[Ojay]

Superman: Birthright by DC Comics
Requirements: CBR Reader, 223 MB.
Overview: Superman: Birthright is a twelve-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 2003 - 2004, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Leinil Francis Yu.

Originally, this series was to be Superman's new origin story, updating it for more modern readers. However, after the events of Infinite Crisis, both this series and 1986's The Man of Steel miniseries, by John Byrne, have been removed from continuity in favor of a new origin story that has yet to be told. A portion of the new origin appeared in Action Comics #850, which showed Kal-El being born moments before going into his ship and being sent to Earth.

The story mostly follows Superman's early years, including meeting Lois Lane and his first confrontation with Lex Luthor in Metropolis. In the series, Luthor combines kryptonite with advanced technology to discover the history of Krypton, then uses that knowledge to fake an alien invasion and cause the populace to fear Superman.





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Superman: Birthright

Dave McCaig colorist
Gerry Alanguilan inker
Leinil Francis Yu penciler
Mark Waid writer
Tom Palmer, Dan Raspler editor

Published by DC Comics. 2003 - 2004

"Interesting take" Reviewed by GrombleTromble on July 13, 2010.

"I thoroughly enjoyed Birthright, not just because of the great art or the relatable storyline (a young adult finding out who they really are). No, the part I enjoyed the most was the alien heritage of Kal-El emphasised in such a way that it didn't make him seem more alien, in fact to me it made him seem more the embodiment of the human spirit.

Let me explain. On page 37 of the TPB (Could be issue 2 of the series, I'm not sure) Clark writes in an email to Ma Kent that he sees living things as having a glowing aura around them and that when they die the light fades in such a way that looking at it makes him feel empty. I love how alien it is, yet comforting at the same time that the last son of krypton sees all life as equal, even the villains.

In closing, I recommend this series for anyone interested on reading a slightly different take on the last son of krypton that will give a better insight to why the Big S does the things he does!"

Plot Summary

#1 - In the Beginning...

The story begins with Superman's iconic origin: the destruction of planet Krypton. Jor-El laments the fact that his world accomplished "miracles no one will remember" while preparing infant Kal-El's voyage. Kal-El's shuttle pod fires into space moments before the planet's destruction. Jor-El and wife Lara regret that they will never know if Kal-El survives the journey.

#2 - Heart of Darkness

Time winds forward to present day West Africa, where an ethnic conflict between the fictional Ghuri and Turaaba clans is claiming lives (this conflict is very reminiscent of the Hutu and Tutsi wars in Rwanda). Clark Kent, a freelance reporter in his twenties, arrives to cover the conflict, and to meet with the Ghuri representative and activist, Kobe Asuru. Although suspicious of the foreigner at first, Kobe and his family trust Clark after he helps them escape from a Turaaba ambush aimed at Kobe (using his body to shield them from the barrage of bullets). Later, Clark interviews the Turaaba representative Mr. Kebile who dislikes Kobe and opposes Ghuri rights.

While protecting Kobe's sister Abana from a thrown bomb, he hears a commotion and speeds back to the rally where Kobe has already been stabbed. Enraged, Clark grabs the fleeing assassin and throws him into a wall, demanding to know who hired him. The terrified killer raises his arm -- pointing directly at Rep. Kebile, who is incidentally surrounded by media. Kebile is besieged with questions and is later forced to resign. Clark holds Kobe in his arms and watches him die.

#3 - A Legacy Reborn

Clark returns to Smallville, determined to learn more about his alien heritage. He tells his mother Martha that he wants to unearth his spaceship. He and Martha use the data tablet that came with Clark from Krypton to examine holographic records of Kryptonian history. Clark realizes the S insignia had great significance on Krypton and seemed to symbolize the Kryptonian's hope for a better tomorrow.

Clark refuses to wear a mask while taking flight. Martha's solution is that only Clark's human half requires a disguise. She dresses him in professional, nerdy attire that stands apart from his usual look and gives him false glasses to wear. She promises they will refract light so no one will notice his startling blue eyes (which would otherwise give him away). Clark learns to slouch and act nervous and clumsy, to distance his civilian identity from tall, self-assertive Superman.

