Superman for All Seasons
by Jeph Loeb (Writer), Tim Sale (Illustrator)
Superman for All Seasons (Collections and Selections — 1-4), Superman TPBs Post-Crisis Continuity (Superman for All Seasons 1-4), Superman
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Description
In this coming-of-age tale, witness the experiences and adventures that transform a simple country boy into the world's greatest hero. Told through the course of four seasons in the Man of Steel's adolescent life, it illustrates that it is the person, not the powers, that makes Superman a hero. The catalyst for the "Smallville" television program, SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS is emotional and insightful, humanizing the alien from another planet so that he is not only realistic but also show more relatable. It also features in-depth characterizations of Lana Lang, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and the Kents. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
My first impressions (Writing down my first impressions of the book. NOT an in-depth review. Reviews are based on personal enjoyment.)
RANK: Super Sensational
I had a great time reading this comic.
Tim Sale art is amazing. His art style fits with the story that Loeb is trying to tell. It has this sense of an old painting that people see at their grandparents house. There are some beautiful splash pages throughout the story.
Jeph Loeb has manage to write a Superman comic that stays true to the character of Superman.
This comic focuses on who Clark Kent is as a human being. The reader gets to explore Clark’s feelings such as doubting himself as a hero, dealing with loneliness, feeling guilty for not helping everyone. Loeb writes a more show more grounded Superman that any reader can relate to. This is most human that Clark/Superman that has ever been written, personally.
Loeb never treats Clark as a powerful demigod that’s above humans. I like that Martha, Johnathan and Lana know that even though Clark has these powers he will always be their Clark. To understand the man in the cape all one needs to do is understand Clark.
I like that each chapter, named after a season, represents current state of Clark. It fits with the themes of the comic.
If anyone wants to start reading Superman comics, this is a great comic to start with. All the reader needs to know is that Clark Kent is Superman, He came from an alien planet and was raised by an elderly couple.
Overall, I highly recommend this comic to anyone that wants to start reading Superman. It has a writer that understands Superman, A grounded story, and beautiful art. show less
RANK: Super Sensational
I had a great time reading this comic.
Tim Sale art is amazing. His art style fits with the story that Loeb is trying to tell. It has this sense of an old painting that people see at their grandparents house. There are some beautiful splash pages throughout the story.
Jeph Loeb has manage to write a Superman comic that stays true to the character of Superman.
This comic focuses on who Clark Kent is as a human being. The reader gets to explore Clark’s feelings such as doubting himself as a hero, dealing with loneliness, feeling guilty for not helping everyone. Loeb writes a more show more grounded Superman that any reader can relate to. This is most human that Clark/Superman that has ever been written, personally.
Loeb never treats Clark as a powerful demigod that’s above humans. I like that Martha, Johnathan and Lana know that even though Clark has these powers he will always be their Clark. To understand the man in the cape all one needs to do is understand Clark.
I like that each chapter, named after a season, represents current state of Clark. It fits with the themes of the comic.
If anyone wants to start reading Superman comics, this is a great comic to start with. All the reader needs to know is that Clark Kent is Superman, He came from an alien planet and was raised by an elderly couple.
Overall, I highly recommend this comic to anyone that wants to start reading Superman. It has a writer that understands Superman, A grounded story, and beautiful art. show less
This is the first Superman graphic novel I've read that really delves into his life in Smallville, as a result, it feels distinct, cozy and emotional, moreso than most Superman stories.
I wasn't a fan of the artstyle at first, it's nowhere near as flashy or detailed as Red Son or Kingdom Come, but it ties in so well with the story that it works perfectly. Less is more, and every panel and piece of dialogue feels meaningful.
It's very fresh, despite being an "origin" story, which I'm usually bored of at this point. I like there isn't really a big bad in this one, and Clark seems more like a young man would - capable, but hesitant and confused about his direction in life. Very poignant. Excellent Superman story.
I wasn't a fan of the artstyle at first, it's nowhere near as flashy or detailed as Red Son or Kingdom Come, but it ties in so well with the story that it works perfectly. Less is more, and every panel and piece of dialogue feels meaningful.
It's very fresh, despite being an "origin" story, which I'm usually bored of at this point. I like there isn't really a big bad in this one, and Clark seems more like a young man would - capable, but hesitant and confused about his direction in life. Very poignant. Excellent Superman story.
Я плакал в конце, этим всё полагаю и сказано...
