Review: Superman #10

Superman #10 came out last week, a sort of 'done in one' chapter in the Dr. Pharm and Mr. Graft vs Luthor storyline. I have been enjoying this title a lot and this chapter is really fantastic. The overall plot in the present in nudged forward. We get a 'Superman in the Old West' story complete with a Bronze Age villain in the perfect environment. And we get the story and art that perfectly complement each other. 

Writer Joshua Williamson is having a ball here. He has Superman square off against Terra Man in the Old West. His Superman is spot on, including a set of morals and some sly strategy. We learn a more about Marilyn Moonlight, Pharm, and Graft. We get a solid cliffhanger. And best of all there is a sense of Bronze Age fun here too. 

Bruno Redondo is on art here and brings such a bright clean style to the whole book that the whole thing just shimmers in my hands. I love the Western stuff in particular. And how could I resist this Lee Bermejo cover. You know this is going to be a hoot just based on this.

On to the book.

Con Prep: Boston Fan Expo

We are approaching Con Season which means that time is growing short for me to get my preparation done including thoughts about commissions, signatures, and possible gifts for friends.

That means preparing for Fan Expo Boston right after Terrificon. Here is a link to the con:
 https://www.fanexpoboston.com/en/home.html

Now unlike Terrificon, this is more of a Pop Culture convention with a corner for comics creators. Born from the ashes of the dearly departed Boston Comic Con, Fan Expo is about a true cross-section of popular culture. As a result, there isn't as much heavy lifting from a comic point of view.

That said, I am very much looking forward to this convention because it is also a cross-section of the comic community on-line I am part of. Rob, Shag,and Ryan from the Fire and Water Podcast Network will be there. Diabolu Frank from the Rolled Spine Network. Darrin and Ruth Sutherland from the R and D Network, Derek Crabbe, Keith G. Baker, and who knows how many more folks I hang out with in social media will be there. Hoping we head out to Karaoke!

Anyways, that means if any of you are going, we should try to meet and greet!

But onto the preparation and guests.

Lee Bermejo's Supergirl in Wednesday Comics

Monday's Labor Day holiday pushed back 'new comic book day' from Wednesday to today. That means Wednesday Comics for this week should really be named Thursday Comics.

But I really look forward to my Wednesday fix and so I went to the USA today website yesterday to at least read the Arcudi/Bermejo Superman strip from Wednesday Comics on Wednesday.

Imagine my joy when I was greeted in the opening panel with a glorious image of Supergirl in her Matrix uniform. In this panel, Superman is flooding the mind of his enemies with his memories. The montage is nice with shots of Luthor, Bizarro, Superman hoisting up a car like the image on Action Comics #1, even his cape as a marker of his death like the cover of Superman #75.



But front and center in his thoughts is Supergirl! Here is a closer look at that image. That is just a great picture of Kara. Man, I miss that costume.

Anyways, I knew that if given the opportunity that Bermejo would draw an amazing Supergirl because this is not the first time I have seen him draw her. She played a small part in the Superman Gen 13 miniseries released in 2000. Written (!?) by Adam Hughes and drawn by Bermejo, the 3 issue mini is a fun story where Fairchild suffers from amnesia and believes she is Supergirl! There are a lot of funny scenes as she tries to explain to people that she must have lost her memories and her ability to fly because if red Kryptonite.

Still, since she is convinced she is Supergirl, she goes out and tries to do good. However, her rescues as 'Supergirl' usually end up in disaster. Her name besmirched, the real Supergirl (at this point in time Linda/Matrix) decides to hunt down her imposter.

The undercurrent of the story is how the Gen 13ers are first bored then amazed by Superman. The theme is actually that Superman is such a truly great man that he can inspire even slackers to do greater good.



Here is the cover to Superman Gen13 #3 which features a great cover of Fairchild in a Supergirl costume facing off against the real Girl of Steel, seen as a reflection in the storefront glass. Look that the classic heroic pose by Supergirl, hands on hips, stern expression on her face.

And here are a few more shots of Bermejo's Supergirl from the series.

Here is the last panel from Superman Gen13 #2. After Supergirl sees a headline 'Supergirl Busts Out', she demolishes the newspaper machine and says 'Ohhhhhh ... I don't think so!'

I love the angry expression on her face as she storms away.

And then this great scene where, at the end of the last issue, Supergirl finally catches up with the still confused Fairchild. What a powerful shot of Supergirl landing a devastating right cross.

But that isn't all! She is irate! Look at how she needs to be held back by Superman as she talks smack! I love the line 'Ruin my name will you! I'll ruin your face!' She finally needs to be shouted down by Superman. In fact, as punishment for losing her cool, Superman even makes Supergirl escort Gen13 out of town!

There is no denying that this is fantastic art, something I have become accustomed to with anything Bermejo does. He really does a great version of Supergirl. And I really do miss that version of the Supergirl costume.

I don't know much about and never really collected Gen13 but this is actually a pretty entertaining and humorous mini-series with beautiful art. I found all three issues in a $1 box at a recent convention and so it might be worth searching for.