Perhaps the most memorable thing to the book is the sort of rock-em sock-em plot, the fight club style issues leading to the championship bout in this issue. I think we all knew it would end up being Superman fighting Darkseid. Too bad the bracket wasn't a true bracket. This issue is a sort of boxing match of cosmic proportions with the Universal Ruler being the title.
Scott Snyder does a fine job putting Superman as the center of the DC Universe again, setting him up to be the core of things. I also think the ending where Superman reveals his plan is true to his character. I don't know if there was any revelation here either. All that said, the book is filled with some solid moments if you are a fan of Superman.
Javi Fernandez and Xermanico are on art. The art is cosmic. Some of the pages are wonderfully composed. And there are good flourishes worth pointing out that make the book a pretty solid visual feast.
The parts are more than the whole in this series though. Nice moments throughout but that don't come together into something more.
On to those moments.
Throughout the book. we have been given flashbacks of the Trinity having a game night at the Kents.
Turns out this isn't a flashback but a 'pocket timeline' set up by Time Trapper Doomsday to protect Superman.
Now what Legion fan doesn't like hearing about a Time Trapper setting up a Pocket Universe. It's a tale as old as Time Trapper!
Doomsday has learned that his purpose in life was never to be a killer but instead to resurrect Superman when the time was needed. And that time is now. Superman is brought back.
We definitely see Snyder lean into the idea seen in Doomsday Clock (can't believe that was 7 years ago!) that Superman is the heart of the universe, that the DCU 'bends' towards his beliefs.
I truly am glad that DC continues to acknowledge that Superman is the axle the universe revolves around and not Batman. Love this pic, almost angelic.
And we do get almost biblical in words with us learning from the Heart of Apokolips that the universe is remade in Superman's image.
I really love that this is a sort of twist on the classic hand Krona saw grasping the universe. Instead, we see have Superman almost cradling it. There is something more caring about this image. That fits Superman.
As for the Heart of Apokolips, it flips between omniscient mythological narrator to wrestling announcer. That is a bit jarring.
Anyways, Superman tags out Lex and tags himself in and the fight is on.
This is probably my favorite page of the issue seeing Superman and Darkseid tumble back in time through panels showing varous DC continuities. Pretty slick design here. Really love this.
Superman is about to win, about to eradicate Darkseid. The Heart shows him what a universe completely written by Superman would look like, a perfect world with a good Legion living in a glittering future.
But rather than complete the task, Superman rips the Heart out, bringing back all the characters to batter Darkseid back.
I don't know where Darkseid gets battered to. But I guess he is defeated ending the tournament.
The universe is brought back.
Again, Snyder captures Superman's voice here. He never wants to be a king. He doesn't want to rule. Why should his voice be the only one that guided the creation of the universe? Great last panel with the smiling Superman, draped in Kirby circuitry smiling at the good that has been done.
But he is off saying he as something he needs to do.
The world has no Superman ... for now.
Great sentiment for sure. But aren't we just back where we were?
The ending pages are a sort of preview of the upcoming Next Level books with teasers of the new books and some new storylines.
As for Darkseid, we learn that other universes held similar tournaments, creating more King Omegas and putting that universe out in the multiverse.
You guessed it! Another event will happen! An Absolute Crisis!
As a Superman fan I was pretty happy with this issue. But as an event, I think we are right back where we were.
Overall grade: B-
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