Superman #11 review

‘Lena Luthor vs the Revenge Squad’ is what last issue’s next issue blurb told us to expect this month. That’s the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad, not the Superman Revenge Squad as tradition would dictate. As it is, we don’t see Lex’s long-lost daughter take on Dr Pharm, Mr Graft and their not-so-merry band of rogues, but there is a nice origin recap for newer readers.

And she does stand up to the creep in the Luthor super-suit who turns out to be not daddy dear, but another doting relative.

My, what big eyes you have, Grandmother.

Also this issue!

Mercy remembers she’s now a metahuman.

Lois wonders where her husband is.

And Superman finally shows up… and gets mad.

It’s another pretty excellent comic from writer Josh Williamson and friends. Not wholeheartedly excellent, because there’s a TV-style ‘A few hours earlier’ sequence which goes on for so long, and is so similar in tone to what surrounds it, that when we returned to the relative ‘Now’ I was momentarily confused. And there’s no need for it, Williamson’s faffing about with time produces no extra tension, no twists.

Full marks, though, for the delightfully horrid Lavinia Luthor, and Mercy’s convincing loyalty to Superman. Lena is showing potential, while the neverending eeeeeevil plans of Dr Pharm continue to amuse.

Brother Mr Graft, though, continues to be the Teller to Dr Pharm’s Penn, standing around waiting to… do what? Is he Pharm’s last-ditch ace in the hole? What is he hiding behind that green gimp mask?

And the best moment of the issue? It’s between Lex and Captain Burlesque… sorry, I mean Dr Pharm. I’m taking it as metatextual comment.

Quite right Lex, we’ve had quite enough angry, red-eyed Superman, and while the eyes do get a tad red this time we don’t get full-on heat-vision stare.

‘Regular artist’ Jamal Campbell is absent once more but illustrator David Baldeón and colourist Rex Lokus do a bang-up job of maintaining the tone. Baldeón’s zippy layouts and neat character work complements Williamson’s script, with his extra-intense Superman just what the story ordered. I also like his expressive Lena lots. And Lokus seems to be having a great time with all the radiation effects. Letterer Ariana Maher, meanwhile, adds some clever touches to the words to pump up the drama.

Campbell’s cover is decently composed but the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad is lost to murky colouring.

All in all, this is another terrific chapter of Williamson’s ongoing story. I’m not bored, but I’m very ready for Captain Burlesque and chums to get their just desserts.