Superman: Birthright (Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

by Mark Waid (Author), Leinil Francis Yu (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: last son, Clark Kent, Kobe Asuru

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Superman's origins have been imagined and reimagined over the years. Here is a new take on the character's roots. Superman: Birthright retells the early chapters of Superman's story, from escape as an infant from the doomed planet Krypton to arrival as reporter Clark Kent at the Daily Planet and his first public exploits. Writer Waid puts his own spin on the legend, rethinking nearly every aspect of the venerable character while remaining respectful of his established history. Waid wisely integrates ideas from the popular TV series smallville but doesn't slavishly follow its innovations; for instance, a young Lex Luthor befriends Clark in high school, but unlike in the series, his sinister nature is clear even then. Waid similarly tweaks the rest of the well-known cast, from Lois Lane and Clark's other Planet colleagues to Ma and Pa Kent. Ironically, though he updates the character, Waid evokes Superman's pre-World War II incarnation, whom his Depression-reared creators kept engaged in righting society's ills. Leinil Francis Yu's stylized artwork is expressively dynamic to the point of caricature, but this larger-than-life visual approach befits the retelling of a myth. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
SFX Magazine Feb 2005: " a slick, intelligent shot at rebuilding Siegel and Schuster's crusader for the 21st century."; www thealienonline.net 19th January 2005: " ...Birthright is a fantastic piece of work, managing to combine old and new seamlessly..."; www comicbooksgalaxy.com 02 February 2005 : " The man of steel deserves no less. 5/5." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; Third printing edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401202527
• ISBN-13: 978-1401202521
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,025 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Superman reborn: good, but nothing special, April 2, 2006

By	Tom Benton (North Springfield, VT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 2004, with the success of SMALLVILLE and the forthcoming release of SUPERMAN RETURNS, the good folks at DC Comics decided it was time for Superman's origins to be re-invented for the first time since John Byrne's popular THE MAN OF STEEL series in the 1980's. Mark Waid was given the task of writing the new series and re-thinking the Superman legend; and re-think it he did. While the essential elements of the Superman mythos are left intact, much of Supes' history is re-written. In a wise move, Waid borrows from the SMALLVILLE storyline by having Clark Kent meet Lex Luthor while in high school. The Lex of this series, however, is very different from SMALLVILLE's version of the character; Lex is a heartless fiend even as a youth.

BIRTHRIGHT begins with Clark on a freelance writing assignment in Africa. The violence Clark witnesses while there lead him to wonder if there's a way he can use his powers to benefit mankind. So he returns to Smallville, where - with the help of his parents - he creates the Superman costume. From there, it's off to Metropolis.

Flashbacks show us a young Clark befriending Lex, but we see nothing more than that. The rest of the graphic novel is set in the present, where Clark searches for his place in the world while battling the evil Lex Luthor. Much is left out that could have enhanced the series; for example, Clark discovering his powers. Instead, we get an over-the-top storyline which is neither new nor exciting.

This series' redemption comes from Leinil Francis Yu's excellent artwork. It's strong and colorful, but rarely is it bright. It fits the story perfectly. For this reason I would recommend this comic. I found it interesting to see a writer attempt a new take on Superman's origins, but in the end I was left thinking, "That was okay", rather than, "Wow, that was great!"

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Still Looking for that Great Superman Story, May 26, 2006

By	E. David Swan (South Euclid, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are few characters in literature more quintessentially American than Superman and few more difficult to write. Just compare the number of five star Batman stories with the number for Superman. The problem is trying to come up with a compelling story featuring a character with godlike abilities. Not only is Superman nigh on omnipotent with his invulnerability, super speed and near limitless strength he is also essentially omniscient with his super vision, super hearing and x-ray vision (In Birthright Clark Kent uses all three to spy on his coworkers from blocks away). So how do you create a compelling story when the protagonist is invincible? The other problem is that his most frequent antagonist, Lex Luthor, is nothing more than a regular old human (albeit with an astounding intellect). Luthor taking on Superman is like a little league team taking on the Boston Red Sox AND NEARLY WINNING.

Writers have relied on three techniques to limit Superman. First is to have Superman conveniently forget his own powers in particular his near light speed movement. The second limitation is Superman's own Boy Scout morality and third is the annoyingly excessive use of Kryptonite. Mark Waid employs the second technique and is particularly egregious on the third. Luthor literally bathes the city in low level Kryptonite reducing Superman's powers to a more manageable Spider Manish strength. I think it's a testimonial to the skill of a writer if he/she can compose a Superman story and NOT employ Kryptonite. On the other hand Waid does an excellent job of establishing Luthor as a credible threat to Superman.

Despite the tweaking to Superman's origin which he establishes as occurring today, rather than in the 1930's or 1950's, the author really doesn't break any new ground. Luthor's scheme, if you can call it that, is so over the top that it reminds me of the Super Friends episode where The Toyman builds a robot planet to trap the heroes. I mean, if you can build an entire robot planet... uh well. Apparently aware of the absurd scale and unfeasibility of Luthor's plan the author tries (and fails) to rationalize and diminish what's going on. In the end I have to consider Birthright to be a mild failure. There are so many plot holes that it becomes a distraction. There is no explanation on how the faux Kryptonian Van-Gar was able to go toe to toe with Superman even if you account for Superman's diminished powers and why would Luthor compose such an extravagant plan only to leave the lynchpin of his scheme available for anyone to walk in and steal. The ending was meant to be poignant but it really made no sense. I mean nothing about it made sense. Birthright was also a case where the crimes of the villain are so heinous that they would undoubtedly merit the death penalty for the perpetrator yet it's implied that Luthor will get off on a legal technicality.

I have to wonder if there's any writer besides Alan Moore capable of writing a truly great Superman story.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars breathtaking, December 20, 2004

By	jancola (Encino, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Superman: Birthright (Hardcover)

I am surprised by the other, less positive reviews, because I thought this book was superb. I am not a huge Superman fan, I don't get excited by "Smallville," and in general my comic book shopping cart is mostly filled with Marvel titles, but I think this has got to be the best Superman book I have ever read. It does a little of what Jeph Loeb did in "Superman For All Seasons" and picks up the clumsily discarded torch of "Smallville" to create a beautiful, modern Superman.

The art is definitely among the most striking Superman art ever drawn, taking the best elements of manga and American comics to make a brightly colored and appealing book. For those of you familiar with "Invincible," it has a similar look except with more sheen, and more primary colors.

This Superman is certainly a different Superman, and some people will take issue with the fact that he is, among other things, a vegetarian. This discrepancy Mark Waid makes up for it by his awesome portrayal of Clark, a confident and popular guy who has to hide his talents under the false guise of a wallflower in order to maintain his secret identity. Best of all is the ending, which is poignant, ironic, and will quite possibly make you cry.