#4 - Daily Planet

Clark travels to Metropolis to apply for a position at the Daily Planet. When he arrives, he finds automated anti-terrorist helicopters criss-crossing the sky, and a citizenry wary of the world around them. Upon reaching the the Planet building, he sees the publisher, Mr. Galloway, berating Jimmy Olsen for fetching him the wrong yogurt. Lois Lane appears and verbally castrates Galloway for humiliating Jimmy. When Galloway storms off, Clark introduces himself to Lois. Though she had been impressed with his work on West Africa, she is not impressed with him in person. Clark, on the other hand, is immediately smitten, despite her condescension. He finally meets Perry White for a one-on-one interview. Clark stands up and asserts that he needs to be at the nerve center of all major events (for his hero work) and that he is an excellent journalist; Despite this, the interview does not go well. Moments later, a miniature robo-chopper hovering outside goes berserk and opens fire on the Daily Planet building. When no one is looking, Clark ducks out to change into his costume and flies off to repel the helicopters.

Meanwhile, Lois drags Jimmy along and pilots a helicopter to record the assault. One of the haywire choppers clips the blades of her aircraft and sends it spiraling downward, throwing Jimmy out of the helicopter. At the last minute Clark (disguised as Superman) appears and, to their astonishment, catches the falling Jimmy and lifts the damaged helicopter with one hand. When he asks if hey are both all right, Lois orders him to forget her and go save people, but not slipping him her business card. Clark flies off and notes with a grin that "She's not afraid."

When Clark rips a radio transmitter off one of the wrecked units, he uses his powers to trace the signal to the incomplete skyscraper in the distance: LexCorp.

#5 - Menace to Metropolis

Clark bursts into Lex Luthor's office, just as Luthor is speaking to someone via radio. He tells Luthor he saw the signals and knows he sabotaged the Army choppers. Luthor is amused that he thinks anyone could possibly convict him on such evidence and demands to know who designed the technology that allows him to fly. Clark remains silent, angering Luthor with his impudence. At that moment, LexCorp's armored security barges in, with Lois and Jimmy right behind them. When Lois asks what Lex's connection is to Metropolis' new hero, Lex pretends to endorse the caped figure, saying, "He is a friend to Lex Luthor."

The next day, the Daily Planet webpage dubs the hero "SUPERMAN." Naturally, Luthor is ready with a cover story: A disgruntled Army employee was behind the attacks. LexCorp has stepped in to produce the robotic helicopters now that the Army's model has been recalled. But the LexCorp connection is an unprecedented black mark on Luthor's sterling reputation; Perry decides that Clark has earned his shot.

Luthor touches down at one of his astronomic research outposts in Colorado. He dismisses everyone who works at the base (putting them on paid leave), then examines a crystal kept hidden in the vault. It has the Superman insignia engraved on it. Luthor dials his phone and smugly tells his secretary he wants to meet with Clark Kent.

#6 - Remains of Krypton

Lois and Clark visit Luthor at the massive towers that form his corporate headquarters, which are still under construction. Luthor greets them both, but when Clark extends his hand as if they are old acquaintances, Luthor coldly dismisses it. He claims to have never met him. Luthor presses a button on the console in his desk and the room transforms into a holographic theater. Luthor asserts that he is first and foremost an astrobiologist, and describes many lucrative LexCorp inventions that were designed solely on his theories of possible space life. He then pulls up images of Superman and makes an official statement; Superman is not of this Earth. When Clark asks for his proof, Luthor promises everything will be made clear, just before showing images of Superman on an autopsy table, being sawn open by scientists. A sickened Lois takes Clark by the hand and they leave Luthor alone in his holo-theater.

Clark reports Luthor's findings to Perry, who orders he write it up. Clark protests, knowing that the revelation that Superman is an alien will drive people away and points out that they have no real proof. Perry insists, saying Luthor is the leading authority on this matter, which is proof enough.

#7 - Friend Or Foe?

When Superman now goes out to rescue those in need, people are to fearful even go near him. Adding to his troubles, no one in the office regards Clark's existence. When the staff goes out to a bar to toast Lois, Clark is intentionally given the wrong address so his co-workers can ditch him.

While sulking in an empty restaurant, Clark hears a commotion as a suspension bridge across town inexplicably blows up. Superman speeds off to reconnect the bridge cables, but another explosion rocks the bridge. In his office, Lex Luthor watches the disaster and triggers bombs along the support column, making it appear that Superman is the one tearing it down. As the finishing touch, a mechanical drone in the water aims kryptonite radiation at Superman, causing him to collapse.

