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| The Man of Steel |
Acting as Bendis's introduction to the character, The Man of Steel is everything that should be expected from bringing in a superstar comic book writer and putting him on a character like Superman, the original and most iconic superhero of all. It's a big, bombastic story that both oozes classic appeal and dares to revisit established Superman mythology in new and interesting ways.
The introduction of Rogol Zaar adds a compelling wrinkle to the established mythos, and acts as the inciting event that sets the plot in motion. Superman's backstory is widely known—born Kal-El, he's the last son of the distant planet Krypton, jettisoned from the planet moments before it exploded in a last ditch effort by his parents to save their infant child's life. With alien warrior Rogol Zaar, Bendis puts front and center the creature who claims responsibility for destroying Krypton. And he's just learned that Kal-El, the last son of Krypton, is still alive and living on Earth as Superman. Rogol Zaar arrives on the planet with a singular purpose: wipe out all remaining traces of Krypton.
By introducing Zaar as the one behind Krypton's destruction, the stakes are immediately raised and Superman's fight has never been more personal. Breaking into Superman's famed Fortress of Solitude and devastating a number of the Kryptonian artifacts there, Zaar is immediately established as an incredible force to be reckoned with, attacking Superman physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Bendis should be given credit for creating an imposing villain, but he wisely doesn't reveal every little detail. He doesn't try to force certain aspects of his story into the existing Superman canon. He gives Zaar motives, but those motives aren't fully explained, leaving room for further development in later stories.
There is certainly a "dark night of the soul" element to this miniseries, with Superman having to reckon not only with the emergence of Rogol Zaar, but also with the unexpected absence of his wife, Lois, and their young son, Jon. This crisis brings Superman to an emotional tipping point, and there's a particularly powerful scene that sees him finally break down in the Fortress of Solitude. It's an emotional and very human take on the character, and it really works on a number of levels. These are the kinds of honest character moments that imbue these inherently mythic and outlandish stories with a dimension of reality. The human drama transcends the cosmic conflicts to lend the story a literary quality that gives us a glimpse at what comic books can be when they're thoughtfully written. But the drama doesn't curb the classic appeal of superhero antics. There are heroic feats aplenty to be found within the book's pages, and Superman wears his trademark smile here much more than a frown.
This is not merely Bendis's book, however, and that's also worth noting. The art team compiled for this work is something of an all-star lineup, featuring the likes of Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, and Ryan Sook among many others. Superman looks absolutely phenomenal here, especially when drawn by Ivan Reis, his character design reminiscent of that vintage Jim Lee style, depicting him as a hulk of a man. Every punch practically sends shockwaves off the page. It's a marvel that the different art styles all come together and complement the singular story told by Bendis, and this is a testament to the quality of the book and the intentionality of all those involved to deliver a worthwhile Superman story.
Perhaps the best thing I can say about Bendis's work here is that The Man of Steel is compulsively readable. This is quintessential Superman: a fun, big story with high stakes, dealing in both tragedy and hope. The literary quality is a breath of fresh air, and makes me eager to see where Bendis takes the character from here.
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