Superman: Up in the Sky

Here are a few select sentences from Tom King's introduction: "Superman is impossible to write. Or so I hear. Often... Now, superman forgive my language, but that's a bunch of bill@$%#... superman is not impossible. He's not even difficult. He's in fact the easiest hero to write in modern myth... Superman just does what's right, and all you have to do as a writer is folow where that truth leads. Record the good man as he makes the good decision... This book, then, is nothing but that: the Man of Steel navigating a land of glass; our argument that Superman stories can be, should be, and are the best stories... Superman is fun. Superman is exciting... Superman is joy."

And here are three sentences from Andy Kubert: "Tom and I talked. He told the gist of what his story was about. And within those parameters, he could write whatever I wanted to draw."

So this is the story of Superman saving a little girl who has been abducted from Earth via Zeta beam. His search leads him to Rann, where he consults a Rannian scientist. (Sardath? Could be.) Zeta beams cannot normally be tracked, the the scientist straps Superman to an experiental machine, but warns, "Success here is impossible. It is mathematically certain that you will go mad, and you will die." But Superman goes through with it anyway because he's Superman.

The rest of the series is told through a series of vignettes which cover practiaclly every "Superman" scenario you could think of: Lois Lane in danger; Lex Luthor; Darkseid; a worldwide crisis. Superman fights alongside Sgt. Rock, Superman races the Flash. And many questions are asked and answered (by Superman).

How does Superman fly?
Who would win in a fight with the Batman?
Who would win in a race with the Flash?
Does Superman believe in God?
Who is Superman's favorite Robin?
Did Superman make Lex Luthor go bald?
Is Mr. Terrific smarter than Batman?
How is it Green Arrow fights with the JLA?
Was Superman ever scared?

...and more.

So, if you are a reader who is loomiong for a linear story with a beginning, a middle and an end in that order, you are going to be frustrated with this series.

In a nutshell: "Unconventional storytelling. Not for everyone. Recommended."

Replies

Captain Comics May 17, 2025 at 2:24pm

Wait, wait! That's all you're going to tell me? I need to knooooooowwwwww!
Jeff of Earth-J May 18, 2025 at 12:10pm
Here are a few select sentences from Tom King's introduction: "Superman is impossible to write. Or so I hear. Often... Now, superman forgive my language, but that's a bunch of bill@$%#... superman is not impossible. He's not even difficult. He's in fact the easiest hero to write in modern myth... Superman just does what's right, and all you have to do as a writer is folow where that truth leads. Record the good man as he makes the good decision... This book, then, is nothing but that: the Man of Steel navigating a land of glass; our argument that Superman stories can be, should be, and are the best stories... Superman is fun. Superman is exciting... Superman is joy."

And here are three sentences from Andy Kubert: "Tom and I talked. He told the gist of what his story was about. And within those parameters, he could write whatever I wanted to draw."

So this is the story of Superman saving a little girl who has been abducted from Earth via Zeta beam. His search leads him to Rann, where he consults a Rannian scientist. (Sardath? Could be.) Zeta beams cannot normally be tracked, the the scientist straps Superman to an experiental machine, but warns, "Success here is impossible. It is mathematically certain that you will go mad, and you will die." But Superman goes through with it anyway because he's Superman.

The rest of the series is told through a series of vignettes which cover practiaclly every "Superman" scenario you could think of: Lois Lane in danger; Lex Luthor; Darkseid; a worldwide crisis. Superman fights alongside Sgt. Rock, Superman races the Flash. And many questions are asked and answered (by Superman).
- How does Superman fly?
- Who would win in a fight with the Batman?
- Who would win in a race with the Flash?
- Does Superman believe in God?
- Who is Superman's favorite Robin?
- Did Superman make Lex Luthor go bald?
- Is Mr. Terrific smarter than Batman?
- How is it Green Arrow fights with the JLA?
- Was Superman ever scared?
...and more.

So, if you are a reader who is loomiong for a linear story with a beginning, a middle and an end in that order, you are going to be frustrated with this series.

In a nutshell: "Unconventional storytelling. Not for everyone. Recommended."
Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) May 18, 2025 at 1:49pm

I liked these as they appeared in the Superman Walmart books a while back; I haven't read them all at once to see how they hang together.
- Jeff of Earth-J > Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) May 18, 2025 at 2:31pm
  
  Honestly, give the nature of the stories, I think they read better with a little break between them (which is the opposite of what I usually think). All of the covers and alternates are included in the collection as well. Singling out the Superman/Flash race, I think this one is the best ever.

This reply was deleted.