Review: Superman #50

Superman #50, the finale of the 'ground-breaking' storyline The Truth, came out this week. And like an untrained runner finishing a marathon, this book wheezes its way to the end.

I have been critical of The Truth over the last year. The idea of an exposed, powerless, brooding Superman was never embraced. It was never written well enough to make me want to explore this version of Superman. Superman was aloof and angry. He pushed his friends away. He wrestled for money. He battered shackled villains. It wasn't Superman.

On top of the premise, the arc seemed to lose its way about 4 months ago. It was clear than an ending was looming closer than expected. So suddenly, diverse plots were woven together into something that made little sense. The characters changed motivations and personalities quickly. And other plots ended crazily. Suddenly Smallville being razed is forgotten. Suddenly Wrath, an avatar of ire, became a sympathetic character trying to find her family. Suddenly

As a result, the ending is Superman and Vandal Savage having a philosophical debate, contemplating if might makes right. I doubt that writer Gene Luen Yang had this as the final act when he pitched it to DC. He wanted this Superman to be the new baseline.

But Superman fans want him interacting with his supporting cast. They want him to be powerful but restrained, an inspiring figure of hope. And the character in this arc was none of those things. The monster in Doomed isn't that guy. The jerk walking across the country isn't that guy. The guy who left Earth to head up the military guild on a New Krypton isn't that guy. None of the recent mega-arcs have leaned on Superman's strengths. Instead, the creators are trying to make Superman into something he isn't. And maybe those creators aren't the right people to be on these books.

The art on this book is lovely. We have Howard Porter, Patrick Zircher, Adrian Syaf, and Jon Bogdanove bringing great images.

Review: Superman #48

Superman #48 came out this week, the next chapter in The Truth.

I have been complaining about The Truth almost since its inception. This isn't the sort of Superman I necessarily want to read. And with this mega-arc working through 4 titles, each with a different timeline and sometimes a very different Superman, it has been hard to embrace this vision. Outside of a depowered Superman, even outside Clark being exposed, it is more the characterization that has bugged me. The overly angry Superman in Superman/Wonder Woman. The sometimes stupid Superman in this title. The one quick to jump into a fight and endanger others in Batman/Superman. The whole thing has been something of a mess.

Now, with the end of The Truth coming up, somehow the four books have to intertwine and bring this thing to an end. I should be happy that we might be coming up on a Rebirth of Superman in his books. But, much like when World of New Krypton sprinted to its ending, I think I am going to be just as unhappy with the ending.

And so I read this issue and felt this was a giant step forward towards wrapping this up. But such rapid and ill-defined plot progression felt forced and therefore unsatisfying.

The art on the book is split between Howard Porter and Adrian Syaf. They each have a distinct style which makes the book feel a little disjointed as well. I prefer Porter's art and wish he had done the whole issue. It isn't that Syaf's stuff isn't good. I just think Porter has really done wonderful work here.

The book starts with Superman stopping a criminal named Kingslayer from blowing up a political debate. Steve Trevor is also on hand to try to protect the proceedings. I like seeing Superman helping Trevor and working as a hero.

But this is the beginning of where the four distinct times of the books come crashing together. Superman says that he has been made mortal by the Olympian gods.That means this is after last week's Superman/Wonder Woman. We don't know how long has passed from last month's Superman issue. Days? Weeks?

I've never heard of Kingslayer before. He seems delightfully goofy.

Kingslayer has been apprehended and placed in what sounds like a technological version of Wonder Girl's old pain lasso. Trevor begins to torture the villain for information.

Superman takes the high road, as he should, telling Trevor to stop.

But remember, this is the same Superman that we have seen batter and bash a tied up Parasite just a couple of months ago. How can he take the high road when he was doing the same thing?

That is the problem of The Truth.

One of the political candidates is J. Wilbur Wolfingham, a charlatan and con man from old DC Comics. After bad mouthing Superman in the opening scene, he tells everyone to listen to the Man of Steel and calm down. Because he's 'still Superman'.

But remember early in the series when everyone hated Superman. Where his friends cast him out? Where he was being shunned, even on the run from police? Where did all that hatred go?

Meanwhile, we meet another member of Vandal Savage's children. This one is a the Puzzler.

Working with Hordr_Root, Puzzler's human consciousness is downloaded into a robot. Then, much like with Hordr_Root's origin, the human body is killer. Only the data model, inside an attack mecha survives.

