Review - Superior #4 by Mark Millar and Leinil Yu

Millar and Yu's Superior rolls on in issue four continuing the story of multiple sclerosis sufferer Simon Pooni's transformation into the superhero, Superior.

The good thing is that issue four is where Millar seems gets going in his stories and, like Nemesis, there's a bit more meat to this issue.

Egotistic television reporter Madeline Knox finally gets her exclusive interview with Superior by the only way she thinks she can get his attention: getting rescued after driving her car into Manhattan Bay. It works. Not surprisingly Superior reveals little in answering Madeline's barrage of questions. Superior/Simon is simply here to help.

A few loose threads are seen to in this issue such as actor Tad Scott's reaction to the character he's played in movies for twenty-five years coming to life, and Simon reassuring his worried parents (in a letter) that he's fine and will be home soon to explain everything. There's also a short account of the creation and history of Superior as a comic book character. This is essentially a retelling of Superman's comic origins. Okay so we pretty much already knew Superior was a Superman analogue, and this account make's it crystal clear even going so far as to call Superior a 'big, red boy scout'.

The story however takes an, I don't know whether you'd call it a dark or weird turn, in that Simon decides that he can make a larger difference in the world. Those familiar with Millar's work (especially The Authority) will recognise the theme of superheroes making change on a global scale and the problems that go with that. But in the next sentence Superior/Simon tells his best friend Chris (with both of them symbolically sitting on the Statue of Liberty's torch) that he asked if he can work for the US president. He's keen on winning the war in Afghanistan and catching Osama Bin Laden while he's at it. This turn of events takes us into the territory of that other Miller- The Dark Knight Returns - where Superman works for the US government.

Not to go too analytical here, but as Umberto Eco states in his essay 'The Myth of Superman', Superman is 'a perfect example of civic consciousness, completely split from political consciousness' (22). The superheroic action in helping people for the sake of doing good is therefore represented as charity. Up to this point Superior has been doing his civic duty. He's the big, red boy scout, here to help.

If as Millar says in the letter to readers at the back of issue one that 'Superior is a big, old-fashioned hero from a gentler and more innocent time' then having Superior work for the president, in my opinion, doesn't particularly gel. Simon is perfect to carry out the old-fashioned hero role of Superior because he is uncomplicated, or perhaps even uncorrupted, by politics (and also sexual relationships for that matter). However by asking to work for the US president (effectively, the US government) he actively politicises himself. His actions are no longer charitable, but aggressive. For me this runs counter to the spirit of the comic. A crippled teenager, one who has been extensively bullied, granted extraordinary powers, is now heading off to kill foreign troops... hmmm... Who's beating up who now? Are we about to see scenes like those in Watchmen of Dr Manhattan helping the US win the Vietnam War? The cover of Superior issue one says 'One Magic Wish'. Is the wish about winning in Afghanistan?

Sure Captain America fought the Nazis, but he was created as a super soldier. Superman was likewise often portrayed combating the Nazis but this was actually more prevalent on comic covers than actual stories-

it was actually rare that the action went further than the cover. By and large, the stories inside the comics remained morality plays and confrontations with villains like Luthor, The Prankster, Toyman and the Insect Master, not battles with the German army. Many stories mentioned the war in passing, but the actual number of stories that dealt directly with the war effort was rather small by comparison (Harrington)

 And as added emphasis when referring to DC storylines during World War II-

The stories involving the majority of their characters were not epic battles of good versus evil (read Allies vs. Axis) but were more about them helping soldiers, catching spies, or delivering supplies to the front to assist the war effort, but not take it over. Very rarely would they show their more powerful characters, (Superman, Green Lantern, Starman, Wonder Woman or the Flash) actually destroying the weapons of the Axis powers in force to bring a lasting peace (Harrington).

Is a 'gentler more innocent time' a euphemism for complex problems being remedied in a overly simplistic manner? I'd have to lean towards agreement. Simon/Superior doesn't ask questions about why crime is committed, he simply knows old-fashioned "right from wrong". The president asks: 'The war is a very complex and dangerous situation, Superior. Are you sure you can handle this?' 'No problem', is the steely-eyed reply. For an old-fashioned hero who knows who the bad guys are, it's not complex at all.

How Millar deals with how Superior tackles Afghanistan and Bin Laden will be most interesting. Even Frank Miller has abandoned his idea of Batman taking on Bin Laden.Superior offering to 'win' the war in Afghanistan rather than 'stop' it leaves me a bit uncomfortable.

Is this just an example of Simon's naivety? Upcoming issues will no doubt shed some light on Simon's actions - and I'm looking forward to it. This "twist" if you like, of Superior's actions does indeed deliver an extra dimension to the narrative.

As I've previously indicated (review Superior #3) one of the Superior's flaws I think is the lack of depth to Simon's character and how his thoughts work; why he's making his decisions. 'Good evening, Miss Knox' doesn't sound like the greeting of a teenager, but I'm also willing to be convinced that Simon is actually taking his cues from the comic/movie character, Superior. A little something to indicate how he's grappling with being Superior could help. It all seems to come a bit too naturally to Simon.

Finally, as is usual in superhero narratives, the hero summons forth his own nemesis and Superior "fixing" the bullying problem that his friend Chris is still experiencing is a genesis for this. Our talking monkey in a spacesuit, Ormon, offers resident bully, Sharpie a deal that we know he's not going to refuse. The emergence of a supervillain is imminent.

This: Interesting meat in the sandwich.
Forthcoming: Ready to finish off the meal.

Read reviews of Superior #2, #3
Read reviews of Nemesis - #1 and 2, #3, #4


Reference


Eco, Umberto. 'The Myth of Superman' in Diacritics. 2.1. The Johns Hopkins University Press,1972. 


Harrington, Wallace. 'Superman and the War Years: The Battle of Europe Within the Pages Of Superman Comics'. Superman Homepage: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Man of Steel and More. http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/comics.php?topic=articles/supes-war, (2002-11).