Review: Superman #42

Superman #42, the penultimate chapter of the Kingdom of Zod crossover, came out this week and brought us closer to an ending. But I don't know if it brought me closer to liking this event. So many questions. So many magical answers. So much I don't understand. 

Joshua Williamson does a solid job on this from a character viewpoint. There are good character bits for Prime and Superman. There is a wonderful moment for the cousins. And there is some intersesting interaction between Superman and this young Zod. There is even a nod to some Krypton history that might make me crack open old books to remind myself.

But the big parts of this story - the Kryptonite meteor, Zod's plot, the removal of the expanding Green K- have been inscrutable. Why would Zod want to invade Earth and thought the best way was to shower it with variant Green K? How did he get it? How did he coat it in inertron? Why did it grow? How did Superman deactivate it? All stuff I have to roll with and since all those are key points to the story, it feels like too much. In this issue we get a preview for what will for sure be the deus ex machina for the finale.

So will I be a bit happy to see this wrap up next week? Yes. It is too much of a headache to think about.

The art is a nice split between Eddy Barrows, who continues to shine and Eduardo Pansica, an old friend around these parts. Their styles are sort of similar so the issue flows fine. There are a couple of very well done big art moments that added some punch here. And I love love love the Takara variant cover above.

But on to the book.

Supergirl Super Powers Figure

I'm old enough to remember when the original Super Powers figures were released. I loved them. I mean the Dr. Fate and Hawkman ones were absolute boss. 

Back then, I hoped the first two series were going to open the floodgate to an absolute Who's Who of action figures. I was hoping in those mid-80s days we would get a Supergirl action figure in that mold. Alas, it never materialized. 

Well, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!

McFarlane toys has decided to continue the line and has been putting out lots of DC action figures in the style of the Super Powers toys. 

Lo and behold, there is a classic Supergirl figure. And it is mine!

When I held the package in my hand, I was hit with this feeling like I was a kid again. Yes, nostalgia can sell. But for a hot second, I was a younger Anj! Amazing.

And I love the packaging! Classic Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (praised be his name) on the card. Beautiful.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #55

Batman/Superman World's Finest #55 came out this week, the beginning of a new arc featuring Ra's Al Ghul as the main villain. But as is typical of writer Mark Waid, we expand the villainy to some of the dustier corners of the DCU, including an all time favorite of mine who I think hasn't been seen in 40 years! Incredible.

The plot is simple enough and relatively standard for an Al Ghul arc. He wants to kill 90% of the human population on Earth in hopes of saving the planet. So why not employ super-villains to help him. And perhaps, even better, why not employ super-villains who might share his viewpoint. But the cherry on the top is utilizing the symbolism of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 

What also makes it work is that Waid actually brings in a plot point to explain why the rest of the League isn't helping out with this worldwide threat. 

Adrian Gutierrez is on art here but the art feels a little smoother than I usual see in his energized style. Still pretty slick. But almost too clean based on what I have seen before. There is the usual cool page and panel construction.

On to the book.

Review: Superman Unlimited #17

Superman Unlimited #17 came out this week and I hope everybody read it because in a few short pages the biggest plot point of this title, an abundance of Kryptonite being on Earth, is wrapped up. The whole Green K plot has perplexed me. So no surprise, the solution to the plot perplexed me just as much. But more that just the Kryptonite plot, some other smaller plotlines are ended quickly. 

Writer Dan Slott introduced the Green K abundance way back in Superman Unlimited #1, which also introduced the new power where Superman can create a golden aura and become completely invulnerable to everything (although powerless for some time afterwards). 

But much of the Green K plot is unanswered. How did the Green K meteor get coated in intertron. Why would General Zod shoot his biggest weakness on a planet he wants to conquer? Why would he create a version of his weakness that can grow insanely and then put it on the planet he wants to conquer? Why does that Green K seem to wax and wane in its effect on Kryptonians depending on scene, issue, title? 