This origin is so similar to Hordr's and this character is so banal, I don't know if we needed him introduced. If the ending is so close, do we need another villain?

Now things get even more rushed.

Superman says a layer of his cells have been mutated blocking his ability to absorb solar energy. Unless I have blanked, I am pretty sure this is the first time that we have heard this. So suddenly we have an answer. But to drop it as one line in the middle of this book and not have it be more of a reveal feels off.

Even crazier, Superman has figured out that Kryptonite will kill those cells and therefore cure him. That also is one line dropped in the middle of this issue. Shouldn't that have been a bigger deal? Maybe an end of an issue bombshell? Clark has sought out Trevor because he knows ARGUS has Kryptonite.

Also, we learn this takes place after the Superman Annual. Vandal Savage has brought the Stormwatch satellite into orbit. The JLA is trapped. Wonder Woman is free. So Superman is doing this side mission while his friends are being drained? And what is Savage doing during all this? Just sitting back?

The time line is so crazy. I don't know what has happened when any more.

There are two good moments in the book worth reviewing.

One is Trevor saying that he was sad when Diana broke it off with him. He was sad that she went with Superman. But it is hard not to imagine the two together. They 'seem' perfect together.

Maybe Trevor is the voice of DC's leadership? Or maybe he is supposed to be saying that while they might appear perfect, they aren't. Seeing Steve voice his feelings was appreciated.

Superman does expose himself to Kryptonite and does feel the effects.

Wracked with pain, he says 'tell her ... that my last thoughts were with her'. He doesn't say Diana. So in my mind, he is talking about Lois.

Maybe when this is over, he'll tell Lois about this moment. But I doubt it. I bet Yang let's that moment stay like this ... vague.

Of course, the Puzzler, now the Puzzlr, shows up to try to kill Superman.

I have no idea what his powers are. But it seems like he shoots puzzle pieces at technology which allows him to get control. It's crazy. But visually he and the flying puzzle pieces are pretty grabbing. Porter has always drawn mecha like this well, starting (for me) with Armek of the Hyperclan. I had to include this splash of the robot towering over a withered and green-tinged Superman. Beautiful.

Superman is pulled out of this sure death situation by Trevor. But the K-treatment seems to be working. Superman feels hungry and somehow that means he is being cured. So Clark jumps into a huge vault stuffed with Kryptonite.

Okay, this issue was hard for me to wrap my head around. This Superman acted like Superman should, fighting crime, stopping senseless violence, thinking of Lois, using his head, trying to be a hero. Unfortunately, it feels almost incongruous from what we have seen before in The Truth.

Worse than that, the understanding of his condition and the K-cure seem to have come out of nowhere. This was dropped in our laps, never hinted at in any other place.

I have said it in other reviews and I'll say it here. I am ready for this mega-arc to be over. And, given some snippets I've seen, I am interested in seeing Yang on a more classic Superman. Thankfully we'll get there soon.

Overall grade: C

Review: Superman #47

The Truth started about half a year ago and has run its course through all the Superman books. It has had a few high moments, lost in a sea of brooding, depowered, angry Clark stomping around. It hasn't been  groundbreaking to me and I have mostly been unimpressed. Now with the 50th 'anniversary' issues ahead of us, it seems as if The Truth will come to a close. We have seen a repowered Superman, in his old suit, flying on future solicits. And so, the time has come for the plots of this over-arching story to come to a close. 

Superman #47, written by Gene Luen Yang with art predominantly by Howard Porter with some pages by Raymund Bermudez and Tom Derenick, starts to bring some plots to a close. The immediate physical threat of Hordr_Root is dealt with. The Sand Superman is defeated. The Mythbrawl arc is closed. And more meat is put on the bones of the Vandal Savage thread. Some of these seem to close quickly, maybe faster than might have been initially anticipated.

But I am happy. Because I think I am running out of patience. While I will admit that the last issues by Yang have been interesting to read with some good ideas and some decent hooks, I am ready to have a 'real' Superman back.

So onto this issue.

Last issue ended with Jimmy Olsen taking a full on heat vision blast to the chest.

It is hard to understand how he survives this. Why isn't there a plate-sized hole in Jimmy's chest? I honestly don't get it. But I guess I just have to roll with it.

