Summer of Superman Special #1 review

It’s been a while since the Superman books had a refresh, but with the new movie coming in July, DC has decided to not only spruce up Action Comics and Superman, but add a third monthly title, Superman Unlimited. And to launch the initiative, here’s a one-off story written by continuing Superman writer Joshua Williamson, returning Action man Mark Waid and new boy Dan Slott.

The story centres on the wedding of Lana Lang, which is being held in Lana’s home town, Smallville. But before we join preparations, Waid takes us back to Smallville, when puberty seems to be really kicking in for teenage Clark Kent.

Smitten, Clark plans to tell Lana he’s also Superboy, but before he has a chance to rip open his shirt, an old foe drops in.

Mid-fight, boy and beast find themselves in the timestream, where Clark sees pieces of his future.

The fight is unresolved, as Validus vanishes and Clark is spat out onto the fields of Kansas. His resolve to share his secret with Lana, the girl he reckons he’ll marry, vanishes, something is nagging at him, but he doesn’t know what – unlike the reader.

The Legion of Super-Heroes’ post-hypnotic suggestion has taken away the details, but it seems he now knows Lana isn’t the One.

Then again, had he told her his full story, perhaps Lana would be the One!

2025 Clark, who’s been thinking back to that day, tells himself everything shook out more than fine – he has a great love with Lois, they share a cool son, and Lana has found her own soulmate, John Henry Irons, philanthropic industrialist and the superhero known as Steel. There’s not a cloud on the horizon as Dan Slott begins his chapter.

Or is there?

And while Superwoman Lois, Steel, his niece Nat aka another Steel and even Lana, another Superwoman, fight to save Smallville from the unexpected twister, Superman deals with a familiar face who’s dropped in… again.

Within 24 hours, though, on a beautiful summer’s day, the wedding goes ahead, as Joshua Williamson picks up the scripting baton.

And after Lana and John have left for their honeymoon, Superman enlists Justice League help to look into why 31st-century native Validus’s has been appearing on the same Kent Farm spot, decades apart.

Mr Terrific manages to call Validus back, Omen gets inside his head, but they don’t manage to learn anything before he vanishes again – to emerge into the Absolute universe.

Oh the irony. This dark version of Lightning Lad and Saturn Girl either don’t know, or have forgotten, that Validus is their own child – mental lightning is the clue. Mind, we readers don’t know if we’re dealing with the regular Legionnaires corrupted, or a native Absolute version of the team. This certainly seems to be the regular DCU Validus, given Clark recognised him as the threat he fought as a teenager. We should find out how he fits into Darkseid’s schemes in the upcoming Superman #28.

To be honest, this Dan Mora-drawn epilogue is my least favourite part of this delightful special. Of course, the art is great, but I really don’t care to see the Absolute Universe interact with the regular DCU. I’m here for our first good look at how Waid will be writing Superboy in Action Comics, a preview of Slott’s tone of voice for the current day characters, and a look at Williamson’s Clark as he counts his blessings. All three writers do a wonderful job with their chapters, and the whole thing feels of a piece. I enjoyed the mystery of visiting Validus – linking Superboy straight back to classic Legion can only make me smile.

Superman does get one big demerit for not bothering to tell his family and friends what Validus’ powers actually are before leaving them to tackle him.

Seeing Lana and John finally tie the knot – they’ve been dating since the long-ago Superwoman series – warmed my heart. And it’s great to see her ex-husband Pete Ross, and their son Clark, there (even if the boy does look like he’s about to ask his dad for a gottle of geer).

Other things I liked in this issue include nods to TV’s Smallville via a sign describing the place as ‘the meteor capitol of the world’, Krypto as fuzzy as his film counterpart, a fun Fifth Dimension reference, Pa Kent not being killed in a tornado and young Lana reminding me of Violet in It’s a Wonderful Life.

There’s so much to love in here, and I’ve not even praised Jorge Jiménez, who draws all but that epilogue, yet. And he does it in full colour, with finishes on chapter three by Belén Ortega. Superboy looks terrific, suitably young and sincere, yet determined and powerful. Lana looks splendid at both periods of her life, while Lois and Clark scrub up nicely for the wedding. Our groom looks good too, as does Natasha in bridesmaid mode (anyone know who the blonde bridesmaid is? And usually the guests are cameoing creators, but it beats me).

And the action scenes are tremendous, Validus looks suitably fearsome, and there’s a lovely panel of Ma Kent retreating into the storm cellar of a well-known Smallville building).

Dave Sharpe’s letters are as fine as ever, and there’s a neat title treatment on the cover, though why you’d dump the classic logo when you’re after film synergy, I have no idea. The cover illo by Jimenez, with colourist Tomeu Morey, is as lovely and cheery as the rest of this book.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, did you enjoy starting the summer with Superman?