Superman #2

[superfangirl1]

Comments

[misterbug]

See, this is why I prefer DC to Marvel, even when I'm not buying books from either of them. THIS is how you write an adult couple who used to be together, in the context of one of them being the star of the book. The drama is all unspoken and subtle; the interaction between the two is mature and likeable.

With the same plot dilemma (the universal continuity being re-started) and a similar character problem (the protagonist is no longer with his longest-running and most-popular love interest), in two issues Perez has managed to achieve what Joe Quesada, Dan Slott & co. haven't gotten right in close to 4 years of ASM.

That's...almost unbelievably tragic for Marvel. But then again, Perez is an experienced professional.

[shadowpsykie]

*nods*

Perez is hit and miss with me, but yes i agree. this "break-up" has been handled with soooo much more maturity that (and i am loathed to say it) i don't really mind the break up... do i want them back? GOD YES, but it isn't making me hate the very sight of them... i still hate saint barry... but that is another long, angry story....

[misterbug]

The fact that they're handling it with this much maturity is actually an indicator that they might actually be playing the long game and separating them to make it that magical when they get back together...ala JMS keeping Peter & MJ apart so as to draw out the tension between them properly at the beginning of his run, THEN getting them back together by taking their unspoken emotions to the logical conclusion.

Besides, unlike Slott & co. they haven't brought about several potential new GFs to bait the audience with. Heather Kelley could turn out to be the new Carlie, but above they have Clark simply shrugging at the possibility and admitting that working with her wouldn't be the same as with Lois. The old potential flames are all negated as well - Lana's nowhere to be found, Maxima is slated as a Supergirl foil, Peeg is waiting for Mr. Terrific to do the honourable thing and power her up, and maybe Lori Lemaris will turn up in 'Aquaman' at some point to ask if anyone's seen her frisbee.

Also, Jonathan Whatsisface is just as much of a non-character at this point that having Metallo accidentally trip him up out of a seventh-storey window wouldn't bother anyone, in the book or reading the book.

[jlbarnett]

I like that they're trying to keep them close, and it just occured to me to wonder about them "double dating" if Jonathan is just a friend from out of town. Can he really expect her to not have someone to date whenever he's in town, or did he notice something between them.

On the other hand, I feel like this makes the first issue an aborted plot point due to negative fan pressure, or an obnoxious bait and switch.

[filthysize]

Something I'm not clear on: were they a couple that broke up? I thought in the first issue, Lois said that she and Clark were never an item?

While I agree that this is on a whole much better written, I have to be fair to Slott and say that a full retcon of a relationship into never happening as your starting line is probably easier to work with than whatever the weird status of Peter and MJ is. Because right now, they're having a hard time deciding what exactly MJ's role is supposed to be as a supporting character if not Peter's love interest, so she's just presented really badly at the moment. I think the biggest mistake Marvel made was retconning only the marriage instead of the entire relationship. It was having their cake and eating it too. If they want a single Spider-man, they should've gone all out and either divorced them and write dramatic stories about Peter being a divorcee, or just completely start over with them. Either one of those choices wouldn't be ideal, but still preferable to this magical wishy-washy shit.

[misterbug]

Jury's still out on that first one - it could have been something she just said to reassure Whatsisface, or what actually happened. *Shrug*

Slott wasn't given the best deal, yes, but there are a ton of writers who could have made better creative choices and not deliberately baited the fans, nor go online to troll the hell out of them. Same with Steve Wacker. The degree of unprofessionalism in the Marvel publishing house at the mo is, well, shocking.

[jlbarnett]

I don't think they're a former couple the relationship stress is a friendship/partnership stressed by the fact Clark's basically accused Lois of selling out.

[skalja]

Shockingly enough, after four years of post-OMD fumbling from everyone concerned, Slott really knocked it out of the park with Peter and MJ's dynamic in the issue that came out today.

[eyz]

'nuff said!

To the point!