Review: Adventures Of Superman: Book Of El #10

Adventures of Superman Book of El #10 came out last week and that means we are but 2 months away from the end of the story. Knowing that, creative team of writer Philip Kennedy Johnson and artist Scotty Godlewski (with some pinch hitting by Vicente Cifuentes) don't have time for more world building and move towards the finale. 

Kryl-Ux is finally getting to gathering the aspects of Olgrun in hopes of resurrecting his family. But now that we actually see what Kryl-Ux looks like after absorbing old god energy makes me wonder if his family will even recognize him. As for the Els, we also get them together at long last. 

One thing that has troubled me a bit in this series has been the depth of world-building and my trying to keep up with the new knowledge. I wish there was a little index on the title page listing the aspects of Olgrun - passion, wrath, etc - and where they are. I am struggling remember what is where and even how many. It also is interesting to see how monstrous Kryl-Ux looks like in the contrast to the aspect-bearing Els who remain normal appearing. Is it a demonstration of the host's motivations and ethics?

Scotty Godlewski and Vicente Cifuentes art is excellent, continuing to bring a smooth look to the troubled future. There is some horror in this and it is brought to bear.

We have two big issues left here. Kryl-Ux being defeated and Superman going back in time to stop this timeline from happening. We also need the fate of the twins decided. Two issues left with a lot of story to cover.

On to the book.

Last issue ended with a resurrected Mongul brought to the fray as Kryl-Ux invades Tamaran.

Superman and some of the house of El are there to try and turn the tide. 

It is time to see another Mongul/Superman dust-up. 

What I truly have loved and appreciated about Johnson's Superman is how he is first and foremost a father and a family man. That is show when we learn that the only time Superman will go all out using his powers is when his family is threatened. Superman has basically seen enough of Mongul trying to hurt his family. The fight isn't long.

I have talked about the world-building in this book. We have seen Theand'r finally realize her consort has been working with Kryl-Ux. She turns on him.

But earlier we saw her acquiescing to him to the detriment of her world, with some implied leverage he is holding over her. 

The turn is fast. The leverage isn't explained. Unless it is in the backmatter which has been in most of these issues. Could I have missed it? Glossed over it?

When you are trying to define a millenia of history in a mini, it might help to have some exposition or recap.

Finally, Kryl-Ux arrives and he is gigantic and warped. He is calling himself the Promethean King, which I think is a callback to the Promethean Giants, the large beings stuck in the Source Wall. 

But this isn't the humanoid man we met in Warworld. He looks almost Doomsday-esque, The crown-like horns might be how he envisions himself. 

Terrifying. 

Is this how Kryl-Ux sees himself and therefore how Olgrun manifests in him? After all, Otho and Osul are not deformed.

Interesting.

I did not know Theand'r had absorbed the Passion of Olgrun. For sure, she is gorgeous and not horrifying. 

The Promethean King is finally trying to get all the aspects of Olgrun and makes an offer to Theand'r. He will spare Tamaran if she gives him the Passion. If not, he will raze Tamaran.

I do wish I had a list of all the aspects. Otho has one. Osul has one. The sun-eater has one. Theand'r has one. Are those the only 4 still out there?

Rowan, Ronan, Brainiac-4, and Otho have escaped Pyrrhos and are trying to re-unite with their family. Brainiac is able to link up with the computer bank of a Warworld ship and knows that Kryl-Ux's fleet over Tamaran as are the other Els. 

The Kryl-Ux fleet is so massive that even the Els cannot win the battle. But the Brainiac can tap into the fleet and use the Boom Tube tech to blip the ships away.

The whole Brainiac conversion, even wearing an S-shield, came about pretty fast. But here we are. And now he is pivotal to the plot.

At long last ... and I mean AT LONG LAST ... Superman faces off against Kryl-Ux. 

Even Superman can see that Kryl-Ux's rage has consumed him, corrupted him. 

But before we get the fight we have all been waiting for, Theand'r yells stop.

Arrrggghh ... so close!

But I trust PKJ to give me what I need, not what I want.

Theand'r agrees to the deal. She gives Kryl-Ux the Passion of Olgrun. With his fleet blipping away and getting what he wanted, Kryl-Ux also leaves, vowing revenge.

This also seemed to come too fast. Wouldn't Theand'r be floored by the appearance of Superman, a mythic being who must be also looked upon as a god-like being? Wouldn't she wait to see how the fight goes before she gives a horrible being a powerful magical item?

At long last ... and I mean AT LONG LAST ... all the Els are together.

I love the happiness on Osul's face as he is finally reunited with his sister and father. 

But this is all we get. I hope we get a hug panel next issue.

Now manifesting three aspects of Olgrun (note the purple tentacle 'cape', a new power), Kryl-Ux goes to Thularamm, the living Sun-Eater and wielder of the Darkstar Ring, another aspect of Olgrun. Great art by Godlewski.

But instead of ripping the aspect out of Thularamm and taking it for himself (isn't that his ultimate goal??), Kryl-Ux recruits Thularamm to his cause. Certainly, Thularamm must know that he can't be long for this world either way. Kryl-Ux isn't going to let him keep that Ring. 

And why does Kryl-Ux need this guy. Yes, a sun-eater can help fight Kryptonians. But why not just absorb more Olgrun power AND recruit Thularamm as the living sun-eater he is?

From the beginning, I don't think I have understood how Kryl-Ux is going about his mission. 

No back matter this issue. 

I like this series a lot. I love how Johnson writes Superman. But I don't know if I love this series.

Overall grade: B-