Review: Adventures Of Superman Book Of El #6

Adventures of Superman Book of El #6 came out this week meaning we have reached the halfway mark of this tale. I remain intrigued but a little lost, a sentiment I think I have shared the last couple of issues.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson is building a universe and mythology from whole cloth in this series, showing us a potential universe where Kryl-Ux disturbed the present, invading Earth, and disrupting the future. Because the canvas is so big, there is a lot to build and Johnson is doing his best. We are traveling the galaxies. We have backmatter filling in some history. It is all impressive and a lot of it is interesting.

But I still don't think I am understanding all the moving parts. Moreover, the underlying plot that Kryl-Ux is trying to unite the aspects of Olgrun into himself so he can bring his family back to life isn't making a lot of sense to me. Olgrun has fused with one aspect. But it is clear he knew where other aspects were. Why not merge with them if that is his goal? Was he waiting to know where all the aspects were before doing parts of it? Last issue we learned he knew where the Will of Olgrun was. This issue we learn he knew where the Madness of Olgrun is. So what is Kryl-Ux's mission?

Outside the plot, Johnson shows us more of Superman's descendants. We see a lot of Otho. And there is a mystery that has me guessing. 

Scotty Godlewski's art is really strong in the book. I feel like his style has become cleaner and more powerful than I remember from his ealrier works on the Superman books. With the scope this big, you need someone who can handle 'big art' and we see it here. I'd love to see him continue documenting the Super-Twin's story but I think this is probably the last we are going to see of them.

Do others feel as sort of lost as I am?

On to the book.

We start with a flashback of the first issue when Kryl-Ux first arrives.

I really love the arc of the Twins, from orphans on Warworld, living in fear on a Gladiator world, to would be heroes, screaming Truth and Justice, and diving in to defend Lois and the Kents.

It really is a shame they have sort of been pushed to the side since Johnson left the books.

Remember, Kryl-Ux is there because Osul holds the Fire of Olgrun. He needs it. So he travels back to grab the boy and bring him into the future. Superman and Otho follow along.

I don't know who is doing this voice over, talking to Otho. But it says she is needed in the future to save her father from 'The Racer'. 

Is that why Otho dove into the teleport field? And who is this?

Last issue, Superman fought a Sun-Eater clad in armor which put the beast in Kryl-Ux's thrall. Superman destroyed the armor, giving the Sun Eater it's free will again and also allowing it to absorb the Will of Olgrun housed in the Lanternholm land.

As expected, a Sun Eater (named Luciphage, a nice touch) armed with a portion of a God's power is pretty scary. Even though Superman freed it, it is still evil and basically batters our hero.

The narration boxes in the book are excerpts from the Book of El (hence the title). I like here how Johnson discusses the descendants of Superman. They manifest his compassion and courage. They strive to remain 'unblooded' even in a martial universe. And 'Truth and Justice' is a battle cry. Given the earlier panel, I wonder if that started with the twins.

And I truly love how Johnson writes Superman, writes the legend of Superman. 

Before Luciphage can finish off Superman, 'The War Engines of Warworld', a military wing of the House of El arrives.

Again, this is a universe and a culture and a worldview that I am putting together. I find it incredibly fascinating that forearm chains are part of the House of El battle gear. Remember, chains were part of Mongul's culture, links added when foes were slain. I'm surprised they have been co-opted by the bad guys.

Johnson gives us more to chew over though. The Madness of Olgrun exists in the 'Orchard of the Dead', a sort of Valhalla where warriors fight forever. 

Kryl-Ux knew it was there. Kryl-Ux knew where the Will of Olgrun was too.

But for some reason, despite having some trepidation, Kryl-Ux decides now is the time to merge with this thing. It distorts his body into a spiked mess. But now he has two aspects inside him. He was urged on by the mandible counselor we have seen him talk to. He calls it Byla, who folks may remember as the Phaelosian storyteller on Warworld.

As I said in the intro, if Kryl-Ux's whole plan is to merge with as much Olgrun as he can to resurrect his family, why would he wait? And if he was waiting, why merge now?

Meanwhile the Engines of Warworld wonder who Superman is. They decide to bring our hero, muttering about finding his children, to the remnants of Warworld to have Alura-El, the head of the Valkyries of Warworld, see if she can heal him.

I like the look of this Alura, bearing the chains and the movie S-Shield. She looks pretty boss! But I especially love the name. 

The Engines had picked up Otho. Since she told them she was looking for her father and Superman said he was looking for his kids, they wonder if they are somehow linked.

Khan-El fetches her.

I love this small scene so much. Otho was always the rash one, always the more physical, always the one willing the fight to protect her brother. So when Khan-El arrives to take her to Superman, her first response is a left hook and the threat to make him bleed.

She remains feisty but she is learning. I like that. 

Superman is dying, filled with Black Sun energy from the Luciphage.

Otho dives on her father. She loves him.

And who does she meet there, still alive somehow? Byla the Phaelosian storyteller.

Hmmmm ...

If this is Byla than whose jaw is Kryl-Ux talking to? A good mystery. I think it is Mongul, hoping somehow to reconstitute himself by having Kryl-Ux bring the Olgrun matter together.

The Els tell Otho that Superman is dying, his soul to be collected by the Black Racer. And it is up to her to defeat the Racer, outrace him and save Superman.

This is clearly a callback to that voice in the first scene telling Otho how to save her father, fight the Racer. Is this 'the' Black Racer? The Fourth World god? Or someone new?

Johnson is still building. There is a lot of lore here to digest. There are a lot of characters to learn about, learn their motivations and characterization. There is a lot to piece together about Kryl-Ux's plans. The artwork is gorgeous. Kudos to Godlewski and this goes from quiet farms to cosmic starfields. 

I feel a little over my head.

Overall grade: B-