DC Comics relaunch: Superman #1

Somehow, I missed the release of DC Comics Superman #1 last week and didn’t discover that the issue was available until the weekend. But having discovered it, I acquired an electronic copy and on Saturday evening, I read it, my second comic ever.

I liked it. Once again, I thought the art was considerably better than the writing, but the story line was interesting and certainly more understandable than the story line for Action Comics #1. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything here; I got what was going on; it all made sense. I particularly liked the little hint of recursion inserted into the story: the Daily Planet is being relaunched as part of a larger news network. That relaunch certainly echoes the relaunch of DC Comics.

Another thing I liked was that the comic was a self-contained story, in a larger story arc. Superman had to face and defeat some strange fire being. He met the challenge and eventually defeated the creature. There wasn’t a cliff-hanger ending and I don’t think there always needs to be one. It is satisfying to get a complete story in a single issue.

One thing I don’t get–and perhaps long-time comic gurus can help me out: how does the Superman comic related to the Action Comics comic, or the Justice League? Are these alternate universes with alternate Supermans? Are they supposed to take place in different times in Superman’s life? Do things that happen in one comic carry through to the other? How, exactly, are these comics related?

I’m already looking forward to Action Comics #2 and Superman #2.