Graphic Novel Review Superman Eradication

COMIC BOOK GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW – SUPERMAN – ERADICATION! 1996 DC

Dan Jurgens and Jerry Ordway present a rather dull Superman adventure that delivers far less than it offers.

A Kryptonian artefact has found its way to the Antarctic ice, and built a vast city like structure below the ice, very much like the Fortress Of Solitude Superman had in the Christopher Reeves movies.

As the citadel hideaway develops, Clark Kent undergoes strange personality changes, becoming cold, logical and ruthless. This steadily estranges him from friends, workers, and family and especially from Lois Lane. Mum and Dad sense something is wrong, but their son is becoming increasingly unapproachable.

The transformation affects Kent’s alter ego too, as he moves from being Superman into being the last Eradicator, a justice soldier of a breed created in a costly war on the Planet Krypton eons before its destruction and Superman’s birth. Superman changes even his uniform, and sets out to kill his enemies, an aim in which he is always frustrated. Other opponents, a Space Shuttle and a well meaning Professor with a teleporter are all shoehorned in to stop the Eradicator delivering any deathblows.

This is the novel’s fundamental flaw – it tries to be high concept and deal with big issues but dilutes its theme with cartoon stereotype villains. We have Lobo, a drunken biker from beyond the stars who fights dirty enough to almost win, and Maxima, a warrior Goddess who wants Superman to mate with her and help spawn a master race (a neo-Nazi theme that could have been developed with great moral analysis of its dangers, but which is swept aside for silliness). 

There are great moments, the Statue Of Liberty ending up on the Moon, Ma & Pa Kent struggling with big city costs and trying to talk humanity to their son, in a very Star Trek way.

The story lacks bite, and it really needed a confrontation between The Eradicator and Lex Luthor rather than a string of dull one dimensional villains any old hero could handle.

Arthur Chappell