By d. emerson eddy — Sometimes, apparently, you just have to punch Joe Kelly in the face.

Or Joe Allen, as it were, but I think he's a stand-in for Kelly. Of course, don't actually punch Joe Kelly in the face, by all accounts he's a pretty decent guy and doesn't deserve to be your punching bag (also it's kind of rude and illegal to just randomly punch a stranger), but it serves as the catalyst for the fall. The fall of Steve Seagle as he grapples with life, his family, and the eternal struggle of potentially writing Superman in the autobiographical It's a Bird... by Steven T. Seagle, Teddy Kristiansen, and Todd Klein.

In 2003, the Superman line was shaken up a bit, working away from four interconnected books into two primary titles in Superman and Action Comics, each mostly telling their own self-contained stories. Tapped to take on Superman were Steven T. Seagle and Scott McDaniel, introducing a new Supergirl and from what I remember telling mostly fun, larger-than-life superhero stories. Their run only lasted roughly a year, going from #190 to #200 as DC Comics rejiggered the titles again, but I remember liking what they did. What stood out further, though, was what came on the heels on the run, It's a Bird..., detailing the genesis of Seagle taking over the title and his reticence towards Superman. It's one of my all-time favorite Superman stories.

People deal with grief and pain in unique ways. Some are certainly healthier than others, and some can even help others as we identify with the struggles others go through and see ways of dealing with it that we may not have thought of ourselves. With It's a Bird..., Seagle presents us with the stigma and fear of a genetic disease running through his family and through association of a single red S on the diagnosis, coupled with a Superman comic given him in the hospital to while the time, a connected problem with the superhero. It's truly inspired as to how Seagle works through his issues with family, with the disease, with his girlfriend, all sparked by being offered the job as the new Superman writer, resulting in a meditation on what goes in to making up the character. It's both highly personal and stunningly universal.

Joined to tell the tale is Seagle's House of Secrets collaborator, Teddy Kristiansen, a unique choice that helps cement that this isn't your ordinary Superman tale. Kristiansen has a particular style that looks like a mix of charcoals and watercolor, almost impressionistic, favoring minimalist, exaggerated figures, putting an emphasis on atmosphere through his choices of light and dark. He reminds me a bit of a synthesis of the disparate styles of Marc Hempel and Jon J. Muth. Resulting largely in art that you feel as much as you visually comprehend. 

The art also changes and shifts as the different aspects of Superman's character are explored, making each meditation almost a discrete entity that can be read and understood on its own if you're studying the character, or worked back in to how it applies to Seagle's personal story. It also allows for Todd Klein to really shine as he changes lettering techniques and approaches from the standard character dialogue through to almost newspaper typeset or other formats to suit each segment.

Overall, It's a Bird... from Seagle, Kristiansen, and Klein is a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of working through grief and pain through creativity. It's a very unique form of autobiography and one of the best stories about Superman without actually starring Superman out there.

It’s a Bird … Vertigo Comics

It's a Bird...
Writer: Steven T. Seagle
Artist: Teddy Kristiansen
Letterer: Todd Klein
Publisher: DC Comics / Vertigo
Release Date: April 14, 2004
In this new edition of the stunning semi-autobiographical graphic novel, acclaimed writer Steven T. Seagle tells one of the most realistic Superman tales ever—without featuring Superman.
Steve's given the assignment every writer dreams of: to write Superman. Only he can't relate to a Man of Steel—not when his own fears of death haunt him. Explore the cultural significance of a comic book icon as Steve comes to terms with Superman's importance and power as a fictional ideal.
This classic Vertigo tale is now re-released for a whole new generation of fans!
More Info: It’s a Bird…

Check out the 100 Best Superman Comics!

d. emerson eddy is a student and writer of things. He fell in love with comics during Moore, Bissette, & Totleben's run on Swamp Thing and it has been a torrid affair ever since. His madness typically manifests itself on Twitter @93418.