Realizing he has made an enemy in Lex Luthor, Clark looks back on his childhood in Smallville when a young Lex arrived in town. Lex was a quiet genius, but his intelligence alienated him from everyone around him. Lex's parents were unloving and ruthlessly trained him to become the next Einstein. Clark muses that "they were underestimating him". Without human connections, Lex's patience with people in general dwindles to practically nothing.

#8 - Lex Luthor in Smallville

Despite his contemptuous exterior, Lex warmed to Clark when he discovered they shared a common interest: astronomy. Unfortunately, Lex was so fundamentally disturbed that he started spending increasing amounts of time locked in his makeshift laboratory next to the Luthor mansion. During one of these periods of seclusion, Clark visited Lex, who allowed Clark inside to unveil his new invention, a sub-space communicator. Lex hoped that with a piece of meteor rock (kryptonite), he would finally be able to open a wormhole into visions from an alien civilization. While aware of the radiation emanating from the rock, Lex assured Clark that it was perfectly harmless. Clark, stricken with sudden pain, staggered back looking ghastly; he was experiencing his first bout of kryptonite poisoning.

Lex misread Clark's expression and believed Clark had become afraid of him like everyone else. Lex threw Clark out of the lab and commenced with his experiment. He managed to open a portal into events and times of the planet Krypton for a moment, but his generator overloaded and exploded, engulfing the house in flames. Lex, his hair burned off, staggered through the flames to uncover the piece of kryptonite that was integral to his machine. He neglected his father, who was buried beneath rubble and burning alive.

Fast forward to present day, Lex remains bald but seems to have restored his eyebrows via transplant, rendering them black. He begins piecing together instruments to recreate his failed experiment from long ago in the bowels of the research facility, hoping to retrieve the alien visions he saw before. As expected, the kryptonite creates a wormhole and Luthor is greeted with a wealth of visions from the history of Krypton.

#9 - Krypton Lives!

The next day the newspapers blare warnings of an upcoming alien invasion, showing photos of alien warships bearing the Superman insignia. At the Daily Planet, Clark hears that the footage has been analyzed by experts and has been confirmed to be un-doctored and 100% legitimate. Having seen footage from the data tablet that was in his spacecraft, Clark knows Luthor must have used similar methods to uncover these images.

At the Colorado facility, while Luthor is discussing plans with Army officials over selling LexCorp technology to combat this new "threat", Superman barges in and confronts him. He allows everyone but Luthor to leave, and demands to know what Luthor is plotting. Luthor reveals the name of Project: Krypton. Superman demands to know what that means. Luthor, suddenly realizing that Superman knows little or nothing about his homeworld, laughs in his face. He tells him his planet and race are all gone. The entire room turns into a whirling tunnel of holographic images, all displaying the Kryptonian footage Luthor has been abusing. Once he has discredited and destroyed Superman, Lex is hopeful the lesser minds of Earth will turn to him as their savior. Superman speeds out of sight as Luthor's armored troops burst in to save him.

#10 - Invasion

Metropolis is besieged by giant, monstrous-looking warships that bear Superman's logo on their face, including a giant mechanical spider. They begin killing indiscriminately. Troops empty out of the vehicles in Kryptonian garb, all bearing red capes and S-shields with their faces covered. Just as Superman is about to intervene, Luthor uses the spires of his skyscraper to project a city wide "web" of kryptonite radiation from which Superman cannot hide. When the city police start firing on the vulnerable Superman, he assumes his Clark guise and meets up with Lois, who comments on how sick he looks.

Upon returning to the newsroom, which is in chaos, Perry yells at Clark for coming to the office without a story on this crisis. Stripped of his powers and faced with imminent dismissal, Clark leaves a notice of resignation on his desk. When Lois catches him leaving, she calls him a "spineless worm" then storms off.

The "alien commander", a man dressed in armor, calls himself "Van-gar" and declares war on Earth. He proclaims that the S-shield will forever represent Krypton's rulership on Earth. Clark, his confidence restored by Lois' sermon, dons his costume and says "Like hell."

#11 - Kneel Before...

