Review: Absolute Superman #25

Hard to believe we are entering the third year of the Absolute universe but here we are with the release of Absolute Superman #25. And like other of the Absolute books, this seems to being treated like an anniversary issue, being a little but bigger at 32 pages and bringing together a bevy of artists who have worked on the book before.

Moreover, it also seems to wrap up the Brainiac storyline happening in the issue which in some ways wraps up the whole first arcs of the book. It also leans heavily into the building history of the book. We see more of Jor-El and Lara. We get a retelling of the brutal origins of Brainiac. Can Superman survivewhat Brainiac mentally couldn't?  We once again see the resilience of this Superman. In this Darkseid fueled universe, this Superman truly is an inspiration. So flashbacks, retelling and adventure all sort of weaved into a great story by Jason Aaron.

Perhaps the biggest treat of the book is art. Like any good anniversary book, we get to see the art of the people who have helped build this book. Rafa Sandoval is back, giving us the flashback pages on Krypton. And Juan Ferreyra handles the pages in the current world. And Carmine DiGiandomenico does the brutal landscape in Brainiac's mind. With these artists working specific parts of the book as well as having done issues on the title, it feels like a true celebration.

On to the book. 

Review: Action Comics #1103

The recent issues of Action Comics by Mark Waid have been a look back at the earliest days of Superboy, donning the costume, gaining powers, and learning how to navigate a secret identity. It has been great!

Now in Action Comics #1103, we begin a new arc looking back at the earliest days of Lex Luthor. After reading the first chapter, this looks like it will be just as interesting a refresh of Lex's origins, keeping the best parts and sort of modernizing the rest. Perhaps what I like best of all is that it isn't just Lex's story. We will see even earlier portions of Clark's life as a compare/contrast to how Superman ended up being who he is and how Lex's environments molded who he has become.

Lex is still an early genius. He has an abusive father. But now he has a loving mother trying to escape a toxic environment. She is trying to nurture him and show the world who Lex is. . For sure, this has to be a reason why Lex is so rough around the edges. 

I don't need every villain to have a sympathetic back story. But Lex has really danced all over the line for the last 20 years or so, being in the JLA as much as he has been in jail it seems. So having Waid rewrite and revamp DCU continuity will shore up Luthor's history. 

Throw in the usual nods to DC history that Waid always brings and you have a great opening chapter.

Patricio Delpeche is on art here and his style works well with this tale of Lex and Clark as kindergarten age kids. It just works well. And much of this issue is small town, in home parenting sessions and he brings the emotions there too. 

On to the issue.

Review: Spider-Man/Superman #1 Main Story

Welcome to part two of Spider-Man/Superman #1 week where I will review the main story of the book, 'Our Kryptonite', by Brad Metzler and Pepe Larraz.

This is a pretty beefy story, clocking in at 27 pages. And it again shows how Superman and Spider-Man would probably be easy friends. Both journalists. Both inspirational heroes. Both here in this Marvel release and in the recent DC release of the heroes, there is an easy chemistry between them.

One thing that I really like about this story (and truly throughout both books), Superman is treated with incredible respect, shown to be a leader and an inspiration. In this issue, I think he actually gives Spider-Man some perspective that the wallcrawler might have been missing. That makes me happy. It ends with a nice homey scene that also adds a touching ending. 

I do have to say that there is a story turn or plot point that wasn't exactly easy for me to understand that sort of pulled me out of the take a little bit. It was only on multiple rereads and a listening to some other reviews that I finally understood the plan of the villains of the piece, Luthor and the Green Goblin. 

The art is by Pepe Larraz so you know it is going to be great. In particular, there is a panel in the super-brawl that blew me away. I'll be sure to point it out. 

I'd be interested in hearing what others thought. For sure, some of the other back-ups (covered later this week) stood out as superb. 

On to the story.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #47

Batman/Superman World's Finest #47 came out this last week, the finale of the Absorbascon storyline pitting the Batman/Superman Fusion against the Lex/Joker Merger. And boy, it ends ... quickly, neatly, and semi-easily.

Writer Mark Waid is almost always a fun and entertaining read and this title has been a revelation in the four years it has been out. This story seems to have some elements that fit the quality of this book. Seeing how the fused heroes work together while the meshed villain minds sometimes are fighting each other is a good insight into the characters. Seeing how our heroes deal with their secret identities revealed also has some meat on the bone to delve into. (Indeed, the Lois scene in this book is my favorite.) And perhaps this characterization deep dive was the impetus for this story. But the plot, with the Absorbascon as a deus ex machina becoming both a receiver and a transmitter that needs to be shut down then saved then reverted seemed too big to wrap up. This was a three parter! But honestly, I don't know if a longer version of this story would make the ending more palatable.