Комикс прост, невероятно прост, ничего сверх масштабного в классическом его понимании не происходит. Да один раз Лекс весь город отравил но по сравнению с обычными историями супермена это ничто. Но я его за это и обожаю, ведь в масштабных историях очень легко потерять душу и смысл того кем является супермен- обычный, добрый парень из Канзаса. Повествование даже show more не идёт от его лица но при этом я чувствовал и понимал Кларка. Такой стиль повествования мне к слову обычно не нравится так как обычно любят в такие моменты графоманствовать, но тут такого нет. Так же это и крайне ностальгичная история, есть что-то в историях о молодых ребятах из деревень или маленьких городов, меня всегда к такому тянуло.
Что-же меня заставило плакать? Я думаю это была совокупность хорошей истории, показа милых деревенских людей, прекрасного рисунка и то чувства радости и доброты которую я получил после прочтения. show less
Комикс прост, невероятно прост, ничего сверх масштабного в классическом его понимании не происходит. Да один раз Лекс весь город отравил но по сравнению с обычными историями супермена это ничто. Но я его за это и обожаю, ведь в масштабных историях очень легко потерять душу и смысл того кем является супермен- обычный, добрый парень из Канзаса. Повествование даже show more не идёт от его лица но при этом я чувствовал и понимал Кларка. Такой стиль повествования мне к слову обычно не нравится так как обычно любят в такие моменты графоманствовать, но тут такого нет. Так же это и крайне ностальгичная история, есть что-то в историях о молодых ребятах из деревень или маленьких городов, меня всегда к такому тянуло.
Что-же меня заставило плакать? Я думаю это была совокупность хорошей истории, показа милых деревенских людей, прекрасного рисунка и то чувства радости и доброты которую я получил после прочтения. show less
It's another Superman origin story. Sort of. Superman For All Seasons doesn't give you any of the humongous backstory-- at one point Pa Kent mentions that they found Clark in a rocket, but that's about it. I don't think the word "Krypton" is ever used. Rather than on an exotic alien world with Kal-El's father babbling about exploding planets, this story opens in Smallville, Kansas with Clark Kent's father talking about farming... and his son.
It's divided into four sections, one for each season of course. And each section is narrated by a different key figure in Superman's life. As I alluded to earlier, "Spring" is narrated by Pa Kent, talking about Clark's last year of high school and the changes he went through as he started to realize show more his power. "Summer" is narrated by Lois Lane, talking about this new "Superman" that so fascinates her... not that she's in love or anything. "Fall" is narrated by Lex Luthor, as he fumes over the new arrival in his city. And "Winter" is narrated by Lana Lang, discussing what it's like to know Clark and Superman.
The characterization of this thing is pitch-perfect. Pa Kent is exactly what Pa Kent should be-- a good guy working a farm. There's no deep-seated paternal issues or overdramatic angst here. Which is not to say things are perfect between Clark and Kent, but it's the sort of problems every father and son should have: a son uncertain about his place in the world now that he's growing up, and father who doesn't know what's going to happen to his son... and unable to help. Since Pa's narrating, there's necessarily less of Ma, but what's there is handled well too. "Be gentle," says Ma as her husband goes out to talk to their son, who's overcome by fear as he begins to grow up. "Yep," says Pa as he goes out, thinking about being a father. The father of a boy, soon to become a man. Not a Superman.
Lois... Lois is Lois. Unfortunately, she doesn't contribute directly to the story much, but she comments on it. A cynical woman who, on some level, just doesn't like that Superman has disrupted her carefully constructed portrait of the world... but finds herself drawn to him nonetheless. Speaking of double-L love interests, this was my first real encounter with Lana Lang in, well, anything. I guess I haven't read/seen much Superman material dealing with Smallville. I like what I see here. As one of the few people who know the Clark/Superman secret, she's one of the few people who understands either of them. Superman is who he is because he is Clark Kent, and Lana may have pined for Clark as a child, but she too must grow up on move on to the next stage of her life.
And as for Lex... Lex Luthor. The 1990s cartoon is my favorite depiction of Lex bar none, but this is right in line with that. This is a Lex with no personal vendetta against Superman... at least not at first. Lex Luthor is the greatest man ever, a man who controls everything... Superman is better than him, and out of his control. His narration is brilliant: "The public needs to be spoken to. Often, they need to be spoken to as children. So they can grasp my position. Simply because my position is never wrong. Never. I poured my life into this city. I gave it a personality. A look. A kind of elegance. She was my fair lady. I've grown accustomed to her face. And yet... I was betrayed." That, ladies and gentlemen, is Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mind of our time. Always in control, and always afraid of losing it. No hackneyed mad scientist traits or Smallville backstory required.
