Review: Superman #23

Superman #23 came out this week, continuing the future Time Trapper Doomsday arc. This has been one high-velocity story as a ton of moving parts are weaving in and out of the narrative. In the present day, Doomsday is loose. The Radiant and the Aftermath have arrived on Earth to dispatch Doomsday, even if they have to mess up Earth in the process. Superman is trying to hold back Red K rage. Superwoman is learning her powers. Lex is regaining his memories and perhaps his genius as well. And within this is that Time Trapper Doomsday, trying to convince our heroes to kill him and let him ascend.

Somehow Joshua Williamson is able to keep all the balls in the air, giving every piece of the plot the right amount of real estate. This whole storyline is very compelling for me. When did Doomsday become the Time Trapper? Why does he want to be killed? Why is he intervening at this point in time? And all this happening while Williamson is bulking up the supporting cast and their side stories as well. It is a very solid read with a lot to contemplate.

I will also say that this issue feels like it ends this arc, or perhaps puts it on hold in a major way. There isn't a true resolution here. So it has a middle chapter vibe. In the Bronze Age it would have ended with 'To Be Continued ???'. I'd love to see more of the happenings here. I want more of this Time Trapper. But I think I will need to wait.

Dan Mora is on art and shines here, no surprise. I think Mora devotes his time to the major panels which need supreme attention which include massive battle scenes. Mora is just a godsend to books like this.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Of America #185

 With the Absolute Universe built on Darkseid energy and the Ram V New Gods book being so good, I have dipped into the back issue box to review Justice League of America #183-185, the 'Crisis on Apokolips' storyline, another annual JLA/JSA crossover with the New Gods in tow. Today I'll review JLA #185, the finale. (Here are links to my part 1 and part 2 reviews.)

To be an honest reviewer, I have some mixed feelings about this issue and the conclusion to the storyline. I'll start with the good. 

Writer Gerry Conway throughout this story has done a great job of showcasing the personalities of all the characters as they have broken up into side missions. We have really great moments from all of them, worthy of a spotlight in this review. This is a great read if you love seeing inspiration from Superman and Wonder Woman, skills and intelligence from Batman and Mister Miracle, and action and philosophy from Dr. Fate and Green Lantern. Add to that the brilliant art by JLA-newcomer George Perez. I know that praising George Perez seems unnecessary but his work here is great, in both big moments and small. You can see this almost like the petri dish of Crisis on Infinite Earths as he handles a big cast, big action, weird landscapes, while making sure smaller scenes get their due. The work is incredible. We also get this pretty slick Jim Starlin cover.

I'll also say this is 1980. Darkseid and the New Gods were still .. well .. new. I learned of Darkseid from this story. 

So what's the downside?

Well, the solution to the problem, the ending of the threat, comes out of nowhere and on the last page. There is no build-up, no suspense, no 'crisis' of winning. It just sort of happens. I am not one for overly decompressed stories but this one would have completely benefited from a fourth issue. Part of it is pacing. We get three pages recapping the prior two issues. They are stunning pages for sure. But perhaps that space could have been better served?

On to the issue! Buckle up!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #36

Batman/Superman World's Finest #36 came out this week and was a fun middle chapter in this undersea adventure. The Floronic Man has used some hallucinogenic spores to enrage the people of Tritonis, leading that city to think the city of Poseidonis is using it to weaken the city for takeover.

The overall plot, as well as Floronic Man's motivations, are pretty thin. I think that is almost an afterthought so that writer Mark Waid can tell the stories he really wants. What if Aquaman's interactions with the surface world weakened his political power in Atlantis? What if Superman was reunited with Lori Lemaris? There are a lot of Silver Age reverberations in this one. The most obvious one is how big a pill Lori's husband Ronal is. He is bit of a domineering jerk, ready to throw down the gauntlet and start a war.

But for an old-school Superman fan like me, I always get joy out of seeing Superman and Lori interact. Lori is a married woman making Superman quite the Casanova here. Where does this fall in continuity? It is obviously pre-proposal to Lois. It seems to be post-Swamp Thing Anatomy Lesson? Hmmm ...

As for the art, Adrian Gutierrez seems to be having a ton of fun here. We see Atlantean armor. We see battle scenes. We see botanical bodies. He even continues to use words as interesting art flourishes. I love this cover by Dan Mora with Swamp Thing's face formed out of the branches/seaweed. 

