Review: Superman Unlimited #4

Superman Unlimited #4 came out this week and was the first issue of this title that I think fell short. But the issue is that it fell short in a number of ways. The main plot of a world flooded with Kryptonite is only touched upon. But this side track issue didn't exactly wow me with the story either. 

Writer Dan Slott seems to be having a good time here, mashing up some horror, some action, and some humor. But none of those threads stands out in a meaningful way. This felt more like an idea that a story was built around. Because many of the details of how we got here or how things ended are done off screen. Some of the plot points are almost magical in how quickly things are accomplished. Even the humorous points feel a little forced.

The art is a mix of Rafael Alburquerque and Lucas Meyer. Meyer brings a more detailed, more sharp approach than the rougher approach Alburquerque has been bringing to the book. But this is a more than Superman book. We get Birds of Prey, Robin, and Batman too. Meyer brings a solid look to these characters.

But this felt like an unnecessary diversion from the story I want to read.

We start in Gotham where criminals are trying to break into a rooftop entryway. Suddenly a bat-like creature appears. At first the criminals quake but when they see it is Man-Bat (or rather a man-bat) they suddenly feel less scared.

This was a good comic moment. The fact that criminals are more afraid of Batman than a monstrous Man-Bat is pretty cool.

Jimmy Olsen and Tee-Nah are in Gotham to helps set up the city's branch of the Daily Planet. But someone has been stealing the E's off the giant globe so it says Daily Plant. Is that supposed to be funny?

Anyways, of course they happen to be driving by when the shot Man-Bat plummets from the roof onto their car. Jimmy hits the signal watch.

Back in Metropolis, we see just how ubiquitous Kryptonite is. An influencer tumbles off a skyscraper but Superman can't get close enough to catch her because she is wearing Kryptonite jewelry and lipstick. So he has to think creatively to slow down her descent.

She gives him a kiss ... but leaves him woozy.

I like the green colored 'smak' conveying the K-kiss. But I am having a hard time trying to understand just how much Kryptonite is on the planet now.

Jimmy brings the Man-Bat to Leslie Thompkins' clinic because everyone knows that is where you bring odd medical problems in Gotham. Damian shows up because Thompkins' clinic is under 24/7 surveillance by the Bats. Damian says this isn't THE Man-Bat, but a disgruntled assistant who made a new version of the serum which can be transmitted to others. 

When this man-bat bites the K-weakened Superman, you suddenly have a Superman-Bat. (Perhaps that name is the seed to write this story?)

So ...

Why would this unnamed assistant want to make a communicable bat-serum?

Why would he stop on that rooftop with the criminals if he isn't the super-hero Man-Bat?

How hard was Damian tracking this guy?

More magical moments. Tee-Nah is not only a journalist but a super-smart tech ape. With a simple tool, she turns Jimmy's Superman Signal watch (remember, a watch that just transmits a noise) into a smartwatch that can hack Oracle's comm system and can be used as a communicator.

Now in Gotham it is a Bat-Watch but outside Gotham it is back to the Superman watch.

While it is funny that as a Bat-Watch is says 'nananana' like the old TV show as opposed to zee-zee. 

But it seems like this also had to happen quickly and without much fuss. I suppose if I can buy a talking gorilla, I can buy this tech-swap. 

The Birds of Prey show up to fight the Superman-Bat. I like how Barda knows this is really her fight.

Superman-Bat seems to target Jimmy and Black Canary first, biting Dinah to turn her into ... ummm ...Black-Bat?

Nice fight pages by Meyer. Love that blow delivered by Barda.

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Jimmy realizes that Superman must be trying to fight the animalistic urges he has now as a lycanthrope. Superman has been screeching both 'Skree' and 'Zee', perhaps as a clue. Jimmy has Robin drive him out of Gotham with Superman following. When his watch switches back to Superman, he uses the sonic frequency to incapacitate the bat-eared Superman-Bat. 

The 'evil' side of Superman-Bat knew Dinah's cry and Jimmy's watch could defeat him. That is also why the 'sane' side was trying to clue in Jimmy.

Off screen we hear that Kirk Langstrom developed a cure for Dinah, Superman, and the assistant. We learn that Damian has been stealing the E's from Daily Planet. We learn that Lois is loving Tee-Nah's banana lattes. So much off-screen. So much silliness that isn't really funny. 

Maybe I am in a bad mood. There were a few good moments. But I don't know what purpose this issue was supposed to serve. It wasn't really part of the main story. And it wasn't really a funny done-in-one.

Overall grade: C