Customer Reviews

Superman: Transformed!

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was really the final nail in the coffin of pure shock value stories the Superman creative teams were dispensing to the public in the mid 90s. So it came as no surprise to anyone when they were all released from DC Comics in 1999 to make way for the biggest overhaul the Superman comics had seen since John Bryne's original Man of Steel relaunch in the mid 80s. The biggest problem with this story is that it was done purely for attention grabbing purposes without offering any substance to the readers. After the surprisingly good Death of Superman saga, the creative teams gave us the overblown Death of Clark Kent storyline, the preposterous Trial of Superman storyarc, then the rushed Wedding to Lois Lane to coincide with the marriage on the Lois & Clark TV show, and finally this colossal bombshell. Basically, Superman is turned into a big blue Smurf comprised of pure energy. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Superman character that he is able to withstand all these mind-numbing stunts! Whether you're a Superman fan or casual reader, my advice is to avoid this collection at all costs. There are just too many other great stories to waste any time and money on this shameful chapter in Superman's life.

It makes no sense that Superman should be transformed into two energy beings and have powers that we have never seen before. I think this was a bad marketing attempt on DC's part to attarct a larger reading audience but long time Superman readers avoided it. I've often said that DC has done nothing but destroyed everything once great about it's universe and Superman is sadly an example of that.

This was deadend story by a creative team that had run out of ideas after the "Death of Superman Story". The costume is ugly and the premise is weak. All they really accomplish is make Superman whine alot about not understanding his new powers. And don't expect any explanation about how the "transformation" occurred. I doubt that Jurgens and the rest of the creative team ever figure that one out themselves.

The biggest problem in dealing with an iconic character created more than 60 years ago is that youhave to deal with fans from all different ends of the spectrum. We're talking about a charcater that could have been read by Elvis, The Beatles and in these sad times the Backstreet Boys. A character read by or known in all parts of the world, China, France or even Trinidad and Tobago. We're talking about a legend that has endured all these 60+ years. How can you keep the character fresh to endure all the possibilities, but still retain that charm that made the charcater who he is. earlier in the 90s, they tried killing him and that proved shocking to the world at large, but still added extra depth to the character. Now they're trying something different. During the Final Night, the Sun was being slowly consumed by an entity and through that, our solar powered hero gradually lost his powers. When that is said and done, the sun is rejuvenated once again, yet our hero still remains powerless. Now that grabs you. This is the single theme that can make you read further as to understand what will happen next. You don't have to read the Final Night to get the picture. I haven't read it, and though I'm intrigued as to how Superman felt with his powers ebbing, I can survive with the notion that whith all this, he has become your regular Joe Public and move on with the story.

The story twist, giving and taking certain themes as it moves along. There are some pothole and some unanswered questions, but this is a tradepaperback collecting issues of the comics, not a complete self contained graphic novel. The book merely points to the transformation, but ends right there. There is no continuacy as to how Superman deals with things now that he has transformed. So you could say, the book is kind of incomplete, but again when doing a TPB, you just can't fill things as easy than when you're dealing with a graphic novel. All in all, this book has solid art and storytelling. The editorial tasks are a bit lacking from time to time as the reader might ask questions like "What? When did that happen?" or "This can't be right, I just read something different ten pages back."

Ironically, the transformation was not well received as the death of Superman. In the end Superman states that he has changed for the new century with different powers and aspects unknown, but the readers thought otherwise as the classic red and blue costume with the cape is brought back for the start of the millenium. I guess you can test people's threshold for change, but in the end, the best things in life are the classics.

As a fan and Superman "wanna-be" most of my life, the thought of his Tansformation was a touch troubling to me. You just can not change Superman. It was ludicrous. Then I picked up the book. After reading it, I read it again. He was still the same hero, just a new suit. Reading it was like being a kid again. Remembering the daydreams wishing I could fly, deflect bullets or run "super" fast. If you love the old Superman you will love the new one.

When I heard that Superman was transformed into a beam of plasma energy, and that bullets instead go through him, I was shocked. But when I read the book, I realized that it was more benficiary than I thought. For one, he is no longer affected by Kryptonite of any kind. Cool. Buy it.

This book talks about the change in Superman and the problems that he has with all the changes. It is fun to read if you want something to do.

The overall story is good. Superman has to fight lots of different charactes along trying to cope with his new powers. In the begining he doesn't even have powers! I will say however that unless you've read the story "The final night" then this story won't make much sence at the start because there are LOTS of refferences to it.

{major spoilers} superman goes though a cool change he is now a being of energy.
what makes me mad is that superman can only control his powers at the end of the book. if you want to know about how he changed back read "the complet history", they sould make a book of how he changed back and call it "Superman: back to the past" or something like that.

superman's new powers are:
1. he can shoot energy.
2. he is faster than the speed of light.
3. he absorb electricity and radiation.
4. he can pass though solid matter.
5. he can blow fuses.
6. he can magnetize stuff.
7. if he puts his hand in a computer he can absorb information.

heros: superman, lois lane, guardian, big barda, mister miracle, metron, spark, brainiac 5, cosmic boy, inferno, ultra boy, gates, saturn girl, jimmy olsen, cat grant, perry white, takion, lori lemaris, dirk armstrong, professor hamilton, the kents, maggie sawyer, turpin, bibbo.

villans: lex luthor, erica, the atomic skull, misa, riot, anomaly {mentioned}, sun-eater {mentioned}.

P.s. this story takes place some time during superman revenge squad.

It explains how superman has change in the comic universe, but with this new powers it is no longer the superman we like, the one with his tradionally powers; yet the book explains the changes on superman and why they're happenning. If you are a fan of superman then buy the book ...