Overall, a fun issue with a great cliffhanger. The foundation of the story is sort of thin but the plots built on it are great.

On to the book.

New Supergirl Book By Sophie Campbell

The official DC May solicits haven't hit the web yet but Bleeding Cool already has scans of the previews and lo and behold there is news of a new Supergirl book. Here is the solicit and some preview art.

SUPERGIRL #1
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS, and JOSHUA MIDDLETON
1:25 variant cover by BILQUIS EVELY 

1:50 variant cover by W. SCOTT FORBES 

Foil variant cover by STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU 

Blank variant cover
ON SALE 5/14/25

Kara Zor-El has been a key member of the Super-Family in Metropolis, but what happens when she strikes out on her own? Follow Kara as she returns to her roots in Midvale…home of Supergirl! But how could this be? Our hero has not been back in years, and the protector of that town has been saving the day for weeks. Can Supergirl stop the impostor before they steal her fresh start and life?
Celebrated writer/artist Sophie Campbell (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wet Moon) makes her mark on the DC Universe with this thrilling debut issue! Plus a new costume designed by bestselling cover artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.  NOT FINAL TRADE DRESS COVERS

There is a lot to unpack here. I very much love Campbell's art but I haven't read much of the stories she has written. Her writing style will be new to me. That said the solicit sounds great.

I think the Super-family has swollen to pretty big numbers so I think moving Supergirl out of the city and letting her branch out on her own, be the solo star, is great. I also like Midvale being the setting, a flashback to classic Supergirl.  I have loved her relationship with Superman in the Williamson and Phillip Kennedy Johnson books but it will be nice to see her not be second in command and instead marching her own way. 

I do know that Campbell has been on TMNT recently and I would love to hear from anyone who read that what they thought. 

Moritat Commission Gift From Derek WC

One of the things that I have come to completely appreciate about the comic community on line is how generous it is. 

Within the community I have become friends with Derek W. C. of the Fanholes podcast. Derek is a huge comic art collector and we have that shared interest. He and I often discuss our commission hopes prior to cons. Heck, we even did a long form podcast about it here. 

It was during this talk that he convinced me to post my commission over on Comic Art Fans here. 

So imagine my surprise when I got this Supergirl sketch card in the mail from Derek. The art is by Moritat and shows this wonderfully happy Supergirl. I just love the broad smile and the elegant simplicity to the art. It is completely charming.

If you want to hear about Derek obtaining the card at the Original Art Expo, you can hear about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQJ3XAmpxAE

I really am just overwhelmed by the generosity. This is a welcome addition to the collection.

DC Comics Amazing Yamaguchi Revoltech NR032 Supergirl Action Figure

I recently obtained a set of book shelves which allowed me to devise a new shrine set-up. 

What better way to celebrate that than to get a new piece for the collection. And what a piece!

Purchased through Big Bad Toy Store , this is the Yamaguchi Revoltech Supergirl figure from Japan. 

Like many pieces from Japan, it is extremely articulated, with moving joints, and some articulation in the chest and even hair. If you are looking for a figure to pose in a million different ways, it is this one.

Add to the articulation that the set comes with 4 different sets of hands and 3 different faces and this is the toy that keeps on giving. Yes, there is a 'red eyes' face but also a serious and smiling one. And hands are fists or splayed of flat handed. It is pretty fun.

Add to that you get a stand with peg-holes and an extension you can stick in the figure's back to give the illusion of flying. I like the gold (not yellow) accents of the shield. It even has a cloth cape. 

I picked this 'flying by to say hey!' pose.

Review: Action Comics #1083

Action Comics #1083 came out this week, the second part of John Ridley's arc during the Superman Superstars era of the title. Last issue showed a sort of bleak world where both our heroes and our villains were downtrodden and dreary. I wondered if something might be manipulating people's feelings.

In this issue, Ridley gives us the answer. I don't know if it quite worked for me but this is a middle chapter so maybe it will all work out in the end. Maybe I was thinking of something more innovative. I will say that the cause of the villains hopelessness and the cause for Superman's hopelessness are different which gives this a somewhat interesting twist. But in the end, it raises another concerning question, one I talk about at the end of this review.

Inaki Miranda stays on art and is solid. I like how beefy he makes Superman, a physical presence. There is a nice action-filled 2 page spread near the end that is quite brilliant. I like the way he draws Scorch as well. 