What of the character of Superman himself? Obviously, since the story is narrated by others, we get little of him directly. Superman can be a somewhat unfathomably distant person sometimes. How can you emphasize with a man who has powers like that? And yet, Loeb manages it. Superman has the weight of the world on his shoulders... and yet, don't we all? This story is about growing up and finding your place in the world-- drawing it not from some alien heritage, but from yourself. Even for Superman, it's hard to do what you need to do day in and day out, with a world trying to drag you down. Like anyone, when things get tough, he retreats from his problems-- in this story, Superman's "fortress of solitude" is Smallville, not some crystalline alien structure at the North Pole. But like the best of us, Superman doesn't stay in retreat. He doesn't know everything, and he certainly doesn't always know how to cope with the world... but when it comes down to it, he knows he has to do what has to be done, and he does it. Plus, he gets some of the best lines: "Nice costume," says a kid Superman has just saved from falling off a skyscraper. "Thanks," replies the Man of Steel. "My mom made it for me." Which is really everything you need to know about Superman right there.
I haven't read anything else by Loeb, but I really should. (And I believe I've got a couple of his works in my pile.) This is a man who knows how to use the comics medium. Many writers, when using narration, convey information you're already getting in the dialogue and images (John Byrne, I'm looking at you). But the solution is not to drop the narration. Loeb's narration boxes harmonize with the scenes they depict, sometimes contrasting, sometimes reinforcing. Oftentimes, the narration boxes overlay events the narrators actually know nothing about: Lois ruminates on what Superman does when he's not rescuing kittens as Clark returns to his apartment, Lana talks about the lack of Clark in Smallville as we see the lack of Superman in Metropolis. This is exceptional use of the form. And as I've gone about at length, his grasp and use of the characters is perfect.
The art is fantastic, too. Stylized, clear, usually... "gorgeous" is the wrong word. Handsome, maybe. Sale really captures the strength of Superman in one panel and the vulnerability of Clark Kent in another, but they're clearly the same person in different modes. The only problem I have is that sometimes the childish giant look he gives pre-Superman Clark comes across a little... goofy. He looks too child-like and too awkward. But on the other hand, his Lois Lane is every bit as gorgeous as Lois should be.
All I've done here is rave. Did I dislike anything about this story? I thought the "Fall" section could have been improved. Lex's plan was pure Lex-- gassing a whole city yet only killing one person just to get at Superman is absolutely something he would do-- but the Clockwork Orange-style scenes of mental conditioning had a tone just a little too... harsh for this lovely gem of a comic. And I think Jenny Vaughn's story would have been more tragic if she hadn't adopted the strange supervillainesque codename and costume for no apparent reason of hers or Lex's. But these are quibbles, really.
This is without a doubt one of the best comic books I have ever read, and the best Superman story. Almost every note is pitch-perfect-- if you want to know who he is, read this story. If you want to know who Clark Kent is, read this story. If you never read another Superman tale, read this story. "The whole world was resting on his shoulders and maybe, just maybe, they weren't big enough to carry the load." That's Superman in a nutshell. But more than that-- it's all of us. (originally written June 2008) show less
It's divided into four sections, one for each season of course. And each section is narrated by a different key figure in Superman's life. As I alluded to earlier, "Spring" is narrated by Pa Kent, talking about Clark's last year of high school and the changes he went through as he started to realize show more his power. "Summer" is narrated by Lois Lane, talking about this new "Superman" that so fascinates her... not that she's in love or anything. "Fall" is narrated by Lex Luthor, as he fumes over the new arrival in his city. And "Winter" is narrated by Lana Lang, discussing what it's like to know Clark and Superman.
The characterization of this thing is pitch-perfect. Pa Kent is exactly what Pa Kent should be-- a good guy working a farm. There's no deep-seated paternal issues or overdramatic angst here. Which is not to say things are perfect between Clark and Kent, but it's the sort of problems every father and son should have: a son uncertain about his place in the world now that he's growing up, and father who doesn't know what's going to happen to his son... and unable to help. Since Pa's narrating, there's necessarily less of Ma, but what's there is handled well too. "Be gentle," says Ma as her husband goes out to talk to their son, who's overcome by fear as he begins to grow up. "Yep," says Pa as he goes out, thinking about being a father. The father of a boy, soon to become a man. Not a Superman.
Lois... Lois is Lois. Unfortunately, she doesn't contribute directly to the story much, but she comments on it. A cynical woman who, on some level, just doesn't like that Superman has disrupted her carefully constructed portrait of the world... but finds herself drawn to him nonetheless. Speaking of double-L love interests, this was my first real encounter with Lana Lang in, well, anything. I guess I haven't read/seen much Superman material dealing with Smallville. I like what I see here. As one of the few people who know the Clark/Superman secret, she's one of the few people who understands either of them. Superman is who he is because he is Clark Kent, and Lana may have pined for Clark as a child, but she too must grow up on move on to the next stage of her life.
