I Can't Be Superman (Superman Earth One Vol 1: First Steps) 

I like how they expand on Clark dealing with being Kryptonian and trying to be human.

I love this story because it shows that he's an actual super man; literally the perfect human. Weirdly a lot of superman comics don't seem to focus on that these days, they just show him as an invulnerable, super strong guy who can fly (at least as far as I see). They don't showcase things like the fact that he is a super intelligent anymore. Maybe they downplay such things so that he can realistically fight batman.

This Superman is man of steel Superman forreal

What I want to do here is to watch this video

I disagree with the Kill Bill quote. Again and again in the comics, Clark has said that he's an American. He says that his home is Kansas, and that his mom and dad are Jon and Martha Kent. Clark Kent isn't a coward. He's actually quite brave, intelligent, and a family man. In American Alien, Clark even said he's not from Krypton, he's from Kansas. I think he wakes up in the morning, and he's Clark Kent. Bruce Wayne, on the other hand, is Batman. Bruce Wayne is the mask he wears, but he always sees himself as Batman. He literally cannot stop being Batman.

I don't think our world is ready for a Superman; we need one, but we're not ready for one

Best Superman story ever written all the way through the depth of the story is awesome. I am speechless.

getting a man of steel vibe from this

I'm excited for The Flash Earth One.

Love this novels of Earth One.... really wished you'd kept going with these :(

Clark's childhood reflects what was depicted in the Man of Steel movie.

I like your video but disagree with your critique on Clark, superman can't pretend to be human because being human is all he know how's to be. Unlike Martian Man Hunter, or kara who grow up on other planets Clark was raised on earth he has no context for being alien anymore than we do. Remember superman story is about a man trying to make it in a new place while keeping the values he was raised on, the story of every immigrants ever including that of the Schuster's. They just add a si-fi twist to justify and explain where his powers came from krypton is as important/irrelevant to clark as the super soldier serum is to Steve Rogers or the radioactive spider is to peter it doesn't define them, they are who they are with or with out their powers just as Clark is superman and superman is Clark krypton or no krypton. I've always viewed the way Clark acts as not him pretending to be an outsider he really is one. That's how someone would act if they just moved from smallville to Metropolis. To him everything in the big city is amazing and he so not, but to people in Metropolis it's just Metropolis, to Clark being superman is just being superman, to everyone else its OH SHIT IT SUPERMAN and that's the joke, he's not pretending. I think that misinformed view of superman is why his movies suck so bad genetically superman is an alien but in reality he isn't. The perfect unstoppable man is the view us the reader and the people in Metropolis believe him to be not what he is. Quinten Tarantino understood that, that's why in kill bill after bill tells that view of superman to her she rejects it and by the end of the flim we see her happy being herself proving Bill and the view of her and superman was wrong. Quinton Tarantino being the huge superman fan that he is understood that so he poked fun of it in his movie, but everyone miss understood the joke.

I love this art and story telling , I'm definitely buying this if I find it

Please Rob. Keep going with this story. I ABSOLUTELY ABHOR Superman... But there is something in the way you narrate these stories that actually transcends whatever the story is and helps me feel the story.

Wow this is so good please do more I want to see more.Damn if I had money I would buy this.

This is what man of steel should have been

yes I want more Earth One Superman

This comic gave me the Man of Steel movie vibe

I heard a critique about that Superman/Kill Bill quote you said in that it isn't really meant to be used or regarded as a truth about Superman himself, instead its how Bill perceives Superman. Its the villain of the series giving a misunderstood write-up of character that stands for something that Bill himself couldn't comprehend. It's meant to be wrong but at the same time I think it serves as great character writing on Bill's part.

I own all three volumes is jms doing a volume 4.

Ok, I'd like to point this out: this comic is NOT about Clark "trying to be human". It's about him simply trying to realize what to do with his life as someone who happens to be extremely talented. It's about indecisiveness on your future and one's place in the world. It is NOT about being an alien fitting into human society. Never was, never will be. It's simply about a guy that doesn't know what to do in with himself. That's it.

