Justice League: Gods and Monsters - Superman - Review

The next chapter in DC's comic book prequel to Justice League: Gods and Monsters provides a detailed origin of Lor-Zod, a.k.a. Hernan Guerra, a.k.a. Superman. This issue takes a somewhat more traditional approach to the origin story than last week's Batman one-shot, tracing Hernan's life from early childhood to his early days as Superman. It's provides an engaging look at a very different version of the Man of Steel, one that does justice to the strong source material.

Like the Batman issue, there are familiar aspects to this origin story, but also plenty of changes to reflect the fact that this is a different character living in a different, less hopeful world. Hernan isn't the son of all-American farmers living in rustic Kansas, but of Hispanic migrant workers constantly struggling to make ends meet and find a better life for their children. The fact that Hernan has a sister is the most fundamental and most compelling wrinkle to the Superman mythos. The story is narrated from her point of view. And while the frequent captions occasionally seem excessive, they fit the context of the story better than the narration in the Batman issue.

Moritat's experience with All-Star Western serves him well in this issue. There's a harsh, gritty edge to the story and its locales, but also moments of youthful joy and optimism. Moritat captures those shifts very well, focusing more on mood and emotion than raw detail. His style is very different from the animated film, but very much in the same spirit.

Normally in the case of these alternate universe stories, the core of what defines the character and their morality remains constant regardless of whatever else changes. Not so here. What makes Hernan's evolution so fascinating is the fact that he lacks the wholesome upbringing of Clark Kent. His parents are well-meaning but flawed. Years of exposure to racism and discrimination, along with the lingering guilt of a childhood tragedy, eventually mold him into a bitter, angry, aimless young man. The narration becomes key here. The story takes a progressively darker slant as Hernan ages, but his sister's narration provides some small ray of hope for a brighter future.