While Superman battles the Sand Superman and Yurei, Condesa uses her powers to get a lift out of there and to a hospital.

One of my problems with this story is that the degree of Superman's strength and powers has varied as needed by story details. In Superman/Wonder Woman, he is a bruised and battered mess from gunshots. Here he wrestles a powerful Sand Superman clone and somehow remains alive. In fact, the Sand Superman uses the Solar Flare power which only buffets rather than incinerating Clark. Again, seems wrong.

What I do like is that Yang comments on Superman's needless reliance on the flare power earlier. I didn't know why Superman would use it for fighting tanks, robots, etc. It shouldn't be a default. But I like that because of that crutch, the Sand Superman also defaulted to it.

The flare turned the Sand Superman to glass, easily shattered. Nice to see Sand Superman again. I would have no qualms (or Quarrms) seeing him again.

Jimmy is brought to the hospital to recover. Superman still is hearing the distrust from many.

Sigh.

I hope that goes away. How about an inspirational Superman??

After months of cat and mouse, for some reason, Hordr_Root decides to take the battle to Superman directly. Knowing Clark was at Mythbrawl, Hordr and a squad of energy drainers decided to throw down.

Superman seemed to be waiting for this because he had the gods of the fight site ready to assist. Realizing Hordr must teleport out via Wifi, Superman has Mayari create a RF signal-free globe. Because, after all, it would make sense for a Tagalog lunar goddess to have this power. Right?

Okay, I guess I have to roll with this too. That's three rolls in the opening pages.

Because of the globe, Hordr is trapped in this body.

The robots are destroyed. Hordr is thrashed. And the gods tell Superman to end it completely. They tell him to kill Hordr. And for a second, it seems that Superman is contemplating it. After all, Hordr has not only injured Superman but also Perry. And Jimmy.

Love this panel. Nicely drawn. Great angle. Powerful.

But there is another way to deal.

Condesa has made a human hard drive. Using her powers, she downloads Hordr into a device where he is trapped. There is no escape.

We have heard that Condesa was a programmer and can communicate with electronics, I suppose it makes sense she could tinker a device like this.

But there was one last turn. Hordr had been controlling Jimmy. In fact, when Superman is thinking of killing Hordr, Root tries to goad him into it. Because of course that would be a major blow to Superman.

What I do like is Jimmy saying that he was worried about Superman. Despite everything, Jimmy has remained a believer in Clark. I like that loyalty and belief in his hero.

And another nice panel construction here. The busted Hordr mask in the foreground is a bit cliche but it works.

With Hordr trapped and dropped off at Mr. Terrific's for safe keeping, there isn't anything left but the wrap up.

After hearing Shahrazad tell a skewed version of Superman's origin last issue, I was glad to hear her say something more traditional here. It almost seems like this shows that Superman is regaining his own belief in himself. He isn't bemoaning his fate anymore. He is embracing it.

This was a nice moment. Thankfully.

We get some backstory of Hordr via memories that Jimmy has gained.

Hordr's human form was Vandal Savage's son but Savage had no use for him. To prove himself, the son used his tech know-how to create the Hordr program. Unfortunately, it became sentient, created an android form, and killed the human creator. I like this sort of Frankenstein's monster aspect to this origin. Or maybe it is like The Great Danton in The Prestige. But this brings some heft to the character that I like.

As the electronic Hordr, Savage now has respect. In fact, so much respect that Savage breaks his 'son' out of Terrific's stronghold.

So what to think?

Well, this issue certainly moved things along briskly and that makes me happy. Howard Porter's pages are just fantastic. And there are a couple of nice moments, helping smooth over the rougher aspects of this chapter.

We are closer to the end of The Truth as well.

Overall grade: C

Review: Superman #46

Superman #46 came out last week and was one of the better chapters of The Truth, a story that has been going on for a bit too long for my taste. There are hints in this issue that things are changing, maybe inching towards an ending.

Writer Gene Luen Yang introduced the idea of Mythbrawl last issue, a fight club were nearly forgotten gods gain some life from the 'followers' of their skirmishes. Clark, in a sort of fallen god/fallen hero way, decided to join up. It didn't make much sense for me to have Clark join this sort of WWE for deities. He has a mission. And he is still a hero. Fighting for money felt off. In this issue, we find that Clark is still investigating, using Mythbrawl as a way to discover why one of the Mythbrawlers, Apolaki, was working for Hordr Root. I don't know if this is the best way to fight Hordr Root but Superman is also broke and needs to eat.

