Thursday, August 14, 2008

That's a Whole Lot of Kryptonians


click on image to have your mind blown

I know some folks don't like the work of Alex Ross. Those people amaze me (in a disappointed way).

Me, I'm an Alex Ross nut. Especially when he's painting The Man of Steel and Co.

There's an upcoming story crossing over the Super-Titles in the coming months entitled: New Krypton. Supposedly there's several thousand Kryptonians coming to Earth. At least that's what the DC promo materials have said.

There are so many question marks, I can't help but be interested. Plus, note the various eras of Superman publishing represented in the various Kryptonian outfits. And I think that silver one way, way up in the sky represents the Krypton of the Donner-directed Superman movie. (Also, note Silver Age Nightwing and Flamebird, heroes of Kandor, coming at you).

And, who is that center frame? That's my boy, Krypto, yo!

5 comments:

Michael Corley said...

I too, greatly enjoy Ross's work. It's like Norman Rockwell decided to say, "Screw you Saturday Evening Post! I'm gonna see what I can do with the Man of Steel!"

Simon MacDonald said...

That is a gorgeous piece by Ross. Is that Flamebird and Nightwing above and below Krypto?

Not that I'm reading the series right now, waiting for the trades, but are you at all upset that the ending of the Brainiac storyline seems to have been ruined?

The League said...

I'm interpreting those two characters near Krypto as Nightwing and Flamebird. I honestly don't remember much about them as I don't have much in the way of Super-comics or reprints from that time. But that sure looks like Nightwing to me, and it seems like a logical jump that the lady in red is Flamebird.

I can make an educated guess as to the end of the Brainiac storyline, if I'm following you on this (only in comics, huh?). But I think that any story needs to be as much about the journey as the destination, so I'm still invested. Truthfully, in some ways it makes me even more curious, because I don't know how we get from Point A of the Brainiac story to this point.

Now, that's putting some faith in Johns and Co. to actually deliver. So... hopefully they won't disappoint.

By the way, we need to chat sometime about your conversion to Trades. So much stuff these days reads better as trades. I just re-read "Batman and Son" in trade, and as much as I liked the single issues, in one solid read, it works even better.

The League said...

I am trying to identify the Kryptonians by style. Play along!

Over on the left... I don't know. Maybe the late 70's? Under Kal-El's left armpit is a Byrne-era Kryptonian. Over his head in silver, Donner-movie. In the masks, Flamebird and Nightwing.

Either side of Flamebird, either late-Byrner era or Animated series. But it really looks like Jor-El and Lara from the animated series.

To Krypto's left, looks like a Silver-Age Kryptonian, as does the guy in the yellow cape under Kal-El's right arm.

To Supergirls's left, current-era Kryptonian, and POSSIBLY a silver-age Lara. To Superhirl's right (slightly obscured) looks like a version of the Eradicator/ Byrne Era Kryptonian.

In the white cape and S? Looks like Kristen Wells/ Superwoman. To Superwoman's right? Birthright Jor-El.

Anyone else have anything?

Simon MacDonald said...

Well I always think that Morrison reads better in trades so I'm eagerly awaiting R.I.P. to be done.

My general rule of thumb is that I switch to trades on titles that I'm not 'afraid' will be canceled. We can talk more later.