Superior (HC)

Life is difficult for 12-year old Simon Pooni, he has multiple sclerosis, needs crutches to get around and is blind in one eye. He’s surrounded by loving parents and his best friend Chris. But all that is about to change as he’s visited by a strange little talking monkey called Ormon. Ormon offers Simon a single magic wish, anything he desires. Suddenly, Simon is transformed into Superior, his favourite super-hero. He can fly, has super strength, invulnerability and x-ray vision. He’s free from a disease that’s crippled his body and he never wants it to end. But every wish has it’s price and when Ormon returns in exactly one week, Simon will come to realize that sometimes, you must be careful what you wish for.

Mark Millar does it again with a great little mini-series about being a kid and the super-hero in all of us. You don’t have to be a genius to realize that this is Millar’s love letter to Superman, he even dedicates the series to Christopher Reeves & Richard Donner. There’s also a tribute to the movie Big that’s very clever & funny. This is a genie in a bottle story with exhilarated action and Godzilla-like disasters that would make Roland Emmerich green with envy. Millar tones down the violence, cynicism & despair we’re used to seeing in titles like Wanted, Kick-Ass & Nemesis because it’s not needed for this type of story. Ormon is both cute & creepy as he offers the deal of the century (5 centuries actually) to this poor sick kid.

Leinil Yu’s illustrations are astonishing with an attention to detail, not unlike Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates) & George Perez (Infinity Gauntlet). Without spoiling too much, one of my favourite parts is a 2-page spread of Superior dragging a submarine from the ocean and onto a crowded beach. Great stuff. If you’re like me and you’re a Mark Millar enthusiast and you believe the man can do no wrong, then this is clearly for you. Millar & Yu will return in March 2012 for a new series entitled Supercrooks and I’m counting the days till then. Written by Mark Millar (Wolverine : Old Man Logan, Kick-Ass) & illustrated by Leinil Yu (Superman: Birthright, Secret Invasion). Originally published as Superior #1-#7. From Icon/Marvel Comics.