This isn't the Superman I want to read, depowered, rasslin' for money, and trying to do good when he can. It is far from 'the most iconic version' of the character, something Dan Didio has always said was his vision. And I also think the nonlinear way this story has rolled out in the 4 Superman books has muddled things up a bit.

But I'll reiterate, this was a better issue.

It doesn't hurt that Howard Porter and Hi-Fi are on pencils and color. Porter really brings a dynamism to the proceedings. And he gets to draw one of my favorite classic Superman villains/characters!

The book opens up with Superman in a match of Mythbrawl where he clobbers a god named Crow. That left hook to the chin look devastating. And I love the way the story title 'Knocked Out' is a crumpled layout. Looks nice!

It is the last statement that sort of irks me. Superman is finding this time in Mythbrawl 'fun'. He gets to give a big speech. The crowd cheers. There are signs. It really feels like a super-pro-wrestling match.

But 'fun'?

I might not find it so offputting if we didn't get Clark saying how much he loves the darkness in Action Comics. Or how much he loves his anger in Superman/Wonder Woman.  These feelings aren't classic of Superman.

While victorious, Clark did get bruised a bit. Mythbrawl organizer Shahrazad uses her powers to heal him. She can probe a person and tell a 'true story' from their history and somehow that will heal them. Now that is interesting. I like that.

But her story is a sort of warped review of Clark's life. He always felt out of place. He isn't loved because he is good, he is loved because he is strong. That isn't the Superman I know. And even Clark tells Shahrazad that she is wrong. But she points out his face is back to normal, a sign it is true.

Maybe he is protesting too much? Maybe she is working with Vandal Savage and feeding him lies? Or maybe this is 'The Truth' in these cynical days. Sad?

So we get a classic image, baby Clark lifting the truck, practically lifted from the Donner movie, mixed with a new darker history.

Lois is nowhere to be seen in this book. But we get plenty of Jimmy. He is working with Condesa to track down Superman, hoping to rehabilitate Clark in the press.

The two have some nice moments interacting, sort of flirting sort of working as partners. I like it.

And I like Jimmy flashbacking to time before he knew Clark was Superman, seeing Clark slip out of a diner booth to stop a giant death robot only to reappear seconds later. It's a nice reminder of simpler times, maybe remind Jimmy how much Clark did to be everywhere and everything.

This tiny slice of life moment was appreciated by me. I miss that Superman.

Clark ends up heading to a bar with his new friend Haemosu. This is a bar for the 'old times' where gods and heroes all congregate. Haemosu is a fun pal, hoping to drink and flirt and just have a good time.

Meanwhile, Clark is hoping to ask around about Apolaki. Was Apokaki brainwashed? Or kidnapped, killed, and cloned? Regardless, Clark is going to kick over some stones here.

He and Haemosu down some shots and chat up a couple of girls who were amorous with Apolaki. It turns out that Apolaki was seduced and trapped by a woman named Yurei.

This is sort of old school detective work, the sort of stuff Bruce Wayne might do in his Matches Malone persona. It seems weird for Superman to be doing it. But at least we didn't see Clark drunk and lecherous.

It turns out that Condesa has been able to talk to street lights and track down Superman. The two run into Superman in the street. Jimmy begs Clark to come back to Metropolis and tell his story, explaining to everyone what is going on and why he has been doing what he has been doing. (And trust me, given the events in Superman/Wonder Woman and Action, there is a lot of explaining to do.)

Unfortunately Jimmy has been let go by the Planet. Jimmy can only tell the story on his blog. And Clark says 'I don't think your blog post will have the effect you're hoping for.' I can't help but think this is a not so subtle jab at on-line reviewers (like me) complaining about this arc. Clark (and maybe by extension Yang) doesn't care what people think anymore.

But even Jimmy and his unbridled support of Superman is shaken by the Mythbrawl reveal, of the fighting for a living.

Who is this Superman anyways? Is he still Superman? Isn't that the question Didio said would be answered by The Truth? Is Clark still Superman without his secret identity and powers?

I don't know any more.

Clark does track down Yurei and it was here that I got some hope.