While the last two issues of Kingdom Of Zod have concentrated on the time travel Krypton story, this one is mostly on Earth. And with one more chapter and a special left, Slott wraps up this side of the event rapidly.

There are some fun moments in the book. There is an All-Star Superman nod. And frankly, I am glad this Green K plot seems to be done as it never grabbed me. But the way it ends feels quick and unsatisfying.

The art is split between Rachel Stott and Montos and the book looks good. The big action sequence in the middle where Superman ends the Kryptonite thread is done well on the page with widescreen pages and solid images of the world.

Will Kingdom of Zod be fondly remembered? We'll have to see how it wraps up. On to the book.

McFarlane Supergirl Movie Figure

Three months ago, the Supergirl movie hit the big screen.

Two month ago, the Supergirl movie hit the small screen.

After seeing it twice on the big screen and once on the small screen, I think I like it more than I don't like it. I know, not a ringing endorsement. But given my feelings on the source material that is high praise.

As I said in my review, I am just grateful how the movie ends. This Supergirl is in a better place. She calls Earth home. She seeks out Clark and seems to have some sort of moment with him, perhaps signaling a better relationship. And maybe the drunk days are behind her. I also think Milly Alcock is solid in the role and I am glad we will be seeing more of her as Kara.

I wasn't sure if I was going to get any movie merchandise. But I do think that I like the movie enough and it is a momentous enough occasion to see her on the big screen to warrant some shelf space. 

So I purchased the McFarlane studio movie action figure. I do appreciate that each of these figures come with a commemorative card and (most importantly) a small stand! The box is the standard McFarlane look.

Review: Action Comics #1102

Action Comics #1102 came out last week, the next issue in the Kingdom Of Zod event, and the second chapter focusing on a time travel jaunt to Krypton before it exploded. I have struggled with the main plot of a Kryptonite plague happening on Earth. But chapters 5 and 6 of this event have been an interesting diversion, taking us back to Krypton and focusing on the two characters who would have the most interesting take on being on the planet again - Kara and young Clark.

Mark Waid has been doing a great job on the current Superboy stories in Action Comics, letting us see him at the earliest stages, learning his powers, and growing as a hero. But he barely knows about Krypton as a concept. So seeing him on Krypton, experiencing it for the first time, and knowing that perhaps he could change things and have it survive is all interesting. Waid clearly knows young Clark's voice and he makes these stories compelling. 

And Waid also loves Supergirl and she continues to shine in this Krypton arc, weighing her love of the planet and her need to keep the timeline and Superman's legacy intact. Supergirl might actually be the star of this issue.

The action is also great with Kara and Clark trying to escape a Krypton prison, get Ursa to stop talking, and get back to the time bubble. 

Montos is on art and his fine pencil style works well here. His fight scenes really shine as you see the effort and anger on the combatants.

On to the book.

Krypton Timeline In ‘Kingdom Of Zod’

In my review of Supergirl #17, I tried to piece together when our heroes' time travel trip to Krypton took place. Was the destruction imminent? Or was there some time.

Much of that was based on this shot (not shared in my review) of Kara seeing herself and her parents walking around the city. I put Kara at about 8-10 years of age. Assuming the origin of her being sent off to Earth at around age 16 to help protect Kal when he is a newborn is still intact, I wondered if we were about 5-10 years in the past.

That's a lot of story weight placed on one picture. And I have been told that kids are notoriously hard to draw. 

But the time period does impact the story. Ursa is trying to save Krypton and its people. How close are we? Has Jor-El discovered Krypton is dying? 

So I reached out to the creators on Bluesky.

All right, as an old time fan with a lot of continuity in my mind and in the midst of a timey-wimey time travel story, I sort of needed the info.

And thankfully, I got a response!

Superman group editor Paul Kaminski confirmed that this time travel jaunt does indeed take place about 5 years prior to Krypton's destruction. 

This helps me plant a continuity stake in the ground! 

Thanks to Kaminsky for helping me (and other fans) process the events!