Superman Unlimited #6 came out last week and continued the story of the Kryptonite King and the sun stone uncovered in El Caldero. It is a standard comic, a fine book, with some fun moments. But it is pretty clear to me that of the super-books on the stands these days, this one sort of lags behind.
Writer Dan Slott is certainly throwing a lot out there trying to add new ideas and new powers to the Superman mythos all while dipping into the nostalgia pool by bringing back some Bronze Age super-stuff. But I seriously wonder how much of this is going to stick in a meaningful way. Will the world always be full of green K? Will Superman always have his time-limited 'gold form'? And I probably would be more accepting of these major world-changes if the story they are built into was compelling but six months in I feel we are sort of treading water. Even classic Superman moments showing who he is a hero feel a bit forced.
The art is by Rafael Alburquerque and Mike Norton. Six issues in and in two of those issues Albuquerque has needed an assist. I'd rather there be an issue here and there entirely by a new artist to give Albuquerque time to do a whole story than the sort of pinch-hit pages approach. I do think Albuquerque draws a great Supermobile.
Sorry for such a downer intro. Part of the issue is that Waid's Action Comics and Williamson's Superman and Campbell's Supergirl are all hitting it out of the park right now. This just pales in comparison.
On to the book.
The President smashes Lois camera so there is no evidence of his murder. One of his Knights jumps on the Supermobile to try and attack Lois and get the Sunstone. So Superman has to go 'Gold', granting him invulnerabilty for 199 seconds before going powerless.
Sorry for such a downer intro. Part of the issue is that Waid's Action Comics and Williamson's Superman and Campbell's Supergirl are all hitting it out of the park right now. This just pales in comparison.
On to the book.
Last issue, Kobra attempted to steal a Kryptonian Sunstone from an El Caldero mine.
During the battle, Superman's lead shield suit is torn, making him collapse in pain.
I like how Kobra has the money to have all his troops loaded with hologram tech. From miners to minions.
But I did like how Kobra pivots his plan. If the sunstone is out of reach, go kill Superman instead.
I have an odd love of Kobra, probably from how Waid used them in his Flash run.
We also saw last issue that Lois was disguised as a cameraperson in El Caldero. She witnessed the President kill the Kobra agent to try and get the Sunstone.
Lois is able to save herself by summoning the Supermobile and climbing in. She even grabs the Sunstone.
I love this panel because I love the Supermobile, especially the hands! Last issue I wondered by Slott had Superman bring the Supermobile to El Caldero if he was just going to park it. Now I know why. He needed the Supermobile to be there so Lois could save herself. It is one of those plot contrivances done early to explain something late.
He takes out the Kobra agents and flies to Lois only to have his powers fade out.
How can he be surprised by it? Wouldn't he have some alarm watch to trigger when he goes? Or countdown in his head?
Will this 'Gold mode' last? Or be forgotten like his Solar Flare?
The Sunstone is dropped by the Mobile in the battle (and while Lois saves the plummeting Superman). It sinks into the ground and forms a Green K mini-fortress a la the Donner films.
But it raises the question why it didn't do that when in the ground earlier in the story? Wasn't it buried before?
As the ground quakes, the powerless Superman runs into the fray to try and save El Caldero's citizens in the rubble. Somehow this line from Lois just feels overly dramatic. It feels forced.
Luckily, he somehow comes out relatively unscathed despite being buried under a pile of rubble.
Better to be lucky than good?
Of course, I want Superman to run in to save people. But how he survived this, I don't know.
As for the new Fortress, it is made out of Green K.
Next thing that doesn't seem to make much sense to me. A random Krypto-Knight says the Kryptonian tech is 'intuitive' and is able to access specific files about weapons and armor.
I don't know if I can just gloss over this moment. I can suspend disbelief but it has to be rooted in some reality. How this person can understand advanced crystal tech in an alien language well enough to pull up specific knowledge seems too fast, too easy.
And what about all that Green K? Can there be a better defense?
Turns out John Henry Irons will do some experiments with Jon Kent!
Will any K-defense last beyond this storyline/title? Probably not. But I suppose it is good to see Jon back in the book given how he has basically disappeared in recent times. Jon was once a hot property. Now he seems lost, drowning in rough stories and diversions.
Do I think this is a bad book? No.
But do I think it is a good book. I don't think so. It isn't quite there.
I would love to hear what others think!
Overall grade: C+
7 comments:
You listed many of the same objections I have with the story. I will venture this is, so far, at best not a good book. I doubt it's going to get better, because I would think Dan Slott put into this first arc the best idea he had. And much of Albuquerque's work, particularly on faces, has been off-putting.
TN
I agree that Superman Unlimited while not actually a stinker, doesn't soar either. Like you, I read Superman and Action Comics for that. I agree that it's ridiculous that the Kryptonians had advanced technology but not advanced safety and security measures. I hate to admit it, but, while I like Jon, I'm not sorry that the character hasn't hit it big. Ever since I first read Silver Age Superman stories, I've felt that Supergirl is Superman's rightful eventual successor as the world's greatest hero. I never saw Jon in that role, although there should be a place for him as an interesting supporting character. Maybe have him take up a trade other than superheroing so he can carve out his own place and role out from under his dad's shadow.
I'd already decided to drop this but I just had to see if Slott's Clark is dumb enough not to notice that his wife put on a wig to join his group. He is so I'm out.
Thanks for comments and echoing some of my concerns. The Lois thing is vexing ...
Great review. Rafael Albuquerque’s art really is poor, the supposedly cool Supermobile looks like a blob; even Mike Norton’s pages aren’t great, it seems he’s being a good co-penciller and matching Albuquerque’s current style. The good news is that Lucas Meyer of this week’s World’s Finest fame told me on Twitter the other day he’s going to be the main artist on this series.
The name of the Green K/paint city, it’s just hit me, El-Caldero as in Kal-El.
And I doubt the gold body business will last, and hoorah for that - if you can’t get enough stories out of Superman’s existing array of abilities, you’re really not trying.
I agree with all your problems with the Green K fortress sequence, Anj, surely the stupid movie crystal tech shouldn’t work for non-Kryptonians.
When Lois rescued Superman with the Supermobile, was ‘If you’ve got me, who’s got… the crystal!’ a nod to the 1978 film?
So Jon is coming to help out John Henry and Lana - given this and his appearance in Titans this week (I know you’re not reading so check out my review), he’s becoming quite the all purpose errand boy.
"was ‘If you’ve got me, who’s got… the crystal!’ a nod to the 1978 film?"
I certainly assumed it was. Every writer has to show they know the line. For some reason I cringe every time I hear it.
TN
Thanks TN!
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