Superman: Secret Identity was one of the first Superman books I discovered when I got back into reading comics, and it still remains one of my favourites. I loved how Kurt Busiek took elements of the Superman story and turned them on their head, and he did it without making the Secret Identity universe seem either utterly depressing or ridiculously silly. I also loved the artwork by Stuart Immonen, with the washed out pastels, and occasional sprawling landscape/geographic splash pages. I thought the colour and style of the artwork perfectly complimented the story Busiek was telling.
As for Peter David's Many Happy Returns, I think it was a great way to wrap up David's run on the book. I think David's version of the Supergirl character is far superior to the current Loeb incarnation--not least because David had some idea of who his character was and where he wanted to go with her. And I quite liked the way David's Fallen Angel (when it was still being published under the Vertigo banner) played on some of the scenes present in Many Happy Returns.
I've only read a couple of trades in Brubaker's Sleeper series. I loved the first trade, and thought teh second volume was pretty good too. But I haven't felt compelled to rush out and buy the rest of them. I don't know if you've tried Greg Rucka's Queen and Country books, but if you enjoy spy stories, you might enjoy those as well...
Yes, the art in Secret Identity worked well for me, even the pastiches of older styles, which sometimes seems gimmicky but didn't there.
I don't know much Supergirl canon, but I probably should investigate more. I read a few of the comics from when she was in love with Lex Luthor (the clone), but my reaction was more incredulity than ability to understand her as a character. I will keep an eye out for Fallen Angel.
I read a volume of Queen & Country but didn't get much out of it. Even within my comics, I prefer superpowers.
As for Peter David's Many Happy Returns, I think it was a great way to wrap up David's run on the book. I think David's version of the Supergirl character is far superior to the current Loeb incarnation--not least because David had some idea of who his character was and where he wanted to go with her. And I quite liked the way David's Fallen Angel (when it was still being published under the Vertigo banner) played on some of the scenes present in Many Happy Returns.
I've only read a couple of trades in Brubaker's Sleeper series. I loved the first trade, and thought teh second volume was pretty good too. But I haven't felt compelled to rush out and buy the rest of them. I don't know if you've tried Greg Rucka's Queen and Country books, but if you enjoy spy stories, you might enjoy those as well...
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I don't know much Supergirl canon, but I probably should investigate more. I read a few of the comics from when she was in love with Lex Luthor (the clone), but my reaction was more incredulity than ability to understand her as a character. I will keep an eye out for Fallen Angel.
I read a volume of Queen & Country but didn't get much out of it. Even within my comics, I prefer superpowers.
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