Superman #178

This issue I am still mixed on today.  The Premise is Superman is redefining himself, the yellow in his "S" has gone black.  This is a symbolic statement that Superman lost something.  Joeb and co take advantage with this and this issues is about redefining Superman.  Lex Luthor is president and used Superman's own slogan "Truth, Justice and the American way".  This slogan is a double-edged blade with Superman, he is Alien so he is not Human, but America is the land of the free.  Lex Luthor is human and naturally serves as the evils in Humans, while Superman is suppose to "Inspire" us to be better.
 
What makes me mixed about this issue is I am Canadian and the American Spirit is a lot for me in this comic.  I can appreciate a well written comics, I have reviewed comics from the most obscure indie cartoonist to some of the most celebrated graphic novels.  The American Spirit floods this comic, there are even times when the panels would only show colors of red, white and blue.  That color choice works differently for Canadians, but I do like the attempt Loeb and co tried. Most noted is the fight with Uncle Sam and Superman, while I didn't get why they fought, the use of red, white and blue was nice because I saw the conflict visually. The colors ran horizontal since both men are American heroes.  The colors failed for me when I noticed them in the Lex Luthor pages, they were mostly BLUE.. I guess representing his political standing?  The Blue did work a bit because the color choices were colder, but I know I was missing something in translation, being a cousin across the boarder and all.
 
I did enjoy this issue, but I could not love it, since it doesn't apply to me.  I loved the family connection Clark Kent still has and my favorite scenes are the ones in Smallville. This Comic was collected in DC Comics Presents: Superman #3 and would recommend that collection if you want playful stories that try to redefine the most ICONIC Superhero of them all.
 
Cheers! Happy Holidays!
- Silkcut