Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1: A Fond Look Back

Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Return of Superman and The Reign of the Supermen by bringing back a lot of the creative teams who worked on those books before. Much like the Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 last year, this celebration serves to bring readers back to that time, giving them stories which existed between the pages within continuity. Also similarly, Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 doesn’t seem to be marketed in a way to convey that these are new stories, looking as though it is a reprint of the event itself. Nonetheless, Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 is a fun look back into a simpler time, when four individuals fought tooth and nail to replace Superman, while speculators went wild.

From the amazing writing team of Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Karl Kesel, and Louise Simonson, Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 truly transports you back to 1993, recreating one of the most iconic times in the history of the Man of Steel. These creators clearly remember what the world felt like back then, recreating the same tone, feeling, and ambiance that gave each of these Supermen their own flair. One special thing that this team does is justify what each of these Supermen meant to the world, and why none of them were ever meant to replace Superman. Each of these new characters had their own, unique backstories, personalities, as well as supporting casts, creating four unique titles that could only follow the death of one of comic’s most revered characters. The fact that the Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 is able to recreate that magic is astounding.

Much like the writing, the art team of Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Denis Rodier, Jon Bogdanove immediately helps transport the reader back to 1993. While Jurgens has written and drawn Superman more recently, seeing art form the likes of Jerry Ordway immediately will bring you back to that decade. This book is a full 90’s nostalgia trip, celebrating the decade that brought all of these characters to prominence. While no artist does better than the other, Ordway’s art is the one that truly engrains this book into the time period where the stories are set. From there, it feels like a familiar trip, albeit from a view of hindsight that allows the team to look back on the outcome of this time period and summarize it in a thoughtful manner.

Part of capturing the 90’s aesthetic has to be through the colors and letters, a job that Glenn Whitmore and Richard Starkings take in stride. The art and writing aside, Whitmore and Starkings fill this book with that extra touch that allows the escapism into the 90’s feel authentic and earned. This entire creative team truly brings everything back in a creative and fun manner. 

The best part about Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 is that it views its subject matter from a view of authenticity and also retrospectively. This means that the creative team can engage in commentary surrounding their work, in a way that allows the book to feel fresh and also celebratory. This is done by putting Lois and Perry in the driver’s seat, allowing them to act as if they are the audience following along with the books. This creates a wonderful read that is sure to tickle that nostalgia factor for anyone itching to go back to a simpler time.