Adventures of Superman Book Of El #11 came out recently, the penultimate chapter of this epic tale and, unfortunately, the penultimate Superman book for Phillip Kennedy Johnson. It was way back in 2021 when PKJ was announced as the new writer on Action Comics. At the time I said 'who?' But he showed me quite quickly that he understood Superman and the Super-Family. He will be missed on these books.
This title has had the usual wide-spread world-building that PKJ is known for. But we are approaching the end. The Els are united ... truly united as you'll see ... and are ready to fight Kryl-Ux and his made quest for power. The aspects of Olgrun are finally all near each other. And the battle is about to come to an end.
But, being true to his understanding of Superman, even when things look most dire, when it looks like the only answer is violence, Johnson has our hero offer peace and help.
The art is a conglomeration of Scotty Godlewski, Cian Tormey, and Vasco Georgiev. It flows smoothly with, I believe, Godlewski doing most of the pages, They make Kryl-Ux appropriately horrific and give the right degree of emotion to the scenes that require it.
The mythology of the book has been a bit hard to follow at times but this issue felt like one of the strongest, finally bringing all the pieces together on the chessboard. On to the book.
Kryl-Ux has lost his way.
With Superman back, the El family begins to track down Kryl-Ux.
We learn why Kryl is called the Promethean King. He freed the Promethean Giants from the Source Wall and commanded them in battle. But even they turned on Kryl-Ux and fell before his might. Another aspect of Olgrun was lost here.
I love how Superman looks upset at all this. He understands that Kryl-Ux has completely lost his way. I think he feels for his enemy and the turmoil Kryl must be suffering.
In a bit of a quick turnaround, Pyrrhos shows up. He wants to meet Superman, make amends with Osul, and join the fight.
He can even use his magic to reanimate the Giants and have them join the battle.
It feels a little fast for Pyrrhos to go from enemy to friend. But I guess the universe is about to end. Better the devil you know?
I do like the different costumes our heroes all wear, each with a sort of unique S-Symbol.
Pyrrhos drops a pretty interesting nugget.
The last aspect of Olgrun has been tucked away, in the Phantom Zone.
Now it seems like these aspects mostly reside in people. Hmmm ....
Also, pretty smart of these heroes to keep the final aspect truly outside of Kryl-Ux's reach.
Kryl-Ux also seems to realize that things are coming to a close. He is uniting the aspects into himself all in hopes of resurrecting his family.
He is so powerful that he can bring forth some simulacra of them. But even these vestiges of them can't recognize him and are horrified.
It is a great scene that works on all levels. His family is frightened by him and what he has become. It shows how much this desire for revenge can change a person, making them ugly both spiritually and, in this instance, physically.
Kryl-Ux has lost his way.
Hoping to stave off a war, Superman actually confronts Kryl-Ux alone. Maybe Superman can help the Promethean King save himself.
But we get even more insight into how Kryl-Ux has lost his way. This isn't about his love of his family anymore. It is about revenge.
Superman points out that he doesn't even know Kryl-Ux's wife and children's names. He has never heard anything about them other than their deaths. It is another way of showing that the goal of all this has been off.
This is another great scene showing who Superman is, offering help and forgiveness.
Kryl-Ux tries to prove Superman wrong. But he can't remember all his childrens' names at first. And he can't remember their favorite songs. He has forgotten them even though they are supposed to be his whole purpose.
So the fight is on!
On the other side?
The House of El! And who is leading the charge? Supergirl! (Or perhaps Superwoman!)
It has taken us 11 issues but we finally get a Kara sighting.
My guess? She has been in the Phantom Zone all this time guarding the last aspect.
Awesome!
Let's get it on!
But Kryl-Ux has got a bunch of the Olgrun aspects and takes back the Darkstar ring from the Suneater giving him even more aspects.
He manifests his new form and is ready to fight to get the rest.
Nice cliffhanger.
We do get more of the Book Of El in the end, this time giving us some history of the Phaelosians and Kryl-Ux themselves. We learned about the Phaelosians as an offshoot of Krypton and we finally hear a bit more about Thaklis and how her philosophical followers left Krypton.
We also hear about how New Phaelosia fell before the Warzoon and how it poisoned Kryl-Ux's heart.
This was a great issue finally getting Superman in front of Kryl-Ux and getting us ready for the battle. I really like Superman in this issue, trying to help. Plus, a Supergirl sighting!
Overall grade: A
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