Adrian Gutierrez gets to really stretch in this arc with crazy action, a large cast of cameos, and some emotional beats. It is a rapid fire book going from magical battles to quiet apartment conversations to fistfights. That is a lot for one tiny issue. It must be hard to step into Dan Mora's shoes but I have come to really like Gutierrez's style on this book. There is an energy here that works. 

On to the book.

Bullet Review: DC KO #3

DC KO #3, written by Scott Snyder with art by Javi Fernandez, came out this week and was another bonkers, high energy brawl of a book as our heroes and villains vie to see who will win the title King Omega and take on Darkseid to reinvent the universe.

It feels intentionally over the top with the fate of the universe at hand, the winner being able to scrawl their idea of what reality should be. 

Round one was a battle royale style race for immunity totems (magical items).

Round two was a two out of three solo match.

Round three is a tag-team match with each entrant able to pick their partner.

It is silly in a good way with high stakes and I have mostly enjoyed it. But two things have detracted my enjoyment from the title.

The first is a bit meta, the promotion of the event. I will talk about that at the end.

The second, how Supergirl was treated in this particular issue hence the bullet review.

They are, overall, small distractions to the insanity of the book. It is fun in an 'over the top' way.

But let's dive into Supergirl's part in this issue.

The rules of engagement are clear. The Elite Eight are allowed to pick a partner, any partner, got the tag team battle. If they don't choose a partner, one will be chosen for them.

Superman chooses last. The omnipotent voice almost chooses for him but then Clark makes up his mind.

Is the crumbling Supergirl statue supposed to mean she is who was almost chosen for him? Does it mean he contemplated picking her but picked someone else?

Either way, at least she was near the top. 

But then ...

Review: Superman #33

Superman #33 came out last week, a Luthor solo story showing his round 2 DC KO brawl with Etrigan. Written by Joshua Williamson with art by Hayden Sherman, it is a deep dive into the intricacies of Lex's mind and history so was an intersting read.

Since the beginning of this volume of Superman, Lex has been front and center. The whole premise by Williamson was showcasing the Lex/Superman relationship as Luthor wanted to befriend Superman, first for nefarious reasons and then because he was turned. Then House of Brainiac, amnesia, a truly good (almost naive) Lex emerging, only to have his unsavory life outlook sort of resurface. For sure, Lex has been complicated.

In this issue, Lex dwells on his mindset and background. He has an 'ends justify the means' foundation that he uses to justify every decision he has made in life, from literally making a deal with the devil to doing what he needs to do to advance in this Omega tournament. Throw in the Demon, Etrigan's own history, some deep DC history, and this is a worthy even tie-in.

Hayden Sherman is on art and brings a great style to the proceedings. I have just started to discover Sherman's work while reading Batman Dark Patterns and Absolute Wonder Woman back issues. One of the best things in this book is the page layouts with creative panels and page layouts. I don't know if his style is best for Superman but for an issue mostly located in Hell? Perfect. Alejandro Sanchez's color schemes of oranges, reds, and yellows only accentuates it.

If I had one nitpick, this issue could have used some editors notes pointing out where some flashbacks took place. 

On to the book. 

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #46

Batman/Superman World's Finest #46 came out last week, the second part of the Luthor/Joker team-up arc and basically a issue-long brawl between our main characters ... but with a twist.

This is a standard Mark Waid story, digging into some old DC concepts like the Thanagarian Absorbascon while giving it a nice updated feel. Last issue, the Joker and Luthor fused into one body. This issue we get to explore what that mind is like, with two completely dueling mindsets trying to work one body. Through some plot shenanigans, we get a fusion Superman/Batman being (harkening back to World's Finest #4 ). So we then get to see what two minds thinking together sound like as opposed to the villains. It is a nice little writing trick, giving us a nice dive into the thoughts of our main protagonists and antagonists.

But the real joy of this issue is the art by Adrian Gutierrez. It probably isn't the best word but there is a frenetic feel to his art. There is a wild energy to it. And in this issue where two fused beings are just throwing down, the art just sizzles. This just feels like a Dragon Ball episode with overpowered fused-form beings are zipping around the skies trading blows. I don't mind a brawl issue now and then.