Hordr Root has been collecting Superman's energy. They hope to clone him. And they have been allowing Superman to slowly regain his power so it can be drained!

As far as I know, this is the first time that I have heard that Superman has been regaining his powers. I thought they were ebbing. But we definitely hear Superman say that he has been repowering slowly.

Hordr's cloning techniques have been better than anticipated.

We finally see a Sand Superman! Someone who is 80% of Superman's powers.

Everyone should know that I love the original Sand Superman storyline from the 70s. We already had the energy absorbers called Quarmers so why not bring in a true Sand Superman.

Superman repowering! A Sand Superman! Maybe we are nearing the end? Maybe?

And then we get a very good cliffhanger.

Jimmy has tailed Superman. And during the battle, the Sand Superman blasts Jimmy Olsen in the chest with heat vision, what is seemingly a killing blow. How terrible if the one person who has defended Superman  vehemently will die, especially if Superman could not defend him. Is this the last straw?

So how to rate this.
There are parts of this issue that I very much like. I like the Jimmy flashback. I like Shahrazad's power. I like the interactions in the bar, sort of a fun look at super-hero clubbing. And, of course, Sand Superman.

But I am still sort of tied down to this Superman. The guy fighting for money. The guy telling his best friend to take off and stop defending him. The guy who is told that he has possibly lost faith in humanity.

We have seen the deconstruction and the coarsening of Superman for a decade now. I don't think I need to see it anymore. And even when done well, like this issue, it remains a chapter in an overly long story that doesn't seem to want to end and get to the Superman I want to read.

In a vacuum, this is a decent and fun issue. But it is tucked in a mega-event I can't get behind.

Overall grade: C+/B-

Sales Review: October 2015

I follow monthly sales on ICv2 and I continue to be amazed at what I am seeing unfold before me. Because I think I can safely say that the days of the Big Two is over. Because Marvel has won.

The sales numbers for October are up at ICv2 and DC got squashed. Marvel almost doubled DC in sales and dollar revenue. Doubled.

Now part of this could be because Marvel is in the midst of rebooting. Plenty of the big sellers for Marvel are new titles with rare variants. There is a lot of Marvel's edge that could be a one month deal. But what strikes me is the acceptance there has been for this Marvel reboot. The Secret Wars book which has led to the reboot is still going on. And yet here we have post-reboot books out.

I can only imagine what would happen if DC's multiverse changing event was delayed and new books were already running. The sky would be falling. I think maybe Marvel fans just go with the flow. It also can't hurt that Marvel is part of the Disney/ABC/ESPN monolith, getting nods and recommendations from everywhere in that media giant.

But even this reboot of the entire Marvel universe has just been more accepted than DC's similar attempts. On to the sales.

We are now 4 months into The Truth. This story was supposed to reenergize the Superman books.

Sales haven't budged too much.

And while the story has garnered lots of discussion. It hasn't all been good. I know I have had my issues with the arc.

Superman #45 sold 42K in October.

Squirrel Girl sold more.

Now I love Squirrel Girl. This isn't a knock against her book at all.

But how can DC at all feel happy if one of their greatest characters and oldest books is only the 48th best selling book.

Of all the Superman books, I have always trumpeted the Pak/Kuder Action Comics book.

It also has been rolled into The Truth. So I don't know if people would head there on a whim. And it is a shame. Their issues when not bogged down by crossovers (like Doomed and now The Truth) have been wonderful.

Last month saw the release of the Superman Lois and Clark book. That book was much more of a Classic Superman, bringing the pre-Flashpoint Superman into the current world.

Lois and Clark opened pretty strong with 35K in sales, just 1500 units behind Action.

It will be interesting to see if sales hold strong on this book. It is scheduled for a 12 issue run. What if sales hold on par with the other Super-books? Will there be an ongoing? A rethinking of the Superman mythos?

Lastly, I have to look at books where Supergirl stars.

DC Bombshells continues to sell well, hitting 32K in sales.

But the more classic Kara is only in Justice League 3001.

Justice League 3001 #5 slipped to 15K in sales. I really am loving this book. I just hope DC has faith and doesn't pull the plug!

I don't know what to think about DC Comics as a whole though. I have been thinking they needed to clean out the C-suite for a while now. There seems to be no vision or a poor vision.

