Superman Unlimited #9 came out this week, starting a new story involving an updated Prankster. Throw in a crime boss in Metropolis and a Jon Kent subplot and this issue isn't just telling a story, it is setting up future plotlines. One thing that really isn't new or moved forward is the 'Kryptonite Everywhere' arc. Yes, we see a large chunk of Kryptonite in the story and Superman 'go gold'. I'll have a lot to comment on that within the body of the review.
Writer Dan Slott does a good job showing us the MO of the Prankster. This is a cold-blooded killer who murders in such silly ways that the death is all that people remember. To paraphrase the Bard, 'The evil done to men lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.' It is silly in its own way, something Slott excels at. There is a sort of vanity in this new villain that makes him interesting.
But the Kryptonite story is still lingering and is, for me, the least interesting part of this title.
Mike Norton is on art here, with Dave Johnson on the cover, which makes me wonder if Rafael Albuequerque's time on the title is over. Norton has a solid, straightforward style which might not be the best fit for a gag-filled killing spree. His Superman feels solid and sort of Bronze-Agey.
I actually think this is a fun issue for this book. But the K-Everywhere element in this story pulled me out of the precedings. I realize this is something I am sort of saying in every review of this book. Apologies.
The book starts with Vicki Vale, Jack Ryder, Steve Lombard, and Clark Kent out for drinks and discussing a rash of silly deaths in Metropolis, or as they call it 'Dumb Ways to Die Awards'.
We hear about three philanthropists who have been off. One by a pie in the face that caused a fatal allergic reaction. Another that was a gender reveal paint bomb that drowned the father. And the last, a man killed by a piano dropped off the side of a skyscraper.
All ridiculous deaths from practical jokes ... or pranks.
But Clark notices that there is no mention of the good these folks did, just the death.
Slott introduces us to a new crime boss in Metropolis. Bruno Mannheim's daughter, Minnie Mannheim, is running the business now. And Mayor White has his eyes on her.
Mannheim wants Perry dead for this and so goes to the Prankster. And there we hear the pitch. It isn't only death, it is death of legacy. People will only remember the ludicrous details of the death, not the things the victim did in life. I will say, that is an interesting new wrinkle to the Prankster who was always just a fuzzy copy of the Toyman in many ways.
One thing I did find sort of off-putting is how every character makes jokes of Minnie's short stature. 'She comes up short.' 'She's small-time.' 'She has a short temper.' Ughh ...
We then meet the new Prankster. We hear he has some metahuman powers but they aren't explained.
He takes the job.
Wild look for this guy.
First attempt, Perry throwing out the first pitch at a Comets game. It is 'ball day' and suddenly all the souvenir balls fire themselves at Perry.
Luckily Clark was in attendance and change and save the day.
Silly.
Another subplot Slott introduces that I am not too keen about is Smallville being over a 'convergence of Ley Lines' making it a chaos nexus. Can't Smallville just be a sleepy little town?
Jon is reporting in Smallville at Steelworks, sporting a sort of 'older Gohan from DBZ' secret identity. Who shows up by Mr. Mxyzptlk who tells Jon that a new Fourth Dimensional villain is coming, Master Txyz. He is Jon's arch-enemy.
I might say Jon's arch-enemy was Tom Taylor. But giving Jon a plotline of his own makes me happy. Jon has been sidelined and misused for a bit.
Soon after, Perry does what most Mayors should do, give Superman a key to the city. But the Prankster is there. The ceremonial key turns out to be Kryptonite. The Prankster starts a triple threat of murder attempts on Perry to a 'it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman' set of death traps. Superman has to 'go gold' to overcome the K-energy and save the day.
That is also a good riff and makes sense given the Prankster's style.
Here is the thing I don't like about all this.
The Prankster knows Superman has powers for 2 minutes before he becomes completely vulnerable. Why not just shoot Superman here and create a reputation?
How about all the criminals in Metropolis now armed with K-bullets. Couldn't any of them be there?
Scenes like this where conveniently when Superman is completely powerless no one is around to threaten him just drags me out of the story. It is why I hate the 'powers on and off' trope. It is why I think this new power Slott created boring, interfering with my like of stories rather than adding.
Maybe I am too old and too much of a curmudgeon.
Thankfully Slott ends the issue on a high point, almost cleansing my palate of the prior scene.
As a reporter, Clark delivers a piece about the new 'silly murders'. The Prankster thinks Clark will compare him to the Joker. But when Clark compares him to the Trickster, the Prankster gets irate.
Now that is funny!
And it ticks of the new Prankster so much he is going to kill Clark ... or at least try. Can't wait to see the insanity that unfolds.
So outside my continued dislike of the 'Kryptonite Everywhere' running plot in this book, I'd say this might be one of the strongest of the run. I like a new Mannheim in charge. I like Jon having a subplot. And I like this new Prankster. Norton's art is fine for the proceedings.
Overall grade: B
No comments:
Post a Comment