Review: Streaky! The Origin Of Supergirl's Cat

We have seen a lot of Krypto in the Supergirl trailer . In that story and in that cinematic universe, Krypto has always been Kara's pet, meeting him in Argo and being rocketed to Earth with him. While Kara and Krypto have become close in the comics, he has always been Kal's pet in there.

But with all that love for the pooch, it made me realize it has been a while since I talked about Supergirl's 'true' pet Streaky, the Super-Cat. A while ago, I bought the Streaky origin story book, a kid's book similar to the one I covered about Comet . It is even done by the same team, writer Steve Korte and artist Art Baltazar (of Tiny Titans fame). 

Like that book, this storybook really borrows heavily from the actual Silver Age comics that Streaky appears in. I am always appreciative when creators acknowledge Supergirl's history. What could be better! Head here to see some of the original story we get riffed on.

But seriously, poor Streaky! He has become an afterthought in the current comic world and now overlooked in the multimedia world.

Let's head to the book!

Review: Comet: The Origin Of Supergirl's Horse

I took a short trip south around Thanksgiving time, visiting Virginia. One of my goals whenever I travel is to do my best to hit local comic shops. This time I went to Local Heroes, a cool little shop in Norfolk. 

Inside, I discovered something I didn't know existed and which made me give thanks. A big kid's book about Comet the Super-Horse! There is a whole line of these books about DC Super Pets. 

It is written by Steve Korte with wonderful art by old friend Art Baltazar.

Perhaps most impressively, the book for the most part holds true to the Silver Age origin from Action Comics #293. Makes me think I might need to follow-up this post with one looking at that issue. (To be honest, I'm a little surprised I haven't reviewed that issue over my time here.)

This is a wonderful book for a Supergirl fan or a Comet fan. It is a great story for a kid's book filled with magic and heroism. And the art is perfect for the story. It starts with the front cover with a confident Supergirl and winking Comet. Also, I love the sneak peek at Comet's origin on the back. 

This definitely makes me want to seek out the Streaky book!

On to some details.

June 2019 Solicits

The June solicits for DC Comics came out last week and are available for perusal in the usual places. Here is a link to Newsarama and their coverage: https://www.newsarama.com/44329-dc-comics-june-2019-solicitations.html

It is a wild month filled with hope for the ending of a story, the excitement of the beginning of a story, a story I didn't know about that I will be getting, and a big name story I knew about that I won't be getting. Did you follow all that?

Hopefully this is something of a turning point for the super-books, storming into the summer on a roll.

SUPERGIRL #31
written by MARC ANDREYKO
art by KEVIN MAGUIRE and SEAN PARSONS
cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
variant cover by AMANDA CONNER
The House of El is united in this SUPERMAN/SUPERGIRL crossover! The Superman Family must unite to banish Rogol Zaar once and for all! But little do Supergirl, Superman, Superboy and Jor-El know, Rogol Zaar has brought some friends of his own…from the Phantom Zone! Supergirl not only has to make sure that Rogol Zaar doesn’t unite with his ax at all costs, but also has to deal with how the 10-year-old Superboy is now her age! This is the start of an intergalactic war you don’t want to miss!
ON SALE 06.12.19 

For some time I have been calling for the end of the Supergirl in space storyline. It just hasn't felt like a Supergirl story. The characterization of Kara has seemed off. And I just enjoy her more on Earth, with a supporting cast, learning to be a hero on her adopted world.

So when I saw this solicit, trumpeting a Superman crossover and some resolution to the Rogol Zaar storyline, I smiled. One, I like when the super-family acts like a family. Second, maybe this means Supergirl is back on Earth and will stay on Earth.

Nice Conner cover.

On to the rest of the books.

November 2016 Solicits

DC Comics' solicits for November came out last week and continued to build on the general optimism that Rebirth has garnered. While I have some questions about where things are going, at least books seem to be going somewhere. By month three of the New 52, I was already questioning the overall grim tone. Here, things feel different.

Here is a link to Newsarama's coverage:http://www.newsarama.com/30736-dc-comics-full-november-2016-solicitations.html

I have my usual quibbles. So read on!

SUPERGIRL #3
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art and cover by BRIAN CHING
Variant cover by BENGAL
“REIGN OF THE CYBORG SUPERMEN” part three! At last, Supergirl returns to Argo City! But when Kara Zor-El arrives back to her childhood home, a grim discovery awaits, courtesy of the Cyborg Superman! Supergirl must battle for the fate of not one but two worlds as yet another face from her past returns to stop her!

