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Velorath
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Since City of Heroes is pretty much the big thing around here right now, I figured I'd bring up probably one of the best superhero comics being put out right now. Supreme Power is J. Michael Straczynski's (Rising Stars, Babylon 5, Jeremiah) take on the Squadron Supreme (which was Marvel Comics take on DC's Justice League). Supreme Power: Contact collects the first six issues of the currently ongoing series, and focuses on the SS version of Superman, named Hyperion, and a smaller focus on Blur (the Flash), and Nighthawk (Batman).
The world Supreme Power takes place in is completely devoid of superhumans before Hyperion crashes to Earth, making it a more "realistic" type superhero comic similar to Straczynski's best know comic work, Rising Stars. Hyperion is found by a couple pretty much on the brink of divorce, who are in turn found by the U.S. Government and told to raise the child under their supervision. The stress of raising a superhuman child while pretending to have a happy marrige isn't helped any when Hyperion discovers his heat ray vision vaporizing the dog he just got for his birthday when it's barking causes him to panic. Hyperion is home schooled and kept away from other people giving him somewhat of a lack of social skills, nor does he have any sort of real emotional attachment to the world other than his parents.
The government lies not only lies to him about his alien heritage, but uses him as a weapon of war in the Middle East. They eventually reveal Hyperion to the public, as well as send him off to investigate rumors of the Blur whom he meets and eventually becomes friends with, as to the best of their knowledge they are the only two superhumans (the Blur camn down with a mysterious sickness as a child and has been able to run fast ever since he recovered) although the Blur has heard rumors of a crimefighter called the Nighthawk. Nighthawk, who is African-American, saw his parents gunned down at random by some racist redneck, and limits his crimefighting to only saving black people who are being attacked by whites. His brief meeting with Hyperion towards the end of the book which doesn't quite go as well as Hyperion's meetings with Blur.
Gary Frank's artwork is top notch for comics. He also did the art for Straczynski's 12 issue series Midnight Nation (also worth picking up). Many people say this is the best comic Marvel puts out, and they're right, although there really isn't much competition if you're looking for a more serious read than Fantastic Four or Spider-man (which Straczynski is also writing for Marvel at the moment). It's certainly worth a read while waiting for Straczynski and Top Cow to hammer out the problems that have been keeping the final two issues of the 24-part Rising Stars from being published.
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