Book of the Week - Last week edition

Superman: Secret Origin

I love this book. It's only into issue two now, but Gary Frank and Geoff Johns have done a wonderful job of humanizing the most God-Like figure in modern mythology. How do you take a man from another planet, with "powers far beyond those of mortal men" and make him relatable? Easy, you go back in his early childhood and explore what it was like to be that kid growing up. You think Spider-man had problems? What do you think it would be like to set your school on fire with your eyes when the girl you liked kissed you on the cheek? What do you think it would be like to be indestructible in a game of touch football? And when you broke your best friend's arm by simply running into him, how do you think it would feel to hear the judgmental whispers of your friends because you just happen to have super hearing? Gift, or curse?

This excellent series jumps right in and explores all that and more. The embarrassment of having your mom make your outfit (line of the series so far, "As soon as I get the chance, I'm putting the underwear back on the inside."). The alienation of actually being an alien. All explored with wit and sensitivity that are surprising and refreshing for a comic book.

And it's not just the hero we're given the inside story on. Lex Luthor's early days as an embittered "brainiac" gifted with an exceptional intellect, and an alcoholic father give new insight into the drive and ambition that will cultivate one of Superman's deadliest enemies. You almost feel sorry for Luthor, then you get the flashes of that patented Lex Luthor evilness, and you realize just how cold and calculated his rise will be. I won't spoil it for you, but the way he "seeds" his early rise to riches is truly evil as only Lex Luthor is capable.

It's up to issue two now, with two more on the way, so you still have a chance to catch issues one and two at your local comic book shop. I highly recommend it.