When, in the injustice story (end of comic and begining of the game), Batman teleports another Batman, Superman, etc, those who were teleported are from the new 52 or from another universe?

I read Earth One Batman and found it one of the incredible, well written, art and adding many more Batman mythos to his world. I read Superman Earth One as well and like you, Rob, finds JS work phenomenal. From Babylon Five to Midnight Sun, his characters are fully realized.

You are wrong Rob Earth is Supermans home.... come on he grew up in Kansas....

the only bad earth one story is wonder woman.

Rob, I have a request: Could you make a video of your top 5 favorite heros and why they are in your top list? Also, who do you believe are the best comic book writers either in general or for specific characters?

When Earth One Superman came out everyone hated it because they said he was EMO. They called him the EMO Superman, but somehow the title of EMO got attached to the New 52 Superman! I always wondered how that happened

This is the reason why Lex Luthor despise's Superman! Because Superman's critique of Humanity is that their weak cowards, and Lex is like fuck dat noise! Good Shit!

please make more, I'd love to hear about this version of Superman, no other has really stuck out to me but I really empathize with his struggle and would love to here more :) thanks for the video I look forward to reading this book and seeing more content! :)

I heard Earth One was supposed to be like DC comics in the real world, and I liked that concept with Kick-Ass. So soon as I heard that, I copped Batman Earth One...and it was DOPE!!!

I really like this Superman origin story for some reason. It's very interesting the way he got into detail with his life as a young man. Also, how Clark didn't hold back his super strength and genius intelligence. The old Clark would've thought about his dad's advice, and pretend he's a normal, weak human. Or some shit like that. Which I personally haven't read in a (Superman) comic before. Watched this video 3x already in a week. Thanks for the upload, Rob. *Liked*

Wow! Absolutely love this video! The Kill Bill tie in was great! Never thought about Clark Kent as Superman's alterego. This is how Superman sees humans. This is why I love Superman so much. Amazing!

Have to disagree with the Kill Bill ethos Rob. Superman IS the projection, Clark Kent is who is/who is brought up to be. Clark can't do everything he wants to do to help the world so the Superman persona is invented ala the John Byrne Man of Steel. The Kill Bill idea presupposes that Kent is the persona which doesn't make sense-he's been pretending to be someone else his entire life until adulthood? That isn't Superman, it's Batman.

As a HUGE Superman Fan, I absolutely LOVE the Earth One series. I've read and own all the volumes of Earth One that have been released for Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Looking forward to reading the Teen Titans! The best way I could describe the series to a new reader? DC comics on HBO!!!!! ......Absolutely AMAZING. You will become an instant fan!

hey Superman, home is where you hang your hat!

Tbh this storyline sounds amazing and like my kind of jazz. Definitely interested in reading this

please continue these!

I can't say I'm a fan of the whole "Clark Kent is Superman's critique of humanity" angle since the people he respects the most are Jonathan and Martha Kent, the two humans who raised him. To me they're his moral compass, they gave him their values and they defined him far more than his super powers could. Then there's Lois Lane, the woman he loves and adores both professionally and personally. Hell, he even recognises that Lex Luthor, despite himself, is capable of greatness. Granted, this might be stuff he won't realise until he's older, more aware of just how crazy the universe he's in really is, but the Kill Bill line really feels like a very, very jaded view of the character, and says more about Bill than Superman.

Rob, I've got to disagree with a couple of things. And before I start, this is just MY opinion. Home is where the heart is....Superman may be from Krypton, but he's never known that place. He may feel a longing for his origins, but Smallville is where he was raised and where he had his formative years. I'm adopted myself. I was abandoned as a baby and raised by two people how tried to teach me right from wrong and how to be the best I can be. I don't always succeed, but THOSE are my parents, not some people that gave me up. Maybe it was for good reasons, But they are just people that created me and washed their hands of me. My adopted parents are who I call Mom and Dad. Second, once again, my opinion, to me, Clark Kent is the real person and Superman is the secret identify. When he goes to sleep at night, he's Clark. Clark is who he WANTS to be and Superman is who he considers it is his DUTY to be. On the other hand, Bruce Wayne is the secret identity and Batman is the real man. Bruce died with his parents in crime alley and was resurrected as the Batman. Bruce is a playboy that Batman pretends to be to cover his tracks and to keep the fortune he needs to fight crime. But when he lays down his head at night, he's not thinking of parties and debutantes....He's planning his next mission. Just my thoughts. Spidey is a little more complicated. Peter is the real man, but Spider-Man lets him be who he always wanted to be and lets him shed the drudgery of life and become the hero he dreamed of when he was getting ignored and picked on. But, as the years go by, the line blurs for him. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

