Superman: Birthright is a twelve-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 2003 and 2004, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan.[1]
| Superman: Birthright | |
|---|---|
 Cover from Superman: Birthright #1, art by Leinil Francis Yu. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | September 2003 – September 2004 |
| No. of issues | 12 |
| Main character(s) | Superman Lex Luthor |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Mark Waid |
| Penciller(s) | Leinil Francis Yu |
| Inker(s) | Gerry Alanguilan |
| Collected editions | |
| (hardcover) | ISBN 1-4012-0251-9 |
Creation
editOriginally, the series was intended to be a non-canon version of Superman, showcasing his origin and updating it for the 21st century. Soon after, it was decided to adopt the series as canon, and thus it replaced John Byrne's The Man of Steel series as Superman's canonical origin story.[2] The project was given to Mark Waid with the request to create an origin story for Superman set in the 21st century, a series that new readers can understand without any previous knowledge of the character's mythos. This was something Waid had wanted to do since seeing Superman: The Movie for the first time.[3]
By comparison to other origin retellings, Waid wanted some differences. In an attempt to make his character more relatable, his Superman is not infallible, he has problems with his boss, his dry cleaning gets lost and he longs to connect and be accepted. Another difference was having Africa in the origin which, as Waid has it, helps establish Kal-El/Clark as a citizen of the world and demonstrates what kind of journalist he is.[3] The Infinite Crisis storyline altered Superman's history so that Birthright and John Byrne's The Man of Steel mini-series were removed as his canonical origin. This was reinforced by then-monthly Superman writer Kurt Busiek's statement that the post-Infinite Crisis Superman's origin had yet to be established.[4] The new origin was later revealed in the Superman: Secret Origin mini-series.[5]
Publishing history
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2023) |
Plot
editThe story begins with a retelling of Superman's origin, where his parents Jor-El and Lara send him away from the planet Krypton before its destruction. In the present, Clark Kent visits Africa to interview political leader and activist Kobe Asuru, during which an unidentified assassin kills him. Afterward, Clark returns to Smallville, unearths the ship that brought him to Earth, and uses it to learn Krypton's history.
Clark travels to Metropolis, joins the Daily Planet, and battles anti-terrorist helicopters. After discovering that the helicopters originate from LexCorp, Superman travels there and confronts Lex Luthor, who pretends to endorse him and attempts to destroy his reputation. Flashbacks reveal that Luthor is a former friend of Clark who lost his father Lionel and his hair after a wormhole he built malfunctioned and exploded.
Luthor engineers a Kryptonian invasion, but Superman stops him. Afterward, Superman and Luthor use the latter's machine to contact Krypton in the past. Jor-El and Lara see that their son has become a great hero and embrace as Krypton explodes.
Collected editions
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2023) |
Reception
editAccording to Comicbook Roundup, Superman: Birthright received positive reviews from critics. The series received an average rating of 7.6 out of 10 based on 5 reviews.[6]
In other media
editElements of Superman: Birthright are incorporated into Man of Steel (2013) and Superman (2025).[7]
References
edit- ^ Waid, Mark (w), Yu, Leinil Francis (p), Alanguilan, Gerry (i). Superman: Birthright (2003 - 2004). New York: DC Comics, ISBN 1-4012-0252-7.
- ^ Singh, Arune (11 March 2004). "Super-Stars (Part 1): Mark Waid's "Birthright", the Official Origin". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ^ a b Superman.nu, Mark Waid and Gail Simone talk Superman: Birthright.
- ^ Bailey, Neal (April 2007). "Byrne is Dead... Long Live... YOD!". Superman Homepage.
- ^ Superman: Secret Origin (September 2009 - February 2010)
- ^ "Superman: Birthright Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ Aune, Sean P. (July 11, 2023). "DC reveals the comics inspiring Superman: Legacy". Batman News. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
External links
edit- Discussion of Birthright's implications for continuity (by Neal Bailey)