So a couple of things here.

One, I don't know if I will every get used to the sort of warped style of Brian Ching. Limbs seem thin and stretched. Everything is angular. I don't mind stylized art. I just think I will have to become accustomed to this look.

Next, it looks like Cyborg Superman has quasi-resurrected the dead on Argo City. In Supergirl Rebirth we learned from Lar-On that the soil of Argo had turned to Red Kryptonite.

It made me go back to look at what actually happened to Argo City in the New 52. Here was my post way back when:http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2012/03/argo-city-dcnu.html

So who knows if in the spirit of Rebirth that continuity will be forgotten. Or if the city didn't disintegrate in a blue sun. Or why Kara didn't get whammied by Red K back then. I suppose it is a sort of new world. We'll have to see how it all plays out.

Review: Tiny Titans Return To The Treehouse #1

After lamenting the overall dark nature of the New 52 recently, I was thrilled when DC threw me something of a bone, announcing that All Ages dream team of Art Baltazar and Franco were going to return to some beloved material, the Tiny Titans.

Tiny Titans Return to the Treehouse #1 came out this last week and was a blast of fresh summer air. I know that this is meant for a younger crowd but as usual Baltazar and Franco inject enough DC history and characters into the book to make it a delight for DC fan of ... well ... of all ages.

And, frankly, it is a delight to see some old school costumes as well, away from the overly dreary New 52 versions. I mean this is basically what Raven should look like not the feather-faced thing currently in Teen Titans. And look, a yellow garbed Kid Flash with hair visible!

Simply put, there is joy here, a stark contrast to some of the main stream books.

But wait, there's more.

Kid Devil! Both Donna Troy as Wonder Girl and Cassie! M'Gann! and Speedy!

But I simply had to love that Superboy and Supergirl got some special credit, outside the face bubbles and taking a place of honor! I am sure it is a coloring error but nice to see Kara in the red skirt version of the costume!

This comic does bring back the somewhat sad memory of the Superman Family Adventures, a really fantastic comic that was canceled by DC way too quickly.

At least Baltazar and Franco make mention of it here as the super-family streaks to join the Titans.

I can never get me enough Streaky!

There is a wrinkle though. Brainiac 5 and Psimon are in the Brainiac club and have an assignment. They need to shrink something and put it into a bottle. So why not the treehouse, even if Terra, Raven, and Beast Boy are in there?

Brainiac was something of the big bad in the Superman Family Adventures so I wonder if Franco and Baltazar are trying to recapture some of that here. But is odd to see Brainiac 5 doing something like this. And I thought Psimon hated being called 'Brainiac'.

But this also makes me realize how much I miss the Legion.

The Treehouse gets shrunk and the Supers know they need a detective. So they enlist Robin.

I like how Ace's collar is a pouchy utility belt sort of thing.

Well, in something that would only work in an All Ages book, Robin makes a 'wood detector' to find the treehouse. It leads to some nice cameos!

Like Swamp Thing!

And Solomon Grundy (his coffin was detected).

And Metamorpho's wooden leg is a nice chew toy for Ace.

That is ridiculous. And wonderful. And inspired lunacy!

I love it!

Well, the wood detector doesn't turn up much so Supergirl decides to do the obvious ... use her super-powers to find it. Luckily or serendipitously it is right next to her as Brainiac 5 and Psimon are in the same park.

How could I not scan an action pose of Kara in this book?

Raven uses her magic to free the trapped Titans inside the bottle.

But before the treehouse can be saved the ship carrying the rest of the Brainiac Club arrives.

And it is Brainiac's ship.

Hmmm ... maybe Baltazar and Franco are using some of the SMA plotlines here.

Regardless, I had all sorts of love for this book. I was smiling while I was reading it because it again is a simple and joyous and fun.

Looking for a primer on the DCU that all can enjoy? Buy this book.

Tiny Titans Returns!

I have complained about the darkening of the DCnU. I have bemoaned the 'evil is relative', 'Lex leading the JLA' nonsense of it all.

But every so often, DC Comics gives us a glimmer of hope. Tiny Titans is returning for a 6 issue miniseries this summer!

Details of the comic were posted over on Comic Vine here:
http://www.comicvine.com/articles/exclusive-first-look-tiny-titans-return-to-the-treehouse-1/1100-148301/


And here is the solicit:

TINY TITANS: RETURN TO THE TREEHOUSE #1 Written by Art Baltazar and Franco
Art and cover by Art Baltazar
On sale JUNE 4

The Eisner Award-winning series is back for an all-new six-issue miniseries! Suprrboy and Supergirl return to the treehouse to discover…IT’S MISSING! Or is it just…really small? Who could have done such a thing?! Find out as all your favorite Tiny Titans search for answers!

