The Man of Steel, Clark Kent/Superman, has disappeared from sight as this novelization of the new movie Superman Returns opens.  When NASA astronomers discover Krypton still exists and believe the planet may still support life, Superman makes the 2 ½ year journey to discover if his parents and his home planet still live.  Sadly, Superman discovers Krypton is a wasteland and makes the long journey home only to discover that Lois Lane has a child and fiancé, and the people of Metropolis have learned to survive without him. 

Clark wrestles with whether or not he should leave his Superman identity behind, but when Lois and a plane of reporters are poised for disaster, he puts on the suit. He makes his triumphant return in time to battle Lex Luthor and fight to save the planet.

Although lacking in action and weak in the scientific explanation of Lex Luthor’s evil plot, Superman fans will find in this novel welcome details about Superman’s parents and his home planet that movies and the comic book did not provide.  We also are treated to an in-depth look into the minds of Superman and the Daily Planet staff.  And while many questions raised in the book are not clearly answered by the last page, readers will probably be willing to forgive the plot holes and look toward the next installment of the Man of Steel for resolution.

Reviewed by Joelle Charbonneau-Blanco
6/5/2006

Back to "W" - Review look-up by Author

Back to "S" - Review look-up by Title

Back to "3-Books" - Review look-up by Rating

Back to "Science Fiction" - Review look-up by Genre