I don't even know how to vote. This was my only decade, since I started reading comics when the New 52 hit. I've since read many comics outside of the in universe stuff, like Injustice, Smallville, all the origins and several elseworlds. Even so, I don't have much to compare it too, in regards to other decades. So I'm just going to have to grade it on it's own merits.
Pre 52
Didn't read any of the early 2010 stuff that happened prior to the New 52. It sounded all bad, and I've seen a few scans of Grounded which look so try hard.
The New 52
As much as I loved the stuff that worked, it was a mixed bag. There was a lot of concepts that I liked, and wished they'd have fleshed out but didn't. I'll break down concepts and writers, to be more concise.
Grant Morrison- I think Morrison wrote what is hands down my favorite origin (and yes, I've read all of them), of Superman to date. It's missing some elements that I think would have made it perfect, but overall it's as close to it as I've seen. His World building and alterations to previous elements (like Red Kryptonite), are all welcomed updates.
Greg Pak- While I think Morrison nailed the world building and set up, I think Pak nailed the personality and heart much better than he did. Pak's strong suit was more grounded stories, rather than cosmic level threats. Which served him well... outside of events. Pak brought that same style of writing into events, which just didn't work and took you out of it. You'd have stories like Doomed, in which Superman is turning into DOomsday, but he'd focus on small character moments and a romance between Lana and Steel. While good stuff, it's jarring in an event. It's why I think the first six issues of his Truth run was good, but once it had to deal with the meat of the event, it started to fall apart.
All Writers On Superman Title, Prior to Lobdell- Ehhhh, nothing memorable.
Lobdell- He wrote one good arc, with an interesting villain, and then quickly tanked the Superman titles after that. I liked the idea of the Blog storyline, but he did nothing with it. Soule did more with it than he did, but Soule was only using it, he didn't intend to flesh it out.
Scott SNyder- I didn't care much for his Superman book. HIs Superman felt rigid and stiff, elements in that story are handled better elsewhere, Wraith was as boring as a sack of potatoes, and Lee's art was at it's worst since the whole New 52 started.
Soule- I think Soule did a good job with the romantic aspect of the book, but his Superman felt flavorless, in that nothing about it stood out to me. The characters were built around the story, rather than the other way around. I liked the fights, the art and the arc he had in it. Which was Clark having to deal with the celebrity relationship status of being the "power couple". Issue 12, was a strong end to this arc, in him manning up and not shying away and only focusing his love on her, and blocking out this new attention. His way of writing the book, is why his Doomed stuff, was better than Pak and was the strongest of the event.
Tomasi- To this day, I think he was put on this book to tank it. He went from writing a beloved run on Batman and Robin, to failing at writing SUperman/Wonder WOman, and then turning around and writing a fan favorite run on Action Comics. Coincidence? I think not! And no one give me that crap that you can't write them together, cus what he did was almost intentional fumbling. He inserted a terrible moment into the JL;War arc, that went nowhere and only made them out to look bad. In total, I think he had like maybe 2 good issues, at the start of Truth, but then failed. He never should have written this book, since it's obvious he didn't care to do so. They should have gotten the writes who wrote the annual to do it.
Geoff Johns- This guy... this son of a bitch. First he wrote Superjock in JL;War, which was offputting for so many people, based on a bad impresson he seems to have gotten from Grant's run. Then he put zero effort into the SM/WW relationship in how they got together since he intended to break them up in Trinity War, but his most egregious sin during the New 52 was his actual Superman run. This was the first legit time I was livid after reading a comic. After a series of average at best issues, his finale to his arc was a giant slap in the face and his dissension into laziness and over reliance on fan service. His arc put no effort into the reasoning for his return to the Daily Planet, the way he handles the SID reveal to Jimmy shows a complete lack of set up and friendship between the two, and the new power was complete and total nonsense. IT was all just bells and whistles.
Yang- Not much to say about him, other than he got screwed. He got thrown into an event, without being allowed to discover his voice for Superman. His stuff was mediocre at best, but I don't blame him.
Just to comment on two aspects that people seem to have deemed contraverstial. I liked the armor. I liked the look of it, but I'm a sucker for armor and I think it suits Krypton better, rather than the tights. Whiners be like "why does he need armor? It's stupid", to me, armor is more about evoking both an advance alien feel, and Knights. Evoking Knights, is much better than trying to still evoke the old Strongman feel. Knights are more timeless and more in line with superheroes.
I also liked the concept of SUperman and Wonder WOman dating, but sadly it wasn't done full justice. Both in how it started, and how the writers on the title went about it (mainly TOmasi).
Death- Look, I get why he had to die, I do. I think it went on for as long as it could, and they gave him chances (although some of the blame could also be placed on editorial, lack of cohesion at the start of the New 52 and company wide decisions) the possibly could. Only thing i could say is, I wish it was written better and not by the guy who I think was sent in to purposely tank it. I will say, their attempt to fuse both versions was a bullshit ploy to try and keep New 52 fans, and they can shove that olive branch where the sun don't shine. Not that it matter I guess, since they undid it twice. Once in that Sideways annual, and again in the Doomsday Clock finale (I prefer the former).
Rebirth
Haven't read any of it, and I refuse to, outside of scans that I can use to rub salt in the wounds of people like L and friends who gave me shit about the New 52, but loved Rebirth SUperman. Just so that I don't sound totally dismissive to this era, I think that what they did in regards to giving him a bastard, was the right move for this version of the character. I objectively have zero issues with the character, outside of how he was conceived, and that's only because Lois and CLark's inability to breed was a major part of prior stories, and they just gloss over that, rather than lean into the sci fi aspect of the character and work around this hurtle in a way that is more interesting. He's a completely fine character... but that won't stop me from shitting on him and taking glee in Bendis screwing him over.
This thing has gone on too long, and i'm just going to rate this era by giving it an average score of 4/10. This is taking into account all Superman stories that happened, and all that I refused to read.
Rating- 4/10
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