Review: LOIS LANE #1
[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Simon Bowland
Reviewed by: Sean Blumenshine
Summary
On the road and out of Metropolis—and carrying a secret that could disrupt Superman’s life—Lois Lane embarks on a harrowing journey to uncover a threat to her husband and a plot that reaches the highest levels of international power brokers and world leaders. Critically acclaimed and best-selling author Greg Rucka and master storyteller Mike Perkins team up for a tale of conspiracy, intrigue and murder that pushes even Lois to her limits.
Positives
I love Mike Perkins’ cover. It’s not what I was expecting at all. The noir style is so cool and it looks cool. It also nicely sets up the tone and style of the book. I would absolutely hang this on my wall.
Perkins’ interior art is great as well. I’m always impressed when comic book art is engaging without a lot of action. Most of this issue is people talking and it looks great. The characters are so expressive and distinct that it’s easy to get pulled into the emotion.
This is a really great time for a Lois Lane book. One of my big disappointments with a lot of Superman adaptions and even the comics themselves at times is the lack of focus on Clark as a reporter. It often feels like an after thought or a plot device. I always want to see that side more. And with everything that’s going on in the real world right now, putting Lois Lane in the center of a thinly veiled allegory feels right. It’s immediately interesting because it’s a good challenge for Lois on a story level. But on a deeper level, there’s an element of catharsis. It’s fun seeing a character I love fighting people who would call her an enemy of the people for doing her job as well as going up against dictators who kill journalists.
The tone and style of this book was unexpected for me. It’s much darker and grittier but in a way that has weight. It’s not a stylistic choice for the sake of it. It also makes sense given the topics that Greg Rucka is tackling as well as the character herself. It is fun seeing Metropolis through her eyes instead of Clark’s. She’s so much more jaded and cynical. Her experience is so different than his and that perspective change is immediately engaging.
Negatives
There are no negatives worth mentioning.
Verdict
I love this issue. Rucka is one of my favorite writers and I’m so glad he’s on this. The story is instantly engaging and I think the social commentary is really fun. The tone is effective and interesting. Perkins delivers some great issue. This is a great issue and I can’t wait to read the next one.
