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.

The book starts with Black making Prime relive the worst of Infinite Crisis. But Prime isn't taking the bait. He won't kill these people even if he knows they aren't real. And Black brings all the infamous ones - Pantha, Stargirl, and Risk!

You might remember that Prime ripped off Risk's arms. Here Risk de-arms himself. Prime says out loud it isn't his fault this time.

Gross but funny.

But not the funniest thing in this book.

Then Prime has the OG Superman, Kal-L from Earth 2, show up and throw a moon at our hero.

A moon.

I love how Prime says 'so Silver Age'! Another awesome line for us comic fans.

Black decides to mix things up thinking that Prime might be too mentally prepared to deal with stories he has already been part of. So Williamson decides to peek into other comics.

First up, a Timm-style animated comic.

We get a little exposition too. Black's powers are a little more powerful because he can tap into Prime's powers a little.

Mora channeling Timm. Cool

And then a tour of other comics.

First up, Romance Comics.

Prime and Witchfire in an old school kissy-face story. Love how Witchfire says she is like Catwoman and she is like Talia. I wish we got one more ... like Silver St. Cloud or Vicki Vale. 

Prime is tempted but remembers this is all fake. 

Mora makes it all smolder.

So then we get into Horror comics.

This panel is really interesting. It doesn't feel like Prime is forgetting his DC lore at all. But maybe he is?

Nice call back to DCCP #87, Prime's first appearance.

And then we get more.

An indy comic in a coffee shop. War comics. SF comics. Barbarian comics.

And then this panel.

Even Prime doesn't want Tom King writing him. 

I can only imagine the pit of despair King would put Prime into. 

But this made me shake my head in agreement AND laugh out loud.

Please, someone make this into a t-shirt.

Finally we get a face-to-face. Black wants a reality punch to make it all good and to bring him back. He can guide the punch with his powers to make it work.

He wants to be resurrected. So I love he is reading Adventures of Superman #500, a part of the Death/Reign of the Supermen storyline. A story about death and resurrection. 

Black unleashes a host of Supermen to fight Prime. Prime batters them only to have it turn out to be an illusion. He sees he has been fighting the JLA, thus breaking the redemption. 

Frustrated that he was fooled, he finally unleashes a reality punch!

Love the power of the panel by Mora.

And then we get a cliffhanger. 

Even all of that last battle was an illusion by Black. None of that happened. Prime was fooled again.

And now Black is back, wearing a 'Death of Superman' black bag bloody symbol and crackling with energy.

It's on!

Such a fantastic issue. 

I have to say, the Superman books have been crackling for the last several years. And now I am reading amazing Superman books ... without Superman! I am loving this Prime run and I never thought I would say those words.

Overall grade: A+