DC Direct: Jim Lee Superman

DC Direct Hush Superman

In the previous entry, I talked about how Superman enjoyed a brief success in the comic books during the turn of the millennium as writers and artists gave us action packed Superman stories. Focusing on his adventures while also being visually fed with a Superman that looked cartoonish, but complimented well with how his stories were written. But that brief success had to see change as the Superman editorial team decided to give comic book readers a grittier Superman. In today's post, I'll be tackling about Brian Azzarello's Superman, which was illustrated by Superstar artist Jim Lee.

Jim Lee's Superman 

Superman adventure stories eventually ran it's course when DC decided to bring grit in Superman comics. Starting with the story arc called Ending Battle, we started seeing Superman do battle against grittier villains. During this time, DC also rebooted Superman by giving us a new origin story through the mini-series Superman: Birthright, written by Mark Waid and Filipino illustrator Leinil Francis Yu (of Wolverine/X-Men fame). With the reboot completed, DC decided to bring in superstar writer/artists like Michael Turner, Talent Caldwell, Chuck Austen, Ivan Reis, among others. Bringing in a new direction, and illustrating Superman in a much sleeker look. Among the huge announcements at that time was the entry of writer Brian Azzarello (who was known for writing gritty stories) and Jim Lee (Superstar artist of the 90's). Superman fans were surprised by Azzarello's appointment as the new writer for the Superman comic book while also expressing excitement over Jim Lee's illustrating chores. Jim Lee burst into the comic book scene with Marvel's X-Men back in the 90's and was one of the premier superstar artist of the 90's that broke away from Marvel and created their own comic book company called Image Comics. Lee created Wildstorm comics (among his popular characters were Wildcats) as his contribution to the Image Comics umbrella. Not long after, Jim Lee sold his Wildstorm imprint to DC, setting the stage for his return as an artist. Jim Lee's initial illustrating chores with DC was the year long epic Batman Hush, which saw him partnered with writer Jeph Loeb. This project gave Jim Lee the opportunity to illustrate Batman and his Bat Family, as well as his major rogues gallery. One issue of that comic book series had Superman as a guest. This was Jim Lee's debut of his Superman art. DC, overwhelmed by the positive response of Jim Lee's Superman art, eventually gave Jim Lee an opportunity to illustrate Superman in his own book. That project was the year long epic called Superman For Tomorrow, where he would be paired with Brian Azzarello. More on the story later.

DC Direct Boxset Jim Lee Superman

The Action Figure: The hype that this was THE JIM LEE artwork inspired action figure is a dud. Sculpted by Tim Bruckner (long time DC Direct action figure/mini statue sculptor), this Superman action figure sadly does not resemble Jim Lee's art. I'm sure fans of Jim Lee have been waiting for ages for an action figure based on his artwork to be released, but DC Direct failed them. This Jim Lee Superman was initially released as part of the Batman Hush series where Superman sported red eyes and a battle ravaged cape with Poison Ivy's vines sculpted on his forearm. In that story arc, Superman was being mind controlled by Poison Ivy and used him as a weapon against Batman. DC Direct re-released the figure as part of the Superman Through the Ages Box Set. A box set of four Superman action figures which featured action figures based on the art of McGuiness (Robot Superman), Byrne, and Shuster. This re-release of the action figure is the normal version (no ravage cape, no vines, and no red eyes). The sculpt of the action figure remained the same except for the said improvements (see comparison photo below). The articulation of the figure is pretty much standard DC Direct. It features a ball jointed neck, ball jointed shoulders, hinged elbows, pivot hips, hinged knees, and hinged ankles. No wrists and waist swivels. Both figures also comes with a base that you can connect the figure to simulate flight. The only thing that the figure got right from Jim Lee's art is the costume colors. It's really a disappointment that DC Direct failed to deliver the ultimate Jim Lee Superman action figure that many Jim Lee fans have been waiting for. Last year, a new Superman action figure that I presumably think was based on the art of Jim Lee's New 52 Superman was released. That figure though will be reviewed in another entry.

