Superman: True Brit

Rating:
Summary: Good Byrne Art, Disappointing Story
Review: As always John Byrne does an outstanding job with the pencils for this graphic novel. The story on the other hand was very disappointing. I don't know if it was just too "British" for me but I just didn't find it entertaining. The approach that was taken with Superman as a British citizen was not very flattering to the British people as a whole and the type of hero the British Superman became was insulting to the American version. I realize this is an "Else Worlds" tale and does not "count" from a continuity perspective but I did expect a more Superman-like story. Unless you really enjoy British perspectives on American heroes, I wouldn't waste your money on this one. There are plenty of other works by John Byrne to buy.

Rating:
Summary: This is not your father's Superman...
Review: This is Mr. F.G. Superman.

If that name brings a smile of recognition to your face, then this book is for you! Rather than being a vessel to explore the character of Superman, "True Brit" is aimed squarely at Great Britain, its culture and foibles. The land of the stiff upper lip, cricket, and Page Three girls is shown to be a very silly place, indeed.

There are also plentiful references to characters and events from the Monty Python canon, some of them positively subtle, others....not so subtle. Highly reccommended for fans of Python in particular, and British humor in general.

Rating:
Summary: Amusing, but...
Review: While this book certainly has its moments, I was expecting something funnier. The artwork is standard John Byrne, which means it's good. The story seems to try to strike some balance between being a straight Superman story and being a comedy. In my opinion, it would have been better to go strictly for laughs. A couple of scenes had me on the floor--young Colin milking the cows, for one--but there weren't enough of those. Too many of the silly ideas (Superman attempting to help the National Health Service shorten the waiting time for hip surgery) were followed by realisticly somber consequences (a rash of infections in the patients Superman helped with).

Python fans will appreciate the many references scattered throughout the book (e.g. a car containing two of the Rutles about to plunge out of an upper story of the Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris Car Park).

All in all, it seems to be more a satire on British society than the rip-roaring laugh-fest I wanted it to be. I'm afraid it's neither serious enough or silly enough for me--a testament, perhaps, to my American distance from the British mindset.