Review: Justice League 3001 #5

Justice League 3001 #5 came out this week and I continue to be impressed with the intricate and complex future universe that Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis are creating here. I have been completely impressed with the breadth of their vision as they continue to expand this universe and what is going on within it.

More interesting to me has been the non-team feel of this team book. We have the core members of the team but we haven't seen many 'missions' for them this book. We opened with the Starro incident but since then we have been looking more at these characters individually rather than having them together to fight a threat. It reminds me of the Legion in the late 80s under Levitz and Giffen, a book where a large cast was handled expertly, everyone getting their time on stage, everyone three-dimensional, every plot intriguing. I can't give a book higher praise.

This is universe building. We could concentrate on the Lois/Injustice League plot line exclusively. But part of the fun is seeing all these threads and waiting for them to come together.

Art is done by Howard Porter with colors by Hi-Fi and there is something about the style that perfectly fits this book. There is a sort of raw, rough quality to Porter's work which complements this overcrowded, dingy future wonderfully. Porter also draws Supergirl beautifully. I know Porter is heading to Superman. But I hope he returns because his art fits here.

Alas, my biggest concern here is that the ax might soon drop. I even wonder if a plot was truncated in this issue because there won't be time to cover it fully. Sales are low. Anyone who loves this book should shout it from the mountaintops.

The book starts with a sort of identity crisis in Guy Gardner. He has been having blackout episodes. And it appears that during those times, his donor's DNA is gaining control of his body. He is doing things his host Shiryalla Tome would do when she was controlling that body. Guy misses kids he doesn't have. He is doing things classically matronly like setting tables and cooking meals.

It turns out that Firestorm has been cutting corners in the new cloning efforts. Guy's DNA rewrite wasn't complete. Eventually Shiryalla will regain control of this body. And Guy can't deal with it.

This struggle is going to be interesting to watch. Could it be that Guy's Alpha Male persona can't co-exist with Tome's life? Could it be that the best thing to for Guy to do is change his personality, accept some sort of melding of their lifestyles? Or does he look for some way to completely eradicate Tome's influence?

Regardless, seeing someone dealing with gender issues in their own body is timely. I think the key thing is how Giffen and DeMatteis cover this moving forward.

Now last issue, Fire and Ice defeated a Jimmy Olsen Turtle Boy monster. I thought for sure this was going to be a new and interesting plotline for this book. With a egotistical Superman and a classic Supergirl, adding a Jimmy might provide some decent grist for the story mill.

Unfortunately, this plot seems to be closed as soon as it was opened. This isn't Jimmy but one of his descendants. And the Leaguers quickly bring him back to the super-prison block he escaped from. Was this thread snipped because the book will end before it can be covered?

That said, this page alone seems to open up new avenues to explore. Hat tip to Mart Gray for noticing an Atom standing outside the tubes on the right. But peeking inside the tubes I think I see some version of The Hulk, Moon Knight, Dawnstar, and Steel. Anyone else I am missing?

But there is a lot more going on here. The Fire and Ice relationship is a great one. They clearly love each other. I love that Ice talks about how the presence of Fire saved her.

But they are working with other heroes outside of the main League. While they can trust Booster and Beetle, they don't know how reliable those two are. And they aren't sure if they can trust Hal and Barry, the Flash and GL formerly in the League.

It is almost like this book stars two teams.

Fascinating. And impressive.

Last month, Batman saw that a rogue version of himself has been policing Takron-Galtos. Except this new Batman is a killer.  So Bruce/Batman recruits Supergirl to help him track down this person besmirching the symbol of the Bat.

I absolutely love this pairing. For one, Bruce is probably the sanest and most classic Leaguer in comparison the 21st century original. Diana is a barbarian. Flash is immature. Superman is a narcissist. Only Batman carries the ideals of heroism of the first Batman.

And this Supergirl is Kara Classic. She is from the pre-Crisis universe and is a model of optimism and good.

So seeing these two interact is like listening to the adults talk in a book full of kids. And I love Supergirl's matter of fact handling of Batman. She isn't in awe of the Bat. She calls it like she sees it. The original Batman was crazy and driven.

When the 'new' Batman arrives and tries to kill Bruce, a fight breaks out.

This giant robot Batman has the upper hand for a short period of time. Then the classic Kryptonian powerset kicks in. Supergirl beheads this battlesuit ... off screen no less!

