Superman: Last Son of Krypton

by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner

Book Overview

When a rocket ship crashes to Earth, its occupant is revealed to be a small boy with incredible powers So Superman sets out to rescue what seems to be another Kryptonian survivor - but the government... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401237797
• ISBN13: 9781401237790
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.7" x 10.1"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Wow

This book has a very good story line and really shows the humanity of the Man of Steel. Donner has once again re-created Superman in a light that shines through the cape and crest. Seeing how this literally unstoppable super-human faces a challence that many Americans face - and I won't reveal it to anyone who is reading this and has not read the book. The use of old villans to create this story line is masterful and a true work of art. Any Superman fan, whether die-hard or not, should really get this book and read it.

Kneel Before Zod! Or Don't...

For the diehard Superman fan, this book has everything that you could ask for: Richard Donner. General Zod. The Phantom Zone. New Kryptonite colors. Lex being Lex. The return of Bizarro. Oh, and Geoff Johns and Adam Kubert. Is that enough for you? While Zod doesn't utter any of his movie taglines ("Kneel before Zod!" and "Not God...Zod!"), he does whup the Justice League (smartly done off-screen--this isn't a massive crossover) and demolishes Metropolis. "Last Son" delivers on nearly every level, except for a failed attempt at a 3D comic. (I'm not putting on special glasses to read a comic!) The story is also unexpectedly moving, as an unspoken question regarding Superman and Lois's marriage is finally answered.

A Super Read

Well, first of all, I tend to purchase these series in the collector hardback (or paperback)version, so I will review this item alone without consideration to how it stands with other comic storylines. Although I may venture into comparing it (since it is from Richard Donner) to Superman and Superman II, and possibly Superman Returns. The artwork in graphic novels draws me in, and this book proved no exception. The colors recapture the "Superman feel," and the panels remind me of a movie storyboard. Donner and Johns get back to the Superman of the first two movies, and I know I'm not the first to suggest that this felt like a Superman III. Elements of the Superman mythology such as the Phantom Zone, Jor-El, Mon-El, and even Kryptonian history are given a tweaking and reintroduced in ways that renew one's interest in the original cinematic storylines. You should go see the Donner version of Superman II to understand more of what goes on in these books and of the personalities given to the main three Phantom Zone criminals. I didn't like Superman Returns, and felt that the "Superkid" storyline should have been left out altogether. This book gives to me a more plausible version of how there could be a Superkid, and of how he could fit into Superman's universe. I thought that the Superkid idea could have worked in Superman Returns based on the Donner version of Superman II, but the version people saw in the theaters had Superman sleeping with Lois AFTER his powers were removed, thus causing (to me, anyway) some confusion as to how she could've had a child with powers. All in all, a terrific read that stands out, too, for an interesting chapter to be viewed with the included 3D glasses. I wish Richard Donner had made more good Superman movies, but at least he graced us with another good story about the Man of Steel. Enjoy!

What may have been...

Last Son, the much hyped and maligned Superman storyarc from the team of Geoff Johns (arguably the best superhero writer today) and Richard Donner (director of the original Superman film), is a spectacular achievement that displays what might have been with future Superman film installments had Donner not been fired from the set of Superman II. What happens when Supes finds a young Kryptonian boy? He decides that he and Lois should raise him properly, even naming the boy Christopher Kent (in a tasteful ode to Christopher Reeve) in the process, but their new found familial happiness sadly doesn't last long. Soon enough, Kryptonian criminals General Zod, Ursa, and Non are free from the Phantom Zone and wreaking havoc on Metropolis. Brawls are engaged, uneasy alliances are formed, and plenty of nods, winks, and odes are given to Superman mythology and lore. While Last Son as a whole doesn't quite fit into the Superman continuity as of late, there's still something about it that makes it a wonderful read regardless. Adam Kubert's pencil work is great as well, and the 3-D Phantom Zone segment is something that needs to be seen to be believed. All in all, other than Grant Morrison's brilliant, quintessential run on All-Star Superman, Superman: Last Son is one of the best modern Superman stories you are likely to read. It was worth the delays and aggravation, and above all, is worth every second of your time.

A classic Superman story

Pairing up all star writer Geoff Johns, Superman: The Movie director and the great Andy Kubert proved to definitely be a recipe for success. With Superman: Last Son introducing the modern General Zod and Kubert's Superman bearing more than a little resemblance to Christopher Reeve, Last Son feels like the sequel to Superman II that never was. Whether you're fan of Superman comics, the Superman films, or just want to wash the bad taste of Superman Returns out of your mouth, Last Son makes a great read.