I don't know why this issue got a Chuma Hill variant cover with Supergirl and Catwoman but it is an interesting composition.

On to the story.

Review: Superman #32

Superman #32 came out last week, a true tie-in to DC KO with some replayed scenes and added moments to that storyline. But the main thrust of this issue is two-fold. One, Luthor entering the fray. Two, Lois dealing with the Absolute Legion while she tries to help her husband.

Writer Joshua Williamson has been focusing on the Luthor/Superman relationship this entire series with Lex going from duplicitous and villainous to inspired to amnestic to philosophical to now back to being villainous. Seeing Luthor say he is the better person to wield to Heart of Apokolips and win the tournament is a nice new addition to their dealings in this book. Is this a quick heel turn for Lex who went to Nanda Parbat to hide and meditate? Maybe. But the world is at stake. 

As for Lois, I have been enjoying her dealing with Superboy Prime who is at his most likeable in this story. How did she get her powers back? Who knows. It had been hinted at that they had been stolen from General Zod. Did he regain them only to lose them again? Will we ever find out the hows and whys of these.

Eddy Barrows is on art again and brings a nice aesthetic to the whole thing, a mix of a fine lined pencil work to excellent shadowing. I like how DC is using Barrows, having come in for a few issues and not saddling him with the idea of a monthly book. His art is great and I always like seeing it.

One thing about this issue is that it does spend some pages retelling things I have read in this title and in the DC KO #1 issue. I suppose there are readers who haven't read the other and these recaps help.

On to details.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #45

Batman/Superman World's Finest #45 came out last week and it is hard for me to think this book is almost 4 years old. The format of intermittent adventures from some elsewhen in the past has worked perfectly in giving us fun, entertaining stories reaching into the deep recesses of the DCU with a both a classic feel and a modern sensibility. Time flies!

This issue starts a new arc bringing us a Joker/Luthor team-up, the perfect contrast to our heroes. Throw in a guest star and some nods to some Silver/Bronze age goodness and you have another win. Writer Mark Waid has been walking that tightrope of classic and new for a while and definitely continues to shine. For me, the best part of this set-up issue is that a Lex/Joker team-up would not be an easy alliance. These two would not get along even if they have similar difficulties with heroes.

Adrian Gutierrez remains on art and his scratchy, energized style works very well with this story. An intangible Lex falling through a building? A violent Hawkman lashing out against the villains? A mash-up of Lex/Joker? All those things leans into his strengths and he hits it out of the park.

This is an opening chapter to an arc so we are just starting out here but there is a zaniness to this story already which was refreshing. 

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #599

In Action Comics #1090, Superboy battled Raze in Will Magnus' lab. This is an Elsewhen story so there weren't any Metal Men there, just your standard robots and some samples of elements in the lab's cabinet. One of those elements was Kryptonite. The set-up led to blog friend Mart Gray asking if Magnus ever made a Kryptonite Metal Men.  As far as I know, that hasn't happened. But we got close in Action Comics #599. With all that background, how could I not review it?

We are about 15 months into John Byrne's reimagining of Superman in the DCU, a time when Action Comics became a sort of DC Comics Presents, a team-up book. That format ends next month with the anniversary #600 dropping. With  Byrne being new to the universe, I was glad that we got this team-up book letting us see his take on the Demon, Mister Miracle, the Titans, and others. Here Byrne has our hero teaming up with the Metal Men ... a little. You'll see what I mean.

There is something else even more interesting about this. Usually Byrne did writing and art. But on this issue, legend Ross Andru did the pencils. Byrne does inking of 'figures', I suppose to give the book that Byrne polish. And Keith Williams does the inking of the backgrounds. So it looks like Byrne ... sort of. You'll see what I mean.

And, as Mart asked, we get a Kryptonite Metal Man to attack Superman. On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #2

I am reviewing two books this week. One is a Milk Bone promotion for Krypto. The other is DC heroes and villains fighting giant kaiju from classic monster movies. Let us all sit back and realize that at least for now all is well. 

Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #2 came out last week and continued to keep the foot down on velocity. The heroes are on Godzilla's home world dealing with a new environment and ornery monsters. The villains have teamed up with Colonel Shaw, trying to utilize science to fight or gain control of the monsters. And, of course, the villains and heroes fight. But outside of these enormous action sequences, we have a number of subplots and character moments that I find very entertaining. 

