Review: Summer Of Superman Special

With the Superman movie around the corner, DC Comics has labeled this the Summer of Superman. What better way to start the whole thing with The Summer of Superman Special #1. 

This has the feel of a summer blockbuster. There are mega-stars associated with the book. The upcoming Superman book writers - Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, and Dan Slott - seem to have all written the book. But one of the biggest draws on the book has to be Jorge Jimenez on art. I have loved his art since the Smallville Season Eleven comic 12 years ago. So seeing his take on most of the Superman Family ... and even some Legion of Super-Heroes ... made it worth the price.

The story hook is Lana Lang and John Henry Irons wedding in Smallville. The writers take the opportunity to focus on young Clark and Lana's relationship. We flashback to a Superboy adventure. We get some peeks into the future stories. And, best of all, there is actual character growth, mostly around Lana and John. We also get reminded why Superman is Superman, helping people, loving his quiet early life, and acknowledging that the precious small moments in life are as important as battling Validus.

As I said, Jimenez is a wonder. I have heard his Batman stuff is incredible. But anything I have seen of his is great. I love his Lana. I love his Validus. He does wedding scenes and time-stream fights equally well. The art in this book sings. And while this Alexander Lozano Supergirl variant is a little too coquettish for me, I am glad we got something Supergirl in this issue. She is only seen on one page which previews the upcoming books.

This is a great opening salvo for this Superman-filled summer. On to the details.

Mark Waid's upcoming run on Action Comics will basically be a Superboy comic. So starting out the book showing us a young Clark and Lana in Smallville is a nice way to whet the appetite. I can't remember the last time I saw a true 'Clark as Superboy' story, an idea which hasn't had much traction since the Byrne reboot. So hurray for this.

Waid brings that Smallville sweetness to the proceedings. Clark has fallen in love with Lana and is going to reveal all his secrets.

And what isn't to love about Lana's 'all-American girl next door' persona. She helps the elderly and veterans. She teaches Sunday School and helps with bake sales. She is 'the beating heart of Smallville'. And Jimenez makes her adorable too. Who wouldn't fall in love with her.

Clark is smitten, thinking he is going to be with Lana forever.

But the moment is broken when Validus appears, necessitating Clark (and Krypto) to fly off and fight him. The fight somehow thrusts the combatants into the timestream where Superboy sees events from the past and his future ... including loving Lois.

Waid stuffs a lot into this opening scene. Seeing Clark rush off with an upset stomach and Lana thinking he should buy stock in antacids is funny. Hearing Clark talk about his time with the Legion, his prior fights with Validus, and even the 'mental block' the Legion has put in his mind to forget any events of the future he has seen all builds up the history of this young hero. 

The Legion mental block! It has been years since I thought about that!

As quickly as he appeared, Validus disappears.

Hmmm ...

Jimenez amps up the action in this sequence too!

The sight of Lois fades as the mental block kicks in. But somehow something lingers in the back of Clark's mind. Enough to have him pause in revealing his secret.

Such a great panel of her walking away into the sunset. This is a moment where one path in life sort of closed. Love when art and words mesh so well.

Fast forward to the present where Lana and John are planning a Smallville wedding. Everything seems perfect (even if Pa's trick knee warns of an incoming storm) but Lana hesitates. There is always some disaster which might interrupt life and love.

There's Clark to tell her that marrying Lois was the best thing he ever did. Even if things happen, life has to go on. I love this 'loving friends' dynamic I am getting from Lana and Clark. 

But it turns out she was right. The time stream rips open and Validus comes out again. 

Everyone springs into action.

I like how the team knows just what to do. They need to get Validus out of town and they need to protect the people. I do like that Lana thinks it is a family event! Cute. Great action by Jimenez.

As for Superman saying Validus is a distraction, he is also right. Tornados appear to rip through the town as well.

Pa almost dies in a tornado but Lois saves him.

This has to be Waid poking a little bit at Zach Snyder's Man of Steel and Pa's twister death there.

Maybe it isn't and I am still carrying some emotional baggage about Snyder's take on Superman.

Once again Validus blips out.

With everyone safe, somehow an ad hoc press conference organizes.

John Henry says that the storm is a sign that climate change could potentially destroy the world. He will move to Smallville and change his focus to clean energy and renewables. It makes Lana love him more. Let's get hitched!

We recently had the Steelworks book where Irons was entrenched in Metropolis and trying to create a safe city with technological defense systems. His changing focus and locale is growth and welcomed by me.

Frankly, Metropolis had too many super-heroes. Getting Steel, Superwoman, and Natasha out of the city is good thing. Supergirl heading to Midvale is a good thing.

The wedding happens with a great double page spread of the 'kiss the bride' moment.

But I loved the follow-up panels. The bouquet heading right to Natasha with the wide-eyed 'what???' look on her face is great. A beat-up pick up truck with cans tied to it is great.

But Clark's monologue is even better. 'These moments with family and friends that matter the most.' 

Love it. Wonderful.

But the Validus mystery needs to be solved.

Assuming Validus is still in the timestream, Superman gets Mr. Terrific and Omen to help him save the monster. 

Validus is yanked out of the time stream. Omen can't really connect with him mentally but she knows he was scared.

And again ... he vanishes. This time not in the time stream. Somewhere else.

I guess bringing in Omen is a nice nod to Power Girl's book. Omen is sort of super-family adjacent. 

But what could scare Validus?

The book ends with Validus captured and being tortured by the Absolute/Dark Legion seen way back in the All-In Special. 

Validus isn't there only victim. Booster Gold is there. Somehow Gold hoped Validus would warn Superman of what is coming. I suppose it makes sense that Validus in the time stream is something Gold could accomplish.

Whew ... that was a lot!

While the action stuff was fun, it was the wedding stuff and Superman's thoughts about Lana and love that made this really special. Lana and John's new life will be fun to follow. Jimenez's art is spectacular. This was a spectacular special and a nice gateway to the summer.

Overall grade: A