Bendis' Man of Steel review: A glimpse at a bright future

Art by Ivan Reis and Alex Sinclair

Right now, the world of Spider-Man is being transformed by the incredible Into the Spider-Verse, starring Miles Morales. The new Kid Arachnid's creator, Brian Michael Bendis, recently wrapped up his 18-year-long Spidey saga and moved to DC Comics with aspirations of revolutionising the world's most iconic hero: Superman.

Bendis' Superman run begins with The Man of Steel, inspired by the 1986 rebooted origin story of the same name. However, rather than flipping over the chess board entirely, Bendis shakes the table and places a few new pieces down for good measure. Over the course of the book's six chapters (plus material from Action Comics #1000 and DC Nation), we are introduced to three key plot threads: a series of arson attacks in Metropolis, the disappearance of Clark's family and the arrival of a brand-new super-villain.

Internal monologues highlight Clark's connection to Metropolis

The main thing Bendis brings to the book is his signature realistic dialogue, catered to fit Superman and his supporting cast. He highlights Clark's humanity, optimism and humour, as well as nailing the more stern Superman we see in fists-first fight scenes. Other Justice Leaguers even show up here and there, perhaps hinting at Bendis' future with the wider DC universe.

In terms of the story itself, most of what happens is just set-up for what will unfold in the ongoing Superman and Action Comics titles, with little resolution. Nonetheless, there is humour, heart and excitement throughout, promising great things for the following books. With minimal references to previous stories, it's yet another great entry-point into the world of Superman.

The newest Superman villain, Rogol Zaar

The Man of Steel is also a glorious showcase of the kings of DC Comics' house style, featuring talent such as Jim Lee, Ivan Reis, Jason Fabok and even Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (the guy who designed every piece of DC merch you own). When reading, you'll need to take a moment every now and then just to soak up Alex Sinclair's beautiful colours.

The creative team deserve a mountain of praise for giving us the best version of Metropolis yet. Clark's home has always been a little bland compared to Gotham, usually characterised only by its sunny weather and the Daily Planet building. In The Man of Steel, however, the city of Superman is shimmering with light and peppered with evergreen trees - a true utopia under the watchful eye of the Big Blue (and the threat of hidden villains).

Clark soars through Metropolis with some crooks

Collectors are in for a treat with how nicely the book is presented. The hardback has an awesome dust jacket featuring Clark and the League, with engraved S-symbol on the solid black cover beneath. Open the book and you'll first see rows of Kryptonian text (no clue what it translates to, though). The story is printed on high-quality paper, and you'll also find some sketches and a bit of background on Bendis in the back.

Rather than being a standalone story or an instant classic, The Man of Steel is like a giant preview of what Brian Michael Bendis has to offer to the world of Superman. If you were worried about him destroying the progress built by the Rebirth era, don't be - the future is looking bright.

Rating: 7.5/10

Bendis' first Superman outing can be found in all good bookstores in hardback format, or on Comixology if you want to go digital. It's set to branch off into the Superman and Action Comics book series this Spring - keep an eye out for reviews of each once they're out.