"Superman: Earth One" Volume 1 is the early beginnings of Supes for the millennium generation

Superman is the superhero for the ages. So far, we've seen countless stories about Man of Steel's true origin, all fascinating in their interpretation, and all as different as can be.  Superman: Earth One, Volume 1 is the most futuristic and contemporary one of them all, placing Supes in the shoes of today's millennium generation, a youth so worried about their purpose in life they've completely lost sight of what they're exceptional at.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Shane Davis give us a younger, more boyish Superman than we're accustomed to seeing.  As he finds himself newly arrived in Metropolis, looking for work, he tries out for a football team, where he attempts playing every single position, and he also applies at a laboratory or a science research facility, where his expertise at creating and solving complex formulas impresses his potential employer to the point that he's immediately offered a job.  The problem is, young Clark Kent simply wouldn't feel fulfilled doing such mindless jobs, regardless of how high his salary would be.

Davis' artwork is more than noteworthy.  He creates and paints each frame with great detail and accuracy, and as a result his Superman feels real, more human than we could've anticipated.  By the time the evil Tyrell attacks Earth with his numerous spaceships, requesting that the planet's citizens turn Superman over to him in exchange for his mercy, the story shifts gears into full-mode action, resembling the recent Man of Steel movie from 2013 in structure and even spectacle of explosion and battle and even one-on-one combat.  The only thing is, this comic book is better.

Unlike Straczynski's writing, which isn't necessarily subpar, but only less noticeable compared to Davis' art, the visuals in this first Volume are exceptional, and are the driving element that push the readers' eyes towards the artwork to the point where the text is merely secondary.  That is a true definition of a successful comic book, even for someone like me, who doesn't necessarily consider Superman as their favorite superhero.
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