I loved Super-Sons. I loved young Jon. So I don't think I every truly liked the aging up of Jon. But I was able to tolerate it, hoping a new Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes would take of. Alas, it didn't. And moreover, what happened to Jon after the failed LSH made the decision seem even worse. His own stories, his own books, everything DC did to put him in the forefront ... frankly, none if it was very good. So now a questionable creative decision was made worse.
Perhaps this event was a way for DC to put the genie back in the bottle, reset the mistake. After reading this issue, it doesn't seem like that is going to happen. Writer Dan Slott has put in a time demon, a fourth-dimensional villain who is able to bring back young Jon. But it seems more like a stunt than a reset. At least we'll get this glimpse of him. One thing I do like is Slott seems to point out that creatively Jon has lost his way in the last few years. There are no memorable stories.
New title artist Lucas Meyer is the big news here. He gives us a strong, inspirtational, iconic Jon as he speaks his truth. We get to see how Meyer would handle to larger super-family. He gives Txyz a playful malevolence. But the best thing is the Image-esque Tomorrow Man we meet, complete with big pouches, thigh belt, and facemask. The whole book is crisp and lovely.
On to the details.
Realizing he is beaten, Txyz concedes this fight and disappears. But before he goes he gives Jon a 'time gift'. Out of a portal pops young Jon.
We start out with Txyz basically giving us a primer on Jon Kent's history, from birth in the Fortress (remember when it was on the Convergence world?), to torture and aging, to his new role as Superman Son of Kal-El.
I suppose every comic is someone's first and if you don't know how Superman and Lois could have a college age kid, this is a good quick info dump.
Love how Meyer draws the Superman family in the PKJ era togs. I know I am in the minority but I liked that Supergirl jacket look.
But then we get the real story.
In the far flung future, Jon destroys Txyz in a final battle in the center of the universe.
I thought this coloring of the scene was interesting, a sort of backlit look with the combatants in shadow. I should have known this would pay off. Well done by Meyer here as well.
As Txyz explains everything to Jon, including how Superman is missing after the KO event, we get this page. This is actually a nice bit of writing cartwheels by Slott.
After all, last issue and right before these events, Jon was talking to Superman. This book has felt a little out of continuity and a little in continuity. How could he be talking to Superman and have Superman be missing.
So Slott utilizes Txyz's time powers to shunt the whole book into the future to catch Jon up on all DC timeline. Nice little jump through a hoop.
Txyz is back in time to defeat Jon before the timeline plays out with his defeat at the center of the universe.
His first tactic is to remind Jon how he is a blip in the universe's timeline by showing evolution through entropy.
I will say this is the best I have seen Jon written in a couple of years. He shrugs it off, reminding Txyz that the battle is never-ending. So great. Love the defiant pose.
I also get a Bronze age vibe from this page set-up with the inset circle panel.
Next tactic, demoralize Jon by showing how meaningless his own life has been.
How Clark and Lois are grieving for missing his childhood.
How his adventures as Superman with Jay were forgettable.
Speak truth to power Dan Slott!
Why not really double down!
Txyz talks about the future is littered with memorials to Superman Sr. but none to him. He talksabout how there are so many other members of the Superman family that Jon is basically meaningless, a footnote. And frankly, in continuity, Jon has been a footnote in the super-books these last years. He went from being a breakout star to ... well ... a footnote.
We get more of Meyer's take on the Super-family here as well. Love that the twins are in the panels. And Kara looks great.
But this tactic doesn't work either.
Jon shrugs it off as well as some attacks from some miscellaneous troopers Txyz sends his way. If he isn't meant to be remembered as Superman, he doesn't need the S-shield. He rips off the uniform, again defiantly, and says he fights because it is what is right not for glory.
Seriously, this is the best Jon I have read in a long long time.
I do think that the rending of garments is a story excuse to get Jon to throw on the costume of some of the future warriors Txyz has sent to battle our hero.
So Jon is the mystery man on the cover ... Tomorrow Man. How 90s can you get! A pouch thigh belt!
Moreover, this is the uniform he wears when he defeats Txyz in the far future. Somehow Txyz has created his own enemy.
The costume is so ridiculous I love it.
So we do get a de-aged Jon but standing next to a still aged Jon.
As least we get a de-aged Jon.
What can I say. I have felt that Superman Unlimited has been the weakest super-book since it's inception. This is the strongest issue of the title so far, ironic since it doesn't have Superman or endless Green K or the other tentpoles of this title.
What it does have is the best older Jon Kent I have read since he got his own titles. It has young Jon. And it has really fantastic art, something I think that has been missing on this title too. I am thrilled Meyer is the regular artist here moving forward.
Overall grade: A
3 comments:
This time you’re right. Actually, you’re pretty much always right. I wouldn’t mind if this became Jon’s book given how well Slott writes him and Meyer draws him. Once the Tomorrow Man bit is over he could go back to the very decent regular book and just have, you know, adventures. Meanwhile, it should be fun to have young Jon back in play… mind, the idea that he’s going to be sent back to that volcano is heartbreaking.
Agree this is the best issue of this run. I like the idea of Jon creating his own legacy separate from his father's under the Tomorrow Man identity. This allows Supergirl to assume her rightful place as Superman's true successor while letting Jon have his own stories and character development in his own right inspired by his father's heroism but no longer in his shadow. The art is fantastic and Slott's neo Silver Age approach of trying any idea no matter how off the wall that might entertain the reader really pays off here.
It's a terrible costume though.
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