Review: Smallville Chaos #4

Officially, Smallville Season 11 has ended, its last digital chapter released last week. But some of us are addicted to print and so have a little more time.

Smallville: Chaos #4 came out last week, the last chapter of this 'episode' and, as usual, it did not disappoint. One of the things that I think is interesting in this particular issue is that Superman doesn't necessarily do too much. This episode seems to belong to the Superman family and Lex. It is apparent from the cover, a great action shot of Supergirl, Superboy, and Steel Hank Henshaw.

We knew from the beginning that this season was ending with a crisis. We finally get there here.

Art is done by Agustin Padilla who bring a sort of angular feel to the proceedings which works. Lots of action here. His Kara looks fierce. I like it.

The book opens with the Super-family dealing with the Eclipso plague in Metropolis.

This is one of those small humorous moments that are common in Smallville. I'll miss these.

A news helicopter is covering the fight and it is implied that the female reporter is told by her boss (who assumes Supergirl is wearing a skirt) to get an upskirt shot of Kara. The reporter says it is idiotic and no one would fly wearing just a skirt. Of course it doesn't make sense to fly in a skirt.

It did remind me of the whole 'bike shorts' debate from years ago.

In the brawl, Hank Henshaw is somehow able to use his technology to mentally link to the Eclipso horde. And we are privy to the history of the black diamond from its discovery to the evil of (I assume) Mayan sacrifices. I do like that we get a little history of this cursed thing.

I don't know how a living computer program can telepathically link with people's brains ... but there you go.

That link does give Henshaw an idea. He can lure all the Eclipso gems out of the innocent citizens by offering it the super-powered bodies of Kara and Conner.

I don't know if I quite understand why it would take the bait. But it does.

I did chuckle at Kara and Con's 'eew' when Eclipso talks about making them into an Adam and Eve first couple ... meaning breeding. Eewww indeed.

Great art here though. Love that second panel, showing the heat of battle.

Meanwhile, in Antarctica, Lex continues to barter with the Monitors. Why destroy when they can simply recreate? And Lex's pitch has the Monitor's intrigued.

While Lois decries Lex for aiding and abetting the enemy, Lex has a much more tempered response. He is the only one who right now might save the world. Again, it shows some of the warped ethics of Lex. He thinks he is the good guy here.

Of course, there is some meta-ideas here, as rebooting universes has been happening in DC for a while now.

Now out in the open, the Eclipso demon's weakness is suddenly evident. Sound waves can shatter it.

Supergirl and Superboy ask 'for whom the bell tolls' and answer Eclipso!

The shock of the attack makes all the tiny shards recede and coalesce back into the true diamond form. Suddenly the epidemic is controlled.

Great Supergirl (and Superboy action here).

Inside the Monitor ship, which is in the Bleed between universes, the Monitors decide to kill their captives. They throw Superman out of the ship where the chaotic environment will kill him.

He is resilient though. He flies to the other side of the ship and breaks back in, albeit significantly injured. Superman knows the Bleed environment will kill the Monitors too. His only hope is to get Lois into an escape pod, disable the ship and head to Earth.

You have to love the Smallville Lois. She won't back down to anyone. When the Monitors acknowledge they underestimated Clark and Lois, Lois says 'you bet your ass you did.'

I will miss this Lois.

Back on Earth though, there Hank Henshaw realizes the only way to protect the Earth from the Eclipso diamond is for him to take it into deep space. He leaves the planet ... thanks to a little boost of Green Lanterns ... taking the gem with him.

Remember, Henshaw went a little nuts earlier in the series. It is great to see him turn it around and become a hero, inspired by Superman. He leaves for space because he knows that is what Superman would do. Nifty!

As for Lex, his Yellow Lex Corps decides to go rogue. Skeets is able to help free Booster Gold, Michael Holt, and Ted Kord.

But Lex has the ultimate defense against his own troops. He also wears a yellow ring, the master ring which controls everyone elses. He has the rings self-destruct (unfortunately his own as well) killing his troops.

There is no honor among thieves.

Superman and Lois are able to escape the Monitor ship and land on an Earth. Clark is badly wounded.

And things don't look like they will be getting any better. The Monitors' ships have arrived on the Smallville Earth. It is the beginning of the Crisis.

We knew that this 'episode' was the set-up for the final Crisis. We finally get to the big event, the one hinted at back in the first issue of this series. As a result, things do need to wrap up a bit quickly. The Eclipso ending, the destruction of the Yellow Rings, Superman and Lois returning to Earth ... they all happened fast and a bit loose in this issue. But that said, there is so much fun, so much character progression, so much depth to the characters here that I am able to roll with it a bit.

