Superman: Secret Origin

The Johns and Frank pairing is a powerhouse, redefining Superman for a modern audience without discarding what made the character iconic in the first place. The art is excellent and the storytelling is focused, stripping away decades of convoluted canon while preserving the emotional core of Superman. It simplifies without dumbing down, which is no small feat for a character this loaded with history.

Much like the Brainiac storyline, which remains my favorite Superman arc, this book is steeped in the Donner and Reeves era. The tone, pacing, and character beats all channel that cinematic warmth. Clark is portrayed beautifully here, managing the difficult trick of feeling believable, meek, and even a little awkward, despite being frozen on the page. His flaws feel human rather than manufactured.

Lois is strong but somewhat limited, though she shines whenever she is on panel. In fact, this version arguably captures the essence of the character better than Margot Kidder’s portrayal in the films. Jimmy is the lovable, affable sidekick you want him to be, even if his characterization feels a little fast-forwarded.

Most of the supporting cast gets their moment, with the notable exception of Ma and Pa Kent, who deserved a deeper presence, especially given how important they remain in Clark’s life once he becomes Superman.

The villains are largely excellent. Luthor is particularly well handled, feeling intelligent, threatening, and grounded. Parasite is also strong, though Metallo’s second form looks underwhelming. General Lane is arguably the standout antagonist here. He is portrayed as genuinely monstrous, stripped of the usual soft spot for Lois. His obsession with controlling or eliminating Superman comes at any cost, including whatever remains of his relationship with his daughter.

The Legion of Super-Heroes appearance falls a bit flat, though thankfully it is brief. One lingering gripe is Clark wearing the costume as a child, which has never worked for me. It undercuts the weight of his eventual public emergence in Metropolis. On a smaller but fun note, we learn Clark was “born” on December 1st, a nice bit of lore.

Overall, Superman: Secret Origin is an excellent contemporary retelling of Superman’s beginnings. It handles his family, his villains, and his firsts with clarity and confidence, making it especially rewarding for fans of the 1970s films. Gary Frank’s art is consistently beautiful, and with the story now fully collected and uninterrupted by its original publication delays, it reads better than ever.