You will believe a man can fly… again! Your Major Spoilers review of Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #1 from DC Comics awaits!

SUPERMAN ’78: THE METAL CURTAIN #1

Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Gavin Guidry
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Andrew Marino
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 7, 2023

Previously in Superman ’78: When the planet Krypton exploded, its last son was rocketed across the cosmos and came to settle in a small town in Kansas. But what else came with him, and what if a piece of his home landed somewhere we never knew about? As Superman has become a symbol of strength and pride for America, the Soviet Union looks to crush that image with a creation of their own, built by their own might and forged by their own power!

SOMETHING IS ROTTEN IN DENMARK MOSCOW

We open with the explosion of planet Krypton, following a glowing shard of Kryptonite as it travels through a wormhole to crash to Earth in 1951. Landing in a remote field in the Soviet Union, the shard is discovered by a confused farmer, who doesn’t know what to make of the glowing green meteor. (Careful, pal, Jordy Verrill had a bad time with one of those.) In the present, which is to say the year 1978 in the reality of Superman: The Movie, Lois Lane is investigating a mysterious deal being transacted in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse, involving a man in the shadows who seems very likely to be Lex Luthor. Unfortunately, she is discovered, and the cassette tape that serves as proof is destroyed before she is left to die by a runaway speedboat. On the other hand, she does have backup in the form of the Man of Steel, who saves her, repairs a cargo ship, and saves the day in seconds, leaving only one question:

Who wants to keep her story from being made public?

THE ORIGINS OF… METALLO!

The visuals of this story are probably my favorite part, and it’s fun to see Guidry’s take on this world’s Superman, Lois, and the Daily Planet crew. No one is exactly photo-realistically derived, but it is also clear that this is the Superman played by Christopher Reeve, Marc McClure’s Jimmy Olsen, and so on. That same subtlety is on display as we meet the mysterious Russian agents who have come to Metropolis and see what they’ve bought from Lex Luthor: A battle suit resembling his pre-Crisis Lexorian armor. The story isn’t quite as unique other than the artistic decisions and likenesses, it could easily be a Superman story on New Earth or even The Adventures of Lois & Clark. Given the limited scope of the four Superman films of the Christopher Reeve era, that’s kind of inescapable, but if you’re not aware of Reeve’s Clark Kent glasses-push move or the expressions of the late Margot Kidder, this issue won’t stand out as unusual or specific.

BOTTOM LINE: PRETTY MUCH JUST A SUPERMAN STORY?

That said, it’s a good start to a Superman story, meaning that Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #1 shakes down to a better-than-average 3 out of 5 stars overall. Those who remember what it’s honoring will find a number of 1978 touches, while younger readers can just enjoy the beginning of a Superman-and-Lois investigative mystery tale.

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.