I always enjoyed Tiny Titans as a true all ages comic, silly enough for little kids, savvy enough for older kids, and filled with DC Easter Eggs for old folks like me. So I am happy to see it back again. And I love that Supergirl and Superboy play an important role in the first issue. I still miss Superman Family Adventures. So this will have to do. Thanks DC!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Hopefully this is a day filled with romance, roses, and fun.

The holiday has pushed back this week's reviews but I couldn't help but re-post this Supergirl valentine recently put up on the DC website. It is one of several Valentine's day cards utilizing Art Baltazar and Franco's art. I am glad that Tiny Titans will be coming back. I still miss Superman Family Adventures.

Here is the link if you want to see the rest: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/02/06/super-awesome-valentines-days-cards

While the Supergirl one is great, I will admit that this Bizarro one is my favorite. It is perfect!

Art Baltazar Commission

We finally reach the last commission from my trip to the Granite State Comic Con, a real sweet commission by Art Baltazar.

As I have said, I always strive to get commissions from artists who have a history with the Supergirl character or will have an interesting take on the character. Baltazar has both of those aspects.

Sure, there is a simple, very cartoony style here ... unique. But Baltazar has drawn Supergirl a lot. There is a big connection here.

In fact, it actually was difficult for me to decide how I wanted Baltazar to draw Supergirl

Did I have him draw the Tiny Titans version? Or do I got for the quasi-New52 version from Superman Family Adventures? Or I do something else?

Well Baltazar had drawn a more classic Matrix style Supergirl in the super-pet books, not the comic books but the chapter books in the book store. And so I asked for that style.

It is a sweet commission. I especially like the blue skirt harkening back to the earliest Supergirl. But with gold trim. This was a marker and crayon drawing but done with some love.

I got to talk to Baltazar about Superman Family Adventures and the premature cancellation. He was pretty bummed because he had long term plans for the book. Too bad that book is off the market. I loved it and so did my kids.

Baltazar's commission is the perfect bookend for this  Franco commission his partner on Tiny Titans I obtained a few years ago.

Granite State Comic Con was a great time. It is a show that certainly has grown.

Granite State Comic-Con

Next week at this time, I will be heading up the highway to Manchester New Hampshire for the Granite State Comicon, one of my favorite local conventions, and one (like the Boston Comic-Con) that seems to be growing each year. Here is the link: http://www.granitecon.com/

This used to be the con I would head to so I could buy tons of comics. The mission was always to thumb through dealers boxes and buy and buy and buy.

But each year more and more artists are coming and this turns into another convention where I am trying to line up commissions! And there are a couple of great ones coming ... so we'll see if I get lucky.

Aaron Kuder is going to be there. Kuder will be taking over Action Comics as artist soon, joining writer Greg Pak. But I have liked his art style on Legion Lost, Lobdell's Superman and Green Lantern New Guardians.

After seeing his rendition of Wonder Woman, Dawnstar, and Yera, I think his Supergirl would be great.

A Kuder commission is my number one goal for this con.

Jeremy Haun will also be attending. Haun is best known for his work on The Darkness but he also was recently named as the artist on Batwoman once JH Williams time is done.

So Haun is also someone I will be hoping to grab a commission from as well.

And Art Baltazar, of Tiny Titans and Superman Family Adventures will also be there. I loved both of those books, especially the love that they showed Supergirl. I met Franco Aureliani at the Boston show a couple of years ago.

I would love to get a Baltazar commission. The dream would be a page that had both the Tiny Titans and the Superman Family Adventures version on the same page.

So those are my top three commission hopes.

But in case some of those don't happen, there are plenty of other creators who grab my attention.

JK Woodward, who was the artist on most of the IDW Fallen Angel series, and did the series in paint (!) will be there.

I consider Lee as some sort of Elseworlds Supergirl so I will at least have some issues for him to sign.

Renae DeLiz will also be there. DeLiz is the guiding creative force behind the Womanthology projects and is currently doing a Kickstarter Peter Pan book. A while back she posted pictures of an Amethyst reboot she wanted to do. Now that is a book I would buy!

I don't know if DeLiz does convention commissions but it can't hurt to ask.

And Ethan Van Sciver will also be there. I already have a couple of Van Sciver commissions, so I doubt I will get another, but he would be a premier artist for someone else to pick up!

