Our Patron-exclusive essay series continues. You can read all of these incredible analyses for as little as a dollar a month on our Patreon.
This month, Doris V. Sutherland looks at three very different Superman family titles that led off the decade, to see if they can help place where Superman fits in today’s comics world.
“Superman, where are you now?” asked Phil Collins in 1986, and many people are still asking this very question. As a character, Superman has endured for generations and will be seeing his centenary in the next decade – and yet he is routinely dismissed as dated and irrelevant, and subjected to regular reimaginings in an effort to keep him part of the superhero landscape.
Like all other major superheroes, Superman now exists in a variety of different guises. Cheery and colourful for kids and traditionalists; grim and gritty for readers who prefer that sort of thing. Steeped in continuity for the hardcore fans; straightforward and accessible for anyone who simply wants to enjoy a standalone story. Nearly three years into the 2020s, it is hard to guess exactly which version of Superman will be remembered as characterising the decade – but we can still try.
This article will look at how the Superman saga entered the current decade with a cross-section of titles from circa 2020. Each focuses on a different member of the Superman family; each has earned significant acclaim (two of the three won Eisner Awards), and each comes up with a different way of keeping Superman and his supporting cast relevant to today.
Read the rest of these reviews in our Patreon exclusive essay.
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