I grew up with Superman and Spider-man. They were literally my first great comic book loves.

As a child, I obsessively watched the black-and-white repeats of The Adventures of Superman (1952-1958) starring George Reeves or got up early every Saturday morning to thrill to Super Friends (1973-1985), where the Man of Steel was indisputably the lead character.

Afternoons were Spider-Man time. The 1967 animated series ran in syndication after school — and yes, like so many nerds of my generation, I can still sing the iconic theme song in its entirety. 

But the afternoons also meant I could look forward to Stan Lee's Spider-Man comic strips, which ran daily in the Tucson Citizen newspaper starting in 1977.

In my youth, I don't know if I ever imagined Superman and Spider-Man teaming up. But thanks to Marvel and DC Comics continuing their tradition of superhero cross-overs, we have a new Superman / Spider-Man comic book. Like previous versions, it contains various stories, this time spearheaded by powerhouse creators like Mark Waid, Jorge Jimenez and Jim Lee.

Thanks to decades of variants and multiverses, the book features different team ups — sometimes of Superman and Spider-Man, but also of their friends, family members and tangential characters. My two favorites were titled "Truth, Justice and Great Responsibility" and "Tapping In."

The first features the iconic versions of the main characters going up again Doctor Octopus who's under control of Brainiac. The artwork by Jorge Jimenez is fantastic!

Other stories include:

"The World's Finest" finds Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson in a friendly and humorous conversation about careers and navigating relationships with super-powered men with secret identities. Plus, they crush hard on Gambit. 

"The Bridge" offers some "dad to dad" bonding as Jonathan Kent and Ben Parker encounter each other during a torrential storm — and prove that their son/nephew aren't the only heroes in their families. 

"Beyond the Cobwebs of Tomorrow" features Superboy and Spider-Man 2099, with Batman. In this story, the superheroes realize that they're on parallel paths as they slip through time to stop the brutal reigns of Dr. Doom and Lex Luthor. 

"Jimmy con Carnage" is an amusing short where Jimmy Olsen leaves Metropolis and goes to work with Peter Parker at the Daily Bugle, where he must endure the ultimate boss-from-hell — J. Jonah Jameson. In is quest to please J. Jonah with photos of Spider-Man ("who's Spider-Man??"), Jimmy mistakes Carnage for the web-slinger. 

"Bias" takes a page from our modern talk news with Lois Lane and J. Jonah Jameson having a fiery debate about media and how it covers the likes of Superman and Spider-Man. And also Wonder Woman, Captain America and the Fantastic Four. 

Continue to watch this website as I will be debuting a curated Spider-Man book list in the near future. You can find my Superman Collection here.

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Godzilla rampages across the United States in IDW’s "Godzilla vs. America" series, with each comic unleashing chaos on a different city. The latest installment, "Godzilla vs. Portland," released in March 2026, invites readers to experience this unique blend of local culture and monster mayhem. I couldn’t resist picking up a copy when I stumbled upon it during a visit to Portland this past weekend.

One of the standout features of this miniseries is its commitment to authenticity, which engages local writers and artists to capture the essence of each city. "Godzilla vs. Portland" is no exception, and it’s clear that the contributors have a genuine love for the City of Roses. The comic contains four short stories, each offering a different slice of life from Portland, albeit with a giant lizard stomping through town.

The stories within "Godzilla vs. Portland" vary in quality, with two particular tales standing out above the rest.

Dog Day Afternoon by Cat Farris was my favorite. This story captures Portland’s quirky culture by focusing on two locals engrossed in a heated debate over the city’s official hot dog recipe. Amidst debate, they remain blissfully unaware of Godzilla’s destruction all around them. Farris nails the Portland vibe, from therapy llamas to the gag-inducing mention of kale sauerkraut, making it a delightful parody that resonates beyond the monster chaos.

High Score by Caitlin Yarsky, set in 1981, connects Portland’s Polybius urban legend to Godzilla’s arrival. A local news reporter makes a startling discovery — achieving a certain score on the mythical arcade game summons the monster from the Willamette River. It's pure classic monster movie melodrama with a modern day twist. 