(In my head I compare it to Lobdell's Krypton Returns where plots were very loose and things happened fast AND there was bad characterizations and lack of progression. That I could not simply roll with.)

And so I get to cling to Smallville a little longer.

Overall grade: B/B+

Review: Smallville Chaos #3

Yes, I know that Smallville Continuity is being release digitally already.

And yes, I learned here that the end of Continuity is the end of this series.  Miller kicked things off talking about the end of Smallville Season 11, the end of which will mark the end of the series. And that stinks because this book has been a revelation and the last bastion for some Lois/Clark, some Superman Family, some classic Superman action.
 
Old-timers like me rely on print so I am still reading Smallville Chaos. And Smallville Chaos #3 came out last week and continued this whirlwind of an 'episode'. As I said before, the title Chaos is completely appropriate. There are three storylines right now that are roiling in turbulence. Superman and Lois are stuck in alternate universes being destroyed by Monitors and are hoping to get home. Lex has taken over the Holt/Kord particle accelerator with a squad of LexCorps Yellow Lanterns. And Metropolis and the world are in danger of being taken over by Eclipso possession. Pure pandemonium. And, gladly, we see two of those plots weave together in this issue.

I have praised writer Bryan Q. Miller of bringing a DC Universe to this Smallville world. It continues to grow in this issue as we start to see individual creators interacting with each other in an almost familial way. We are heading to a crisis of Continuity and people need to start teaming up.

Still, things seem more tumultuous at the end of this issue than they are at the beginning. Fantastic.

The art of the issue is a mix of Agustin Padilla and Marcelo DiChiara. Padilla has a fine-lined look compared to DiChiara's thicker, rougher feel. But both serve the issue well. DiChiara's look is perfect for a Darkseid-ruined Earth.

The Eclipso 'virus' is sweeping over Metropolis and there is a chance that it might spread beyond. The issue starts with someone on a plane transforming into an Eclipso acolyte. After a melee with a Federal marshal on board, the plane's wing snaps off and it begins to fall to the ground. In some ways, it is a good plane crash, keeping Eclipso stuck in Metropolis for the time being.

In fact, Tess, now running the Watchtower, knows the key to success is to quarantine the city, keeping those possessed inside.

In this time when the Ebola crisis may be reaching the US, this resonated a bit.

So only the heroes within the city limits are allowed to lend a hand, keeping this not under Eclipso's thrall safe. One of the heroes is Superboy.

Another is Supergirl, who pulls off a Routh-ian rescue of the falling jet plane. I wonder if I am imagining the homage or if it was there intentionally.

And so we have the first Supergirl and Superboy meeting.

I have really started to take a liking to this Smallville costume for Kara.

As for Superman, we left him on a world in ruins, being attacked by Monitors, but with a clear Apokoliptian feel. Turns out the look is because Darkseid is actually on Earth.

There is a nice wrinkle about this Darkseid. He states that there is 'one' Darkseid, albeit who exists in all universes. He tried to take over Earth in all universes because Earth is the center of all things. And only in the Smallville universe was Superman successful.

While it appears in ruins, the Monitors are leaving this Earth. And Superman needs to get on their ship to head home.

I forget ... did Superman ever face off against Darkseid like this in the last episode of Smallville? Or was it a more metaphorical battle?

And in Antarctica, Lex is about to fire up the accelerator for his own nefarious reasons. With Kord and Holt held hostage, Luthor bides his time by torturing Booster Gold.

Now, Luthor hasn't always been so overt with his evil nature. He usual has agents do his dirty work, covering his tracks.

This panel did grab me. Since returning, Lex hasn't killed anyone. And Booster isn't important enough to break that run.

But this has to fit the Chekhov gun rule, right? Why announce this here unless Lex is going to kill someone. And my guess is Otis. His only friend. Otis, who clearly is having second thoughts about Lex's plans in this story, has to be the victim.

And won't that make Lex that much more despicable, that he would kill the one person who has stood by him.

Darkseid relents in helping Superman and Lois get on the Monitor ship in exchange for the Jor-El AI from the other universe.

Again, this was another interesting wrinkle on Darkseid. With the Jor-El tech, Darkseid builds a new Fortress and declares it a new genesis. Or is that New Genesis?

Could Miller have redeemed Darkseid??

But if there was one moment that hit me it was this panel.