Like many have said before, Clark Kent is Clark Kent. His alter ego is Superman. The convention has always been that despite being Kryptonian, Clark sees Earth as his home which is why he protects it. Some writers try to change this to him being a God among men but it honestly doesn't work because there's already a character like that. He's called Dr. Manhattan

I love this graphic novel. Honestly I would have preferred this story to be superman's introduction to the cinematic universe.

wow. please more of Earth One Superman

Rob I'd love to see you do Superman Secret Origin since that was Pre 52s Superman’s most recent origin.

Being an immigrant myself, I wouldn't say Krypton is his home but his birthplace. Saying Earth will never be his home is like telling me that the United States will never be my home even though I lived here most of my life

Earth one super man is the only one I read. Made me feel for characters so strongly, I teared up when he buried his cat. Best writing I ever read. Have to try batsman, thanks for the recommendation.

Anyone who didn't liked Man of Steel: THIS where the inspiration came from.

I need more of this story... And I'm not a superman fan, but FML. this was fantastic.

I've only read Earth One: Superman, but it alone is fantastic! Keep it up Rob

Loved it! More of this would be appreciated! :) To quote you, "Earth 1 is AMAZING!" Haha

This is a odd request but can you do Captain America and falcon number 185

God, I hate that kill bill quote so god damn much because of how inaccurate and cynical it is.

He's never faster then the flash in any comics the football team moment reminds me of the third ever superman appearance except for newspapers in action comics issue 3

yeah I totally agree I have all of the current runs of Earth 1 Comics Superman Batman Wonder Woman and Teen Titans they're all excellent thanks for the analysis on first book of Superman Earth One

More of these stories please

wait, since when is clark kent a "small scrawny dude?"

thank you for video. even knowing the stories you make it worth hearing them again

This comic book is the reason why I luv the man of steel movie

one of my favorite DC stories ever, this made Clark Kent seem more human to me then any variation I've seen. Despite everything he can do, he was raised to be a normal guy. Even though he knows he is an alien, he will never be like the rest of us, and this is not his real home. He is still just a normal guy because his Mom and Dad raised him to be one.

dam that was good comic, these dc comics are getting really good so why are the movies so bad?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO MORE OF THESE ESPECIALLY THE SUPERMAN ARCH

Has rob done any of the rest earth one stories ? If so , i am not able to find them

I agree about "One more day". I really like relationship between MJ and Peter, so i didn't like the concept of the story but how it was written is so good. Peter looking back on his live, and in past of few alternative lives, he met One-Above-All etc. And pinnacle is MJ monologue in the end it just ahhhhh. I hope Marvel look closely to "Son of Superman" and they realize you can make Peret happy and be spider-man t the same time (and yes i love “Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows”). P.S. In Spider-Man/Deadpool they even tease about "One more day" it was heart breaking.

Continue plz

I wish you would cover more of these earth one stories.

Comics Explained is Aaamazing!

You gotta do the Batman Earth One series as well please

earth one superman made me actually appreciate superman more. awesome job!

Do more? 😼

Yes! Please continue the Earth 1 Superman stories!

love the kill bill reference, 3 sins removed

Like the DC website description of Earth One, we REALLY get to know how the heroes come up to be, and face challenges WE do, rather than just extraterrestrial super villains---they deal with MISTAKES and FLAWS of mortals.

Is Clark wearing Alex Mercer's clothing from PROTOTYPE in that cover?