Writer Brian Buccellato continues to spin the story well. Yes, we get kaiju fights and superheroes against kaiju fights. But we get fun character moments. From lex's scheming to Captain Cold's idiocy to Batman's strategy to Supergirl's pro-active stance and heroics, we are get fun interactions with the action. Buccellato has to be a Supergirl fan. She was a big part of the last series and she remains very visible here.

Christian Duce does the entirety of the art. I love his smooth, detailed, fine lined work. He really gets to spread his wings this issue. Giant monsters fighting giant monsters. Or giant monsters fighting human heroes. Or villains fighting heroes. It's all there.

This remains a complete romp, a perfect summer popcorn mini-series.

On to the book.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #297 (sort of) - The End Of Lesla Lar (sort of)

With her return in the current Supergirl book by Sophie Campbell, I have been doing a deep dive into Lesla Lar's first storyline, a multi-part classic with a million twists and turns. I'd advise you go back and read those reviews before this one.  But the last part ended with Lesla being discovered by Kandorian police and hauled off to jail.

But what ultimately happened to her? Well we find out in 1962's Action Comics #297, a whole 15 months after her last appearance! And when I say 'ultimately', I mean until she is brought back decades later. 

One thing I have to say about this era of Supergirl stories, which appeared as back-ups in Action Comics, is that they really told a running narrative, more akin to current comics than the time. There were subplots and multi-part stories that ran through several issues, unlike the Superman stories which were mostly 'done-in-one' adventures.

Nothing shows that more than Super DC Giant #S-24 from 1971 which sports a great Curt Swan cover (with Mike Sekowsky throwing in the bottom costume bit), a cover which Sophie Campbell homaged with Supergirl #2 . 

My review of the story comes from this reprint which covers four consecutive back-up stories which comprise one long narrative. And what a story. We get the introduction of Lena Thorul, who doesn't know she is Lex's sister Lena Luthor. We learn about Lena's ESP powers. And we get the return of Lesla and Supergirl defeating both Lex and Phantom Zone villains. Kudos to DC for recognizing this is a banger of a story and worth collecting.

Lesla appears in chapter 3. So buckle up!

'The Forbidden Weapons of Krypton' was written by Leo Dorfman with art by Jim Mooney.  As you see, there is the 'from Action #297' box from my reprint issue. 

We get this mini-splash to open the proceedings and tease the story. Supergirl stands alone against Phantom Zone villains in a battle of survival. With Superman in the past and a barrier blocking time travel, she stands alone!

But we start with more mundane proceedings.

Lena (who at this time doesn't know she is a Luthor) has entered Linda's life. Through the usual shenanigans, Dick Malverne thinks Lena is Supergirl. Even stranger, Lena admits she IS Supergirl to Dick. 

Supergirl can't understand why Lena would lie. But I love the miffed face she is sporting in that first panel. She can't quite get over it, even complaining to her step parents that night. Perhaps there is a little jealousy since Dick is involved?

But in a flashback we see why Lena lied.

Lesla has broken out of prison and is up to her old tricks. Holed up in a secret lab, she begins to hatch a plot. She uses her mind control ray to make Lena say she is Supergirl, knowing the real one is eavesdropping. 

Lesla is just delicious in her schemes.

But she feels a bit like a one-trick pony here.

Instead of switching places with Supergirl, this time she'll switch with Lena. So now Lena is in the mind-control helmet being convinced she is Lesla while Lesla goes up to Earth and takes Lena's place.

Even better, she sets off an 'anti-monitor' bomb, blocking all video transmissions out of Kandor and even plugs the cork. The Kandorians have no idea what is happening on Earth and they cannot warn the cousins.

A bit to unpack. 

The switch identities trick is such a complicated plot but I guess if Lesla doesn't want to appear to be missing from Kandor she has to do it. Also, isn't it strange that Lesla/Lena/Linda all look so much alike that they can swap in and out for each other? Crazy.

But lastly, we could have used an Anti-Monitor bomb in the Crisis. Just sayin'.

When Supergirl goes to visit Lena and confront her about the lie, she is actually visiting Lesla. 

Lesla shows off that she has super-powers (she is Kryptonian after all) but then spins a tale to explain things. She says, as Lena, she discovered she was a Luthor and drank a serum Lex was making that gave her powers. Moreover, 'Lena' wants to become a super-hero fighting evil.