Tess realizes that the only way to stop the Eclipso plague is to strangle it at the source - Bruce Gordon. And look who is going to look for him! Team Superman. The Superman Family. Whatever you want to call them this is the closest we have seen Supergirl, Superboy, and "Steel" (here Henshaw) actually liking each other and working together.

No 'I'll kill you because you're a clone' angst. No 'Bank robbing dude'. No New 52 awfulness. It is Team Superman!

Team Superman!

There is unfortunately chaos within the chaos.

Lex has asked the Yellow Lanterns to keep the prisoners alive. But these are career criminals. One of them realizes that being a ring-slinger and having a base is too good a brass ring to let go. He gets some allies, slaughters the loyal LexCorps members, and moves to start liquidating the loose ends.

There is no honor among thieves. Although I have to assume Lex has some failsafe built into these rings.

On board the Monitor ship, Superman and Lois see that their Earth is still intact. But before they can head home, a number of super-powered Monitors discover they are on board and attack.

Wait a minute ... why is Vegeta working for the Monitors?

You would think the Dark Prince would rather rule than destroy.

The Monitors encircle Superman.

And then more chaos and an intermingling of plots. Lex fires up the accelerator. And this time he doesn't try to contact other versions of himself. He instead heads up the food chain and asks the Monitors a question. Why destroy when they can recreate?

What the heck is Luthor thinking? I suppose he wouldn't mind a new universe where his faculties are intact and he is ruling.

So another issue of Smallville is in the books and this one is a great middle chapter. The plots all move along nicely. We have some new ripples to contemplate. And we have the return of the Superman family!

Nothing but praise here as the team continues to tighten the noose around this universe with a Crisis around the corner.

Overall grade: A

Review: Smallville Chaos #2

Smallville Chaos #2 came out last week and this arc has certainly lived up to its title. It is totally chaotic in this book right now with 3 ongoing plots  happening, each one unraveling in front of our eyes. It isn't pretty right now and I'm not sure which arc is the most frenetic and hectic right now.

Bryan Q. Miller has been leading us to a Crisis-event since the very first issue of Smallville Season 11 and this is the closest we have come. I have been completely impressed with Miller's approach to this undercurrent of a universal threat. At times it has surged to the forefront of the book. But when it hasn't been in our face, it has been simmering in the background. This time, our noses are shoved in the danger of the Crisis with one of the most powerful scenes I have read in this book.

Add to that the Eclipso-invasion in Metropolis and the Luthor-led hostile takeover of the Holt/Kord particle accelerator, and you get a Smallville book on shaky ground. Thank goodness Lois is a rock!

The art is handled seamlessly by Agustin Padilla and Daniel HDR, bringing the right energy to a wild ride of security forces, demonic hordes, and planetary destruction.

We start out in Metropolis where an army of Metropolis' citizens have been possessed by the Eclipso diamond shards. We have become somewhat accustomed to the Watchtower group, this justice league, being able to mobilize and deal with a threat. That isn't happening here. Tess can try to spearhead communication and organize the team ... but when no one can respond, she isn't of much use. Metropolis is on fire. Superman is on another Earth. Emil and Bruce are trapped in STAR Labs. Everyone is off-line.

Metropolis needs a hero!

Meanwhile on another Earth, Superman is trying to save the day. But this world is literally being carved into pieces by the Monitor attack ships. At the very least, he can smash the advance Manhunter troops, making sure they don't hurt the populace.

But it is clear that this Earth is dying. The skies are red. The planet is crumbling.

I do like this Superman fighting until the end.

But here is where this book suddenly silenced me. This is perhaps the most powerful scene I have witnessed in Smallville.

The Lois of this world has been trying to help people, to fight to save this Earth. But that Lois has given up hope. The people she leads, in a church, all turn guns on themselves, a mass suicide in the face of planetary destruction. Imagine that ... a Lois that has lost hope that much. Scary.

There is power in this panel. The bodies slumped. The hand on gun in the foreground. A faceless dead body lying down in front of us. And our Lois and Superman hugging each other, but tiny. They weren't able to save these people. Keeping them small adds a feeling of helplessness. Great stuff.

And don't forget the third plotline as Lex takes over the particle accelerator so he can use it and Monitor tech to contact other universes.

I always love when Lex panels have him saying noble things while the evils of his ways happen around him. Here he says he is going to save the world. All while his Yellow-ringed Lex Corps gun down the security force. I suppose Lex could have simply asked to use the thing instead of getting violent.

The dissonance between words and art work here. Lex is deluded.

Metropolis needs a hero. Suddenly they have one.

Hank Henshaw, digitally trapped in a robotic body, and quite mad a few arcs ago, decides he needs to do better ... he needs to help. And just like that he enters a bunch of sentry droids, creating an army of one, and takes out the Eclipso victims.

I am glad to see Henshaw redeemed. And glad he wasn't forgotten. He does look a bit like the helmeted Superman of Futures End, don't you think?

With the Earth dying around them, Superman goes to the one place he hope exists and can help them. This Earth's Fortress of Solitude.

It is clear there is no way to save this Earth. It is being eaten by waves of energy, just like the Crisis on Infinite Earths worlds.

Beautiful art here.

And now, the mandatory monthly 'Lois is Awesome in this book' moment.

Flying into the Fortress, this world's Jor-El recognizes Superman as 'not Kal' and embeds him in some sort of crystal. Lois tells Jor-El that he is making a mistake and when he asks who she is to question him, she answers appropriately.

She's Lois Lane.

This is who Lois should be. Strong and confident enough to stand up to anyone.

We learn a little bit more about Luthor's plots. He isn't trying to reach out to other Lex's any more. He is reaching out to someone else. Hmmmm ...

I bet he wants the evil Earth 2 Superman to join him on this world. Or maybe Zod?

And we seem to be seeing some lack of 100% loyalty in Otis. I wonder if Mr. Berg is going to end up betraying Lex. He is the only one left who can. Booster Gold has been defeated by the Yellow Corps.

But back on the doomed Earth we see another power of Lois. The power to speak the truth, to love, help.

She tells this Jor-El that every version has worked to save Kal. Why shouldn't this Jor-El help save a different Kal. And then ... the soft please. It humanizes Lois a bit, shows her and Clark's love.

So Jor-El will help, if she will take him to safety as well. Shrunk to a power crystal, this Jor-El shunts the pair to a different Earth.

We see this Earth fade away. Worlds will live. Worlds will die.

Unfortunately, Jor-El doesn't send these two back to their world. Instead they land on shambles of an Earth. There are Manhunters amid the debris. The Monitors were here. There are also human skulls with omega signs burned into them. And a black crackling planetoid crashed into Earth. This place looks enough like Apokolips for me to be worried.

Chaos indeed.

I have to say this was a great middle chapter. The story moved forward on all fronts. We see the threat the Monitors are, an Earth vaporized. We see Lois and Clark use their brains to escape that fate. We see the emergence of a new hero. And we see the evil of Lex, suddenly openly and brazenly malevolent.

And we are that much closer to the Crisis. Unbelievable. Incredible.

Overall grade: B+/A

Review: Smallville Chaos #1

Smallville:Chaos #1 was released last week, the first part of the next arc of Season 11 and that much closer to the upcoming Crisis. And it is evident that the Crisis is probably right around the corner as we go to one of presumably Infinite Earths and see dead heroes and red skies. It amazes me how much I am geared up for the finale of this 'season', having enjoyed just about every step along the way.

But writer Bryan Q. Miller does more than just bring us to a new Earth so we can see some tragedy up close, he starts two other subplots as well, re-introducing us to a classic DC villain as well as progressing a lingering plot point from Smallville:Lantern. I will admit that I am impressed at how beefy Miller is making this Smallville universe, filled now with versions of many DC heroes and villains. And I am impressed with how he is able to make this feel like a team book, at times feel like a DC Universe book, but still keep Lois and Clark in the spotlight. No one feels cheated or overlooked here.

The art is split by Daniel HDR and Agustin Padilla and both do very well with the material here, especially the action sequences. They complement each other so that there isn't any sort of disconnection while I was reading.

We start out in Metropolis where Professor Bruce Gordon has been possessed by a black diamond "big enough to eclipse the sun". That's right, Miller is bringing Eclipso into the Smallville universe. And he is a good villain to have here as his powers certainly can be a threat for even Superman.

But I love how Superman implores him to take the fight outside the city. Superman's first thoughts are of the safety of the citizens. I feel like I should keep a file of these panels on hand and then email them to Snyder and Goyer.

The fight ends up being brief as Superman smashes the diamond underfoot, releasing Gordon from the spell.

Meanwhile Lois is at the supercollider being built by Michael Holt and Ted Kord. So Mr. Terrific and Blue Beetle are in the book as well.

But the collider wouldn't have been built without a last minute influx of cash by Lex Luthor.

Lois is such a powerful figure in this book. It makes me wish we had a Lois like this in the main DCU books. Maybe Johns' will bring her back.

Luthor isn't there simply for scientific advancement. He has Otis attach the monitor communicator Lex pilfered in Russia to the device. And just like that a dimensional rift is opened. That's right ... a gateway to another Earth!

Perhaps my favorite part about this is that Lois simply says typical as this disaster unfolds before her, as she is sucked into the portal. There is no screaming in fear. There is no 'help me Superman'. There is just a 'typical' which becomes a more frustrated and exasperated 'TYPICAL'!!

Love it.

Of course, even if she doesn't yell 'help me Superman', Clark is always tuned in to her. He flies to the rescue, grabbing her but unfortunately tumbling through the dimensional gate as well. And when the collider goes off line, the tunnel closes behind them.

I wonder if every Superman writer tries to think of a scenario where he can have Superman say 'I've got you' and Lois retorts 'You've got me. Who's got you??'. I am almost positive Johns' had the exchange in Superman:Secret Origins.

It might be almost cliche to have it but I like it every single time.

Of course, this Lois is so used to being rescued, so used to Superman's powers, I don't particularly know why she would ask it. But I don't care.

Meanwhile, Chloe and Ollie are being wooed by Steve Trevor and Diana Prince of the DEO. Trevor is hoping that Ollie will join the DEO as a teacher, training the DEO soldiers. Nice little OMAC reference by Ollie.

The Chloe/Diana scenes are precious with Diana oohing and ahhing over Chloe's pregnant body.

But all of this makes me think that Ollie is going to be the tragic loss in the Crisis. This overwhelming sentiment of trying to keep him on the sidelines so he can be there for his family makes me think he ends up sacrificing himself for everyone.

And the Eclipso storyline isn't exactly over.

When you shatter one diamond that can possess one person, you just might make a lot of diamond shards which can also possess someone ... like this Metropolis detective.

An army of Eclipsos suddenly is forming in the city, all bent on destruction.

And with Superman somewhere else, it might be time for another Kryptonian to defend the city!

As for Superman and Lois, they are stuck on a world. A world with red skies. A world with a fleet of Monitor ships in the air. A place where the Superman variant Mr. Majestic is dead and hung on the Daily Star.

It is getting real.

Again, nice nod to DC history by including Majestic here. And nice nod to the original crisis. Those red skies don't lie.

So Eclipso in Metropolis.
Lois and Clark in another Metropolis.

And in Antarctica, Lex decides to take control of the collider and all it can do. And what better way to do that but with Team Luthor, a group of Lex soldiers armed with yellow lantern rings.

Hmmm ... how are they powered?

Now Lex has been manipulating things from behind the scenes all season. This is pretty much out there, a very public super-villain move. I don't know if there is coming back from this.

We must be very close to the finale.

But on Earth-? Superman and Lois run into the 'other' Lois. And she isn't too happy. The heroes seem to have let this Earth down. The Monitor ships are arranging themselves in the sky in a way where they will blow up the planet. All seems lost.

I thought this was a great scene. I love that Lois is still a hero on this Earth. It looks like she is leading the resistance or holding people together. But, despite that, you can see how she is broken a bit, saddened by the loss of her love and the impending destruction of her world. She isn't invulnerable ... and this humanizes all the Loises in this book. It also shows just how strong she is as a person that even in the face of death, she is a force of will.

So a tremendous opening chapter with three subplots brewing and a Crisis right around the corner.

As usual, I am impressed with this book.

Overall grade: A-

Review: Adventures Of Superman #12

I have, for the most part, enjoyed the Adventures of Superman digital first series. There have been any number of superior stories in this book which have had a more classic feel to the Man of Steel, right down to the red trunks. I was a bit let down when I heard recently that the series was being cancelled.

Adventures of Superman #12, unfortunately, is not one of the stronger entries in this book. Writer Peter Milligan, whose work I have loved on Shade The Changing Man and The Human Target, takes another look at how difficult it is to remain a pure hero in this jaded world. This isn't new material. Whether it is Magog in Kingdom Come or Manchester Black in 'What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way', or the Hyperclan in Morrison's JLA , this idea that the world can't deal with an inspirational hero is well trod soil. And those mentioned stories, amongst the many printed, are so superior, that I can't help but feel a writer better have a new wrinkle or be compared unfavorably.

Milligan indeed has a new wrinkle ... as you will see. But, in this instance that innovation makes this a worse story, at least for me. I come to this book to be inspired. To read about a Superman who is going to rise above, be a role model, and show us all that we can help each other.

Another part of the problem here is inherent in the 'out of continuity' nature of the book. Lois is portrayed here as a young new reporter, given bad assignments. That is fine. Except, there is also a feeling that Superman is more well-established. I have never seen that take on the history. Usually Lois is established when Superman arrives. Or both are up and coming together.

The art on the book is by Agustin Padilla and is very sharp. In particular, the quiet moments of Clark and Lois are very nicely rendered.

The story opens with The Toyman on a citywide kidnapping spree, grabbing the children of Metropolis with apparent impunity. In fact, he gloats a bit that Superman won't do anything to him. The city is in an uproar about it, including the media. Why won't Superman just get rid of the Toyman?

What is interesting here is the initial anti-Superman sentiment voiced by Lois. She seems dismayed that people are relying on Superman.

And then, as if on cue, a new tougher 'hero' arrives in Metropolis ... The Demolisher. He's masked, armed with sword and shield, and he isn't taking any prisoners. Flying into Toyman's hideout, he pulls a Rorschach, breaking the Toyman's fingers.

After this torture, the Demolisher flies off. Seconds later ... shocking ... Superman arrives. I don't know ... the upcoming 'surprise' wasn't very surprising to me.

We later see the Demolisher thrash Bruno Mannheim.

And, much like the Daily Planet poll in Kingdom Come showing that people preferred Magog, the people of Metropolis initially embrace the Demolisher. Their kids are safe. The Toyman is broken and caught. And Superman doesn't have the guts to do that dirty work.

Lois also seems to complain about his 'goody-goody' persona, the kind of guy who wouldn't risk kissing a woman he wants to.

At the very least, that is a good moment - my favorite of the story, as Lois seems to be showing Clark she is interested in him. I will always prefer a Clark-Lois relationship.

But even Superman begins questioning himself. Is he a relic in this cynical world? In Kingdome Come he retreats to his Fortress. In "What's so funny ...", he mirrors the Extremists and shows the world the error of their beliefs.

And I would want my Superman to do that. To shine his bright light on us, burn away the cynicism, and bring us through inspiration to a better place.

Here ... well ...

No big surprise ... it turns out that Superman *IS* The Demolisher.

Hearing all the 'bad things' about being Superman, his honor ... his nobility ... his ethics ... his 'being adorable' ... Clark decides to make a third identity, a harsh one for a harsh world.

Okay Peter Milligan ... you lost me. Because my Superman, raised by the Kents, knowing what is right and wrong ... he wouldn't do this.

And the dark path is a quick one, a slippery slope.

As the Demolisher, Superman actually has to step in and save Lois from being mugged. And he lays a beating down on the crooks, a vicious one that is so bad that Lois has to step in.

Embracing his bad boy persona, Clark lifts up his mask and plants a kiss on Lois' lips.

Because, we all have to bow to the belief that the bad boys are the popular ones, the ones that girls will swoon over, even kiss after they witness a frightening thrashing. I want to think that Lois would push him away.

The firsthand account of the Demolisher is enough to vault Lois to the front page for the first time, talking about the thug the Demolisher is. Swayed by the press ... WOW ... Metropolis reconsiders. Now they want Superman to come back and be the hero they deserve.

But, for some reason, Superman is still clinging to the Demolisher. Man, I was really hoping for a Red Kryptonite answer to this. But it isn't that magical. Clark is struggling about who he wants to be, who he wants the people of Metropolis to want. He even decides to blow up the station supplying Metropolis with power. In the resulting chaos people will want The Demolisher.

And get this ... he actually does it! He blows up the station!

Okay Peter Milligan ... you really lost me.

However, mere seconds after destroying the station, Clark (finally) realizes this isn't who he is. He fixes the station in seconds. He then fakes the death of the Demolisher. And resumes his Superman persona, now maybe with an understanding that there could be good in some super-villains.

I suppose that Superman seeing the best in people is a good thing. But this felt like another apologia for super-villains who are kidnapping children. And the best way to make villains relatable is make a Superman with a dark enough streak to almost split his personalities.

It vaguely reminded me of the old Untold Legend of the Batman mini-series where Batman's personality is so fractured that the 'Bruce Wayne' persona begins to attack the Batman part of him.


But anyways ... Superman crushing villains and demolishing the Metropolis Power Station??

I wasn't too keen on this story. It didn't help that I am pretty exhausted after a harsh work week. In a time when I needed something inspiring, I got this.