Man of Steel #2 Review

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Artist: Doc Shaner, Steve Rude, Jay Fabok / DC Comics There are parts Man of Steel that I really do enjoy. I think the artwork by all three featured artists is absolutely breathtaking and that it is perfectly evocative of the different parts of Metropolis and other Superman related set pieces. There’s a lot to love from a visual standpoint. On a textual standpoint, my apprehensions persist from the last issue, and I’m not sure they’ll go away until the end of the mini-series. Bendis is juggling four different storylines with an incredible number of characters contributing various components. We got Rogol Zaar, we got Superman being Supes, we got Clark working overtime at the Daily Planet, and we got the mystery of Lois and Jon. The Rogol Zaar material does provide some interesting context to the overall DC Universe, and while Rogol Zaar’s zealotry remains an interesting counter to the Man of Steel’s fervent protection, I’m swayed any particular way about it largely because it has been philosophical.

On a pure Superman front, I think this is where Bendis is at his best. I think Superman’s internal monologues and dialog with the other characters is about as quintessentially Superman as you could ever hope for. This is very much a Kansas raised boy who wants to help all of the people, has been given the means to do so, and is being a general paragon of wholesome goodness. I will give Bendis all the credit for having a strong resonate voice that e…