I just have to say it again. Lesla looked enough like Supergirl to replace her. And she looks enough like Lena to replace her? Three exact duplicates!

And crazy artistic choice in the second panel. I suppose with that many words, to construct a panel with people might be too hard. So Mooney pulls back to show the house! Incredible.

Instead of doing some low-level scheming and living a bit as Lena hoping to slowly destroy Supergirl, Lesla kicks her plan into high gear with 'Operation Breakthrough'!

She creates a 'trans-dimensional lens' out of a simple television!!! Her tech is insane! Imagine if Lesla was a force for good! 

By the way, check out that costume and now look at the last page of Supergirl #2. Bless Sophie Campbell for the deep cuts.

The plan is relatively simple. Use the lens to open up the Phantom Zone and bring out some of the worst of the worse - Zod, Kru-El, and Jax-Ur. I love that Dorfman gives us little bios about the criminals so we know their bona fides.

And even better, I like that he realizes that Mon-El would also try to get out to fight the bad guys. How crazy that Lesla was prepared with a 'lead gun' to drive him back into the Zone.

This was before the internet and Who's Who. Those history lessons, like with the villains, was essential back then and even when I was first reading.

You would think that 4 Kryptonians on Earth would be enough of a threat to the world. But they want to beef up even that threat level. They head to the bottom of the ocean to find Kru-El's cache of weapons. Could this be the same trunk seen in Adventure Comics #283? No editor's note but given Kru-El's dialog I am saying that it is the same.

And what a cache! First off, a force beam that blocks the Earth from outside forces including temporally! Superman is in the past on a mission. The Legion is in the future. Neither can come to help fight these villains.

Now that is some weapon!

Also inside is a disintegrator pistol. Will it work against a super-powered Kryptonian? There is only one way for the villainous group to find out ... fire it on one of their own members. 

Alas, Lesla loses the draw. So despite freeing these guys they kill her. 

Goodbye Lesla Lar (sort of). 

The gun shorts out so it cannot be used again. I don't know why the writer felt they needed to kill of Lesla in this way. They didn't even need to bring the gun into the story (which, of course, couldn't stick around because it could kill our heroes). 

Poor Lesla.

Left alone, Supergirl seems to be able to stymie the villains. But then Kru-El hits her with another weapon. Struck by a 'plague beam' from his belt, Supergirl radiates an aura that turns any living being into a plant!

That is some crazy cache of weapons!!

Now you think Supergirl would go to the Justice League and recruit Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. But instead she thinks the best person to team up with is Lex. He initially laughs her off but she then tells him that Lena is stuck in Kandor. With his sister in peril, Lex joins the fight! TO BE CONTINUED!

I still feel Lesla's death was too quick and so needless. Supergirl needed a rogue's gallery. Lesla was a perfect Lex-like foil. But as I said she only sort of died.

Lesla Lar comes back in another multi-part story by Jack C. Harris in Superman Family in the early 80s. As a disembodied sentience, we see her manipulate events in her quest for revenge! 

And now we have her back in the current book!

I loved this long story as much as the first Lesla one, especially since this had big stakes and Supergirl forced to use her wits to defeat everyone. The weapons cache is crazy but certainly pushed the threat level up. Perhaps one day I'll own the actual issue!

Overall grade: B+

Review: Superman #27

Superman #27 came out this week and it felt a little bit like a whirlwind as a lot of plots and subplots were wrapped up in the span of this one issue's pages. Perhaps some upcoming mega-event required writer Josh Williamson to clear the decks. But consider them cleared. I will say up front I was happy to see some of these subplots wrapped up. Others? Not so much.

From the beginning of this title, Joshua Williamson has been firing on all cylinders. The whole book was built on the Lex/Superman relationship as we try to figure out if Lex is evil and doing a long con or actually turned a new leaf. He introduced Pharm and Graft as villains with a long history in Metropolis. He introduced Marilyn Moonlight, a hero that has always been in Metropolis (but somehow has never been seen before). Add in Perry being Mayor, Lois being editor/Superwoman, Jimmy dating Siobhan, Red K rage, and other stuff and these two years have really been fun and entertaining.

After this issue, it looks much of these are either wrapped up, put on ice, or entering a new phase. But this really felt like an ending of sorts. So much of an ending that I immediately went to see if Williamson is still on the book next month.

The art is by the trio of Eddy Barrows, Sean Izaaske, and Eber Ferreira. There is some decent action in the book and Barrows is always a treat. 

