Review: Superman The Wedding Album 30th Anniversary Special

As many people who read this blog are aware, I am old.

In the recent years, DC has recognized that there have been major events in their universe that have happened quite sometime ago.  And knowing perhaps that there are old timers like me who remember those days fondly, they have put out specials to commemorate them.  I suppose they hope that these events continue to have an impact on the universe today and that new fans therefore will be intrigued in reading these anniversary specials.

The latest book to "get the band back together" is Superman The Wedding Album 30th anniversary Special #1.  Much like prior issues looking back at "The Death of Superman" Special  and "The Return of Superman" Special, this book brings many of those classic creators back. Seeing Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove, Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett, and Dan Jurgens and Jerry Ordway back with Superman is always amazing. Throw in newbies Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey on the opening chapter adds some new blood. It all works, bringing back the feel of those halcyon days. We even get side plots!

Outside of the New 52, the Superman and Lois marriage has remained intact and a vital part of the mythology for these 30 years.  So being able to celebrate again made me smile.  Of course, there needs to be a story built around this and the creators do a good job working in a beloved villain who is desperately trying to celebrate but ends up reverting to his more mischievous ways.  Who better to bring some fun than Mr. Mxyzptlk. The story also does a great job bringing in Jon has a key part of the story.  Obviously children often want to know the history of their parents.  Having John attempting to help his parents celebrate was another nice touch.

I have enjoyed these specials immensely and I continue to hope that they put them out.  I do wonder how they sell.  Of course, that we will determine whether or not there are more in the future than anything else.

On to the book.

Review: Superman Father Of Tomorrow #6

Superman Father of Tomorrow #6 came out this week, ending the Elseworld mini-series where Jor-El lands on Earth rather than Kal. Feeling guilt over his failures on Krypton, Jor tries his best to wring Earth into a utopia, failing on almost every count. How will he wrap this up?

Writer Kenny Porter has certainly created a unique world. Jor landing without Kal feel fresh. Sam Lane as Captain Atom is interesting. Lex becoming a sorceror is another new wrinkle. The theme of Jor-El trying his best to correct his mistakes from the past was also felt very different, exactly what Elseworlds are supposed to do. I am thrilled he didn't go evil, a recent theme for Jor-El.

But in all that fresh environment, the story unfolds in a relatively standard way. I feel like this is another of the Elseworlds that sort of come and goes without being remembered. It will be fun to see what is remembered a few years from now, the book itself? Or Prime busting through the ad page in Superman #38.

Danny Earls continues to bring us a sort of muddy take on this world, perfect for the context and feel. Everything feels a little dysmorphic, a little distorted, and that works well. And I wonder if this cover is a nod to All-Star Superman #10?

On to the book. 

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween to all who celebrate the spooky holiday!

I love to carve pumpkins and this year, to celebrate the movie, I decided to to a 'Milly Alcock' Supergirl jack-o-lantern.

Hope everyone gets more treats than tricks!

Review: Superman #43

Superman #43 came out this week, the first arc in the book after Kingdom of Zod and with Superman back as the titular character after Prime was headlining. I just keep feeling that KoZ was sort of a letdown. So I am glad that our hero is back and sort of bringing back a sense of order to the book. 

It being right around Halloween, I love that this story seems to be leaning into horror, a sort of different flavor after the sci-fi heavy arcs we have had recently. There are spooky things happening in the city. People are going missing. Marilyn Moonlight is out searching for answers. A Death Cult ... or is it a Resurrection Cult ... has formed! And inky monsters are roaming the streets, strong enough to hurt our heroes. Very cool. But there is still a foundation of DC lore to prop up the horror. Yes, that is a Black Lantern symbol sighting. Yes, Nekron is dropped.

Joshua Williamson really drops us into the action, starting the arc out with just enough crumbs to make me want more. And the cliffhanger is definitely intriguing. But more than horror, we get the usual Superman stuff to make the horror elements stick out from regular things. Lois and Clark are catching up. Clark and Jimmy are out investigating. Cat Grant is transitioning to serious reporter but her history continues to impact her. It works well.

Xermanico is our new artist and he brings a high polish to the book in the sunlight and the creepy scenes. Really like the work here, especially the horror elements. Superman fighting inky blobby ghosts? Nice!

This is a very good opening issue, a fresh feel to the book while putting Kingdom Of Zod behind us.

On to the details.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #56

Batman/Superman World's Finest #56 came out last week, the second part of the Ra's Al Ghul arc in which that villain forms his Four Horsemen to achieve his ecological goal.

Mark Waid has used this book to write a more classic feeling DCU, bringing in so many characters to team up with the big stars. Here we get to see his take on Ra's and Talia. But also the Horsemen include some C and D listers like  Queen Bee and Tokamak. Waid always shines when he dives into these deeper ends of the DCU. 

This story feels fairly standard with Ra's trying to eliminate a huge percentage of humanity to achieve a new eden. But there is a moment with Superman, hinted at on the cover, that stood out. And the ending cliffhanger is definitely fun. But this story can only happen because the rest of the JLA are on a rescue mission in deep space. Mix that all up and you get a fine story.

Adrian Gutierrez is on art and his style seems to be changing from his earliest work, getting sharper and more energetic. There is a kinetic feel to the work here that I really like. I wonder if artists like working on this book given the side characters they have to learn about to draw. 

On to the book and some details.

Review: Superman Unlimited #18

Superman Unlimited #18 came out this week and established a new direction for the book, a father/son team-up book of supers. The El Caldero Kryptonite arc is over. So this book becomes another super-book on the rack. But gone are the days of Jon Kent being Superman or Son of Superman. He is Tomorrow Man. But a Tomorrow Man title won't sell books. So here we are.

I have bemoaned what has become of Jon Kent for too long. I miss the young Super Sons version. I miss the Legion version. I don't miss the Tom Taylor book. And now we have him as Tomorrow Man, living in the shadow of his parents, trying to find out who he is, and trying to find a purpose in life.

This issue tries to address all that. What is his relationship with his father as he tries to break away and secure his own identity? What is he trying to do in life? What does he want his non-superhero life to be like? This is an opening chapter to a new direction. Dan Slott does a good job showing us this big picture nicely in this book. But is this direction enough to sustain the book? As usual, there are a couple of funny moments in here that are classic Slott.

That said, Lucas Meyer is on art and continues to glitter. There is a great fight scene with the Royal Flush Gang that sings. But honestly an opening romantic scene between Clark and Lois is the one that truly glitters. Gorgeous stuff. I hope he stays here for a long time.

On to the details!

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.