And as for Lex... Lex Luthor. The 1990s cartoon is my favorite depiction of Lex bar none, but this is right in line with that. This is a Lex with no personal vendetta against Superman... at least not at first. Lex Luthor is the greatest man ever, a man who controls everything... Superman is better than him, and out of his control. His narration is brilliant: "The public needs to be spoken to. Often, they need to be spoken to as children. So they can grasp my position. Simply because my position is never wrong. Never. I poured my life into this city. I gave it a personality. A look. A kind of elegance. She was my fair lady. I've grown accustomed to her face. And yet... I was betrayed." That, ladies and gentlemen, is Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mind of our time. Always in control, and always afraid of losing it. No hackneyed mad scientist traits or Smallville backstory required.
What of the character of Superman himself? Obviously, since the story is narrated by others, we get little of him directly. Superman can be a somewhat unfathomably distant person sometimes. How can you emphasize with a man who has powers like that? And yet, Loeb manages it. Superman has the weight of the world on his shoulders... and yet, don't we all? This story is about growing up and finding your place in the world-- drawing it not from some alien heritage, but from yourself. Even for Superman, it's hard to do what you need to do day in and day out, with a world trying to drag you down. Like anyone, when things get tough, he retreats from his problems-- in this story, Superman's "fortress of solitude" is Smallville, not some crystalline alien structure at the North Pole. But like the best of us, Superman doesn't stay in retreat. He doesn't know everything, and he certainly doesn't always know how to cope with the world... but when it comes down to it, he knows he has to do what has to be done, and he does it. Plus, he gets some of the best lines: "Nice costume," says a kid Superman has just saved from falling off a skyscraper. "Thanks," replies the Man of Steel. "My mom made it for me." Which is really everything you need to know about Superman right there.
I haven't read anything else by Loeb, but I really should. (And I believe I've got a couple of his works in my pile.) This is a man who knows how to use the comics medium. Many writers, when using narration, convey information you're already getting in the dialogue and images (John Byrne, I'm looking at you). But the solution is not to drop the narration. Loeb's narration boxes harmonize with the scenes they depict, sometimes contrasting, sometimes reinforcing. Oftentimes, the narration boxes overlay events the narrators actually know nothing about: Lois ruminates on what Superman does when he's not rescuing kittens as Clark returns to his apartment, Lana talks about the lack of Clark in Smallville as we see the lack of Superman in Metropolis. This is exceptional use of the form. And as I've gone about at length, his grasp and use of the characters is perfect.
The art is fantastic, too. Stylized, clear, usually... "gorgeous" is the wrong word. Handsome, maybe. Sale really captures the strength of Superman in one panel and the vulnerability of Clark Kent in another, but they're clearly the same person in different modes. The only problem I have is that sometimes the childish giant look he gives pre-Superman Clark comes across a little... goofy. He looks too child-like and too awkward. But on the other hand, his Lois Lane is every bit as gorgeous as Lois should be.
All I've done here is rave. Did I dislike anything about this story? I thought the "Fall" section could have been improved. Lex's plan was pure Lex-- gassing a whole city yet only killing one person just to get at Superman is absolutely something he would do-- but the Clockwork Orange-style scenes of mental conditioning had a tone just a little too... harsh for this lovely gem of a comic. And I think Jenny Vaughn's story would have been more tragic if she hadn't adopted the strange supervillainesque codename and costume for no apparent reason of hers or Lex's. But these are quibbles, really.
This is without a doubt one of the best comic books I have ever read, and the best Superman story. Almost every note is pitch-perfect-- if you want to know who he is, read this story. If you want to know who Clark Kent is, read this story. If you never read another Superman tale, read this story. "The whole world was resting on his shoulders and maybe, just maybe, they weren't big enough to carry the load." That's Superman in a nutshell. But more than that-- it's all of us. (originally written June 2008) show less
"We can be grateful for the seasons, no matter how cruel or harsh they seem. For it is only through their passage that we can truly appreciate the future." -page 196-197
I am very new to superhero comics. To be honest, I always dismissed them as beneath my intellectual standards, something for teenagers and stunted adults who live in their parent's basement. How wrong I was!
Here is a really wonderful story that is as much about the moods and dilemmas which come with the passage from adolescence to adulthood as it is about the idealism and philosophical underpinnings of the man of steel. I couldn't believe the sophistication of some of the scenes in this novel. Although I have seen the films, I loved this portrayal of Lex Luthor, less show more egotistical mad scientist, more capitalist power monger.