You are the best 14:56 I love what you said there

this was awsome. I'm new to comics and i feel like I'm learning somthing new every day lol. keep the video's coming.

this should have been adapted to the movie

YES PLEASE OH GOD CONTINUE THIS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry its just, iv been a real superman hater for the longest time but Superman Earth One was THE story arc that made me love what the character was really about and became a fanboy of him since then so PLEASE it would be great seeing you explain this version of superman at least sometime in the future

I gotta disagree with the alter ego thing he wasnt born superman he was born kal el but given the name clark kent clark was a person way before superman clark kent isnt how superman sees humanity but superman is how clark kent sees a hero clark kent didnt just wake up superman clark kent is more of a person than superman will ever be

Love to see/hear your takes on this version of Clark! Hoping you might pick this up again after finishing Batman's Earth One Series now! I've personally read the book and am really interested to hear your takes and opinions on it.

more earth one stories please, they are great.

So to Sum it up this was like a Man of Steel inspired take i mean there is noticeable differences but the similarity in how you explain the cementary and the thought process of Clark is the same in man of steel what clark quotes to lois "My Father believe if the world found out about me they would reject me out of fear" and " I let my father die because i trusted. him. Because he was conviced i had to wait. That the world was not ready, What do you think?

Johnathon and Martha Kent found a kid who was born Kal-El. They raised the boy right. Clark Kent - Kal-El - Superman - are all aspects of one Kryptonian being. Clark is not "Superman's view of humanity" - he is a humble hero in his own bumbling way depending on the writer. Tom King and Grant Morrison and others get Superman/Clark/Kal. I believe that Kal has a ball taking his pratfalls and playing a social role that certainly does not feel the need to dominate others or take center stage. Quentin does not get Superman. Either/or is rhetorical and non-inclusive. His name is Kal-El Clark Kent Superman. Simple, no? Humility, look it up. A wide spectrum of human complexity engaging the same joy and rage and sadness and irritation that all humans are familiar with if they are honest with themselves is Superman's birthright. He is a guy who always wants to do the right thing and cynicism is not his master new 52. Anybody can be a hero - just do the right thing no matter what. Superman inspired me as a child in the 50s simply because he always did his best, like Peter Parker. There are very good Superman stories (consult a few Top Ten and take the common ones - For the Man Who Has Everything, Birthright, Kingdom Come, All Star Superman and on). Being super simply implies impeccability of spirit. Simple and honest. Fer crissakes Batman has enormous respect for Kal-Clark-Supes - what more do you need from a borderline grouch like Bruce?

I wouldn't consider Final Crisis and Infinite Crisis as "reboots". Only COIE and N52 were truly reboots.

Earth one superman is good i will admit however though earth one teen titans yeah that one is really not that good mostly because it's not teen titans it's generic boring and plus all of the characters don't act like the teen titans they basically act like 2 dimensional characters at least in my opinion but besides that i am hoping you can continue this series because its' really good in my opinion

I love Superman Earth One. I do like JMZ's writing and this is easily one of my favorite takes on Superman's Origins. This is what MOS should have been! But I also understand this kind of story is polarizing to someone who was looking for a more upbeat Superman. Hence, why I don't blame people who prefer Secret Origins of Birthright a lot more. As for me, MOS could have worked a lot more had it taken some of these ideas from Earth One, mainly injecting some humanity into Superman and the characters. Not nolanized exposition about how great Clark is. Show it dammit. Do not tell us. Which this comic does.

Thanks for the video rob DO SPIDER-MAN 2099!!! JUST DO IT! 82 YEARS FROM NOW WILL BE TOO LATE!! SPIDER-MAN 2099

Like it so far; gimmie more! Also, I'm a Spidey fan and did not are much for "One More Day," but I have to say that OVERALL JMS is a pretty good writer and I've enjoyed most of his other work. See, fanboys can be objective... ~_~

Wait so does that mean Superman is creating problems ? You say he’s writing like everyone else. The media is negative so your telling me Superman is writing negative stories when he could write about hope? So he’s creating his own job security? He writes the negative story so supermen makes it all better? Hmmm. That means Superman is mr glass.

