Let's Face It...

It pretty much goes without saying that being the Geoff Johns fan boy I am I'm going to enjoy his reworking of Superman's backstory in the mini-series: Superman - Secret Origin.

I'm loving the way he's weaving in elements of Smallville (which, of course, he's a writer on these days) and the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie with the traditional backbone of the well-known story, but sprinkling it with enough unique touches to make it a worthwhile retelling.

Truly a Superman for fans of all stripes.

And I think Gary Frank is a mighty fine artist (again I'm really digging the Christopher Reeve-ness of his Clark Kent) - but I have a major problem whenever anyone tries to smile...

Just look at the pained expressions on their faces!

It's more a grimace than a smile, I'm afraid, that sort of clenched jaw expression you pull involuntarily when trying to stop yourself having an accident in your pants.

I realise it's a silly, trivial thing, but it's really distracting.

Why can't Gary Frank draw normal, non-goofy smiles?

Especially in this third issue of Secret Origin there are some beautiful, dynamic full-page illustrations - but I keep finding myself fixated on the characters' mouths and trying to recreate their expressions myself to figure out what's really going on in their heads...