2008-05-05 showcase presents superman volume 1

I have discovered a re-ocurring trend when reading DC's "Showcase Prestents..." line. That trend being wafer thin plot's, and characters with no depth behind them what so ever.
I have said this to many people who have started with these comics, as a way of getting to know the characters. They in turn have pointed out that these books were intended for kids, and released back in the late fifties and early sixties.
It is then that I point out the marvel "essential" series, same format, released same era, and aimed at the same market audience. There is no competition.
This edition of "Showcase Presents..." is no different. Do not get me wrong I enjoy DC comics, and some parts of this book I enjoyed, but overall it was a rather dull experiance.
The book features Bizarro, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and many others, but there is nothing to them really, no threat, because Superman, here, is Super, nothing can defeat him at all, nothing!
I'll admit the stories do have a certain naive charm, and kids will lap this stuff up, but there is little background to superman, we barley see him as clark kent, and when we do, he's using his super powers on the sly!
As mentioned before the plotting is weak, and you will probabley find that after reading the first comic, you leave it a few hours before starting the second, as the stories become very repetative.
Despite all this though, Kids seem to love the stories, plenty of superman, but not much else, also if these stories are memorable from your own childhood, pick up a copy, don't let the fact that it is black & white put you off. However if you are just interested in reading silver age comics I recommend any of Marvel's "Essential" Series instead, or if your wanting to get into DC's Characters I suggest "DC: The New Frontier", and give this a miss.