movie 'Superman Returns' isn't awful, being a quaint and somewhat unambitious homage to the classic Christopher Reeve movies and intended to relaunch the onscreen franchise. Honestly, Brandon Routh was a pretty good Superman and I'm glad the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' TV series gave him a second chance (the less we say about Kevin Spacey, the better, however).
The adaptation offered here is brief and by the numbers; hitting most of the major plot points without capturing any of the movie's charm. Also, the plot point it doesn't really bother with was probably the most interesting aspect of the whole film; is that Superman's kid?
The other stories on offer here are perfectly fine but largely unremarkable. Well, unremarkable except for the fact that one of them is written by Mark Millar but ISN'T a dedicated character-assassination of a beloved superhero.
Also, the other story that I feel I have to remark on is the one where Supes travels the world to experience New Year's in every time zone. I like the concept but writer Joe Kelly's grasp of geography and/or how time zones work is so awful as to drag you right out of the story. I mean, it's a running joke among the rest of the world that Americans couldn't find Australia on a map if they tried, but I'd expect better from a professional writer.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
The other stories retell Superman's origins, have him match wits with Lex Luthor and spend New Year's Eve answering calls for help around the world.
The movie 'Superman Returns' isn't awful, being a quaint and somewhat unambitious homage to the classic Christopher Reeve movies and intended to relaunch the onscreen franchise. Honestly, Brandon Routh was a pretty good Superman and I'm glad the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' TV series gave him a second chance (the less we say about Kevin Spacey, the better, however).
The adaptation offered here is brief and by the numbers; hitting most of the major plot points without capturing any of the movie's charm. Also, the plot point it doesn't really bother with was probably the most interesting aspect of the whole film; is that Superman's kid?
The other stories on offer here are perfectly fine but largely unremarkable. Well, unremarkable except for the fact that one of them is written by Mark Millar but ISN'T a dedicated character-assassination of a beloved superhero.
Also, the other story that I feel I have to remark on is the one where Supes travels the world to experience New Year's in every time zone. I like the concept but writer Joe Kelly's grasp of geography and/or how time zones work is so awful as to drag you right out of the story. I mean, it's a running joke among the rest of the world that Americans couldn't find Australia on a map if they tried, but I'd expect better from a professional writer.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
March 1, 2017
The Superman Returns adaptation was a little choppy, but as a whole this is a pretty strong collection.
February 19, 2012
After the reading the Superman Return Prequels, I looked forward to watching the film again. Alas, I had also bought this graphic novel and read it instead.
I would say that the graphic novel was a breeze (makes me wonder, how come did the movie take so long while I finished reading this in less than an hour?). But I think that all the scenes in the movie and comic are the same. BUT, many plot-by-plot scenes were removed - which I can remember from watching the film. That means that they've cut a few scenes in the graphic novel.
I think it was just a rehash of the film. Ar-wise, I sensed that it was a bit different from the prequels (I prefer the Prequel's art).
We couldn't really feel the emotional depth to it as much as the Prequel's. And most of all, I recommend reading the Prequels first before reading this graphic novel (or watching the film). A LOT is explained in there.
I would say that the graphic novel was a breeze (makes me wonder, how come did the movie take so long while I finished reading this in less than an hour?). But I think that all the scenes in the movie and comic are the same. BUT, many plot-by-plot scenes were removed - which I can remember from watching the film. That means that they've cut a few scenes in the graphic novel.
I think it was just a rehash of the film. Ar-wise, I sensed that it was a bit different from the prequels (I prefer the Prequel's art).
We couldn't really feel the emotional depth to it as much as the Prequel's. And most of all, I recommend reading the Prequels first before reading this graphic novel (or watching the film). A LOT is explained in there.
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July 27, 2011The comic book adaptation of the movie fails to deliver the tone of the movie. The other stories how ever do fare better, focusing more of the qualities of Superman's character rather than the feats of his strength. That somehow manages to strikes a stronger chord to me.
November 6, 2016
negative 5 stars for brandon routh on the cover and for superman returns in general, + 5 stars for the stories the second landing, walking midnight, and lois and the big one for making me cry in a bookstore today
March 19, 2019
Pitää katsoa tämä elokuva uusiksi, sillä muistelen sen olleen kakkaa. Mutta tämä sarjakuva versio tuosta oli ihan jees. Töksähtelevä ja pomppiva, mutta ihan jees.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews