One of the things that is tough about this series, at least to here, is that none of these characters are necessarily likeable. Jor-El seems a bit controlling and a bit out of control. Imagine Tony Stark if he had super-science. Jor is loosing this stuff on the world and watching unscrupulous people utilize it for nefarious purposes. And his only solution is to double down with more tech. He is trying to hard to avoid Krypton's fate on Earth. But instead he is veering into it. Finally, this issue with some Ma Kent Wisdom, maybe he sees the error of his ways.
We end this issue in a good place to wrap things up next time. There is a cliffhanger where Jor-El finally might have a chance to save a planet. How we get to that cliffhanger feels a bit like a short-cut but fits the feel of the book. Lex is a narcissist sorceror on this world, not a narcissist scientist, and he almost brings us to ruin. Lex is Lex no matter where he is, even if the accoutrement changes.
I think Danny Earls art fits well for this series. It has a 'beautiful ugly' feel to it which works so wonderfully for this story of a world that is torn between being a futuristic paradise and careening to destruction.
On to the book.
Last issue, the souped up magic Lex showed himself to the General Lane. With very little effort, Lex deflects Lane's attack and sends the Captain into the atmosphere. It also, somehow, changes Lane from a human body encased in the metal skin to an energy being trapped in it.
Yes magic can do anything the plot needs it to. But this does show how powerful this Lex has become.
But Lex's journey has been interesting here. He hates Superman. He hates General Lane. He hates anybody he thinks has slighted him ... which feels like everyone. Fascinating.
Back in Smallville, Jor confides in Martha. He knows he overdoes things and he relays how his disconnecting a safety switch because of his tinkering with the rocket led to the death of Lara and Kal. He couldn't stop his rocket from launching to let them get inside.
You'd think that this event would have changed Jor-El. Maybe he'd recognize that you can't plan for every contingency, that perfect is the enemy of the good, that he should stop pushing the limits of things.
Perhaps the weight of his guilt has made him think he needs to work harder rather than rethink. But this definitely is such a key moment to let us understand who this Jor-El is.
No Pa Kent wisdom in this book. Instead we get Ma Kent. Jor-El shouldn't be trying to save humans. He needs to let them do it themselves and help them if they fall.
Holy shades of Grant Morrison!
It reminded me of this famous moment from JLA #4 way back in the day. Superman says the heroes are there to catch humanity if they fall.
And that is Kent wisdom in Superman, something Jor-El doesn't have. And it is coming from Martha and that's also very cool.
I asked Porter on Bluesky if this was a specific call back and this was his response. "Not a specific callback—I just know that it’s always been a part of Superman’s character and I wanted it to come from Martha for this story. But I love Morrison’s JLA run!" Always great to hear from the creators themselves.
You might recall that John Constantine thought he fooled Lex but in the end gave Lex the means to become all-powerful.
Luckily, Constantine has a curse that will break Lex. Nifty little element to the curse that it means Lex's worst enemy will defeat Luthor ... and that enemy is Lex himself.
Again, it resonates with the 'real' comic. Lex could have helped humanity many times over. But his drive to 'save' humanity from Superman has led to catastrophe. Some some Elseworld ripples.
The only characters that seem to have the most redeeming qualities is Lois and Jimmy. Both have healthy distrust of General Lane, Superman, and Lex. They see the problems in all of those factions and how they are all hurting mankind.
Turns out that the General's new buddy is Jimmy in disguise. That has allowed Jimmy to get enough evidence to reveal Lane's machinations to defame Superman.
I did not see that coming.
But those factions are still converging.
Lex has set up shop to lure Superman out, skewering heroes on a tree of woe.
I wish this image got a bigger panel. Horrifying.
Big moments need big art. Give me more of this! Make this a half page splash!
Big moments need big art. Give me more of this! Make this a half page splash!
Once betrayed by Lois and knowing his time in action may be short, General Lane decides to try and off both Superman and Lex. He is going to explode himself to eliminate all three of them in a limited nuclear blast. When Lex uses magic to try and diminish the power of the impending explosion, Constantine's curse triggers. It increases the blast .. it could destroy Earth.
Great panel here showing the expanding Atom compared to Superman/Lex. But half page is pricey when I want more Tree of Woe!
What it does do is give Jor-El a shot at true redemption. Can he get Atom off the planet thus stopping ANOTHER planet from being destroyed from an explosion???
So that is a very good plot wrinkle as this whole story has been about Jor-El trying to make amends.
I think this might be my favorite issue of the series as it ties a lot of stuff together. I wonder if Porter was purposefully linking to JLA #4. And the art is spot on for the job.
Overall grade: B+
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