I really can't recommend this novel enough to anyone. show less
I am very new to superhero comics. To be honest, I always dismissed them as beneath my intellectual standards, something for teenagers and stunted adults who live in their parent's basement. How wrong I was!
Here is a really wonderful story that is as much about the moods and dilemmas which come with the passage from adolescence to adulthood as it is about the idealism and philosophical underpinnings of the man of steel. I couldn't believe the sophistication of some of the scenes in this novel. Although I have seen the films, I loved this portrayal of Lex Luthor, less show more egotistical mad scientist, more capitalist power monger.
I really can't recommend this novel enough to anyone. show less
"We can be grateful for the seasons, no matter how cruel or harsh they seem. For it is only through their passage that we can truly appreciate the future." -page 196-197
I am very new to superhero comics. To be honest, I always dismissed them as beneath my intellectual standards, something for teenagers and stunted adults who live in their parent's basement. How wrong I was!
Here is a really wonderful story that is as much about the moods and dilemmas which come with the passage from adolescence to adulthood as it is about the idealism and philosophical underpinnings of the man of steel. I couldn't believe the sophistication of some of the scenes in this novel. Although I have seen the films, I loved this portrayal of Lex Luthor, less show more egotistical mad scientist, more capitalist power monger.
I really can't recommend this novel enough to anyone. show less
I am very new to superhero comics. To be honest, I always dismissed them as beneath my intellectual standards, something for teenagers and stunted adults who live in their parent's basement. How wrong I was!
Here is a really wonderful story that is as much about the moods and dilemmas which come with the passage from adolescence to adulthood as it is about the idealism and philosophical underpinnings of the man of steel. I couldn't believe the sophistication of some of the scenes in this novel. Although I have seen the films, I loved this portrayal of Lex Luthor, less show more egotistical mad scientist, more capitalist power monger.
I really can't recommend this novel enough to anyone. show less
Superman For All Seasons tells of a shy, unconfident Superman instead of the typical all-American Boy Scout that pervades the understanding of the most famous superhero. Each chapter is a season, starting with Spring and ending in Winter. The first three are fairly average, there’s nothing too special here, but the art is fine and the coloring is unique.
The fourth chapter is where this book shines. Superman, alias Clark Kent, may be the most powerful being on earth, but he’s without confidence. He can’t save everyone, and that depresses him. It’s not just depression, but a sense of being lost in the responsibility of the world that I share with this fictional hero. We never hear the thoughts of Clark in this comic, but we see show more what his friends and family think about him. The final chapter is told in the voice of Lana, Clark’s childhood sweetheart. She slowly realizes that he can’t love her not because of her, but because Superman has to love everyone. He can’t belong to her. His powers, unasked for, give him a greater responsibility: Superman belongs to the world. show less
The fourth chapter is where this book shines. Superman, alias Clark Kent, may be the most powerful being on earth, but he’s without confidence. He can’t save everyone, and that depresses him. It’s not just depression, but a sense of being lost in the responsibility of the world that I share with this fictional hero. We never hear the thoughts of Clark in this comic, but we see show more what his friends and family think about him. The final chapter is told in the voice of Lana, Clark’s childhood sweetheart. She slowly realizes that he can’t love her not because of her, but because Superman has to love everyone. He can’t belong to her. His powers, unasked for, give him a greater responsibility: Superman belongs to the world. show less
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- Original publication date
- 1999; 1998-07-01 (issue #1) (issue #1); 1998-08-05 (issue #2) (issue #2); 1998-09-16 (issue #3) (issue #3); 1998-10-28 (issue #4) (issue #4); 2015 (Deluxe Edition) (Deluxe Edition)
- People/Characters
- Superman; Jonathan Kent; Martha Kent; Lex Luthor; Lois Lane; Lana Lang
- Important places
- Smallville, Kansas, USA; Metropolis, USA (Metropolis, New York, USA)
- Dedication
- For my father who would have loved this.
-Jeph Loeb
For Norman Rockwell and his love of a vision of Americana that resonates through its limitations
Jane Burbank and her love and appreciation of me and my work with its inherent limitations
Trevor Burbank and his ... (show all)love of being a kid despite its limitations
-Tim Sale - First words
- Folks tend to call him "The Man of Steel" nowadays.
- Quotations
- Nothing like having a son who can change the course of mighty rivers.
Perry once told me, 'Lois, a reporter lives by three rules. Believe none of what you hear. Half of what you see, And everything you write.' - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And maybe I'll give Pete Ross a call...
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