Book Review: The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson - Blogger News Network
» Book Review: The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson - Blogger News Network
Book Review: The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
Posted on September 30th, 2008
by Fitz in All News, Book Reviews, Reviews
Read 153 times.Hi all…
Wow. It’s been a long time since I’ve been drawn into a story where I already knew the ending, let alone a science fiction story straight from the comic book universe. Kevin J Anderson has written a compelling tale of the end of days on Krypton and the birth of a comic book legend… Kal-El, also known as Superman.
It’s strange reading or watching a story where you know what’s going to happen. We’ve seen the end of the planet Krypton on the big screen and in comic books over the years, but never to this kind of detail. I now feel like I know Superman’s parents — Jor-El and Lara — and some of his extended family, and how bits and pieces from Superman lore fit into his past. And I was sad when it all ended.
The Last Days of Krypton, Paperback CoverLike watching the Titanic sink in the movie, you knew it was coming. It wasn’t a secret. In this case, we knew Krypton was going to explode into a bazillion pieces killing nearly everyone. Kal-El was the sole survivor (well, sort of), sent in a small spaceship to earth to survive his destroyed world.
We knew of General Zod, Aethyr, and Namek, the three Kryptonian super-villains who tormented the Earth in Superman II. Clark gave up a normal, happy life to stop these foes from doing to Earth what they did to Krypton. But we never knew why they were really locked in the Phantom Zone all those years. They were criminals of the highest order, but how did they become those criminals?
All of these questions are answered in spectacular fashion by Anderson’s prose.
This should be required reading for all Superman fans. How else can you come to understand the underpinnings of all Kal-El stands for? Truth and justice? Yes, but why? Because he was raised by John and Martha Kent? Well, yes, but it goes back much farther than that to his biological father.
I am still amazed at how much of the DC Superman lore was worked into this book, and how seamlessly it all flows together. How did Krypton die? Read the book. You won’t be disappointed.
Learn amazing things like…
* Kal-El had an Aunt and Uncle! And a Grandmother and Grandfather!
* Lara (Kal-El’s Mother) was much more than just a pretty face in Superman The Movie!
* Aethyr and Namek actually had back stories!
* Jonn J’onzz (the Martian Manhunter) sent a signal from Mars actually received by Jor-El on Krypton!
* And much much more!The paperback version of the book that I read has a beautifully rendered lenticular cover with the Superman logo. It’s now on sale in bookstores everywhere and retails for $7.99.
Kevin J. Anderson, the author, has written and published more than 90 novels, and been nominated for several awards including the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and teh SFX Reader’s Choice Award. He’s not only written several novels himself, but collaborated on a number of novel series, including Star Wars, the X-Files, and Dune. And he also writes comic books in his spare time.
Plus, it’s always nice to find a Colorado connection… He lives in Monument, Colorado, which is just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado where I live.
Check out his website at http://www.wordfire.com.
This is a great book and a “must read” for any true Superman fan!
–Fitz
The Quick and the Read #7 - ACCCKKKK!! More Comic Reviews
Ok, I know it has been a while, but I have been crazy busy. As well as the book starting up again, the Wife and I have a house guest for a while, my good friend Mike. We worked together for a long time back in Washington St when I lived there, and have been friends ever since.
I helped him get a job where I work, since we had an opening that would be working with me, and I trust him more than anyone that isn’t family. In fact, he is one of the few people on this earth that I would trust with my life. That kind of friendship is very rare, and I am very glad that things worked out like they did.
We are a lot alike, and even call ourselves a “brother from another mother”. This was his first week on the job, and I know that we are finally going to make some progress at work in making things better. He is also a really great writer, so check out his blog if you get a chance.
Well enough about me, let’s get on to the reviews. A lot of these have been out in a while, but the two of you that read this blog might be interested in my “unique” view on them. Here we go.
Final Crisis #1-2: I have REALLY been disappointed in this series so far. It seems really disjointed to me, and I had to read the first issue again to try to figure out what was going on in the second issue. The whole New Gods rebirth thing and the way they are doing it, seems silly to me in a “jump the shark” kind of way. This has been commented on a lot in other blogs, so there is no need to rehash it all. The Martian Manhunter’s death was CHEAP and UNECESSARY. As much as I liked the Barry Allen Flash, I think bringing him back is kind of cheap too, just something to sell books. I cheered when they brought back Hal Jordan, and Oliver Queen, but their deaths weren’t good deaths and needed to be fixed. Barry Allen’s death was a GOOD death. He died saving the multiverse, for crying out loud!! I know that the relaunch of the relaunch of the Flash character isn’t going like they planned, but I’m not sure bringing back Barry might not fix it if they don’t WRITE GOOD STORIES!!!
Trinity #1-8: I am little behind on this title since I am getting comics in the mail again, I have really been enjoying it. I have always been a fan of Kurt Busiek since I read his Astro City stuff, and this series shows exactly why. This series is already 100 times better than the mess that was Countdown. I like what they are doing with the backup stories as well, I think it is a really good idea. Keep up the good work guys!
Astonishing X-Men #25 - I was a little disappointed with this issue after Whedon’s great run on this title. Way to chatty for me, and it seemed that Ellis was trying to capture that dry wit that Whedon is so good at and failed miserably. Not sure if I will keep getting this one.