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong 2 #1

Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong 2 #1 came out last week, the first part of the sequel to last year's JL v G v K first series. Now I loved the first series, an Elseworlds book smushing kaiju with Super Friends with Supergirl all together. It was fun to see an old school Toyman just want to have fun with giant toys leading to a brawl.

DC made the right decision bringing the band back together. Writer Brian Buccellato and artist Christian Duce are back on the scene. This time instead of bringing the Legendary Monsters to the DC world, our heroes and villains are heading to the monster's Earth. That new wrinkle, a different world and a different yellow sun, might mean something.

Our heroes have a classic feel to them, almost Bronze Age in personality. Instead of bringing in the Legion of Doom again, Buccellato brings in the Suicide Squad as 'the bad guys'. Now I, for one, am pretty sick of Amanda Waller who is seems omnipresent. But Buccellato throws a nice curve ball into the proceedings. One has to do with Waller. The other is putting Lex on the Squad which surely will lead to some laughs.

Most importantly for me, Supergirl is back and is portrayed in the same positive manner she was last series. I better see more of her and Kong. Match made in heaven.

Duce brings such a sweet slick style to the book. From an opening wedding scene to a giant monster fight to our heroes using their powers, the book is a joy to behold. In particular, the King Shark vs. Godzilla fight has the potency a kaiju fight should. Plus his Kara is stunning.

On to the book, the perfect 'Summer movie' book as the summer opens.

Review: Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3

In August 2023, DC released The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1. 

In April 2025, DC released the finale, The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3, the book I am here to review a day. It is interesting that the last 2 chapters came out within a month of each other, but nearly 2 years after the first. 

My philosophical question for the readers is this. Do dramatic delays in a comic release somehow impact your enjoyment of it? I can't help but think that Doomsday Clock might have read better if it came out in a timely fashion. Or if read in one sitting when you aren't wondering when the next chapter is coming out.

I know. Why am I talking Doomsday Clock in a review of this book?

This is a fine Elseworld book. This has an interesting, and I might say controversial, ending. I don't know if I like the ending here. The art by Bryan Hitch and Kevin Nowlan is scintillating. I am glad I bought and read this. From the tour of the DCU to the update of the Luthor origin to the interplay between Lex and Superman, it has been a fun read.

But I really wanted to be blown away by the ending of this book, probably because I have been waiting so long for it. And that is probably unfair of me to have scheduling drama alter my expectations. Of course, the ending falling flat for me is probably as big a reason as any.

On to the book.

Review: Superman #25

The extra-sized Superman #25 came out this week and was a pretty rollicking issue that pushed forward one of the biggest storylines of this comic. The Lex/Superman dynamic has been the foundation of this book since its inception.

 Is Lex an ally? Is he an enemy, a wolf in sheep's clothing? Is this new amnestic Lex truly and ally? Or is the whole thing a ruse? Writer Joshua Williamson let's us peek behind the curtain, bringing us back to the earliest moments of this run and letting us hear Lex say his plans. But the amnesia from Brainiac must have been an unanticipated event, changing things. (I do wonder if Williamson had this all mapped out, including that turn, when the book was initiated.)

But this is a stuffed issue. So we get to see Mercy continue her heel-turn. We see Marilyn Moonlight for the first time in a while. We get to see more of the Red-K poisoning. And substantial movement in the Superwoman arc. And we get the introduction of a villain with a name that I can't believe hasn't been used before. Kudos to Williamson!

The art is done by a trio of superstars - Jamal Campbell, Dan Mora, and Eddy Barrows. It was good to see Campbell back on the book, especially since his pages are the flashback to the beginning of the book, the arc he drew. Gave it some artistic weight. Barrows and Mora finish the book with some flair, including the use of 2 page splashes and oversized panels. Mora also gives us this wraparound cover. 

I know it is going to sound insane but that jacketed Supergirl look has really grown on me. I wonder how much of that is Mora and how much is the look.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #280

Last week I reviewed Action Comics #279, the first part of the Silver Age Supergirl story where she battles Lesla Lar. All this is in anticipation of the upcoming Supergirl title and Lesla being the main villain.

Today I am reviewing Action Comics #280, the second chapter of the multi-part arc. And much like last issue, this one goes at an incredible pace and is filled with standard Silver Age insanity, including throwaway science ideas, identity changes, and wild action. 