DC Direct Through The Ages Superman and Hush Superman comparison photo

Side by side with Jim Lee's actual Superman illustration

DC Direct Supermen comparison shot

Brian Bolland Batman and Jim Lee Superman

With the flight base

Superman For Tomorrow Book 1 and 2

Defining comic book in my collection featuring this figure: The announcement of Brian Azzarello as the new Superman writer was accepted with generally mixed emotions. Azzarello was more know for his grittier works such as 100 bullets and a couple of Batman stories. The appointment of Jim Lee as the illustrator on the other hand was accepted with excitement. The 12 issue story arc however was deadpanned by critics because of Azzarello's slow pacing, setting up of plot threads that were too confusing to digest, and his work for a Superman book that was too mysterious for a Superman story. For Tomorrow was told In medias res, automatically establishing mystery while slowly relating the prior events in flashback. In the story, Superman seeks out a priest (Fr. Leone) as he confesses his sin of not being able to save the people from the Vanishing. A number of people, including Lois, vanished from the face of the earth without a trace. It is then told that Superman had actually established Metropia (his fail safe world in the event that the Planet Earth would cease to exist) in the Phantom Zone, which included android versions of Jor EL and Lara. But he would abandon this plan once he realized that it is not his place to change the planet's destiny. He also had himself forget of this memory, until the Vanishings happened. Superman traces the origins of the Vanishings and found it originating from a country in the Middle East. There, Superman faced a Military tyrant who had possession of the Vanishing device. This Military tyrant also had a super powered henchman named Equus (who looks like a cross of Doomsday and Jim Lee's original creation Warblade, rolled into one). Superman battles General Nox and Equus and defeats the both of them but fails to stop Equus from activating the Vanishing device. This causes the Vanishing of another 300,000 humans including Equus and General Nox. Superman now remembers Metropia and takes hold of the Vanishing device, hoping to utilize it and vanish himself to Metropia. The Justice League intervenes and tries to convince Superman from doing so because this was tantamount to suicide. A battle ensues between Superman and Wonder Woman. Superman then successfully utilizes the vanishing and vanishes himself to Metropia

Superman and the android Jor El

While these developments happened, it is revealed that a certain Mr. Orr had offered Fr. Leone a cure for his cancer. This cure however was a biological experiment that would transform him into an enhanced version of Equus. Both Mr. Orr and Fr. Leone were also there in the Fortress of Solitude when Superman battled Wonder Woman and it was their presence that caused Wonder Woman to lose the fight with Superman as he pleaded to Wonder Woman to save both Mr. Orr and Fr. Leone. Superman meanwhile was transported to Metropia where he sees Lois Lane and the other victims of the Vanishing. This Metropia however has come under the attack of an alternate reality General Zod. It is also revealed that Zod was the one behind the Vanishings. An all out battle ensues where Superman is aided by android versions of Jor El and Lara as they went up against Zod and now his minion Equus. Superman eventually wins the battle and returns to Earth where he encounters the mutated Fr. Leone. Fr. Leone begs Superman to kill him but Superman refuses. Equus appears from out of nowhere and attacks Superman only for Fr. Leone to save Superman as he battled Equus into the void. With things back to normal, Superman establishes a new Fortress of Solitude deep in the amazonian jungles. The story can actually be better read as a whole compared to when it originally came out as a monthly issue. If you are a Jim Lee fan or loves to read comic books because of the art, then For Tomorrow is definitely a good catch. It is also nice to see Jim Lee illustrate Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and some of the Justice League as this predated his New 52 relaunch of the Justice League. More photos below  

Jim Lee Superman and Batman?

Superman is confronted by Batman and Wonder Woman

Superman: For Tomorrow

That wraps up my entry for today. For my next entry, Superman undergoes another crisis. Visit me back here as I write about the Infinite Crisis.