‘Elk Mountain: Part 1’ Review: What Do Your Heroes Stand For?

It’s not often that we see our superheroes take a position on real-world issues. More than anything, because of the escapist nature of comic books, we don’t expect them to. Sure, there have been plenty of stories where writers have their characters handle problems and save the day from situations similar to the ones we deal with but less often it’s something direct. Some of the best comics are brave enough to tell a story where they explore how our heroes tackle real-world problems or “politics” as some like to call it and the impact someone in a position of power can have. Elk Mountain by writer Jordan Clark and artist Vince Underwood is one of those stories. Parallels. Parallels as Far as the Eye Can See Elk Mountain: Part 1 definitely wears its influences on its sleeve. We follow Valor, a man who crashes on Earth as a baby and is raised by a small-town couple, using his extraordinary god-like powers to save the day. Sound familiar? No? C’mon, it’s a Superman story people. The only difference between Valor and Superman is that his parents are immigrants from Panama and his identity is well known among his community. A small but poignant change that is obviously influenced by the book’s major themes. Everything else, from Valor’s powers and enemies to his influence on the people of his hometown in Elk Mountain, mimics Superman to the letter. Writer Jordan Clark doesn’t shy away from this fact, and it’s because of this familiarity that Elk Mountain is not only Superman story …