Review: Superman Unlimited #12

Im trying to play catch up on reviews so a rare Thursday review of last week's Superman Unlimited #12.

I have been a bit up and down on this title with the underlying concept of 'lots of Kryptonite' one that I am struggling with. And I do feel that almost everything that is happening regarding that concept will be swept under the rug or forgotten in a year's time. 

But the current main plot of a time demon going after Jon, Jon plucking his younger self out of the volcano, and old Jon donning the 'Tomorrow Man' costume and going undercover is intriguing and making this book a bit more interesting to read. As someone who loved the young Jon/Damian dynamic, who has thought 'aged up Jon' has sort of lost his way in the DCU, and has been wondering if DC would recognize the mistake of aging up Jon and would find a way to put the genie back in the bottle, I am reading this closely and hope. This certainly could be the path to bring back young Jon.  Fingers crossed. Writer Dan Slott actually does a great job here showing how this is impacting old Jon, young Jon, but most importantly Lois. Heck, he even shows how it would impact Damian!

Adding to the mix of this is new fave Lucas Meyer who brings a wonderfully clean and vibrant feel to the art on the book. I love his work on the Lois scene here showing emotion both in expression and body language. Hope he stays on the book for a while. 

Am I hoping young Jon stays around for good? Yes I am. 

On to the book.

We start in El Caldero, the new world power based on their cache of Kryptonite and Kryptonian tech. 

I thought it funny that someone asked if Superman being missing has impacted El Caldero's economy because most of the K was being sold as a Superman-deterrent. As if Jon, Kara, Conner, and others aren't around.

But this is what I mean about all this Kryptonite mucking up my world view. Sure, Superman has (had?) his new gold power making him impervious to Green K for a time. But that isn't true of everyone else. Why haven't we seen someone take a shot at Jon or the others?

And maybe Slott will figure out a way to 'Kryptonite Nevermore' all the green K in the world but now El Caldero has Kryptonian battlesuits and other tech. And Green K is providing energy around the world (how can Superman fly there) as other economy streams for El Caldero. How is all that going to go away? It is like the red sun rifles and other stuff we saw in the New Krypton event. There for that story then forgotten.

Turns out some lab is making Green K solutions and injecting it into test animals.

One chimp (number 06638 ... get it numerically Beppo upside down and backwards) gains some modicum of strength from the injection and takes off.

Imagine Beppo in current continuity!

Back in Smallville, young Jon, fresh from being alone in a volcano for some time, is a bit overwhelmed by everyone pushing in and screaming. And old Jon gets how it will effect the younger version.

Indeed, young Jon loses it and screams! 

I like that Slott recognized that this young Jon would be addled. And Meyer does a good job showing it by hiding young Jon's eyes under his hair.

In Metropolis, Bibbo finds Beppo and befriends him. It does look like Beppo has some tech on him that allows some rudimentary communication.

Cool to see Bibbo again.

With Superman missing, Batman and Damian show up to check in on Lois. That also makes sense. 

But a couple of things. One, I am mulling over Slott's decision to call out that Tim Drake is working with Batman now, not Damian. I suppose it irons over continuity but I don't know if we needed the call out. Of course, putting Damian and young Jon together is good story fodder so that has to happen for story reasons. Having his presence called out like this almost makes that stand out more that this shouldn't be happening except for story reasons.

Moreover, Batman says it is because Damian misses Krypto. But a better reason would be Damian checking in on his friend Jon (whose Dad has disappeared). 

Maybe I am being too critical.

But this piece makes more sense to me. Lois is worried because she hasn't heard from Jon. And, also, why is Prime subbing for Superman in Metropolis and not Jon ... it is his legacy. 

Yeah ... why is that??? Why didn't Jon return to Metropolis immediately after KO?

Love the look of concern on Lois' face. Great work by Meyer.

Anyways, after that Smallville kerfuffle, old Jon (Tomorrow Man) knows young Jon needs his Lois.

I loved ... LOVED ... this silent near splash of Lois hugging young Jon. I love the silhouette of the hug in the background. Of course Lois misses this young version of her son which she lost. There is no need for words. 

Again, Meyer crushes it on this page.

But everyone is taken aback by young Jon's appearance.

Damian is shocked to see his old friend.

Krypto seems to know Tomorrow Man is Jon.

Batman goes into detective mode, scanning Tomorrow Man and asking questions.

I don't know if I understand why old Jon is hiding who he is from Batman and Lois. But he knows he better be good at it. Batman is the world's greatest detective. Lois is the world's greatest investigative reporter.

Sure, maybe it should be hidden from young Jon. But why everyone else?

I love how old Jon is trying to respect his father's wishes, or respond to his father's regrets of missing those years. But what does this new timeline of young Jon being here mean to old Jon. Does he disappear?

Anyways, old Jon takes off leaving young Jon alone with Lois.

And Damian doesn't trust any of it so starts crafting green K batarangs, to Batman's approval.

All together, I loved seeing young Jon again and can see a world where he sticks around with old Jon becoming some sort of Time Master working to protect the time stream. But does DC have the guts to reset the apple cart?

This is an emotional story for these characters so I loved the Lois interactions and hope to see more.

And kudos again to Lucas Meyer for the slick art.

Overall grade: B+