While I enjoyed these stories, I wonder if the anthology’s highly local-centric approach might limit its appeal, especially for readers unfamiliar with Portland. Many in-jokes and cultural references may not resonate or could be misunderstood by outsiders. The risk with such a concept is that it can lean too heavily on stereotypes or niche humor, which is primarily appreciated by residents, making it less engaging for a broader audience.

​However, even with these potential hurdles, the anthology remains an entertaining concept. The juxtaposition of a global icon like Godzilla with the idiosyncrasies of various American cities makes for a fun read. 

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Superman: The Harvest of Youth by Sina Grace explores Clark Kent's formative years, set against the tranquil farming community of Smallville as he navigates the trials of high school. Despite having all his superpowers, Clark has yet to embrace the Superman identity or even understand how best to use them. 

The story kicks off as Clark arrives at Smallville High to find that Alvin Buenaventura, a new and largely unnoticed peer, has tragically taken his own life on campus.

The incident deeply disturbs Clark, who, through his superpowers, accidentally witnesses the grim scene. Haunted by a sense of responsibility, Clark remembers his brief time on the track team with Alvin and wishes he could have intervened. In an attempt to find solace and extend support, Clark, alongside Lana Lang, reaches out to Alvin's sister, Amy. As they console her, Amy asks for their help decoding a mysterious kangaroo drawing found among Alvin's belongings.

Amy and Clark develop a budding affection as they try to understand Alvin’s suicide. They uncover that the kangaroo image is an Australian cartoon character called Darby-Roo, which has been co-opted by American hate groups. This revelation foreshadows troubling events as armed teenagers disrupt a high school debate meeting. Clark swiftly neutralizes them, only to realize the guns were harmless toys. Among the saved is a young Lex Luthor.

As Darby Roo's misogynistic graffiti starts popping up around Smallville, Clark's friend, Gilbert Stockwell, becomes ensnared by the group's toxic online community. Following a frustrating skateboarding accident, Gilbert grows distant and resentful towards his friends and finds solace among his online “friends.” Clark, hoping to redirect Gilbert's anger, secures him an internship at LuthorCorp through his friendly connection with Lex.
However, Gilbert's bitterness only festers, and spurred on by the shadowy leader of the Darby-Roo group, he exploits his new role at LuthorCorp to unleash a small army of robots on the Downtown Smallville festival. With Pete's help, Clark neutralizes the threat, leading to Gilbert's arrest and subsequent placement in juvenile detention. 

It’s Lana who uncovers that the sinister Darby-Roo group is orchestrated by Mister Mxyzptlk, a mischievous imp from the fifth dimension known for creating chaos to amuse himself. In this case, Mister Mxyzptlk is  tapping into the rage and resentment of young men to create chaos. Having Mister Mxyzptlk as the mastermind behind the Darby-Roo conspiracy is a good choice, but he is not fully explained in this book, and probably only seasoned Superman readers would catch who he truly is!

Indeed, if Clark once fought Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, his 21st-century adversaries in The Harvest of Youth are incels and online hate groups. The narrative effectively illustrates how both positive and negative online reinforcements can skew perceptions, pushing ordinary individuals towards irrational actions.

The dialogue and character interactions are crafted with authenticity. In particular, Gilbert's descent into anger, fueled by his resentment toward male “pick-up artists” (i.e., boys who can get dates like Clark and Pete) and toward women (especially those he thinks have rejected him, like Lana and Chloe), is portrayed with chilling accuracy. But while Gilbert is a highly effective character, other familiar Smallville faces, like Chloe, feel underutilized. Additionally, the initial mystery surrounding Alvin's suicide remains mostly unresolved. We are left to assume that his rejection by the Darby-Roos was the impetus for his suicide, but this is vague, and we never really learn much about him. 

Despite some minor shortcomings, the book delivers a poignant message about the limits of Clark's abilities. The realization that he can't save everyone — especially from themselves — underscores a reality he will struggle with his entire life. The portrayal of Clark as an empathic and hopeful "regular kid" with hidden abilities naturally recalls the appeal of the "Smallville" TV series.

However, the artwork doesn't quite match the story's depth, leaning towards a cartoonish style that I personally found distracting. Did anyone else think Lex Luthor looked too much like Tintin? 

In sum, Superman: The Harvest of Youth is a thoughtful exploration of Clark Kent's early years, blending familiar superhero elements with timely social commentary. While it may have its flaws, it remains a compelling read for fans old and new.

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