But also, like last issue, there is some growth for the Supergirl character (or at least the idea of her given that Lar is impersonating her). Writer Jerry Siegel is using this big storyline to sort of mature Supergirl into something more than the orphan secret weapon. Last issue, Siegel had Linda get adopted. She ditched the braids. This issue, Superman recognizes how much Kara has grown in her 2+ years of comic history. Add to that the insane Lar who has aspiration and perhaps delusions of grandeur. She is truly wicked. 

Jim Mooney is on art and remains the legend. His work on Lar and her facial expressions is just stellar. But Mooney gets to spread his wings a bit here too. We get a lot of crazy Kandor science. We get a three page basic retelling of the plight of Argo City and Supergirl's origins. Mooney is a master.

Settle in and buckle up for a wild ride. On to the book. 

Review: Superman #24

Superman #24 came out this week and ended with such a turn for a character that it felt like a jolt of acceleration into the next arc. We just wrapped up the Doomsday story arc so we need to take the next step. This issue sort of bridges the gap, catching up with characters but also pushing us forward.

Writer Joshua Williamson does a great job telling the tale, having Lois and Superman uncover the hidden threat in different ways, coming together at the end for a major cliffhanger. I thought this 'two fronts' (as alluded to on the cover) was a nice technique. Superwoman gets the action piece. Superman gets the thinking thread. It is a little bit of a role reversal since Lois is usually doing the investigating while Supes punches things. Throw in some guest stars and DC history and you have a fun read.

Eddy Barrows is on art, last seen in the Gail Simone Superman arc. I have always loved Barrows' work so seeing him draw one of my favorite characters who is a guest star here made me smile. His art really is just gorgeous and we get to see him spread his wings a bit here. 

So overall, another solid issue in a string of solid issues. Get ready for the next threat! On to the book!

Review: Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2

Way back in August 2023, Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 came out. In my opening paragraph of that issue, I talked about how the book was sort of under-advertised and snuck up on me which made me worry that it would go unnoticed.

Here we are, over a year and a half later, with my review of Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2. With 19 months separating these chapters, surely this Mark Waid/Bryan Hitch book has been mostly forgotten and will again be mostly overlooked.

And that is a shame. Because all of the things that I lauded about the first book are still true here. It is a Mark Waid Superman book, which is always awesome. It is a classic story told with modern sensibilities. It is packed full of DC history, not surprising from Waid. And it has a few nods to Superman's appearances in other media.

But it is the Luthor/Superman dynamic that stirs the drink here. Lex has to be reminded of what Superman is to others. Others have to be reminded by Superman of who the Man of Steel is. But we also get an update to the classic Luthor origin, of a mishap in a lab that perhaps fostered a hatred of aliens in Lex.

As I have said before, I am not the biggest Bryan Hitch fan. But I am a huge Kevin Nowlan fan and Nowlan certainly puts his panache on the art. I'll say we cover a lot of DC real estate in this book and it just makes me wish we saw more of Nowlan on current issues. Everything is gorgeous. 

On to the book.

Review: Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1

Last week the Superman:Lex Luthor Special #1 was released, an interesting spotlight on Lex who has been going through quite some changes over the last 2 years. 

Since the inception of the latest volume of the Superman comic, writer Joshua Williamson has been focusing on the Lex/Superman dynamic. The whole book started with Lex saying he wanted to work with Superman, not against him. LexCorp became SuperCorp. Superman was a leader in the company. Work was done to help Superman. All the while I kept wondering if this was some trap set by Lex, a long con.

Then in House of Brainiac, Williamson changed even that dynamic, giving Lex amnesia and softening him considerably. Gone was the aggressive, Type A megalomaniac. Instead, there was a gentle soul. But even there, I was wondering if this was another long con ... a con within a con.

Perhaps with the Superman movie on the horizon, there was some impetus to put Luthor back in the super-villain ranks. This issue Superman nudges Lex more towards his purer form, ending the amnesia at least. Will Superman regret it?

It also layers in the dreaded 'sympathetic backstory' that every villain seems to need these days. Gone are the days of  'I'm just an evil SOB' villain. I like my Lex to just be a narcissist. Not someone emotionally abused as a child who must be dealing with his trauma.

The art is done by Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira. I have always like Barrows. This is a low key issue without a ton of action. But Barrows brings the emotion to the proceedings. I really like his ink style in the flashbacks, reminding me of legendary inker Alfredo Alcala. High praise.

On to the book.