Review: Superman #6

Superman #6 came out last week and was a very entertaining read.

From formatting decisions to plot progression to knock down fight sequences to emotional beats, this whole thing gave me a lot to mull over when it was done. And that isn't even mentioning the highly anticipated and highly dreaded cliffhanger ending.

But there was a story-telling moment that I have to admit surprised me and therefore impressed me quite a bit. When this grizzled and semi-jaded comic reader is caught off guard, it needs to be mentioned.

All of that means I must extend my respect to writer Brian Michael Bendis who has somehow made me interested in this Rogol Zaar story. I started out shrugging at this whole thing and looking forward to Action Comics much more. But these last couple of issues have really been standouts.

Of course, equal credit rests on the art team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado. The book opens up with amazing double splash pages as Superman's conflicted thoughts surround the slugfest between titans. The art is just stunning. This is one of those issues where I paused before turning the page to make sure I was drinking in all the artwork.

Anyways, there is a lot to mull over in the details so on to the book.

 Last issue ended with General Zod crashing the Phantom Zone party and bringing the fight to Rogol Zaar.

We pick right up there.

But we hear Superman's inner most thoughts as this war of the gargantuans unfolds.

First off, I like how Superman's initial thought here is always to try and stop a fight. He even surprises himself when he says his first instinct is to separate these two. Now that is both perfect and ludicrous.

But the thing that stuck out to me right off the bat was the lofty language Supes uses. A battle for THE LEGACY OF KRYPTON! That caught me off guard a bit.

 The battle goes on.

And Superman has to admit that his ideals of resorting to violence as a last resort isn't going to work here. Maybe the best thing to do is let Zod and Zaar kill each other.

But then he wouldn't learn what Zaar did. And if Jor-El was involved. And how does Zod know about him anyways?

Still, having these two monsters off each other is a tempting idea, isn't it?

And yet, no matter what gets thrown at Zaar, he always pushes through. Hmmm, could Zaar have a little Sebastian Shaw in him? Converting physical energy into power? Hmmm ....

Yet another moment I loved in this book is when Superman stopped thinking so clinically, so ethically, about this battle. He has a stake in this as well. He finally says the words only Supergirl and a few others have heard. He yells 'For Kandor' and joins in the brawl. He should be this angry.

It is a small thing but for Supergirl fans, the fact he is thinking about Kara in this was huge. They are family. They are both hurt by Zaar's actions.

 Throughout the fight, Superman continues his somewhat flowery speech. This is the fight for THE LEGACY OF KRYPTON. The time has come for the houses of El and Zod to put aside their past and join forces to put the epilogue on Krypton's story.

It is funny. As the issue unrolled and those big words kept being said, I kind of bought in. Okay, Superman realizes this is a big deal, perhaps the biggest deal. Time to roll up sleeves and begin the wet work of an old fashioned beatdown.

When you get this Sergio Leone close-up of Rogol Zaar's eyes, I knew it was on.

I turned the page ready to see another two page spread of a cataclysmic battle between three gods ......

 Ha!!

The next page is Superman being rescued from the Phantom Zone.

No fight for me!

It was such a wonderful feint by Bendis, ramming the weight of this brawl down my throat for half the book, getting me ready for the final rounds of this battle. And then, when I finally buy in, appetite appropriately whetted, ready to see the bloody throwdown, Bendis pulls the rug out from under me.

Well played.

I have to say, I loved that. I love being surprised!

 Realizing that he had prepped himself for this fight, teaming up with Zod to end Zaar, Superman asks to be put back into the Zone.

But the Earth is still reeling from its trip in and out of the Phantom Zone. The Earth needs saving.

It is time to take a breath, let the violent adrenaline surge abate, and get back to the real business at hand. It is time to help.

Just earlier we had heard Superman say how he knew what was expected of him. The Zod/Zaar is not what people expect. Saving California? That is expected.

And so the job takes over.

I also liked this moment a lot.

 But the second most intriguing moment was this one after the heroes disperse to help.

Adam Strange knows who Rogol Zaar is. This shouldn't be too big a surprise since Sardath was in that initial circle commanding Zaar.

Funny how so many people outside of our hero know Zaar. Somehow Zaar never made it into official texts but Zod and Strange both know him.

I wonder if Strange is going to tell Superman all he knows or hold off.

 Meanwhile, back in the Zone, Zaar dispatches Zod. Dragging the bloody and bruised General behind him, Zaar cements his control over the gangs inside the Zone.

Funny how Kryptonian criminals would follow so blindly. You think somehow Zod would have been able to command these throngs to gang up on Zaar. Of course the speed of the battle might have made such pitches impossible.

Hmmm ... could Zaar gain strength from loyalty he breeds? Fear he elicits?

Ahhh ... then we get the cliffhanger.

Flying around, saving people and being super, Superman realizes that Jor-El has a lot of information to share. He knows Zaar. He'll know what Zod knows. It is time to run into Mr. Oz again.

On cue, Superboy arrives.

This looks like a late teen Jon, a far cry from the hair-tousled 12 year old we are reading in Super Sons. What happened?

I will admit I have some dread here. I loved Jon just the way he was. We only had him for a couple of years. I am hoping somehow Bendis can pull this off. But I'm worried.

Still, this was a great issue for me. The splash page battles building in intensity both physical and emotional followed by the abrupt removal of Superman was a brilliant writing ploy. Adam knowing Zaar. Zaar's powers being curious in nature. And now Jon.

And all rendered so beautifully.

That is a meaty read.

Overall grade: A