Superman Vol. 1 – Review
I have started collecting the DC Archives hardcovers. These are reprints of classic DC (and Fawcett) comics. I’m especially interested in the golden age reprints (1930-40s). I recently got Superman Vol. 1, which reprints Superman 1-4.
It is so fun to read these old stories and to reflect on all that has changed. For example, Clark Kent works for the Daily Star and his editor is not Perry White. It is actually in this volume that you see Clark starting to work for the Daily Planet but with no explanation for the change.
Luthor appears in some of these stories. But this is before he got the name Lex and even before he was bald. In fact, it seems that drawing Luthor bald was a mistake by an artist, who mixed him up with another character.
The greatest difference is in the level of Superman’s powers. Superman cannot fly but he can jump high and far. He is very strong but not planet moving strong. Bullets bounce off him but a bomb can knock him out. Saving a man in front of train, Superman complains, “You could have gotten us both killed!” In once story, Superman becomes unconscious after encountering a gas, but at the same time survives drinking poison.
I will admit that I really liked this portrayal of Superman. He is not the all-powerful Boy Scout. He is no Batman, but some bad guys die under his watch and seems okay with it. This is probably because he is not fast or strong enough to save everyone.
You see hints of where later authors will take Superman but this is a very different superhero from today.