But what I loved about this was Supergirl and saying outright she has a code against killing. That is a serious part of the pre-Crisis Superman creed. Just fantastic. I love that Supergirl is probably going to be a great glistening foil to the cynical grimy world around her. I hope that she inspires the world rather than the world tarnishing her brightness.

And Howard Porter just draws a stunning Supergirl. This is becoming her signature panel in this book,  effortlessly hoisting a defeated foe above her head.

But the main plot of this is the Injustice League's efforts to defeat the League and rule the universe. Lois Lane, the leader of the Injustice League, has been trying to kill them off from the inside, controlling the body of the JL's handler Ariel Masters.

Batman has had some suspicions about Ariel. But here her duplicity is revealed. L-Ron let's it slip that Ariel is actually working out an attack plan.

With so much else happening, I am glad this plot seems to be moving forward.

We then cut to the Injustice League facility where Bane is carrying around the limp body of Lois. Without a consciousness, her body has become something of a ragdoll. Such a bizarre idea.

But not as bizarre as this angry Lois claiming that she will kill Superman ... again!

It's funny how I can be accepting of this jerk Superman and this murderous Lois in this book. These aren't the 'real' Lois and Clark. These are copies or corruptions. I don't have the same sense of history or need for inspiration in this set.

As for Supergirl, she peels the Bat-armor apart to pull out a young woman who calls herself Bruce Wayne. She truly thinks that she is Bruce Wayne (despite name tags saying Tina Sung).

The crazy thing is that in this book that might be possible. For all we know, someone wrote Bruce Wayne's DNA onto this girl. I mean, if you were a police force, wouldn't you clone/replicate as many Batmans as you could to keep order?

Another new plot. And given the news a while back that we are headed for an all-woman JL3001, an ominous one for the Batman we know.

I am a bit confused how so many people from the 21st century have survived into 3001. And given the odd continuity history of the cast, I am starting to wonder if this is comic book limbo or some sort of DC purgatory. Wouldn't that be some sort of Twilight Zone insanity!

Because it seems that someone else is kicking around ... Harley Quinn!

Well nothing sells books these days like Harley. Why not add her here! See if she bumps up sales!

I am pretty amazed at this book which consistently gives me something to think about and always entertains. It is as if Giffen and DeMatteis took all of their favorite toys in the DCU, regardless of continuity or time period, and put them in a completely chaotic environment. It's like the best playground ever.

And I get pre-Crisis Supergirl! There is a DC book with Supergirl in it!

Now if only Howard Porter could have stayed on the book!

Overall grade: A

Review: Superman #45

Another month, another chapter of The Truth.

Superman #45 came out this week and continued to complete deconstruction of Superman. We have seen Superman alone, depowered, on the run, and angry this whole arc. So why not make him broke as well? Why not make him even more ethically bankrupt, veering from the lessons he learned in life that made him the hero he once was. Superman himself says in this issue that he isn't using his gifts in the way they should be used.

Now I have been  trying to follow the nonlinear storytelling of The Truth throughout the four Superman books and we finally seemed to be nearing something of a nexus. The four main villains who have been pulling the strings were together to start a combined assault. Clark has been researching this cabal and has a data stream. I want to get to that eventual fight, if only because I hope it will end this arc and bring back a more classic Superman.

Unfortunately, writer Gene Luen Yang decided that Superman would be the place to put Clark through another side adventure.

And the main idea of this story, a fight club where dying older gods try to whip up some believers or fans, is an interesting one. I just don't know if it is right for a Superman book. (I imagine it more as a Vertigo miniseries.) That said, if I look at this story from a metatextual angle, it speaks a lot about what is going on with Superman this last decade.

Artist Howard Porter comes onto the book and is a welcome relief from the boxy Romita Jr. Porter brings a nice mix of page layouts and panels. While I think his style is better suited for JLA 3001, I'll take him on Superman any day.

The book opens with Clark realizing he has hit something of a wall in his investigation.

Everyone seems to have forgotten about Hordr despite Lois' reveal. I bet this is the first mention of whatever deus ex machina  that leads to everyone forgetting Clark is Superman.

With no new lead on Hordr Prime, Clark contacts Condesa to see if he can get some inside information. Now I have had some concerns that Condesa might still be working for Hordr (or maybe is Hordr) and I like that Clark had the same worries. She is a last resort. At a diner, Condesa reveals that Hordr-Root took over a company called Sungetix, so off goes Clark to investigate.