Never read any of the Earth One material Rob, absolutely will now. Always been curious. I love the idea of Superman, but the biggest problem Superman has always faced in my opinion is those writing his stories. It is hard to write a character like that good in my opinion, Grant Morrison did it very well in All Star Superman, most of The Death of Superman i enjoyed, loving Superman Rebirth. Keep the Earth One vids coming Rob.

Now, a staple of the superhero mythology is, there's the superhero and there's the alter ego. Batman is actually Bruce Wayne, Spider-Man is actually Peter Parker. When that character wakes up in the morning, he's Peter Parker. He has to put on a costume to become Spider-Man. And it is in that characteristic Superman stands alone. Superman didn't become Superman. Superman was born Superman. When Superman wakes up in the morning, he's Superman. His alter ego is Clark Kent. His outfit with the big red "S", that's the blanket he was wrapped in as a baby when the Kents found him. Those are his clothes. What Kent wears - the glasses, the business suit - that's the costume. That's the costume Superman wears to blend in with us. Clark Kent is how Superman views us. And what are the characteristics of Clark Kent. He's weak... he's unsure of himself... he's a coward. Clark Kent is Superman's critique on the whole human race.

I really love the Earth One series, I wish that DC expanded more into it during their Pre-Flashpoint run instead of doing the New 52 reboot (though I will say I have enjoyed certain stories from the New 52 like Justice League, Earth 2, Batman, Aquaman, and a few others). Its just that Earth One knows how tell the story of each of these characters or groups to its core and that's what I like about Earth One.

That quote works well for Spider-Man since that's the mask of who Peter Parker thinks a super hero should be, it doesn't work too well with Batman. Batman was born the day Bruce Wayne's parents died(much like Superman being born the day Krypton exploded). Batman is Batman and Bruce Wayne is the alter ego, that's part of the dichotomy of Batman and Superman. Both wear a mask as to how they think someone of their ilk should be perceived, and it's in that that they are the same coin, but different sides. I think Batman Beyond did a go job in showing that as well. "Why were you so sure those voices weren't coming from you?" "The voice kept calling me Bruce, in my mind, that's not what I call myself."

I think it would be interesting if Clark Kent - for whatever reason - was hypnotized into believing he was a regular person. And he never pushed himself. And he had a really broken childhood. What if, one day a broken Clark Kent suddenly realized that he was Superman. That would be an interesting story. Someone who fought to be normal. Except he was never normal.

I couldn't get into Superman: Earth One at all. Much like Zak Snyder, J. Michael just doesn't understand the character. Broody Superman? REALLY?!

Earth One story lines are some of the most fleshed out character focused stories. and the liberty that's given to the writers leave all of us wondering what's gonna happen next. like in Batman Earth One, one of the iconic Batman character dies 'permanently'.

i like this and would love to see more

I think its refreshing that Clark isn't with Lois in this series. That other girl is awesome. She's flawed, makes mistakes but has a good heart. The complete opposite of Clark, and thats what makes it a perfect balance. Plus, I think I might be one of two who actually prefer the New 52 relationship between Wonder Woman and Superman. That's the true "Power Couple."

Earth One is great I got all 3 volumes yesterday and I hope you'll cover the other two but I need to know WHAT IS THAT SONG AT THE END? Did you write it, or find it? Someone please help me out!

Nice video Rob!!, I hope you continue with these Earth One (Superman's in particular) story lines!!......Peace!

you're wrong and so is Bill (QT). At least Bill was referencing silver age pre Crisis Superman. You've read post crisis Superman. Clark is Clark. "Superman" is an outlet for Clark to help people.

Don't even know if you read these comments, but I gotta try. I have a humble suggestion for you. Your old narrative was more slow-paced and allowed the information to sink in much better... I was watching your history of the Marvel Universe and there was too much information (even though I knew a lot about it already, been reading comics for 19 years), but as your narrative is a lot more fast-paced, there is not much time for information to sink in for us before the next topic. Anyways, this is just a suggestion, it would be better if you went slower with the narrative...