Review: Adventures Of Superman: Book Of El #10

Adventures of Superman Book of El #10 came out last week and that means we are but 2 months away from the end of the story. Knowing that, creative team of writer Philip Kennedy Johnson and artist Scotty Godlewski (with some pinch hitting by Vicente Cifuentes) don't have time for more world building and move towards the finale. 

Kryl-Ux is finally getting to gathering the aspects of Olgrun in hopes of resurrecting his family. But now that we actually see what Kryl-Ux looks like after absorbing old god energy makes me wonder if his family will even recognize him. As for the Els, we also get them together at long last. 

One thing that has troubled me a bit in this series has been the depth of world-building and my trying to keep up with the new knowledge. I wish there was a little index on the title page listing the aspects of Olgrun - passion, wrath, etc - and where they are. I am struggling remember what is where and even how many. It also is interesting to see how monstrous Kryl-Ux looks like in the contrast to the aspect-bearing Els who remain normal appearing. Is it a demonstration of the host's motivations and ethics?

Scotty Godlewski and Vicente Cifuentes art is excellent, continuing to bring a smooth look to the troubled future. There is some horror in this and it is brought to bear.

We have two big issues left here. Kryl-Ux being defeated and Superman going back in time to stop this timeline from happening. We also need the fate of the twins decided. Two issues left with a lot of story to cover.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Survive #2

Supergirl Survive #2 came out this last week, continuing the story of a young Kara caring for a young Kal after Krypton was 'destroyed' in a complete nuclear war. I do like the overall concept of Kara and Kal rocketed off together (as opposed to separately in the current continuity) and seeing this young Kara use her wits to remain alive.

Writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan grow this universe a bit in this issue. We see all the Lantern Corps, working together to police the universe. We see Lobo and (I assume) clones of him working as a criminal gang in a sort of Western environment. But most importantly, we see Kara taking her role as caretaker as her primary role and willing to get a little morally gray if she needs to in order to keep Kal safe. Overall, this was a solid second chapter.

The one thing I'll say is that we are still learning this universe. There is a nonlinear aspect to the story-telling here which didn't seem necessary not really adding much and instead confusing me. There is a story element from the past that we don't know that I hope will be revealed later. But not knowing it now also was a bit vexing.

Rod Reis' art continues to shine. It feels almost painterly. It continues to echo Phil Noto's work, always a good thing. And his take on the Lantern Corps is pretty cool as well, especially the Red Lantern. 

On to the book. 

Review: Superman Father Of Tomorrow #2

Superman Father of Tomorrow #2 came out last week, pushing the story forward quickly. Almost too quickly. I guess if this mini-series is going to tell us the life story of Jor-El on Earth, you can't dawdle. Last issue, Jor-El landed, befriended the Kents, spent years in hiding, and then revealed himself to the world. Looking on were grade schoolers Lois Lane and Lex Luthor.

Writer Kenny Porter pushes us forward at least 2 decades with Lois and Lex adults and friends/colleagues of Jor-El. Jor has allowed the use of Kryptonian tech around the world for good purposes. And between his super-powers and his super-science he is extremely powerful with few weaknesses. There are heroes and villains on this world. But we are dropped right into the action without know how these relationships or characters came about. 

Because we have no background, one of the characters betraying our hero doesn't seem to carry the weight it should. Still, perhaps the rest of the series sits in this time period and we'll learn more. If issue one was just the origin, setting the stage then maybe it will all even out.

Danny Earls brings a sort of rougher take on what could be a stream-lined tech-run world. But given the character interactions and the introduction of magic into the world, it feels right. I like seeing his take on classic villains and heroes in this new world.

Overall though, I felt a bit lost at sea and so I didn't like this issue as much as the last. On to details.

Reviews: My Adventures With Superman S3E3

My Adventures With Superman S3 E3, All's Fair in Love and W.O.R.M.S. ,came out this week and was another great episode. As I said last episode's review, somehow this show is able to balance plot progression, action, character growth, and humor. I mean in this episode we get dystopian future, 2 Silver Age homages, a musical number, and two super villains! Whew!

The axle the issue spins on is the will they/won't they Jimmy/Kara relationship. Kara took Jimmy's advice and has started dating other people but her knowledge of Earth and really of who she is herself is lacking. In comes Lois. Meanwhile, Jimmy is jealous from the outcome he asked for so has signed up for a new dating service W.O.R.M.S. Fun and mayhem and comic references ensue.

