Sirk TV Graphic Novel Review: SUPERMAN - EARTH ONE VOL. 2 [DC Comics]

The aspects of modern day society playing upon the psyche of a superhero creates an interesting dilemma on the part of Superman. Eschewing the angle of the all American boy turned do-gooder into a removed loner just looking to find his way in the world is a little more bleak motif. "Superman: Earth One - Volume 2" [J. Michael Staczynski & Shane Davis/DC Comics/136pgs] is interesting in that it moves away from the normal Lex Luthor pigeonhole and functions with an idea that people are willing to stand up to Superman because they believe he might have his own agenda. While this might be true, Superman's world view must coincide with that of Clark Kent no matter how that perception might end up. While most of this volume has the Kryptonian dealing with an adversary called "The Parasite" who can draw and diminish energy from anything he comes in contact with, the moments of Clark dealing with a damaged women next door at his new apartment as well as Superman dealing with a despot of an island nation bent on keeping him out of their affairs are the most telling. In both instances, the interaction takes something and gives something from the alien's DNA. It shows the intimacy problems that come with being such a superhero and the moral ambiguity that comes from literally being immortal in a mortal world. The eventual point of intersection which takes an element from "Superman II" [1980] is that Superman sees humanity as being fragile because at any point, humanity is danger, and most definitely from an individual angle. Meanwhile the other angle at the end of this volume shows Lex Luthor and his wife (in a different skew) as scientists brought in by the government to find a way to keep Superman under control. The art through this volume is muscularly intensive with The Parasite's growth being especially grotesque. The use of lighting is decidedly angular, specifically in the showing of pain and the grayness of Metropolis is more pronounced than usual giving a more realistic basis of Superman than normally seen.B+