Superman #14

Superman #14, 1988, "Last Stand" (team up with GL)

My review will be based on the one panel, with no time to commend the awesomeness of John Byrne, (but you already knew all about that). Man of Steel is a cool origin story because it establishes Clark as the dominant, or real persona of the hero, but humble, farm boy Clark (as this panel also seems to establish) may equate to more of a DO hero than a THINK hero. But does it really?

The panel in question is the last panel on the 3rd story page, where Superman says

"I'm just going to have to accept your word on that one Green Lantern, even trying to think it through makes my hair hurt"

The scene takes place when Superman and Hal Jordan chase after The Highmaster, an extra powerful Manhunter, through an inter-dimensional space, filled with colourful balls and weird stuff that are as big as small planets or, rather mountains compared to our superheroes. They question what they are, and GL, being infused with collective knowledge of the Corps, knows a lot about scientific stuff, and theories about the sub-atomic level.

Superman admits to have read about this theory and know a bit about it, but claims to not be able to comprehend it. Now, is he just being modest, or is some of the hardest, most brilliant theories in science, with a pinch of "I think, therefore I am" style Philosophy really baffling him? Or is he not concerned about elaborate scientific guesses that may or not be actually true or accurate? (the scientific theory in question is the possibility or existence of a pathway depending on meausure) How useful is this theory to Superman, because conventionally, given his powers of strength over intelligence, is a DO hero, not a THINK hero.

Or does Superman already KNOW and have an opinion about this theory, about where it's possibly false, and agrees with GL to avoid a debate and focus on the task at hand? That's another thing, the "task at hand". The mission. Does it make Superman's "hair hurt" because he's trying to think of the sub-atomic stuff, while he's occupied by somethng bigger?

I think Superman has more knowledge about cosmic and sub-atomic stuff than he would be creditted for as a mere brute.

3 reasons:

1) He solves the puzzle within the Inter-dimensional gap, and gets him and Hal out. While GLs are infused with knowledge, most of them are do first, think later types (except Kyle). So the retard almost blows themselves up with his ring. While Superman takes a more calculated measure to carefully split the balls in 2. (Of course, heroes of DC face cosmic Crises on a daily basis, starting in the 80s) And later, while fighting Highfather, Clark solves 2 more puzzles, AND saves Hal's life again. Also, while he's tackling all these puzzles, and thanks to the unique use of thought bubbles in the amazing media of comics, we get a look into his mind. We can obviously see both that Superman DOES think, and HOW he thinks. The methodical, systematical process in which he analyzes his situation, and his skills at solving problems are obvious.

2) The guy has a lot of vision-related abilities, like X-ray vision, "binocular" or magnifying abilities that let him zoom in on things far away, or take a better look at smaller objects. (He is actually seen using this power here) Heat "vision", though connected to the eyes, is energy projection, and is more of an active, "do" power, and that's not what we mean here. So wouldn't he be able to zoom in, slow things down, and observe atoms or the vibrating particles of a larger body? study them? Superman doesn't need to go to school or hold a microscope, he could write a paper on molecular structures just by looking at things. I mean, he may not see the shape or colour of molecules themselves, we don't know how much he can zoom in, but I know it's possible.

3) The Flash moves fast, vibrates through solid surfaces, and Superman can do some of the same stuff. Granted, along with powers of super-speed, Flash is also a scientist, and especially in Bart's case, his mind runs AS FAST as his legs do. There are different ways to explain or interpret a fast moving mind, like although Bart can think a hundred thoughts faster than we do, in a span of a few seconds, does he do this actively, thinking each thought on purpose, through the will of mind? Or do these thoughts FLOW in faster without Bart even having to try? You know those days/moments when you've either had too many Red Bulls, or you're nervous and overthinking stuff, when information and possibilities just come crashing in? Ok, it may have been something more than Red Bull that time. So why can't Superman's mind work roughly in that kind of way, maybe even better, or probably a step lower since Flash IS faster, and more knowledgeable as a scientist than he is? But, we know from this issue itself that Superman DOES read, articles, about science. How? how does he find the time to read these, which library does he go to? Well, he works at Daily Planet. Superman works at a newspaper to stay up to date with current events, to be the first to know about a crime. He may also come across a million articles about physics and mathematics and all that stuff, published and unpublished, in the vault, while researching. And he could read and retain these things in a matter of minutes.

And is that why Superman's head hurts? Because the ideas are running in, and he COULD figure it out, just by thinking about it and checking observations to make sure, but he can't concentrate on it, because he's focussing on the previously mentioned goal of finding Highmaster and saving the Millenium, all the while staying alert so their powerful enemy can't catch him and his partner off guard?

One more point referring to the first point, and then we're done. What is Mr Byrne, the writer, trying to express here? Sure, he PRESENTS the argument that Superman is not a thinker, and more of a doer, an opinion held very popularly, ONLY to prove otherwise and defeat his argument. He recognizes and brings out the vision-related abilities, and Superman's reasoning skills, and makes Superman solve a puzzle right in front of. Actually, 2 puzzles, and a precaution that saves GL's life. So was that the point of the issue, and the Man of Steel run? to explore the character and his powers, and address some of the popular doubts about the GREATEST. SUPERHERO. OF ALL?

Final comments: So we've already established that John Byrne is great. A great writer in that he lures us into a problem he later solves, indirectly bringing us around to a different perspective. But he is also a pretty good artist, as in I like the angular features and muscle tone he gives the character, compared to the Golden Age look Superman had, and the shorter hair rather than Dan Jurgen's mullet. But to take on art and plot at the same time? Actually, I think it would help to write and draw to put together perfectly an idea coming from the same head. Karl Kesel, I feel, is also an under-appreciated asset. He takes on the inks in Man of Steel because Byrne sort of hogs all other prospects, (not so, like I said the words and the pictures coming from one head makes a lot of sense). Kesel also worked on Death and Return, along with Dan Jurgens and others. John Byrne worked under the shadow of Chris Clairemont before Man of Steel, and Jurgens worked under others. Kesel has created a BUNCH of characters, as well as teams. I have explained before how "Sweatboy" stems from the initials "SB" of cloned protege Konner Kent. Suicide Squad's picking up these days and Female Fury Lashina, who has appeared in both SB and Squad as a villain, would be a good character to see on either TV or a movie. Thought bubbles, mentioned earlier, are organized in a peculiar manner. But they ARE organized, on the edge of the panel, so as to (probably) give more space for picture? Pictures are large and well used. However, these bubbles, both word and thought, can SOMETIMES overlap as bubbles, and could confuse a reader as to who is speaking. In THIS issue, for the most part, Superman's and GL's bubbles are on opposite ends of the panel. But in the next one, there's a soap bubble effect where you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. It could be that the reader is getting confused because the reader is retarded though.

5 stars, because how cunningly the story is told. On the surface, GL and Superman are flying around