I bought Superman: Strength 1-3!

Superman Strength 1-3 Written by Scott McCloud Art by Aluir Amancio and McCloud

Covers by Alex Ross

I am an unapologetic fan of Superman. The Christopher Reeve movies are among my all-time favorite movies. Despite its flaws, I remain a fan of the Smallville TV show and am currently it with my oldest who also loves it. We are also watching Superman & Lois, which (although I am several episodes behind) I find to be an excellent take on the titular characters as parents. I've owned dozens of Superman-related comics and have read even more. To this day I love a good Golden Age story with a villain who has invents a machine, weapon, or potion that changes the color of the sun, forces the Man of Steel to fight an ally, or turns all of the world's vegetables into chocolate in order to rule the world, become wealthy, or impress a crush. But I also have a soft spot for the silver and bronze and stories I read in my youth and have thoroughly enjoyed the more complex stories found in books like All-Star Superman, Secret Identity, and Red Son. There is no single era or interpretation that I consider to be the "true" version of the character. For example, I love tales where the Kents are still alive when Clark is an adult but find value in stories where they have passed.

However, I will also admit to being a bit of a snob when it comes to the Man of Steel and what books go into my collection. (Which is currently about three dozen individual issues and a dozen collected editions, not counting titles where the character appears such as Kingdom Come.) More often than not those old Golden and Silver Age stories were weaker versions of previous issues. I believe the bronze age issues were hampered by both the industry-controlling Comics Code Authority and editorial decisions to keep Superman as "kid-friendly" as possible. There were a few really good and unique stories in the 1980s, but most were forgettable. It did not matter what the threat was - at over a thousand issues (between Action Comics and Superman alone) the character has fought back every threat and beaten every villain.

So in late 1992 DC Comics killed the character and replaced him with four "Supermen." But within a year he got better and was featured prominently in four titles again - Action, Adventures of Superman, Superman, and Superman: the Man of Steel. I bought and enjoyed all four titles during the death and return storylines but only continued buying them out of habit until my local store closed in 1996. The only thing I remember (and have left) from that era is the Lois and Clark wedding issue, which I haven't opened in years. The editorial direction of the main titles during that period seemed to be "we still don't know what to do, so let's do everything we've never done and see what helps sales," which caused me to overlook books like Superman: Strength when it was originally released.

After I started collecting comics again (circa 2016) I went looking for "good" Superman stories - ones that fit my tastes and weren't bogged down in continuity. Somehow this one slipped under my radar until a few months ago. Once I saw the name Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) attached I knew I had to add it to my library, and I am really glad I did! He seamlessly blended aspects of every era of Superman into a fun story, and the art by Aluir Amancio, despite a few minor issues, was a perfect fit.

The story begins with Kal-El's arrival on earth being conveyed by John "Fido" Pollack, the son of Frank "Pitbull" Pollack, to his associates. Everything he says is based on rumor and innuendo ("one tale has it that the boy landed in the agricultural midwest to be found and raised in some loving Normal Rockwell family", and in the end he is as far off the mark as he could be ("The truth is the lucky squealer...was adopted into one of Metropolis's richest families...deep down inside, Superman is just a silver spoon, ivy-league frat boy." Fido also beliefs his father broke Superman's arm in a fight before eventually losing and going to jail. Now Fido is determined to use his invention - golden gloves that can be used "to create spatial ports up to six meters across that can instantly transport you to any spot on the planet" - to defeat Superman and prove to his father that he is the better Pollack. He also believes Lex Luthor, who does appear in this series, unjustly stole the patent for the gloves from him. While the battle between Superman and Pollack's gang rages on, Pa Kent tells a story to Lois Lane that includes a number of firsts - the first time Clark experienced being more than human, as well as his first trip to Metropolis, his first attempt at stopping a crime, and his first flight. He prefaces his telling of the tale with "it doesn't have a happy ending." In the end it is both poignant and relevant to the current conflict.

Before the series ends Fido introduces a second, equally as absurd Golden Age-style invention in his attempt to defeat Superman. I love the painted covers by Alex Ross but would also love to have seen retro/throwback covers, complete with cover blurbs or word balloons, based on some of the more absurd story elements.

Complete story? Check!

Fun? Oh yeah! McCloud's version of the character is one I'd love to see again.

Rereadability? Check! That may have already happened :)

Final verdict? Very glad I bought it!