Review of
Best
of DC: Superman Vs. More Aliens!
Four out of five stars
These stories
that were published in the late sixties and early seventies feature a Superman
that is transitioning from the tamer version within the tight comics code
authority to the more hip, modern version. Clark is now a television news
anchor rather than only a print reporter. As the title suggests, all of the
opposition Superman faces is not human. However, all of them are not alien in
the sense of being from off-planet, for example in the story, “Danger – Monster
at Work,” the living creature is mutated from algae that Superman extracted
from the ocean floor.
Superman is
depicted as being the extremely powerful being of the sixties, before his powers
were reduced in the later years. He takes some major blows from his
adversaries, receiving “hits” that tax his strength and power to the utmost.
One positive feature of the stories is that the “aliens” are sometimes depicted
as being benign, not bent on destroying or conquering the world. This is a more
realistic portrayal, as any beings powerful enough to travel between the stars
have probably solved their issues regarding aggressiveness towards others. As
human history indicates, the ability to destroy all life on a planet supersedes
the ability to travel to other worlds.
While none of
the stories are really tense mind grabbers, they are enjoyable and present
Superman with significant challenges.
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