The list goes on - Rebekah Isaacs, Joe Eisma, Mark Texeira, Dan Parent ... etc. And I haven't even mentioned the My Little Pony group - Katie Cook, Andy Price, and Amy Mebberson.

Anyways, this will be a busy con for me and that is a good thing.

Anyone else going?

Review: Superman Family Adventures #12

After reading Superman Family Adventures #12, the final issue of the series, I was struck by the words of Kurt Vonnegut. “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, "It might have been.” 

Because it pains me that this series is ending. We have heard from creative team Art Baltazar and Franco that they had plots scheduled up to the forties. So there were more stories to tell. And this was such a crazy fun primer to the Superman Family, showcasing old characters, slight satirizing Superman story arcs from the past, bringing a classic sensibility to the Superman family, and just being fun. I looked forward to this book every month as did the supergirls at home. 

So it is unfortunate that this book is ending. Moreover, I think this issue suffers a little bit for being the last issue from a pacing and story viewpoint. It is clear that Baltazar and Franco try to stuff as much of their future ideas into this issue as possible. With so much stuff thrown against the wall, the book has something of a scattershot feel to it. Not that I mind all of these images I am seeing ... I just wish they were given time to breathe, space to grow. These must have been future plots that these two wanted to explore, and without that opportunity, the decision was made to at least give the readers a taste of what they will be missing. 

The issue jumps right into the action. Last issue ended with Luthor bringing in Darkseid. This issue starts in the middle of a fight. Somewhere between issues, Darkseid has sent a massive meteor to destroy Earth. And Superman has gathered to Justice League to thwart him. The JLA are actually on the meteor, trapped in some odd rock structure and Superman is going toe-to-toe. It took me a while to figure out just what was happening.

I also have to point out the new credits between panels. 'Supergirl based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. By special arrangement with the Jerry Siegel Family.' I have tried my best to follow the Siegel family lawsuit but I have to admit I am no lawyer. I do wonder if this will be a tagline on all Supergirl stories moving forward.

It does allow the creators to bring the Justice League into the book. The side-burned necklaced Aquaman? A trousered Wonder Woman. Interesting.

But as fun as it is to see these heroes fighting Darkseid, I would have preferred seeing the Superman Family at the front lines.

And then we get some of those scenes that feel like previews for future episodes.

In a plot taken from Superman Returns, Luthor shoots a Kryptonian crystal encased in a Kryptonite crystal to create a Kryptonite Fortress of Solitude. Now this isn't part of the plot of this issue. So it must be shown here to show us what might have been. I wonder what the whole plot would have been.

And then to make things even nuttier, Luthor shows he has created a clone of himself. But that is clearly Alex Luthor, the gold-suited red-haired kid I know best from Crisis on Infinite Earths. (I choose to forget Infinite Crisis.)

Now that is an issue I wish we could have seen!

As for the Superman Family, they seem oblivious to the Darkseid threat and are fixing up the Fortress of Solitude. How crazy to see Jor-El and Lara talking about making a baby room!! In fact they are only made aware of it when Jimmy hits the signal watch.

Unfortunately this is the only real moment for the extended family in the book. How I wish we would have seen them more in action.

But again, I think that Baltazar and Franco wanted to put as much into this book as they could stuff. Darkseid's meteor is stopped by ... the super-pets! So it is fun to see Krypto and Streaky again. And Super-turtle and Topo and Jumpa! And Ace!

Okay. That is fun. But seems like this was done just because it was the last chance.

And with the meteor carefully landed on Earth, Darkseid just gives up and goes home. And what of New Krypton? The planet that Brainiac has created and is enslaving the Kandorians on? Pretty much never mentioned or resolved.

Oh ... what might have been.

But there is something that needs to happen in the last pages.

Superman reveals he is Clark to Lois. Lois says that she knew all along (proving the nudge-nudge wink-wink nature of the Lois knowing about Clark seen throughout this book).

And so the book ends on this great panel ... Superman kissing Lois Lane!

I was hoping for a wedding. I was hoping for a proposal. But at least I get this!

Again, this was a super-busy issue of Superman Family Adventures. There is a lot here. And it pains me to see this end. If only all these dangling plots and future plots could have been seen in future issues!

Still, I have nothing but love for this book. I cannot thank Art Baltazar and Franco enough for this last year of fun and super-heroics. And, of course, for ending this book with the best happy ending ever ... Superman kissing Lois.

Hey DC, how about more of this?? Please???

