Review by Ian Keogh
A graphic novel starting with someone in Clark Kent’s class committing suicide is hardly run of the mill for a Superman story, never mind one aimed at the young adult market, yet the back cover blurb is accurate in calling Harvests of Youth deeply moving. Well, in places.
Other DC young adult graphic novels have been titled after real names, and this might have been better given Clark’s name as a title, as the requirement for super powers is minimal until the finale. Sina Grace instead concentrates on Clark and Lana Lang running the student newspaper, while Pete Ross is just one of several friends, the others newly created to see out the story. To start with the personalities are well conceived. One is too glib and worldly, but the most interesting introduction is really sympathetic. Amy is the sister of the boy who killed himself, an illustrator well rounded in her attraction to Clark, who Grace has as a confident and friendly teenager in contrast to the shy kid often portrayed. His supercilious version of Lex Luthor is also memorable and given appropriately smug dialogue.
Grace’s art is clear and attractive, and successful in conveying the emotional moments, not just through facial expression, but via cinematic use of close-ups. Because the use of super powers is kept to a minimum, the visual effects are pleasingly subtle.
The dynamics work well over the first half, but judgemental behaviour and mixed messages begin to creep in, an agenda of people resenting help and kindness with unfounded accusations, and Amy is part of that. She initiates the sweet relationship and wants Clark’s consideration and comfort, except when she doesn’t and considers he’s paying attention because he sees her as broken and something to fix. It’s shallow, and affects another character to a greater degree, with their resentments equally difficult to understand, even taking manipulation into account alongside the issues raised. There’s a divisive moment toward the end along similar lines, and it seems out of character for Clark.
In reality, of course, some people drift into states affecting their personality, and that’s what Grace is aiming to show, but because of a background element, anyone familiar with Superman’s enemies will constantly be considering something else. It’s worth giving away that it’s total misdirection, as The Harvests of Youth reads far better without the suspicion that it’s all down to magical meddling, which would have been a cheap ploy. However, the actual final page is a strange one, supposed to represent Smallville, but with the largest motif being a fish in an area well away from the sea and not shown as having wide rivers.
Understanding and humanity outweigh the occasional crunching of gears, and Grace uses the cast well in exploring the challenges some youngsters face, realising some problems can’t be solved.
