Review: Superman Unlimited #14

"The Reign of the Superboys" continued in last week's Superman Unlimited #14, a book with a big reveal that most of the folks who come to this site guessed right from the start! Good for you all!

Writer Dan Slott brought back a young Superboy, a young Jon, and readers like me were perhaps hopeful that this was a way for DC to correct aging the character up. But from the beginning, astute readers picked up the hints. Krypto growling. Damien suspicious. Young Jon's temper and lack of memories. Still ... I hoped. In this issue, that mystery is answered. But what I like about this is seeing other characters' responses to this young Jon, in particular Lois who is a sort of POV character for me here.

But there is more to the book than just this young John. We continue to have deal with the 'Too Too Much Kryptonite' storyline. That story takes another left hand turn as experiments on it bring about yet another new manifestation of the mineral. I don't know where this is going but I wish it might go away.

Meanwhile, Lucas Meyer continues to be a revelation on the book. His clean style is a welcome change to the book. I love his expressive work conveyed on Tomorrow Man's black faceplate, no easy task. His expressive work on Lois here also shines. But there is one chilling panel of young Jon I'll point out later. 

On to the book. 

There is a lot of fast-moving action in this issue, all to show us that this Jon isn't the sort of Superboy we knew back in the day. 

First up, a skirmish with Dr. Thaddeus Killgrave. Jon almost fries him with his heat vision. Our Superboy was never one to overdo it on the violence.

Then Jon wonders why his mother isn't helping them on these adventures. Almost as if his mother had super-powers.

Now it is true that Lois has been Superwoman recently. But that felt like a clue.

I will admit that the Lois subplot, where she struggles with her thoughts on this return of a young Jon, is my favorite part of this storyline.

Here, she tells the Kents that a young Jon has returned. Lois wants this to be the return of her Jon but she isn't sure. But she is trying to deal with this as a reporter, dispassionately, which Martha tells her she simply can't. 

Great to hear Lois talk about hoping she has her young son back. And even greater to hear Martha tell her she can't hide behind a press badge.

Next adventure is Superboy and Tomorrow Man facing off against Volcana.

Both these Jons have been in a volcano being tortured. Right now old Jon has to step in and help his younger self, calming him when they get triggered by the magma. Part of this is simply saying out loud that young Jon is Superboy. And that being Superboy means saving people.

Lois heads back to Smallville to do some investigation on where her older son could be.

There she realizes that she was pushing her Jon to be a reporter. But that isn't his path.

This also hit home. Her Jon is an adult. He needs to decide himself what he wants to be. And she needs to let him. But this guilt about hoping young Jon is real and how maybe she hopes old Jon is gone is weighing on her.

Pretty heavy family moment in the midst of the super-hero action. Slott writes good Lois. And Meyer illustrates her wonderfully.

Then next adventure. 

The Dabney Donovan clones defeated last issue decide to steal the Green K in Metallo to restart their experiments.

Seriously, Green K is everywhere right now. Everywhere! Women are wearing it as jewelry. Donovan thinks the best way to get more is fight a super-villain? Insanity. And why this 'too damn much Green K' arc has to end.

But we see that young Jon grabs the Green K without any effects. Another clue.

Back in Smallville, at Steelworks, Steel has set up some Red Sun enclosures, one strong enough to keep Beppo powerless but safe. He also has one set up for young Jon, something Lois is on board with.

But when Steel starts to tinker with the Green K Dabney Donovan was messing with, the one that gave Beppo its powers, it triggers an odd reaction. 

The Green K erupts in crystal growth. 

And then it seems to overwhelm Lana biologically, causing her to sprout crystals herself and be oddly possessed. 

I don't get what is happeneing here. There is something different about this Green K. 

Tomorrow Man and Superboy arrive while Steel is trying to control the growing Green K. Superboy wants to rescue Beppo. Steel actually wants Jon to enter another Red Sun enclosure, a safe place for Jon.

Jon won't hear of it. A 'red sun enclosure' is just another cage, just another volcano. 

This panel of Jon right before he and Steel fight is chilling. This is a troubled little kid giving me all the Bad Seed chills I need. Scary. Great work by Meyer, my favorite panel in the book. Brrrr ...

But in some ways I can understand it. This Jon was alone and trapped in that volcano. Why enter another prison. 

A Jon with a temper, untouched by Green K, and wondering why a super-powered Lois hasn't joined the fray. It all adds up to an Earth 3 Jon Kent, Ultra Man's son. And that reveal is given to us at the end of the book. Batman and Damian have solved the mystery. And Damian wants first shot at this kid.

Many commenters on this site guessed this was Ultraman's son while I was holding out hope this was actually our young Jon returning. I guess I am like Lois. But kudos to all who guessed correctly. This time, you were right.

I have some questions. Why would Ultraman put his son in a Superman zip-up hoodie. Unless this was  another mental torture by Ultraman, saying his son was weak like little Earth-0's Jon. But that is a no-prize by me.

I am bored to tears with all this El Caldero Green K but it isn't going away as it is a big part of the upcoming Zod event. But the rest of this issue with its quick villain fights, clues about this young Jon, Lois emotional turmoil, and the ultimate reveal was fun.

Overall grade: B+