Interestingly enough, this felt like a normal issue of this Superboy run. Yes the current story of some JLAers in the past fighting the time villain Epoch. This issue does push the plot forward quite well. But it doesn't feel 'almost over'. We had two new plots introduced in this issue! So is Superboy continuing as a back-up? As a new book? Or is Mark Waid going to rush to the end next issue?
Enough worrying about next month. Let's celebrate this month. Waid does such a great job of showing the emotional swings of an adolescent male like Clark, as he goes from anger to losing his powers to joy of getting to be a 'normal kid' to back to maturity and recognizing his need to regain his powers. We get two Lana plot threads! One, she finally seems to see Clark as a possible romantic interest. And second, we see what her father has been up to. And we get to see the problems of time travel up close as our heroes literally fade from reality. So much fun.
So he remains powerless. And things he used to not worry about, like cleaning the shoes of the cow's, are fraught with danger. Great electric panel by Patridge showing Clark get hit in the face by the cow's hoof. Wonderful moment to really open the book.
Kudos to Delpeche for showing so much with just Clark's eyes.
The art is split by Skylar Patridge and Patricio Delpeche. Patridge just sings in the small town Smallville stuff. Her Lana has been luminous, showing why Clark would be smitten. I don't know if I am ready to not see more of this stuff. Patricio Delpeche has a very different style, rougher and looser. His pages are mostly in a Metropolis lab and that style works well there.
Last issue Epoch blasted Clark and our hero found himself powerless. Now, despite soaking in the yellow sun rays, Clark remains powerless. The red sun radiation he was blasted with has blocked Clark's cells from absorbing things.
So he remains powerless. And things he used to not worry about, like cleaning the shoes of the cow's, are fraught with danger. Great electric panel by Patridge showing Clark get hit in the face by the cow's hoof. Wonderful moment to really open the book.
The time-tossed heroes can't figure out how to help and Clark isn't happy.
In fact, he is irate. He wants his powers back.
I'm not used to seeing angry Clark. I mean, throwing glassware around. You know that Clark is ticked off. He is even lashing out his new friends, blaming them for everything that is happening.
Everyday life is suddenly Clark's every day. Waid shows us the mundane things Clark has never had to deal with. Cold water in the shower. Needing people to repeat themselves. Even needing to squint through the glasses mom has had him wear.
But it also has some perks. Suddenly he is just a normal boy. So when Lana invites Clark over, and touches his arm, and plays with her hair as she walks away, Clark is suddenly just a boy who likes the girl next door. And she is the girl who likes the nice boy in town.
Seriously, Patridge has shown why Lana would be everyone's crush. Yes, ripped jeans and an off the shoulder sweater is fetching. But this body language, her head tilt and hair toss, is perfect.
But her good mood comes to a quick end when she sees that her father has written an anthropological study about Smallville.
Based on Lana's reaction, it has to be some sort of tell-all.
I do wonder if there will be some hints within about Clark's and the Kent's secrets.
That anger that Clark felt at the beginning just evaporates as he begins to join his regular life.
How great are these panels of Clark playing some ball.
And what about the shy young love in the bottom, with elbows that just happen to be touching and big smiles on our blushing Romeo and Juliet? No panel has said 'young love' as much as this one.
Now Clark isn't yelling at the heroes because they aren't helping. He is yelling that they want him to help them cure him. He likes his new life.
But then the time paradox catches up to the team.
The new timeline doesn't have Mary Marvel in it anymore. She fades away. And Booster and J'onn have no memory of her any more. The scared expression in the bottom panel says a lot. Clark finally gets it.
Kudos to Delpeche for showing so much with just Clark's eyes.
In this time, the only person the heroes think can help Clark is pre-Eclipso Bruce Gordon, solar scientist.
Gordon isn't receptive to helping until Clark talks about how all he wants to do is help people.
It is subtle. But it shows how Superman is already a sort of role model, helping people see the right thing to do and inspiring them to do so.
Pretty cool.
Of course Epoch shows up. The timeline unravels and J'onn and Booster fade away.
So we get this crazy ending with Clark suiting up in armor, perhaps made from his rocket?
I did not see this coming.
Anyways, this run continues to just shine brightly. Waid just gets Superman and Superboy. I love everything about this, especially Clark's flip-flop about his powers as he has a fun sort of week of sun and fun. And seriously, I have said it before, have Patridge do a Young Love Clark/Lana special! I'd buy it.
Overall grade: A
1 comment:
Top review, top comic. I’m with you, I was expecting things to wind up here, and I’m so glad they didn’t. What I don’t get is why we keep getting the two artists on the one issue, are the scripts late?
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