Superman #702

written by J Michael Straczynski  with art by Eddy Barrows

JMS does what few people are capable are doing - he writes Superman very well.  Well, more specifically he writes the character of Superman and his wonderful qualities as a human being very well.  Granted, Superman is not human but (as I like to say) he is a "super-man" in terms of not only his powers but his great qualities as a man such as his honesty, integrity, and his inherit "I wanna be friends with that guy" quality.

The basic idea in this story is the same as in the last issue where Superman is walking around America.  In this issue he is in Detroit, MI.  I have never had the pleasure of visiting there but I hear it's great (well, no I haven't actually heard that but someday I might).  It starts with Superman playing basketball, and letting a dorky kid win to gain the admiration of his peers.  Granted that sounds supremely cheesy but JMS is so talented and Barrows makes the art work well enough it does not feel like an after school special, but a heart warming movie moment. 

Then Superman meets a guy with a strange sound coming from him.  Superman figures out that it's not a heart murmur or indigestion and invites himself into his house.  Then the guy's roommate (complete with warsuit) attacks Superman.  Superman beats the thing down and adds a very, "Mmm hmmmm" moment at the end.  He finds out that all the people living in this house are aliens and living here illegally.   "Ugh," he says.  Then leaves wondering what to do with them. 

Then a homeless guy almost dies, and Superman says to the aliens, "Hey you gotta help him!" And they're like, "No!" Pause, "Ok fine".  Then they set up a factory with state of the art medical equipment which helps to give back a lot of unemployed people their jobs.  Let's just hope they don't try to form a union in an upcoming issue.  Also Clark Kent makes a great cameo to the same homeless man that almost died.  You think he would recognize him but hey we could make those jokes for years right?

Anyway, the issue ends with Superman walking and talking on his cell phone to Lois Lane (I wonder what his ringtone is for her?) and he says, "Oh what could possibly go wrong with walking across America?" just as Batman looms in the shadows ready to pounce him.  Or possibly ask to join him.  I am assuming this is still Dick Grayson and he would want to be buddies with Superman and not piss him off as only Bruce Wayne can.

All in all I was very pleased with this issue.  I have to be honest that I like when creators shake things up and the idea of Superman just going for a walk across America is definitely shaken not stirred (yikes that was bad).  I was a big fan of JMS's run on Thor not so much his Spider-Man but I do love his take on the Man of Steel and it gets me all the more excited for Earth One.  Let's hope he can keep this run going strong!