Overall grade (issue): B+
Overall grade (series): A+++

Review: Superman Family Adventures #11

Superman Family Adventures #11 came out last week, the second to last issue of this title. It pains me to see this title go away. It is such a sneaky funny book, an all ages book no doubt but with enough nuance and homages to keep this long time DC fan happy.

Yes, the most important thing is that the Supergirls at home (aged 14,11, and 9) love this book. But keeping the adult happy is crucial as well. It is what makes Young Justice and Gravity Falls so great. They are all ages and that doesn't have to be pejorative.

I suppose it was a great thing that creators Art Baltazar and Franco knew the end was near because it feels like they are trying to stuff 40 issues of plot into the last handful of issues. This issue is simply stuffed with riffs on older and more modern story arcs from the Super books and even DC books. And my guess is that there is a lot more to come in next month's final issue.

But despite all those references, the part of this book that is most fun is Ma Kent laying the smack down and taking charge.

While Doomsday strapped to a meteor comes crashing to Earth (as he did in the Death of Superman arc), Ma Kent takes Conner and Kara on a field trip to Metropolis and the Daily Planet.

The "Clark-fication" of Supergirl and Superboy is cute. I would have loved ... LOVED ... for Kara Kent to have been Linda Lang but we can't get everything we want.

Last issue ended with the Bottle City of Kandor being returned to its normal size.

But the imprisoned Brainiac has escaped and is complete control of the city and it's populace. I can't exactly tell whether or not the city itself has turned into Green K. But Brainiac reveals he has 'Kryptonite powers' now, the whole spectrum, and is using it control the Kandorians. You can see the various halo hues inflicting pain.

Looks like Zod will have to team up with Superman and Lara to save the day.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the 'nudge nudge wink wink' nature of Lois dealing with Clark's secret identity. It has been clear for a while that she is in the know.

I am only posting 3 panels of a page worth of verbal gymnastics that Ma and Lois have where both discuss Clark/Superman hinting that they are the same guy but never outright saying it.

I have loved Lois in this book. Will there be a proposal next issue?? I hope so. (I had held out hope for a wedding next issue but I don't think there will be enough page space.)

With Superman busy in the Arctic, Supergirl and Superboy have to face off against Doomsday.

Man, I miss the days of a Super-family liking each other and working together.

Unfortunately, Doomsday proves to be too much for Kara and Conner. Hey, he's Doomsday? What can stop him?

Now I have talked about how continuity isn't has important to me in this book. I applauded the return of Lara in this series ... something I am sure I would frown upon in the 'real' DCU. And Franco and Baltazar even brought back Jor-El, albeit in ghostly form, able to be solid for only 24 hours at a time.

Well ... the return of Superman's parents was only the beginning. Brainiac defeats Superman, Jor-El, and Zod with ease. When he squares off against Lara he discovers she's .... pregnant!!!!

Unreal.

Now could she have been pregnant this whole time while in the Phantom Zone? Well, either that or she got busy with Jor-El last issue when he returned.

Either way, Superman is going to be a big brother!

Unreal. No worries about continuity here. This is great!

In this book, Brainiac is talked about like another son of Jor-El. A misguided son ... but a 'son' nonetheless.

Anyways, Brainiac is so floored by this discovery that Lara is pregnant that he stops his attack, grabs Kandor, and leaves. He creates a 'new Krypton' in a heliocentric orbit with Earth.

So this simply reverberates with the New Krypton storyline from several years ago. I hope they end up calling it Rokyn! Riffs on Doomsday and New Krypton! Awesome.

I also think that somehow Brainiac is going to become a good guy here, realizing the errors of his ways, and being welcomed back into the El family.

There is still a Doomsday problem.

But Ma Kent shows her intestinal fortitude, chastising Doomsday with a literal slap on the wrist and sending him on his way.

She already laid some old school discipline on Solomon Grundy a couple of issues ago. I'm not surprised she can take even this savage beast.

Ma Kent has been given some serious props recently. Remember with a simple wag of the finger she grounded Supergirl in Super Best Friends Forever.

And if that wasn't enough, she then does the same to the Brainiac/Nimrod/Terra Man villain.

I love how the villains are all glum, sitting on the side of the road. Too funny!

And then we see Ma Kent riding Comet! Awesome sauce.

Things take an odd turn when Luthor contacts Darkseid, who is in his 'lunch lady' role from Tiny Titans. I almost wish there wasn't as tight a continuity between Tiny Titans and this book. Weird to see Darkseid in a hairnet in this more semi-serious book. I said semi-serious.

