The Classics Are Classics For A Reason
The pre-Flashpoint Superman, the one we group with, is back in this Convergence tie-in miniseries. The premise is the same as other Convergence books, the heroes are trapped inside the domed cities and must fight for survival. Superman and his wife Lois Lane are trapped in Gotham City and the Man of Steel is forced to confront the heroes of the Flashpoint universe. This book handled by Dan Jurgens, famous for his work on The Death of Superman.
The Good
For starters, the familiar Superman is back, and needless to say, he and Lois are treading on uncharted territory as Telos' prisoners. This issue goes out of its way to show that Superman is more than just awesome powers: with or without them, he is a hero. Also, the fact that Lois was his mission control during these dark days only strengthens the love between them. I'm proudly a Clark/Lois fan and their interactions just feel natural, they feel right. Seriously, read this issue and try not to say they belong together. Also, Lois is pregnant. No, really; she is pregnant with Superman's child. I really want to see where DC takes this; but since DC is advertising Convergence as a "last universe standing" event, well... I guess we'll just have to wait.
The Flashpoint characters are antagonists but they're not villains. Sure, they're willing to fight Superman, but given the circumstances can you really blame them? At least, Superman takes the moral high ground by attempting to reason with them. The look on Flashpoint Superman's face on meeting Lois is simply tragic.
Lee Weeks's art is surprisingly impressive and detailed. I enjoyed his depiction of the familiar Superman and how he evoked the feelings of his era.
The Bad
I have issues with Brad Anderson's colors in this issue, because they give off a dark atmosphere, even if the main character is Superman. The only bright colors I can distinguish are on Superman's uniform. Then again, considering the situation, I can put up with it.
The Verdict
This issue reminds me of how much I love the familiar Superman. Don't get me wrong, there are good Superman stories in the New 52; but this is the Superman I grew with and the one I love most. Jurgens and Weeks do a great job in maintaining a balance between the concepts of Superman and Convergence. Nostalgia at its finest. In fact, this miniseries made me interested in Superman's pre-Flashpoint stories again.