Superman for All Seasons [Paperback]

Jeph Loeb (Author), Tim Sale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 1, 2002 | Series: Superman (DC Comics)

Written by Jeph Loeb; Art by Tim Sale The catalyst for the Smallville television program, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS is an emotional and insightful examination of Clark Kent's transformation from a powerful boy into a heroic man. Told through the course of four seasons in the Man of Steel's adolescent life, this coming-of-age tale humanizes the alien from another planet so that he is not only realistic but also relatable. Featuring indepth characterizations of Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and the Kents, this groundbreaking story of a simple midwestern boy with awesome abilities illustrates that it is the man, not the powers, that make Clark Kent a hero.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeph Loeb is a screenwriter/producer, and Tim Sale is an acclaimed artist. Their credits together include the award-winning Batman: The Long Halloween and its sequel, Dark Victory. More recently, they have collaborated on Daredevil: Yellow and Spider-Man: Blue for Marvel Comics, with The Hulk: Gray planned for the forthcoming year. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; Reprint edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563895293
• ISBN-13: 978-1563895296
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.4 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #87 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > DC Comics

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent September 9, 2001

By Hassan Galadari

Format:Hardcover

When Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale come together, they create magic. Both creators have callaborated time and time again and every time they do so, the work becomes legendary in the comic book hallowed mythos. Though most of their work has been with the Batman character, this Superman story shines like nothing else.

The poignant story showcases Supes in the four seasons of the year,with each one season narrated by one of the many supporting characters. The differing perespective is not only seen with the style of writing, but also the lettering, the coloring and the art. Superman's origin has always been very well established and has been revisited many many times. With this work, however, Loeb revisits Supes and makes us look at his upbringing through the years and how he established the values that makes him the man he is today. For the first time, we look at Supes during his teen years and feel the angst when his powers slowly start to come through. We fall in love when he does the same, and feel our heart break when his heart is broken. Loeb can be funny and he deals with that side of the character truthfully. It was after this rendition of Supes that Loeb was finally given the helm of the monthly Superman comic.

When it comes to art, Tim Sale is the man you would want to feast your eyes on his work. His basic pencils and inks flourish even more when you look into how the way he draws human emotion. His work can be sexy, especially noticed with the introduction of one hot Lois Lane. No wonder Superman falls in love with her and eventually gets married to the woman. She really is a presence.

Through it all, Superman for All Seasons is one heckuva good read. The hardcover format give it an even richer, more hansome feel to it. Loeb and Sale are the dream team. Working so well together that comic publishers just can't get enough of them. Which is a good thing, really. It leaves us readers feel great, truly enjoying the story and all its contents.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Kent Goes to Metropolis April 23, 2002

By Zack Davisson HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

"Superman for All Seasons" is a comic book as directed by Frank Capra. Smallville is an easy swap for Bedford Falls, and the Kents could easily be the steadfast Bailys. (In a direct homage, Pete Ross says "I wish I had a million dollars!" at the soda fountain.)

It's a good fit. Jeph Loeb captures the 1940's idealistic dream of the 1930's perfectly, while still managing to set the series in modern times. Lex Luthor makes a nice glowering Mr. Potter, greedily lusting after the only thing his money can't buy. This optimistic writing style comes as quite a surprise from the pen of a writer most known for giving us the darkest side of Batman.

Keeping with the theme, Tim Sale borrows heavily from the Fleischer Superman cartoons of the early 1940's including a brilliant adaptation of the Fleischer's flying effect for Superman. The art is very stylized, and suits the story. Superman is huge, in the way that a big brother is huge to a small child. His size is comforting, rather than intimidating.

There are few comics that deserve the hardback format. "Superman for All Seasons" is one of them.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Father's Superman December 29, 2002

By C. Thompson

Format:Hardcover

If you're looking for the traditional Superman graphic novel, with The One Who Wears Tights splitting asteroids in two, or having to contend with some superbaddie who for a hundred or so pages slams Soopey's big red ess through half of Metropolis, stop now. To be sure, there's the requisite lifesaving and feats of strength; you can't have a Superman story without it. But it's not the focus of this book. This graphic novel is a thoughtful examination of why Superman does the hero bit.

Now this question has been asked and answered before, but "Superman for All Seasons" takes a look at Superman from adolescence to manhood. Each "season" is narrated by a different person in his life. Jonathan Kent, his father, narrates Spring, Lois Lane-Summer, Lex Luthor-Fall, and Lana Lang narrates Winter.

The graphic novel is drawn in a definite homage to the Superman of the late 30's and 40's, a style that I've always liked. Part of artist Tim Sale's dedication reads, "For Norman Rockwell and his love of a vision of Americana that resonates through its limitations..." It's clear that he drew upon the illustrations of Rockwell for inspiration in this book. For the first time that I know of, young Clark Kent is drawn as a big, pudgy, Midwestern kid. It's appealing, mainly because I was a big, pudgy, Midwestern kid (okay, perhaps a little more than pudgy). Nevertheless, as I looked at Clark I got the feeling that Martha Kent and my grandmother both bought our clothes from the Sears catalog. I half expected Clark to bend over and see the old Sears "Toughskins" brand label that they put on jeans for "husky" boys. It made Clark seem a little more familiar. You're thinking, "I could play Playstation with this kid." If Playstation had been invented in 1938, that is.

So, why does Superman do what he does? Why does he spend his time saving lives? Why not use his abilities to take over the world? One concludes from "Superman for All Seasons" that inside the Kryptonian we call the Man of Steel is a little boy raised in the cornfields of Kansas. A regular guy, just like you and me. He saves lives for the same reason that cops and firemen and paramedics do. They see that people everywhere need help and feel a responsibility to try to do something about it. Okay, so there's nothing earthshatteringly new here, but the story and the way it's told is enjoyable, and so is the art. If you're a die-hard Superman fan, I can think of worse ways to spend 24.95. If, however, your tastes lean toward knock-down drag-outs, the price and the subject matter might not appeal to you.