By d. emerson eddy — Today's selection might have people divided. Certainly when the story came out it had people split, for a variety of reasons from expectations going in to how they thought execution of a Superman story should play out. For me, I initially only caught the beginning of the arc, because I was moving across country at that exact time, but I thought it was an interesting choice, teaming one of comics' premier mature readers crime writers with arguably the highest profile superhero artist on the world's biggest boy scout. I'm talking about Superman: For Tomorrow by Brian Azzarello, Jim Lee, Scott Williams (and a legion of other inkers later on in the run), Alex Sinclair, Rob Leigh, and Nick J. Napolitano.

In a way, For Tomorrow felt to me that it was marketed to capitalize on the popularity of the recently finished Hush arc also by Jim Lee on Batman. A 12-issue arc that pretty much anyone can go into without much knowledge of continuity or even the characters. Yet, where Hush was pretty much an explosive, loud story careening wildly through Batman's rogues gallery like a madcap tentpole popcorn movie, For Tomorrow is something else entirely.

Rather that bombast and action, For Tomorrow starts out in a rather contemplative, reflective mood. Apparently something horrible has happened and a portion of the world has disappeared. Superman appears to be feeling guilty and is waxing philosophical with a priest in Metropolis. It's unique in how it approaches the story and is also vastly different from what you'd necessarily expect from Superman, Brian Azzarello, or Jim Lee. Over the course of the tale, we get flashbacks into what led to the disappearances, finally leaping forward into where the people disappeared with much more straightforward superhero derring-do. 

Jim Lee also draws a mean Superman. For as meditative the initial chapters may be as Superman agonizes over his duty to the people of Earth and his role in keeping peace, Lee's portrayal of him falls in line with the hovering, imposing, and somewhat scary strange visitor that exists in Lex Luthor's mind. It's an interesting visual counterpoint to the peaceful, optimistic, and somewhat remorseful dialogue that Azzarello provides. Navel-gazing, however, is not completely on the menu as even in the initial stages, we still get Superman trying to fix a war-torn state, fighting with a cybernetically-enhanced baddie, and butting heads with the Justice League. Scott Williams always tends to keep Lee's lines fairly tight with his inking, helping to give it all a clean, fresh superhero look. The additional inkers (Richard Friend and Sandra Hope join in on the latter part of the series and then an explosion of more for the final chapter) largely maintain this feel.

Alex Sinclair's colors alternate between bright, beautiful blues and darker earth tones as the series swings between Superman's discussions with the priest and the more action-oriented scenes as he swoops in to stop a war. Things start to get a little weird in the world of the disappeared and it's nice to see that reflected in Sinclair's color choices.

Rob Leigh & Nick J. Napolitano round out the creative team, providing fairly straightforward word balloons throughout, fitting into that traditional superhero mould. Even with some drop-shadow yellow narration boxes for that old school comic feel.

What I think really elevates the series for me is the questions that Azzarello and Lee raise in regards to personal responsibility. Not just in regards to proactively dealing with war torn areas of the world, questions raised similarly in works like The Authority, but responsibility to protect the people that you love and the lengths that you'll go to in order to accomplish that task. Whether or not those actions ultimately turn you into a monster, both figuratively and literally.

What's interesting is that there are no easy answers in Superman: For Tomorrow. Even if things might ultimately come back to the status quo, Azzarello, Lee, Williams, Sinclair, the army of additional inkers, Leigh, and Napolitano leave the audience to come to their own conclusions on Superman's actions. It's a rather unique take on Superman, that gives some surprising opposition from members of the Justice League, and a twist on the overall Superman mythos. 

Classic Comic of the Week: Superman - For Tomorrow

Superman - For Tomorrow
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciller: Jim Lee
Inkers: Scott Williams, Richard Friend, Sandra Hope, Matt Banning, Eric Basaldua, Danny Miki, Trevor Scott, Tim Townsend, Joe Weems
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterers: Rob Leigh & Nick J. Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: October 8 2013 – digital edition
Price: $16.99
The complete 12-part saga from SUPERMAN #204-215 written by Brian Azzarello with sensational art by Jim Lee! A cataclysmic event has struck the Earth. Millions of people have vanished without a trace. No one is left unaffected; not even Superman! But after a year, Superman is left with many questions. For a hero who tries to have all the answers, it's torture. And, just as the action heats up and the stakes are raised, one huge question emerges: Just how far is Superman willing to go "For Tomorrow?"
More Information: Superman - For Tomorrow

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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.