Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #10

Batman/Superman World's Finest #10 came out this week, the penultimate chapter of the Boy Thunder storyline. 

I'll start out by saying this issue ends with a doozy of a twist and a cliffhanger. As I have said before, when you surprise a grizzled comic reader like me and you surprise me in a good way, that is a victory. I did not expect what I saw and I loved it.

That said, the last page is probably the best part of the issue. I expect a lot from this book. From the first issue, writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora have been hitting it out of the park. Every issue has been just about perfect. That's hard to maintain. This issue just didn't sizzle the way the others have.  Maybe it is my Joker fatigue?

Dan Mora continues to shine but this is also a bit rougher than I am used to seeing his stuff here. It's funny. I have seen Mora churning out cover after cover which just glitter on the rack. I love his work. Perhaps all that is impacting things?

I don't always buy the expensive variants but I loved this one by Brandon Peterson and so spent a little bit too much for it. Love the trading card look and that Supergirl is present.

On to the book.

Review: Superman: Warworld Apocalypse

Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1 came out this week, the ending of the Warworld Saga. It was brilliant. 

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has given us a story arc for the ages, one were Superman inspires the masses to do good, who infuses people with hope, and who despite being depowered wins the fight. Call me impressed. I was blown away by this book. Even in the scenes where Superman isn't physically present, he is felt. While the super-family remain on Earth, the Authority is here. And each member has a moment in the sun. Remember, there are some bad folks on this team. Somehow Superman has turned them into agents of good. And there is a moment in the middle of the book where I honestly got goose bumps. That is writing.

Moreover, this whole saga reminds me of my cardinal rule. I want good stories. When this whole thing was announced, with Superman off world and Jon taking up the mantle, I was against it. I wanted Superman in Metropolis, interacting with his supporting cast. It became clear that this was going to be an incredible Superman story early on. Don't give me what I want. Give me what I need.

The art is a mash-up of artists who have been doing Action issues recently - Will Conrad, Miguel Mendonca, Brandon Peterson, and Max Raynor. Because we have seen their work throughout the arc and because they each deal with one subplot, the art sings. Everything is big and bold, like a finale should be.

Let's get into some of the specifics I loved.

Review: Superman #13

Superman #13 came out last week and was an interesting issue, basically a flashback to the days before Krypton exploded. We have seen Jor-El pleading to the Science Council in just about every incarnation of the Superman origin. This time we see him pleading to another group, the Circle. And finally, it is revealed he was part of that group.

When Brian Michael Bendis came on board and talked up Man of Steel, he said that he was going to tell a story about Krypton's destruction, answering a question that hadn't been asked before. And this issue feels like a sort of pre-quel to Man of Steel in many ways. We have seen that Rogol Zaar initiated the destruction of Krypton. Now we know that Jor-El was involved with the Circle and might be complicit in some of that group's more unsavory interactions with cultures. I haven't really enjoyed this demolition of Jor-El from brilliant scientist to sociopathic madman now to historical murderer. So much for the House Of El being a noble house on Krypton, differentiating itself from others. Now they are just as much in the mud.

At least Superman calls his father out for these actions. I guess here nurture overcame nature.

The art is predominantly by Brendan Peterson, covering the flashback portion of the issue. The art is stylish with almost a Cully Hamner feel. Ivan Reis does the present time portion with his usual classic look.

Alas poor Jor-El. I thought I knew you well. On to the book.

Review: Superman #7

Superman #7 came out last week.

Maybe I should stop there.

Overall I have loved Brian Michael Bendis' take on the Superman family. I have been impressed with the characterization of Superman, the inclusion of the Daily Planet, the threat of the Silent Mafia, and even the way the Rogol Zaar/Phantom Zone storyline ended.

You knew there was a but, right.

The Lois relationship just stands out as a problem. Or rather, the lack of a meaningful relationship with Lois. And that trickles down to the relationship with Jon too. The family was what completely worked in the Tomasi/Gleason Rebirth book. Now that is gone.

Little that has happened regarding Lois and Jon in this book makes sense. Clark and Lois letting Jon go away with the homicidal Mr. Oz makes no sense. Lois joining them made some sense but leaving to come home made no sense. Lois living apart from Clark because 'she needs to' makes no sense. Clark rolling with it and living the life of 'friends with benefits' makes no sense.

And the idea of Jon coming back as an older teen is nonsense. The sheer joy of Jon being the gangly, awkward pre-teen was delightful. Now he's a scarred teen.

This issue at least addresses some of this. But it also had me shaking my head. So much of all this could have been avoided had common sense been used.

I haven't even mentioned the art, a mishmash of Ivan Reis, Brandon Peterson, and a cameo page from Jason Fabok, a Man of Steel epilogue. It's all lovely.

I can only hope this somehow straightens out.