FORMAT: TRADE PAPERBACK (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 5th
Superman’s origin story keeps getting revisited because for such a simple idea, it’s one that is full of potential. Over the decades, the planet Krypton has developed its own lore and drama but the essential message has remained the same; hubris can doom anyone, even the wisest.
The House Of El – The Shadow Threat is a graphic novel set during the last days of Krypton. We follow the lives of two of Krypton’s finest. Zahn is destined for greatness, genetically engineered to be a great leader. Sera is also modified, but to be a fearless and brave soldier. Krypton is a society where everyone is assumed to know their place and because everyone is adapted. With a planet-wide environmental disaster looming, most people are ignoring it because if it was a problem, the right people would have fixed it by now.
As a metaphor for real-world issues, The House of El is pretty unsubtle but that is the point. This is more a story of plucky young people fighting against the status quo than anything deeper or more involved. The characters are interesting and fun. Though the story is filled with the usual sorts of clichés you’d expect from Young Adult apocalyptic sci-fi, this just adds to the fun. Of course, the main characters are going to doubt themselves. They absolutely have to deal with the sorts of emotional trauma young people have to deal with whilst also trying to save the world; it’s that sort of book.
Eric Zawadzki’s art is solid throughout. He makes Krypton look like a doomed art deco wonderland, and attention is given not only to the various details that make each of the Kryptonian Houses distinct but also the visual legacy of Superman as a whole. It’s a visual treat and complements Claudia Gray’s solid and accessible writing style perfectly.
Overall, this a fun addition to the Superman canon, though it is unlikely to change the world, especially not Krypton.