But this issue overall fell just a little flat with that big plot reveal. 

On to the specifics.

Black Orchid Info In The Glx Sptzl Glaah Fanzine

Back in 2022, I did a very deep dive on the Bronze Age era Black Orchid. It was a ton of fun especially as I looked at those stories through the lens of a popular fan theory that Black Orchid was Supergirl. 

There was one problem. 

I couldn't find any evidence for that theory. Not in the letter columns in Adventure Comics. Not in the letters in the issues of Phantom Stranger where her stories landed. Nowhere. Yes, it is implied in ENB's Super Friends #31. 

And I don't think that I could have made that theory up on my own. I knew of it ... but how?

Anyways, I am very thankful for the comic community out there. My good friend Isamu Hideaki-Yukinori was going through his father's fanzines and came across Glx Sptzl Glaah #1, a fanzine devoted to the works of Sheldon Mayer. 

In the magazine were two articles about Black Orchid and one of them at last mentions the fan theory!

As a major fan of the Black Orchid character, I am thrilled to be sharing these with you today.

And please go to https://xum-yukinori.blogspot.com/ to see the great art work of Isamu and his father, the dear departed and brilliant Xum Yukinori, and their family. 

I cannot thank Isamu enough for sharing these with me!

We'll start out with the one page article about who Black Orchid could be. What a crazy list - Lucy Lane, Lilith, and ... Supergirl! Check out the article as a whole to see the details about those first two guesses, especially given that the Lucy Lane one comes from Wonder Woman expert Carol Strickland!

Review: Absolute Superman #4

Absolute Superman #4 came out last week and continued to enrich this new universe and new Superman's history and supporting cast. More than any issue, this one showed us that this is a universe fueled by Darkseid energy. 

This issue really put Lois Lane in the spotlight, showing us more of who she is and why she is the way she is. Jason Aaron is showing us just what it means in this world for an independent, incredibly powerful super-being to be out there. He is a folk hero. He is a hippie. He is a threat. He is an opponent or a potential ally in this violent political world. A lot of this can be seen in Lois who seems to be conflicted in her thoughts but resolute in her duty. This Lois definitely feels innovative. I am not sure if I like her yet.

Aaron also shows us how the fringes of politics, both left and right, are extremists and probably aren't the good guys. The Peacemakers working for Leviathan Inc and the field agents for the rebellious Omega Men both seem ready to maim or kill to achieve their goals. If  'the ends justify the means' is a tenet, you should look hard in the mirror.

I have complimented Rafa Sandoval a ton and this issue deserves that continued praise. There are is high action. But the opening scene is Lois interviewing people from around the globe and he shines there too. I like Sandoval's design of the Omega Men. 

One quibble about this issue is that Superman isn't in it that much. Yes, this is a Lois issue. But we are still learning about this Kal. I want to know more. And this issue seems mired a bit in how grim this world is. I get that that grittiness is the foundation of this world but boy, I could use a glimmer of something hopeful. This is a Superman comic after all.

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Justice League Of America #184

Way back in October, in the context of Darkseid being the creative energy behind the new Absolute Universe, I reviewed Justice League of America #183 , the first part of the annual JLA/JSA crossover. That year's story brought in the New Gods as well. 

How inappropriate of me to drop the ball and not finish reviewing the three parter! Since that time, DC All In has been in full swing and a New Gods book is on the shelves which makes this an even better back issue dive to review.

Written by Gerry Conway with art by new League artist George Perez, this middle chapter pushes the story forward, gives us some great character interactions between these three groups, and showcases the force Perez would become in the DCU. 

Conway does need to play a bit with villains' power levels to keep this story going. I have never seen the Fiddler be this powerful. But outside that tiny quibble, the rest of this works well. One thing I love is that Conway definitely gives many of the characters a tiny moment to showcase a part of their personality, making them feel unique. In particular, his scenes with the mini-team of Superman, E2 Wonder Woman, and Big Barda really have some powerful character moments.

I'll also say that the New Gods were not a huge presence in the DCU in this time of the Bronze Age. This was probably the first encounter with these characters for many readers. So I do like how Conway tries to let us learn about the characters we meet here.

