Welcome to the first installment of Tag Team Thursdays, where Clobber-Tron and Shaz-Bot read a new comic book and share their opinions.
Superman #703
Round 1
Shaz-Bot
Superman #703 continues the “Grounded” story arc by J. Michael Straczynski. I read the first issue out of curiosity, the second out of hope that it’d get better, and the third because I ordered it. After this issue, I can be perfectly content in letting this story go, and picking up Superman sometime later. I didn’t completely hate this book, in fact after a certain point, it actually started to get interesting. Sadly, the things I think were interesting have nothing to do with Superman’s endless trek across the country. Here’s step by step what I liked and disliked.
First off, I have the suspicion that JMS tries to shoehorn existing characters into molds he wants to use, and the fit is sometimes a bit off. Case in point: this issue opens with Superman giving veiled threats to a civilian! Sure, this particular civilian is a slime ball, but Superman just comes off as “I’m a superior being, and you should do what I say!” To me, that is not who Superman is. He leads by example, not fear.
Shortly afterward Batman comes by to tell Superman that he thinks the Man of Steel has gone a bit around the bend. Given what I just described, I would tend to believe him, but JMS doesn’t get Batman’s character right, either! At first I was ok with Batman being a hardass towards Superman, because hey, he’s Batman. Then, as they have their little philosophical discussion, it becomes apparent that this is Dick Grayson as Batman, who up till now has been portrayed as extremely down to earth, and even dare I say “happy” in the role. And sure, Dick as Robin/Nightwing and as Batman has encountered some seriously out of this world stuff, he is the one character that can really handle the tightrope walk of the weird superhero world and the more street level thug-based crime. It just doesn’t ring true and it took me right out of the story.
After Batman departs, we have a strange interlude at the Daily Planet which sets up the plot for the rest of the issue, it seemed a little out of place, but it got the story going somewhere, so I can deal with it. Superman makes his way to Danville, Ohio where a fragment of the recently exploded New Krypton is located. How Superman finds out about this is really unclear. There is narration with someone telling him about it, but it’s after Batman has left, and Lois isn’t in the Daily Planet scene. Again, since it gets us to where we’re going, I can forgive it, but it is kind of slipshod.
Anyway, some kids found this crystal fragment or whatever it is, show their teacher, and the teacher is possessed or something. She in turn infects generic redneck #1 and he proceeds to have a knock down, drag out with Superman. The resulting chaos leaves a good chunk of Danville in a shambles. Superman gallantly rebuilds everything, but as revealed on a local newscast, he can’t repair sentimental objects. Of course, local news adds local color, and the teacher who was possessed proceeds to rabble rouse people by saying Superman is a menace because he’s essentially overcompensating for having lost two planets. I actually thought this bit was kind of interesting, and would like to see where it leads, but since I don’t think JMS has a solid grasp of his character’s personalities, I think I’ll just leave well enough alone.
Round 2
Clobber-Tron
After that good review I don’t want to retread any territory. Here is my take on it:
I guess after following the Man of Steel for as long as I have I’ve become a Superman apologist. Damn. It’s tough when you love something and it doesn’t live up to your expectations. I’m not a huge J. Michael Straczynski fan but I’ve read interviews where he’s professed his love for the character above all others. So what does he do with his first go? A women slaps Superman in the face and he decides to walk across the country like Forrest Gump.
I try to be optimistic about it telling myself “Maybe I just have a different view of Superman” and “maybe he’ll work in a classic story line from the golden age of comics.” Somebody will point it out on a blog and I’ll be satisfied with the treatment after convincing myself it was good enough. After reading this issue I thought “maybe he’s put more thought into GROUNDED than I have.”
The opening sequence of the issue speaks volumes about Superman’s mental state. Threatening John Q Public into obeying the law is not something Superman should ever do after all he stands for truth, justice, and the American way. He is practically a God walking among men.
Superman walking is a stupid idea and JMS uses Batman to point it out. He’s in on the joke, he pokes me in the ribs and damn near breaks the fourth wall in doing so. 
As Superman wanders I don’t think his mind is in deep thought. He is stunned and shaken. He’s lost his world for a second time, major events have taken place and I viewed them as a comic book crossover, not something that would actually effect a persons psyche. Throughout the issue Superman’s behavior is so erratic I’m not a bit surprised when he wails on somebody so hard it practically destroys a town.
What other story could possibly follow the destruction of New Krypton? He is in such a dangerous and fragile state of mind that Batman is watching, waiting, and possibly forming a plan. I hope this goes where I think it’s going, I’d love to see Superman take a bigger fall than he ever has before.
Did you read Superman 703 and have a conflicting opinion? Let us know!