I like that Condesa asked Lois to come, trying to clear the air between the two. But this is still an immature Clark who still doesn't get why Lois revealed his secret. He storms off. It is ridiculous.

At Sungetix, Clark tries to wily sneak in but his face is far too famous. He is confronted by Hordr-Root. But just as before, Hordr leaves the body he is in. We learn that he can jump from one body to another, a sort of pixilated Deadman.

There are a couple of things about this. This power makes capturing Hordr almost impossible, unless you get him somewhere where there isn't another body to jump into. Of course, it means he is stuck in some poor innocent's body.

I also don't like that Clark is still harping on Lois. He briefly wonders if she revealed him while under Hordr's control. Maybe, just maybe, if he gave her two minutes to explain things he might realize that her decision was done to save him.

At Sungetix, Hordr-Root calls on a super-being named Apolaki to come and fight Clark.

Apolaki looks like a Sun Boy derivative. He tries to blast Clark but his blast is deflected by a Quarmer mask Clark has grabbed. Drained of his power, Apolaki disintegrates into sand.

Good thing it wasn't someone with a physical power.
Good thing Clark rationalizes that this wasn't a living person but instead a construct. Makes this possible murder more easily swallowed.

Apolaki is the God of the Sun in Phillipine mythology.

The brawl brings the authorities to Sungetix. That essentially closes down that Hordr stronghold. But Clark decides to investigate Apolaki more. Clark hears his opponent was a big name at a club called The Thousand One House.

Inside, Clark learns the place hosts a fight club called Mythbrawl. The emcee is Queen Shahrazad who talks about how the fights are more real than blood, life or truth itself.

Now a place called Mythbrawl hosted by someone out of myth is interesting.

Superman watches as two metans - Haemosu and Mayari brawl. It becomes clear that Haemosu has the upper hand and might kill Mayari forcing Superman to enter the ring.

And the crowd recognizes him.

Porter really shines during the fight sequence. Lovely stuff.

After a brawl where Superman beats down Haemosu, he is greeted with the crowd's howls of lust and fury.

Even Superman knows that he wasn't sent to this Earth to engage in bareknuckle brawls. He knows Pa would tell him that 'this isn't what our gifts are for.'

So hurray that Superman still feels the impetus to enter a fight to defend someone defenseless.

But this is still pretty low for Superman to have fallen. What's next?

And Shahrazad looks awful pleased by this, doesn't she? Could she be part of the Cabal, bent on defeating Superman mentally and physically?

And as I said before, the purpose of this fight club becomes clear. This is the place for Shahrazad to tell the stories of these gods in a sort of WWE wrestling fashion, a way to stay remembered and survive. Haemosu is the Korean sun god (a decent replacement for Apolaki). And Mayari is the Tagalog moon goddess.

Shahrazad knows a draw when she sees one. Why shouldn't Superman join this fight club and earn some money?

Now this doesn't explain why Apolaki would be working for Hordr. You think that Superman might be worried that all these people are in league together. But he doesn't seem to dwell on that little fact at all.

And Superman fighting for money? We don't hear him think that this is a way to investigate more. We don't hear him thinking that he needs to worm in deeper to uncover the Apolaki link. Instead he seems swayed by his lack of cash.

And so we end the book with this splash page of Superman entering the ring like a pro wrestler, caped again and greeted to cheers.

Given what we are seeing in comics, this is pretty meta.

The myth of Superman is over. The idea of Superman is done. Gone is the super-strong hero who is here to help. Gone is the guy who wants to do what's right because it is the right thing to do. Gone is the smiling hero who is happy to assist. Those stories are dead, in the past, forgotten. We haven't read those stories in a long long time ... because DC doesn't understand that. When I talk about Superman stories from the past, I probably sound like Shahrazad, blowing the dust off of ancient tomes.

So why not have this Superman, trying to stay relevant and remembered, fight for pennies. That sounds like the current comic market.

And yet the stories this crowd wants the classic ones. Just like I want to read a more classic Superman.

I don't know ... maybe I am overthinking this. Maybe Yang wasn't thinking this.

But I know I am totally sick of this cruel, crass Superman.

It is too bad this idea of Mythbrawl is used here. Because I wouldn't mind reading a book about this on its own and away from Superman.

Overall grade: C