Superman: American Alien #1 - What The Critics Are Saying

Superman: American Alien #1 is the start number inward a seven-part mini-series written past times screenwriter Max Landis, which explores ...

Superman: American Alien #1 is the start number inward a seven-part mini-series written past times screenwriter Max Landis, which explores who Clark Kent is at 7 dissimilar points inward his life. The serial is to get got a novel creative mortal for each installment, alongside Nick Dragotta fulfilling fine art duties for number i as well as the likes of Jock, Francis Manapul as well as Jae Lee stepping inward for time to come issues. The serial has been surrounded past times a pregnant degree of hype due mainly to Landis' passionate opinions close Superman which he has voiced online inward several YouTube videos. The start number finally saw unloose in conclusion Midweek as well as this is what critics closed to the Internet had to say:

The Writing

The start number of American Alien centers on Clark's attempts to master copy his flying abilities, piece exploring the emotional consequences of existence thence wildly dissimilar from those you're surrounded by. Generally, most critics agreed that this number was executed engagingly inward spite of the fact it takes house during a fourth dimension inward Clark's life which has been featured heavily inward previous stories. This is summed upwardly inward a review past times IGN's Jesse Schedeen who believes that Landis has flora "another novel approach" to telling stories close Superman's formative years. Most oftentimes praised was Landis' characterization of staple figures from the Superman mythos, alongside Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Richards of Adventures inward Poor Taste maxim inward his review that "the characterization is on betoken for everyone, fifty-fifty Johnathan Kent (who I was a flake worried close early on), as well as it leads to a lot of tenderness throughout the book, which feels genuine as well as believable." Multiversity Comics' Keith Dooley agrees claiming Landis, "makes iconic as well as real familiar characters similar Clark, Martha as well as Johnathan his ain past times exploring their thoughts through dialogue, activity as well as a especially powerful in conclusion 2 pages."

Indeed, this even out appears to live on a grapheme driven tale - something non wholly surprising when considered Landis made it clear inward i of his Superman YouTube videos 'Regarding Clark' that, "plot has never actually fascinated me, grapheme does." However, this focus on grapheme over even out hasn't pleased everyone as well as at that topographic point were some critics who felt dissatisfied past times Landis' latest comic-book offering. Oz Longworth over at Black Nerd Problems claimed the even out carried through this number boils downwardly to, "Clark is scared of flying as well as thence he's not." Newsarama's Pierce Lydon also felt this number left something to live on desired describing the grapheme moments equally "cutesy fluff", as well as claiming the mass suffered equally thence much has already been said close this utilisation of Clark's life that there's piddling else novel to convey to the table. Lydon goes on to tell that, "There's no means for Landis to surprise us. We know he'll larn to fly, as well as Landis is alone able to give us a poorly conceived conflict at a drive-in pic to inject some form of stakes into the book." This betoken is countered past times Comic Book Resources who claim that the mass is "not close believing a man child tin fly; it's close why he doesn't wish to."


The Art

The artwork inward this number has been provided past times Nick Dragotta as well as Alex Guimaraes, to a mixed answer from critics. Many praised this fine art squad for their run hither alongside Dragotta singled out for packing his characters alongside emotion which made them slowly to connect with. IGN explicate inward their review that he "perfectly captures Clark's early attempts at flying as well as the raw emotion at play equally Johnathan as well as Martha combat to proceed their boy rubber as well as bargain alongside his odd condition." Multiversity Comics echoes this opinion, maxim that "Dragotta wrings emotions from the characters that are visceral as well as oftentimes heartbreaking inward their execution." In the same review Guimaraes' colors received acclaim, alongside author Keith Dooley praising him for his determination non to "intrude on the fine art alongside gaudy colors," as well as instead highlight "the emotional symbolism as well as beats of the story." Comic Book Resources were also a fan of Guimaraes work, singling him out for immersing Smallville inward "lush pastels for a timeless sense of idyllic Americana." Black Nerd Problems also praised the run of this fine art squad equally "unquestionably gorgeous."

However, the fine art was non to everyone's liking alongside Dragotta's means taking criticism from some review sites. Adventures inward Poor Taste said inward their review that, "his characters tin hold back a flake besides cartoonish as well as exaggerated for their ain good," alongside Newsarama agreeing that the stylized nature of Dragotta's characters meant that when Clark has an emotional burst it's, "that much harder to get got him seriously."

General Consensus:
Superman: American Alien #1 is definitely worth trying for those interested inward getting within Clark Kent's caput as well as attempting to empathize the heed of a immature Man of Steel. However, those who prefer a grand inward orbit even out equally opposed to a to a greater extent than intimate grapheme report may uncovering themselves disappointed past times Max Landis' latest comic-book offering. The artwork past times Nick Dragotta as well as Alex Guimaraes also proved to live on divisive, alongside some fans taking number alongside the stylized pattern choices made past times this creative team. Although, it is worth noting that others were quite enamored with these changes as well as thence ultimately your watch on the hold back of this mass may come upwardly downwardly precisely to personal preference.