Review: Superman #688

I think that Superman #688, written by James Robinson and pencilled by Renato Guedes, was the strongest issue of the title's 'World Without Superman' arc.

This was the first issue where I didn't think I need a score card to keep track of all the characters that Robinson has been juggling. It felt like the first issue where scenes lasted longer than a couple of pages because we needed to check in on someone else. As a result it was the first issue that felt like it 'starred' Mon-El and The Guardian.

And since we concentrate so much on those characters here, their own storylines are advanced with some worrisome clues about the future revealed.


Last issue ended with a cliffhanger. This issue picks up right where we left off. Mon-El's powers are blinking on and off. Unfortunately he was flying over the Metropolis shoreline when that happened, plummeting him into the water where he nearly drowns.

Luckily one of the Science Police camera drones filmed what happened and the Guardian is able to swoop in and rescue Mon-El from drowning.

Once on dry land, Mon-El's powers seem to kick in again and he is quickly back to full strength.

And it's a good thing too! Squad K, yet another government wetworks group whose sole purpose is to fight Superman arrives, thinking Mon is an 'illegal alien' (sorry couldn't help myself).

Seriously though, is Superman paranoid about the number of anti-Kryptonian groups our government is funding? Squad K seems hot-headed and quick to pull the trigger, even if they goaded into a beating by The Guardian. They also seem completely outgunned.

Sure enough, Squad K's anti-Kryptonian weapons are inadequate against a Daxamite. Mon-El dispatches the whole crew in 98 seconds.

But The Guardian is concerned about Mon-El's power lapses and so brings him to a metahuman expert.

Dr. Light is suddenly a big time player in the DCU. She has appeared in Action Comics, now Superman, and is an active member of the JLA. Who'd of ever thought she would move up the ranks like this.

She is able to deduce what is going on in Mon-El's body. There is a physiologic tug-of-war happening inside him. His super-immune system is trying to destroy the formula he has ingested, recognizing it as a foreign presence. The formula is trying to short out his powers so that it won't be attacked and can continue to keep his lead poisoning at bay. I have to say this is an interesting twist on his powers and poisoning. This was the most original and best plot point of the book.

This also somehow explains the slight difference in his and Superman's powers. He can shave and get a haircut, for instance.

The power shorts will continue randomly. The bottom line is that eventually he will die from his lead poisoning, killed by his own super-powers, most likely in about 18 months.

One thing I didn't like about this scene was Guedes' version of Dr. Light. She does not look at all Asian.

The Guardian assumes that Mon-El will quit the Science Police to enjoy what little time he has left. But Mon-El says he will live out his time honoring his promise to Superman. After all, he shouldn't be alive now anyways. Superman has saved him before; the least Mon-El can do is to continue to protect Superman's city. It is a nice scene showing what a hero Mon-El is, how dedicated he is to the fight for right.

Besides, the two of them have a black ops mission that night to prepare for.

Before leaving for the mission, Jon Kent meets Mitch, the owner of the restaurant on the bottom floor of his apartment building. They become fast friends talking about life and life experiences in general. Mitch is well traveled and feels that Jon needs to live life more fully.

But the secret mission comes first. The elite of the Science Police break into Project 7734. Mon-El and The Guardian stumble across the monitor room where a number of superheroes are being spied on including Static Shock, the Shadow Cabinet, and the new Red Circle crew.

Project 7734 must have a *lot* of spy drones if they are watching even down to this level of super-beings.

The purpose of this mission? To rescue the Legionnaire Tellus who we first saw back in the Guardian special. Back then Tellus told The Guardian that the Science Police would save him. Looks like he was right.

As Mon-El hauls the tank out of there, the heroes run into Agent Assassin.

The Guardian is about to engage but Tellus tells him that the time isn't right. Using his telepathy, the Legionnaire immobilizes Agent Assassin.

Tellus does tell The Guardian that he will have a showdown with the Agent; moreover Tellus has made The Guardian 'ready'.

My guess is this throwdown happens at the end of 'Codename:Patriot'.

Agent Assassin reports what has happened to General Lane who seems to take it in stride. There is no anger here; he is casually practicing golf putts.One thing I like is that Lane comments on the other stories happening in the super titles, mentioning Mon-El, Thara, and New Krypton. I also find it interesting that Lane says he isn't ready for Agent Assassin to cause mayhem yet. There is no doubt in my mind that Assassin pulls the trigger in the shooting that starts 'Codename:Patriot'.

Lastly, there is the ominous end note of this conversation. Lane tells Assassin that The Guardian has a daughter. Why do I think The Guardian is going to understand tragedy soon?

His mission a success, Mon-El decides to take Mitch's advice and see Paris.

Suddenly Mon-El shakes off his fatalism and realizes he wants to live.

Overall this was a good issue for this arc. We understand more of Mon-El's condition. have a foreshadowing of The Guardian's fight with Agent Assassin.

I still think this title is limping a bit behind Supergirl, Action, and World of New Krypton. But this issue was a good read and moved the main characters' stories along.

Overall Grade: B, nearing B+