Remember, last issue was drawn by Dick Dillin who unfortunately passed away after completing that issue. Dillin's run was historically long and truly beloved. Perez had big shoes to fill. We know how huge Perez becomes and you can see that even here. His page breakdowns, knowing when to inset panels and when to go splash page, even the dynamic cover showing our heroes in readiness around the face of Darkseid, shows us Perez was destined for greatness. On to the issue.

DC Comics Solicits - April 2025

The steady stream of weekly comics and my schedule has kept me away from doing solicit coverage. 

Now is a great time to restart coverage as the upcoming Superman movie has spurred DC into declaring this the Summer of Superman. That means lots of super-books to cover! If looking for all the solicits, head here: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-april-2025-solicitations-cover/ 

But 'Summer of Superman' is just the beginning of what looks to be a great month. 

I'll start with something I probably won't be getting but will look forward to hearing about. Jon Kent is going to be a star in the new Secret Six book. It is interesting that he is called 'Super Son' and no longer Superman. 

I have been really enjoying the current New Gods book, even if only 2 issues in. It is great fun and the art is compelling. In this month's issue, the JLA guest stars.

There is a lot of the 1970's Superman arc 'Kryptonite Nevermore' in this month's solicits. You'll see more below but there is a trade of the story coming out this month too. Denny O'Neil strips Superman's power but eliminates Kryptonite, makes Clark a reporter, and otherwise does a soft reboot.

Lastly, there is a The DC Universe by Steve Ditko Omnibus coming out, stuffed with Hawk and Dove, Creeper. Stalker, and other Ditko ephemera! Incredible!

But on to the super-books!


SUMMER OF SUPERMAN SPECIAL #1
Written by Dan Slott, Joshua Williamson, and Mark Waid
Art and cover by Jorge Jiménez
Variant covers by Alexander Lozano, John Giang, Mahmud Asrar, and Chrissie Zullo-Uminga 

1:25 ratio variant cover by Dan Jurgens
Foil variant cover by Jorge Jiménez

The Man of Steel and his universe of friends, family, allies, and rogues is in for some big changes, and it all starts in the Summer of Superman Special! Brought to you by Superman series architects Joshua Williamson (Superman), Mark Waid (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest), and (making his grand entrance to the world of tomorrow) Dan Slott, this special oversize issue will set the stage for all the major events exploding throughout the Superman titles! When John Henry Irons and Lana Lang take their vows, everyone turns up for the big day—but trouble is brewing on the horizon, as threats from the past, present, and future kick off major new conflicts for the Superman Family. Brought to stunning life by the incomparable art of Jorge Jiménez (Batman, Super Sons), the Summer of Superman Special is the ground floor to the most exciting action imaginable in 2025!

The big news that dropped earlier this month was that Dan Slott is writing a Superman Unlimited book. I liked Slott on She-Hulk and Silver Surfer. We'll see if he can bring some of that energy here. The fact that Slott has his own book maker me hope Joshua Williamson stays on Superman. And this story sounds fun with a super-wedding. 

Would love to hear what folks think about Slott coming over!

Review: Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1

Last week the Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1 was released, an interesting spotlight on Lex who has been going through quite some changes over the last 2 years. 

Since the inception of the latest volume of the Superman comic, writer Joshua Williamson has been focusing on the Lex/Superman dynamic. The whole book started with Lex saying he wanted to work with Superman, not against him. LexCorp became SuperCorp. Superman was a leader in the company. Work was done to help Superman. All the while I kept wondering if this was some trap set by Lex, a long con.

Then in House of Brainiac, Williamson changed even that dynamic, giving Lex amnesia and softening him considerably. Gone was the aggressive, Type A megalomaniac. Instead, there was a gentle soul. But even there, I was wondering if this was another long con ... a con within a con.

Perhaps with the Superman movie on the horizon, there was some impetus to put Luthor back in the super-villain ranks. This issue Superman nudges Lex more towards his purer form, ending the amnesia at least. Will Superman regret it?

It also layers in the dreaded 'sympathetic backstory' that every villain seems to need these days. Gone are the days of  'I'm just an evil SOB' villain. I like my Lex to just be a narcissist. Not someone emotionally abused as a child who must be dealing with his trauma.

The art is done by Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira. I have always like Barrows. This is a low key issue without a ton of action. But Barrows brings the emotion to the proceedings. I really like his ink style in the flashbacks, reminding me of legendary inker Alfredo Alcala. High praise.

On to the book.