Review: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1

I haven't been collecting all the DC KO crossovers out there, sticking mostly to the main mini-series and the titles I ordinarily collect. But when I saw The Kids Are All Fight Special #1  I knew I would be getting it. I had several reasons. 

You might think that this being a Jon Kent centric special would be the top reason. I feel the last several years have been bad for the character and he has basically disappeared from being a headliner to getting a small subplot in the Superman books. Somewhere along the way, from de-aging to over-preaching, Jon has become an unfortunate afterthought. I like the character and want to see him treated well again so I was interested in seeing how he would be treated.

You might think that Jeremy Adams writing it was the top reason. Jeremy Adams is one of those creators I implicitly trust and will follow from project to project. So for sure he was a big draw. This looked like a fun book, the perfect book for his style. But that wasn't the main reason.

Maybe the Dad joke pun title, riffing on an old Who song? Great but not the reason.

The main reason was the presence of Judy 'The Boom' Garrick. Ever get asked to name a recently created comic book character that you think will stick and struggle to come up with an answer? I no longer struggle. The Boom is awesome and when I saw she was going to be in this book, I knew I'd be buying.

The plot is simple. Jon has to babysit some young heroes during the disaster of KO. The kids have other ideas, heading out on a mission requiring a rescue. Adams does a great little plot maneuver that leads to a wonderful character moment that makes the book. 

Travis Mercer is on art and I really love his art. I keep hoping DC will give him a standing title. He keeps the energy buzzing and seems to have a great handle on the DC Universe given the number of characters that waltz in and out of the book.

On to some details.

Review: Superman Unlimited #8

Superman Unlimited #8 came out this week and was a fun semi-'done in one' story involving an overworked Lois, a spaceship, and Guy Gardner. Last month I complained about how the issue was a side trip, taking away from the main 'So Much Kryptonite' story. I want that story done so much, I complained about that diversion.

This month I decided to not let that hinder my enjoyment of a good story. Dan Slott seems to be exploring this new universe he is in, bringing in guest stars and giving us his take on them. It helps he has Jeremy Adams' steadying hand to help this issue as well. I like the classic feel of this Guy Gardner and how the League sort of tricks him into helping. And Superman is handled very well here, showing how much he loves Lois and how close they are.

So the character things work well. But the plot? Well, don't think about it too long or it unravels. 

The art is by Lucas Meyer whose work I have seen cropping up all over the place. He has a very clean feel, almost like Fernando Pasarin. He should definitely be put on a monthly.

Does this fun story mean we aren't done with the King of Kryptonite stuff? Yes. But the issue entertained. On to details.

Review: Superman Unlimited #7

Superman Unlimited #7 came out this week and was another sort of side-mission in this book which has been dealing with the over-arching plot of near limitless Kryptonite being available on Earth.

This is the second sort of side mission issue in this series already, with the Man-Bat issue also was off the beaten path. Now there are titles where a break from the action is a nice pause but here I kind of bristle. It took me a while to figure out why. Frankly, I am eager for the 'Bounty of Kryptonite' story to be done ... because we all know it will be undone somehow. And every pause we take means the story is lasting that much longer.

As for this issue, it is a Superman book in name only. This is a Jon Kent 'Super-Son' issue, focusing on Jon and a new life he is trying to create. I haven't read anything substantive about Jon since his mini-series a while back. He seems to be the forgotten El. So maybe a new, more stable life will help him. The story is plotted by Dan Slott with finished script by Jeremy Adams. There are a few fun moments but really this felt like a story where a punchline was thought of and the story was written to get us there. And a new wrinkle of labeling Smallville a 'weirdness magnet' is a more difficult choice for me as I like to think of Smallville as the place to escape the weirdness. 

The art is by Lucas Meyer who has been popping up across my comic reading recently and who brings a nice polish to everything. He recently did the Supergirl/Robin adventure issue in World's Finest. Here he gives us a modernized Smallville with a slick looking Super-Son. 

But this was really a pause. Can we get back to the main story so we reach the inevitable conclusion of 'not a lot of Kryptonite', 'everyone forgets Superman can go gold', and other pieces destined to be forgotten?

On to the book.

Terrificon 2025 Prep

Summer is convention season and my convention is of course, Terrificon.

I have been going to the con since 2017 and have always been impressed with the event. 

It is run at a great site, Mohegan Sun Casino. Free parking. Restaurants from fast food to fine dining.

It is run by a great show runner, Mitch Hallock. Hallock is clearly a fan of comics, a 'one of us' kind of kindred spirit, and is present at the show.

And it always has the best comic guest list. From legends to new talent, it is always a long list of guests.

The bottom line is if there is one show I am going to go to in 'con season' it's this one. And this year is no different. You can click here ( https://www.terrificon.com/ ) to get the run down of the show, including the great comic guest list and pretty impressive celebrity guest list too. 

For me, we are four weeks away and so that means it is prep time. Who am I going to try and commissions from? Who am I running to in hopes of getting some books signed? And what books am I going to try and get signed for friends who can't attend?

Let's start with the guest I am most excited to meet and hopefully get a sketch from.

I have always wanted to meet Kerry Gammill having been a fan since he drew the cover for Power Girl #1. I love his style. Gammill drew the covers for that Power Girl mini-series, the covers of the Supergirl mini-series in the 90s, and other Super-related stuff. For me, based on that, he has a solid Matrix Supergirl connection. He hasn't been at any convention I have been to so I was thrilled when I saw him on the list!

I really hope that I can get a commission from him and get books signed.