Book Review: The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson *** and a 1\2 out of *****

Almost everybody knows the story of Superman and the planet Krypton with its red sun. Everybody knows that Superman is the only son of Jor-El and Lara, who shipped him off to Earth moments before the planet Krypton was blown to smithereens. But Kevin J. Anderson's novel, The Last Days of Krypton, proves that there is much more to the story. And what a story it is!

From political shenanigans, to sibling rivalry, to the plots of the evil dictator Zod, to the mute villain Nam-Ek, to the true nature of Brainiac, to earthquakes and flash floods, Anderson's Krypton has to be one of the most unfortunate planets in the universe. And that's what makes this book so entertaining and flawed at the same time.

With straightforward prose and a quick pace, Anderson tells the story of Krypton in an exciting, never-lagging manner, with one disaster after another, while the endearing characters try to overcome those ordeals. The novel is full of adventure, romance, villains and action, which makes it an almost epic tale that sheds new light on the whole Superman mythos.

But in trying to combine all the different mythologies that have been created over the decades, Anderson also creates a novel that doesn't leave the reader room to breathe and suspend his/her disbelief. As Anderson crams his 400+ pages with disaster after disaster that the story becomes more of a space opera than anything else, which, of course, might have been Anderson's intention in the first place (the book begins with a list of all the characters in the novel - Dramatis Persoane - as if it were an opera or a play). And, also, the stilted dialogue surely doesn't help.

But, overall, the flaws don't take away from the fact that this is a hugely entertaining book, with enough imagination and forward momentum to make it an addictive read and a must for fans of The Man of Steel. And on the long run, it's probably going to become the final word on the story of Krypton.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2023.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of several short films and a feature, which was released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. He is also the host of The Dark Fantastic Podcast. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @DFantasticPodcast

Book Review: ENEMIES AND ALLIES By Kevin J. Anderson *** and a 1\2 out of *****

Enemies and Allies, Kevin J. Anderson's second novel for DC, after the superbly entertaining The Last Days of Krypton, is a clever, serious story about Batman and Superman's first encounter in 1956.

Taking his cue from the works of Frank Miller and Jeph Loeb, both of whom are thanked in the preface, Anderson creates a tale infused with a paranoid, Cold War feel, with the threat of nuclear annihilation looming over the characters. Anderson's depictions of characters, from Superman, to Batman, to Lois Lane, to Jimmy Olsen, are well-crafted and endearing, and the dialogue always rings true. But the main villain, Lex Luthor, comes off as one-dimensional and somewhat cartoonish, which might have to do with his over-the-top plan for world domination. Which brings me to the main fault of the book. Although Anderson brings a depth and a weight to the historical and technical aspects of the story, they don't gel with the Sci-Fi elements, which feel cliched and underdeveloped. This makes the book uneven in tone, as the broad, "Golden Age" comic book aspects seem in constant battle with the solemn tone that Anderson chooses to tell his tale, making Enemies and Allies less fun than it should be.

But fans of Batman and Superman will find a lot to enjoy here, as both heroes are treated with love and care, and Anderson's short chapters make this a fast page-turner, and a good if not very memorable addition to the DC cannon.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2020.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of the feature film Wingrave, released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon.

Quick Review: LEGO BATMAN: THE MOVIE: DC SUPER HEROES UNITE (2013) - *** out of four

The most fun I've had watching a DC movie in years, Lego Batman: The Movie: DC Super Heroes Unite (2013) - not to be confused with the theatrical feature released in 2017 - is a funny, fun, energetic, and superbly entertaining animated movie. It manages to be slyly funny and reverent to the source material at the same time (astute viewers will catch a lot of references to the original live-action movies), and the voice performances are top notch. A must for fans of Batman, Superman, Justice League, and DC comics.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2017

Book Review: SUPERMAN by Larry Tye

A love letter to all things Superman, Superman by Larry Tye is essential reading for fans of the character, DC, and comic books. Covering everything from the creation of the character, to the lives of its creators (which is quite a tale in itself), to the evolution of the comic books across 70 years of publishing, to the radio shows and numerous TV shows and movies based on the character, and with tons of quotes from almost every person who's had a hand in shaping or interpreting the character, this is a must read, and one of the best books ever written about comic books and their impact.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Quick Review: SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)

Well-intentioned but bland and poorly made Superman movie, with unremarkable performances, a weak plot, and lackluster special effects. It had a notoriously troubled production, and it shows. A sad end to a a groundbreaking franchise.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Quick Review: SUPERMAN III (1983)

Uneven, bizarrely incoherent movie, which treats the material with annoying irreverence. Director Richard Lester seems more interested in campy humor and over-the-top gags than Superman, while Richard Pryor, who accepted the role purely for the money, does his best with sub par material. Only Christopher Reeve's wonderfully earnest performance and a terrific showdown between Clark Kent and Bizarro Superman, save the film from becoming unwatchable.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Review: SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT (1980 - 2006)

After being summarily fired as soon as he completed work on Superman (1978), Richard Donner left behind 75-80% of Superman II (1980) in the can. The footage was re-tooled and augmented by new footage from replacement director Richard Lester, who delivered an entertaining sequel to Donner's original, but a disappointing one nonetheless, mainly due to his conventional direction and obvious lack of passion towards the material.

Almost 30 years later, Warner Bros. and producer/editor Michael Thau tracked down Donner's original footage, and with Donner's input and supervision, reconstructed Donner's original vision for Superman II. The result is a vast improvement over the theatrically released version, which restores the tone and quality Donner established with the original. Mostly gone is the campy humor, the sloppy dialogue, and the dated feel of the Richard Lester version. What we now have is a movie that is faster, subtler, more powerful, and technically better. The major plus, of course, is the restored Marlon Brando footage, the terrific opening, and a better ending,

For fans of Superman, his mythology, and the first film, this is a treasure trove.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Quick Review: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)

An immortal classic, Superman (1978) still packs a punch decades after it was released, mainly due to director Richard Donner's meticulous direction and a cast that is pitch perfect. Yes, the effects have aged, and some of the comedic touches don't work. But this is one awe-inspiring, groundbreaking, terrifically entertaining movie for the wide-eyed child in all of us.

* The 35th anniversary edition, with some amazing restored footage, is the one to watch. *

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Quick Review: SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)

Designed as a sequel/tribute to Richard Donner's 1978 masterpiece, Superman Returns (2006) is a strangely glum movie, with little action, and forgettable performances by all involved. The effects are great, and the climax impressive, but the film's tone and Brandon Routh's subdued performance as the man of steel, combined with Bryan Singer's conventional direction, make this a surprisingly somber Superman movie that fails on the most important level of all when it comes to a Superman movie: to rouse and entertain. Then again, with his dour handling of X-Men, Singer was never the right choice for this material, since Superman is a character that symbolizes hope and faith in humanity, and Singer is a cynical filmmaker whose interest seems to be in the darker aspects of humanity [The Usual Suspects (1995), Apt Pupil (1998)].

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.