Van-gar orders his men to open fire on a crowd of innocents. With Luthor's kryptonite-web still sapping his energy, Superman charges Van-gar's troops before they can fire. When Superman accuses him and his men of being actors, Van-gar beats downs the weakened hero and whispers to him they're not in it for the money. They know Luthor is right and that Superman will turn on those weaker than him. A giant mobile tank with a huge metal S-shield barrels toward more people. Superman tears the giant metal "S" off the tank and dives in front of a lone child just before he is hit by an energy blast, blocking it with the shield and saving the child. Jimmy Olsen captures a photo of Superman blocking the energy blast and broadcasts it to every news station in the world.

Upon seeing the iconic footage of Superman shielding the child being broadcast, Luthor loses his temper. His private army mobilizes downstairs with advanced weaponry, ready to repel the invaders. Despite his general's pleas, Luthor orders him to hold. He then contacts Van-gar and tells him he has 60 seconds to break Superman's spine, and Van-gar obliges. Meanwhile, Lois sneaks back into the LexCorp building, which Luthor ordered abandoned. She sees Luthor giving orders to his men over his tele-screen and grabs his priceless shard of the kryptonite with the "S" engraving out of its energy core, disabling the entire machine. However she neglects Luthor, who emerges from the shadows behind her.

#12 - The Hero Emerges

With the kryptonite removed, most of the robots attacking Metropolis are revealed as holograms and vanish, along with the kryptonite web over the city. A horde of vengeful citizens assault the "Kryptonians" while Superman punches out Van-gar.

Back at LexCorp, Luthor grabs the kryptonite crystal from Lois's hands and demands she tell him how much she knows. When Lois tells him everyone will know about his hoax, Lex smacks her across the face and drags her by her neck, telling her his real intention was never to merely view old recordings of Krypton, but to establish contact. He drags Lois to a wall, where he uses a remote control to open out to a balcony. He reveals that he placed a kryptonite bomb inside the suit of every "Kryptonian" soldier and that they are primed to go off and take out Superman in the blast. However his men don't know about the bombs, since Luthor "sort of left that part out of the hiring brief." He then shoves Lois off the skyscraper balcony.

Superman is still down below and grappling with Van-gar, whose armor suddenly starts glowing green. Superman soars up with Van-gar in his grip, ripping the bomb off moments before it explodes. In the instant before Lois hits the ground, Superman rushes up and catches her just in time.

Superman returns to Lexcorp, where Luthor is feverishly trying to reconnect with the static images to Krypton, this time to establish direct contact. Luthor begins requesting to be sent weapons before the machine overloads in his face, sending him flying back. Superman grabs him and tells him it's over. Luthor turns to him with kryptonite shards imbedded in his face and a look of hatred. He attacks Superman as the kryptonite radiating from the machine leaves him vulnerable once more. As the two battle, visions of the imminent destruction of Krypton swirl on the viewscreen; Back on Krypton, many years in the past, one of the Kryptonians points to the sparring adversaries and says he can see them on his viewing screen, he wonders if they are real. A desperate Luthor screams out "No! I am real!...We can save each other!" Superman refuses to let him carry through and throws him across the floor. Just then, Jor-El and Lara appear seconds after they have launched baby Kal-El and say goodbye to one another. An awestruck Superman realizes that is his name: Kal-El.

Luthor attacks Superman from behind, telling him he's doing him a favor, it's agony to be alone in the world. Superman tells Luthor he wasn’t always alone, he made his choice, and punches him several times across the jaw. A bloodied Luthor falls defeated as Superman runs up and calls out something into the void; but the transmission is cut off too soon, and Superman thinks his parents never heard what he was trying to tell them.

In the aftermath, Luthor is scarred from the kryptonite shrapnel that sprayed in his face, and is facing indictment. Clark Kent writes the article that ruins Luthor's reputation, although Luthor has already assembled his lawyers and will probably beat the charges. "Van-gar" was actually the leader of a group of extremist survivalists. Clark and Lois resolve their differences, with Lois revealing she intercepted Clark' resignation letter, knowing he wouldn't quit. She says that people will know what the Superman symbol means from now on: it means hope.

During the last moments of Krypton, Jor-El and Lara look at a viewing screen with a static image crackling from it. A figure, barely visible and wearing the S-shield on his chest, says, "Mother...Father...I made it." Realizing that their efforts were successful, Jor-El and Lara kiss as the building collapses around them.

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[Zacharie]

Nice release, Jay!

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