Uncanny X-Men #500 - Now this was better than Astonishing X-Men #25, in my opinion. Brubaker and Faction got me hooked on Immortal Iron Fist, and they might do the same here. I like the “new direction” that Marvel is taking with the X-Men, I think it should’ve been done a while ago. This should be interesting in the coming months.
Well that’s it for now, turn in for more soon!!
[Press] - Real-Life Heroes Meet Sgt. Rock at SDCC
July 30, 2008
For Immediate Release
Real-Life Heroes Meet Sgt. Rock at SDCC
Bayport, NY — Comic Con International, the world renown comic book
and pop culture convention, made its annual presence known in San
Diego, California this past Thursday, July 24 as it opened to a
record-breaking 125,000 attendees and selling-out passes for all four
days. This is a stark contrast to the first Comic-Con in 1970 that
gathered 140 attendees.
This year, amid the previews, non-stop parade of costumed characters
and the never ending fawning of “stars,” Comic-Con entertained
some very special attendees — the real-life Heroes of World War II.
Three extraordinary men of the US Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat
Team quietly made their presence at the show — Medal of Honor
recipient George “Joe” Sakato (E Company), David Katagiri (F
Company) and Jim Yamashita (I Company).
The 442nd was made of Japanese American soldiers, who were heinously
labeled “4C — Enemy Alien” by their country in the aftermath of
the Pearl Harbor attacks. Everyone of the “Nisei” volunteered to
fight for another’s freedom in Europe and Asia while their families,
under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, were stripped of
their homes and businesses and incarcerated behind barbed wire in
“internment camps.”
William “Billy” Tucci invited the veterans. The writer/artist is
in the process of revising DC’s iconic hero, “Sgt. Rock” which
will be released this November to coincide with Veterans Day. The six
issue miniseries, “Sgt. Rock – The Lost Battalion” is dedicated
to the 275 trapped men of the 141st Infantry Regiment who fought off
a German Army ten times their size and the 442nd soldiers sent on the
suicide mission to rescue them. At Billy’s booth, Sakato and
Yamashita were greeted by fans wanting to meet these heroes, and one
man immediately noticed the Medal of Honor around Mr. Sakato’s neck
and was awestruck that a true MOH recipient was an attendee. Mr.
Yamashita said he had never experienced anything similar to Comic-Con
and felt this was a great opportunity to expose a new and different
group of people to the 442nd history.
Billy has spent the past year researching the 141st and the 442nd. He
traveled to France and walked the actual battlefields with French
historians Hervé Claudon and Gerome Villain and is determined to
portray history accurately and has interviewed many of the 442nd
veterans as well as the Lost Battalion survivors. A veteran and
former paratrooper himself, Billy stated that he never knew what they
endured for our country and feels Sgt. Rock can educate the public on
the experiences of these special men. “In my heart I feel that this
comic book series can serve as a bridge that spans generations, and
brings attention to a true story of heroism, humanity and
sacrifice.” The cartoonist stated.
These incredible men, along with their escorts, Leslie Sakato
(daughter of George Sakato), JA Living Legacy’s Susan Uyemura and
the Hon. Bryan Yagi, joined Billy and several other comic
professionals at Tabule for an unforgettable dinner afterwards.
Judge Yagi, an avid Comic-Con alumnus himself, commented that this
was truly a special experience citing, he felt like a “little kid”
around these men. Yagi’s uncle, the late Tom Yagi, was a medic
assigned to the second platoon of L Company, 442nd RCT. For Judge
Yagi, Comic-Con was a chance to combine his two passions: comic books
and his new found admiration of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
The event was made extra special as Billy’s college buddy, USMC
Captain Paul Krumenacker, having just returned from his 3rd Tour of
Duty in Iraq joined them. “The owners and staff at Tabule really
went out of their way for our heroes as they offered on-the-house
drinks and desserts to match the excellent food, service and
atmosphere.” Billy continued, “To be befriended by these brave
and amazingly humble warriors of yesterday and today is an honor for
me that no words can express. Many of the patrons (apparently big-
wig guests of the con) also paid their respects and that just added
to an incredible evening of food and drink — we had so much fun that
we ended up closing down the place!”
Mr. Yamashita probably said it best as to why the vets kept on going
all through the night, “When I got home from the war, I not only had
one life to live, but three or four lives for my friends who never
made it back.”
It must be noted that despite fighting not only the enemy, but also
malicious prejudice from their own countrymen, the 100th/442nd
remains the most decorated single unit in US military history, with
680 paying the ultimate sacrifice while another 67 remaining missing
to this day.
On a final note Mr. Yamashita hopes to bring in 30 442nd veterans to
next year’s Con. Billy thinks it’s a great idea, as he “would
love the fans to experience just what I did and meet these giants who
fought and defeated the forces of racism and tyranny — both at home
and abroad!”
Written and illustrated by Billy Tucci, DC Comics’ “Sgt. Rock –
The Lost Battalion” will debut November 5, 2008. Several members of
the 442nd RCT will also be special guests at this year’s Baltimore
Comic Con. Special thanks to the SDCC, Tabule Restaurant, DC Comics
and Michael Solof for contributing the photographs for this release.
For more info please contact Deborah Tucci @ debtucci@optonline.net
William Tucci
Ambassadeur, De La Region De Bruyeres, Vosges, France
Crusade Fine Arts, Ltd.
429 Middle Road
Baport, NY 11705
-
Unique Visitors
-
Donations
-
Dreamhost Offer
-
Feedburner
-
The Comic Blog Elite!