Amid that fun we have two more serious plots. First is character driven, Lois is worried that perhaps her relationship with Clark is moving too fast. She likes the idea of making the next step; she wants to. But she also likes how life is going now. How can she deal with those conflicting emotions.

Second, the Cyborg Superman reveals who he really is and shows himself to be a threat to everyone. 

Throw in an amazing cliffhanger and you have another winner. On to some details.

Review: Absolute Superman #20

Absolute Superman #20 came out last week, the next chapter in the pretty brutal King Shazam storyline. One thing for sure, there is a lot of action in this issue ... a lot. We see what happens when four immensely powerful beings battle across the globe. 

What I like about this issue is that we see, again, how writer Jason Aaron shows this young Superman is inspirational in a Darkseid-fueled world. We have seen him turn Ra's Al Ghul. In this issue, we see Hawkman, someone we have seen be a killer, soften in the face of Superman's actions. I think that Hawkman seeing Superman and King Shazam, so similar in powers, next to each is probably a bold contrast. 

That contrast is highlighted by the brawl that dominates the issue, a fight that goes King Shazam's way mostly. It shows what Superman could have been while Shazam slept. Watching Hawkman and Steel sort of be more like gnats in the face of this power shows what unchecked power can do. 

Rafa Sandoval is on art and brings the kinetic energy to the proceedings. The fight is huge in scope and power and you feel every punch and blast. I think he slightly tilts the panels and even word balloons in some place to give the whole thing an off-kilter feel. 

Throw in a new mini-mystery and a great cliffhanger and you have another solid issue in this book.

On to some details.

Review: Superman #39

Superman #39 came out last week and was an absolute treat as writer Joshua Williamson and artist Dan Mora continue to redeem Superboy Prime and break the fourth wall to smithereens. I have been saying how great this whole run has been all along but this issue, which really embraces comic history, might be the best of all. 

Last issue, Manchester Black finally revealed himself to Prime, asking for a reality punch to bring the villain back to life. Here Black puts Prime through the wringer, making Prime relive some of his low points, then putting him through a tour of comic genres, until finally breaking him. The best part of all of it is seeing Prime trying to fight through it all while continuing to be good. It really seems like a redemption story. Williamson has done the impossible; he made Prime likeable. We end with a great cliffhanger that left me wanting more.

Mora is a genius. This book lets him stretch his muscles. From indy art to romance to horror to animated style to battles reminiscent of Prime's bloodiest past, Mora shines. 

What makes this run so fantastic is all the fourth wall comic riffs. For an old fan like me, this is like a trip down memory lane. And there is a panel in this book so pitch perfect, both truthful and hilarious at the same time. I promise I will share it. I may put it on a shirt.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl Movie

I saw the movie on Saturday and I am going to do my best to wrap my head around my thoughts in a non-spoiler way (above the fold) and a little deeper once we get inside.

I will say, based on the source material and some stuff that I had heard before hand, I went into the movie with low, almost no expectations. And perhaps going in that way, I found that I liked it more than I expected. 

There is an underlying theme throughout almost all the movie that Kara is kind and good. Despite the self-destructive journey she is on during the majority of the movie, that continues to bubble up to the surface. So I felt in many ways, the core of Supergirl was present in the story. I was not expecting that.

But there is a Zach Snyder-esque event at the end of the movie that seems to completely unravel that message. An act that seems so out of character from what we have seen before that it comes as close to ruining the film as it can. And it is completely out of character for who I think Supergirl is.

I think Milly Alcock is solid in the role, showing the pain Kara is going through and then having her come out of it in the end. It is a tight rope of 'party girl', 'sad girl', and 'hero' that worked. Alcock is probably the best part of the film. I thought Lobo, played by Jason Momoa was fun to see and quite comic accurate. But he seemed to be sort of tacked on. I wonder if in one of the earlier versions of the movie (remember it had 10 pre-showings and therefore probably multiple edits) he had a bigger role in the finale. 

But the movie itself feels sort of episodic with Kara tracking Krem and luckily running into people who know where to point her next. The film is incredible dull looking with most of the planets and sets very dark, shadowed, and dull. There are plenty of things that happen in the movie that are hard to hand-wave away (non-powered Kara beating up an 8ft highly muscled brute, innocent Ruthye being combat ready in one scene and choking out a brigand with ankle fetters, overpowered Lobo somehow 'trapped' and stuck in a brigand prison).

Even those plot issues didn't seem important next to the 'be good' core.  But then that Snyder moment happened. So I guess it lands as a 3 out of 5.