Lex tells Darkseid about the new planet of super-powered Kryptonians. The villains seem on the verge of teaming up.

Hmmm ... a planet full of super-humans and Darkseid is getting involved? Has to be some play on Daxam and the Great Darkness Saga. Has to be!

Man, that was a wild ride that was fun, funny, and exciting. With all these plots up in the air ... Lois knowing, New Krypton, Lara pregnant, Darkseid ... there is a lot to resolve. All in one issue. I just hope I get a proposal from Clark to Lois. That would be the best.

I can't praise Franco and Art Baltazar enough for this hidden gem So sad to see it going away.

Overall grade: B+

Review: Superman Family Adventures #10

Superman Family Adventures #10 came out last week and after the bitter taste of H'El on Earth this issue was like a little scoop of sorbet to cleanse the palate.

I will admit that this issue veered more towards Tiny Titans than prior issues. But this was chock full of silliness and joy and optimism and frankly, I needed it. In Superman, Supergirl is stabbing people in the chest with Kryptonite. In Superman Family Adventures she is eating breakfast with Kon and the Kents. It is good to see Supergirl smile every so often. And it is good for comics to be fun once in a while too.

With only a couple of issues left in the title and an endpoint in mind, creators Art Baltazar and Franco move things forward pretty quickly in this issue. And there is a healthy dose of outright zaniness. Add to that a couple of riffs from mainstream DC continuity and this was a silly issue which helped clear my mind.

Last issue, Brainiac was supposedly defeated and brought to Kandor to face some Kryptonian justice. However, a Brainiac drone crawled from the wreckage of the Brainiac ship.

The drone heads to the orbiting Fortress with its Brainiac based tech. And it picks its camouflage. It might say western cowboy but it looks much more like Nimrod in Vyndktvx' Anti-Superman Army. Nice!

Since this is Superman Family Adventures, I am a bit more easy with my continuity concerns. So I applauded the return of Lara to the living last issue.

In an interesting twist, Franco and Baltazar figured out a way to temporarily bring back Jor-El. Jor-El is usually seen as a Marlon Brando-like ghost in silver robes a la the Donner films. Now, using the 'red sun chamber' from Superman 2, they can grant Jor-El 24 hours of solidity.

Crazy? Yes. But fun and breezy.

In the aftermath of Jor-El's return, the Phantom Zone villains also escape. This time, at least initially, General Zod decides to rule the Earth by wooing people with delicious hot dogs. That is insane.

Those who read this blog back in the New Krypton days know how much I loved the Ursa character. Here her violent tendencies rear their ugly head. She simply wants to crush people. I love it.

Still ... just bizarre.

While Jor-El and Lara have some quiet time, Clark heads to the Kents to see his other parents.

I love that Clark gets flustered at the mere mention of Lois!

I called it before. I will say it again. Clark marries Lois in the last issue of this book.

As for the Phantom Zone criminals, Zod changes his mind and starts yelling ... you guessed it ... 'Kneel before Zod'.

And to help him with his destructive goals, Zod sprinkles red kryptonite on some of the hot dogs he is selling, turning them into Godzilla-like weiners.

I said this was a bizarre issue.

This is my favorite moment in the book. While Zod changes his mind to become destructive, Ursa tones things down. When she sees her old friend Lara suddenly friendship becomes more important than devastation.

It is truly fantastic. And it felt natural for some reason.

And things get better.

How wild is it to see Superman and Jor-El in the same heroic pose and fighting evil. There is something so Silver Age about that.

Meanwhile, Ursa and Lara continue to rekindle their friendship.

And the Zod/Superman fight on the car also smacks of a similar fight in Superman 2 as well.

The issue ends with a nice cliffhanger. General Zod is rounded up and is going to be tossed back into the Phantom Zone. But before he is imprisoned, he sprinkles some of his red Kryptonite salt onto Kandor which enlarges it, demolishing the fortress from the inside out. Kandor enlarged in the Arctic? Reminds me of the New Krypton story.

But Brainiac is also re-enlarged and suddenly a bigger bad than a hot dog selling Zod is around.

Okay, this was pretty bizarre issue. But you get the sense that Franco and Baltazar are moving all of these pieces of Superman mythos to end this book with some closure. Giant hot dogs aside, we have the return of Lara and Kandor. We have the Lois/Clark simmering romance.

I think we will see a wedding. I think we will see Rokyn. And I think we will have more fun stories.

I am grateful for this book.

Overall grade: B+