BIZARRO: YEAR NONE #1 / Script by ERIC CARRASCO & KEVIN SMITH / Art by NICK PITARRA / Colors by MICHAEL GARLAND / Letters by DAVE SHARPE / Published by DC COMICS

There’s been quite a bit of confusion regarding Bizarro Superman over the years. Depending on the reality, he’s either an imperfect clone of Superman or the protector of a strange alternate universe. Depending on the writer, he’s actively evil (being the total opposite of Superman), noble-hearted but backward by our standards, or just an easily confused and manipulated goof. The new Bizarro: Year None series does not seek to unravel this mystery or codify a new history. Indeed, I think it will only confuse things further. Thankfully, it makes up for it by being funny.

In truth, the story is not about Bizarro, but Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. Set in the early days of Superman’s career, Jimmy is not yet the man of action he will become one day. Heck, right now he’s not even a photographer! He’s the coffee boy at The Daily Planet and desperate to prove his worth.

That chance seemingly comes after he and Perry are drawn into another dimension or sent to another planet. Wherever they are, there is a bizarre man in a Superman suit who wants them to remake The Daily Planet for him. However, he makes Jimmy the Editor-in-Chief and Perry White the coffee boy!

Given this is a Kevin Smith production, it will surprise no one that the best part of Bizarro: Year None is the conversations. Most of the script by Smith and Eric Carrasco is dedicated to the comedic dialogues which dominates Smith’s output as a writer and screenwriter. Most of this is between Jimmy and Perry, but there’s also some quick asides by the rest of The Daily Planet newsroom.

This is funny, but it is built around a major logic problem. Perry is ready to hire the streamer who shot some amazing images of Toyman’s latest rampage. However, he completely changes his tune when he finds out the streamer is the kid who brings him his crullers. This sort of thing would be in-character for J. Jonah Jameson, but Perry White is usually written with more sense and sympathy than this.

The artwork is oddly at odds with the comedic tone of the book. Nick Pitarra’s style is reminiscent of Frank Quitely in terms of detailing and pure grit. However, this only makes some of the more ludicrous imagery even sillier. A prime example of this is the giant tin soldier responsible for trashing The Daily Planet’s main meeting room and Perry White trying to work around it to lecture his reporters.

The rest of the art team is also on fire. Michael Garland primarily uses muted shades to drive home the mundanity of The Daily Planet outside its golden globe. This only serves to highlight the more colorful characters like Olsen, Cat Grant and Steve Lombard. And Dave Sharpe does his best to keep the extensive dialogue from cluttering the art too much.

Bizarro: Year None has little to do with the title character. I think this might have been better promoted as a new Jimmy Olsen miniseries rather than Superman’s backwards doppelganger. Despite this, it’s an amusing if confusing comic that will satisfy the Askewniverse crowd.