House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat

by Claudia Gray, Eric Zawadzki (Illustrator)

Overview

Welcome to a brand-new vision of one of comics’ most famous tragedies, from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray and illustrator Eric Zawadzki. In this first graphic novel in a trilogy, explore Krypton like never before: through the eyes of two young people on opposite sides of the same extinction-level event.


Zahn is one of Krypton’s elites: wealthy, privileged, a future leader. Sera is one of Krypton’s soldiers: strong, dedicated, fearless. Their rule-bound society has ordained that their paths should never cross.

But groundquakes are shaking the planet’s surface. Rebellious uprisings are shaking the populace. Krypton’s top scientists—Jor-El and Lara—conduct a secret experiment that is meant to reform their planet from the cellular level up. Zahn and Sera must join forces to investigate the hidden dangers truly threatening Krypton. In the process, they form a bond that will endure past the end of the world...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401291129
Publisher:	DC Comics
Publication date:	01/05/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	488,346
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Claudia Gray is the New York Times bestselling author of many science fiction and paranormal fantasy books for young adults, including the Defy the Stars series, the Firebird series, the Evernight series, the Spellcaster series, and Fateful. She's also had a chance to work in a galaxy far, far away as the author of the Star Wars novels Lost Stars, Bloodline, and Leia, Princess of Alderaan. Born a fangirl, she loves obsessing over geeky movies and TV shows, as well as reading and occasionally writing fan fiction; however, she periodically leaves the house to go kayaking, do a little hiking, or travel the world. She will take your Jane Austen trivia challenge any day, anytime. Currently she lives in New Orleans.

Eric Zawadzki grew up in Vancouver, but he's recently relocated to Calgary. He's most well-known for the critically aclaimed THE DREGS and ETERNAL. His most recent work in comics is HEART ATTACK, for Image/Skybound comics, which he co-created and illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

11/30/2020

Creating a political backdrop rife with nationalism, science eschewers, and manufactured social hierarchy, Gray (the Constellation series), in her graphic novel debut, weaves a tepid story, the first in three parts leading toward Krypton’s famous destruction. Krypton, a civilization that has “achieved perfection,” with “the best soldiers, the best scientists, the best leaders,” uses propaganda and force to keep the public docile and obedient. Sera, a low-ranking foot soldier praised for her leadership, and Zahn, a high-ranking official-to-be, separately begin to recognize Krypton’s leaders’ lies and deflections. Sera achieves clarity by working with scientists who become Superman’s parents, while Zahn recognizes the truth in work with a militant dissident group that wants to overthrow Krypton’s government to save the planet. The story’s momentum comes primarily from its build to an inevitable conclusion, and Sera and Zahn’s goals will be familiar to readers of YA dystopian fiction. In contrasting cool and warm color palettes, artist Zawadzki and colorist Dee Cunniffe summon fittingly mechanical landscapes that emphasize the society’s hollow, synthetic atmosphere. Ages 12–up. (Jan.)■

Publishers Weekly

12/01/2020

Gr 7–10—In comic lore, the planet Krypton self-destructs right after Superman's parents send the infant to Earth for his survival. This first installment in a new series from Gray explores the downfall of Krypton through a pair of intrepid teens and a few familiar faces. Zahn, a wealthy member of the Re family and a cousin to Lara, who is pregnant with Kal-El (Superman), keeps conveniently bumping into Sera, a lower-caste soldier who's part of the effort to terraform other planets. Sera and Zahn don't fit in with their genetically appointed caste systems—Sera questions the effectiveness of her ill-fated missions, while Zahn aligns himself with an underground group attempting to save Krypton. General Zod picks Sera to help the scientists Jor-El and Lara in a secret mission to undo some of the genetic strictness that has formed most Kryptonians. Lara argues that leaders and scientists need creativity and soldiers need humanity and compassion, whereas the current genetic caste structure prohibits both of those from happening. Meanwhile, Krypton is being rocked by extreme earthquakes, which the government denies are happening despite the obvious evidence to the contrary—a plotline that will feel especially relevant given current events. Most characters are white, although Zahn and Sera have friends who are people of color. Zawadzki's artwork is engaging while propelling the story forward. Sera and Zahn must team up in the end, and the next phase of their adventure promises to be just as exciting. VERDICT A strong start to this trilogy about the last days of Krypton. Will thrill Superman fans and action fans alike.—Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX

School Library Journal

2020-10-22
As groundquakes destabilize the foundation of Krypton’s future, two young Kryptonians—an elite member from the upper-caste and a lower-caste soldier—search for the truth behind the planet’s turmoil.

Despite the apparent dangers, Krypton’s leaders refuse to acknowledge the groundquakes’ promise of peril, suppressing all insurgent attempts that suggest otherwise. Zahn, a son of the House of Re, believes otherwise, so he joins Midnight, an underground movement, in their mission to awaken fellow Kryptonians from their imposed stupor. Contending with the predestined, genetically ordained path laid before him, Zahn struggles to reconcile his destiny as a “proper son of Re” with the self-doubts that wrack him. For Sera, there’s no doubt that there’s only one path for a Krypton soldier: to defend the so-called “greatest civilization in the galaxy,” even if it results in death. However, Krypton’s terraforming attempts on other planets keep resulting in catastrophic failure, and Sera starts to suspect that there’s something seriously wrong. When she accepts a mysterious invitation from renegade scientists Jor-El and Lara, her path intertwines with Zahn’s in unexpected ways. This promising trilogy opener features an extensive, fascinating interpretation of Krypton’s flawed perfection, with intriguing political theater and existential quandaries. Yet development of the central characters falls by the wayside at times. The detailed, atmospheric artwork, meanwhile, offers an absorbing vision of Krypton as a golden, fractured supersociety. Most characters read as White; Sera’s best friend is Black.

A solid pledge for an adventure to come. (Graphic science fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

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