Superman Unlimited #2 review

What’s the definition of unconvincing? Journalists Lois Lane and Ron Troupe find out as the President of the country of El Caldero explains that he doesn’t want an official Daily Planet globe, as doled out to members of its new affiliates programme.

And when the President’s punny personal guard, the Krypto-Knights, refer to him as ‘the King’, Lois gets even more suspicious. She probably also wonders why their armour is so like the old Checkmate outfits.

In case you missed last issue, Superman stopped a giant Green K meteor from obliterating Earth but it landed in El Caldero and the sneaky state has claimed mineral rights. The effort put Superman in a hospital bed for three months and when he woke he found he had a new ability – to glow yellow. This time, writer Dan Slott, artist Rafael Albuquerque, colourist Marcelo Maiolo and letterer Dave Sharpe show us what that means, with Batman doing the in-story explaining.

We see Superman test his new Oscar Mode in a fight with some Intergang thugs taking advantage of the sudden mass availability of the ‘orrible ore. When his golden moments are up, though, he’s fair game for the one hood he missed. Luckily Superman has help on the sidelines.

The Creeper, aka Clark Kent’s TV colleague Jack Ryder, investigating Superman’s new status quo.

Knockout, once Superboy’s love interest, now back to being a baddie, also shows up, but Superman quickly dispenses with her via first strength, then smarts.

Later, two men walk into a bar.

Also this issue, a cute two-headed goat and a final page villain revamp.

For goodness’ sake Dan Slott, surely Bibbo’s is the watering hole of choice for, well, everyone in Metropolis. Still, if a new pub is needed you could do worse than name it after the number one Bronze (and Silver) Age Superman artist Curt Swan… I’m only surprised the barman isn’t slimmer and blond.

Anyway, I liked the Jack and Clark scene. The factchecking reference goes back to earlier in the issue when Clark interrupts Jack’s live TV show to contradict him on some ‘facts’. Apparently this is what the Daily Planet’s crack reporters do now they’ve been bought up by Morgan Edge’s ex-wife Imani. It is bizarre.

I’m less keen on Jack in Creeper mode; he’s never been a favourite character, but here I just feel sorry for him, he’s so badly rendered. Albuquerque has him way off model and Maiolo’s colours don’t help – yes, he’s in a dark alley for the most part, but there are ways around such things. To be fair, we do get one nice shot of Steve Ditko’s creation.

So, part two of Slott’s first story progresses things in terms of showing us how the Green K payload is changing the world and changing Superman. And so far as the latter goes, I dislike it. A lot. It’s so ridiculously convenient that in the face of more poisonous planetary pieces than previously, Superman can manifest the perfect new power. And it has a built-in tension builder in the shape of a timer! So much for Superman Unlimited.

The whole thing comes across as so contrived that I suspect Mxyzptlk magic.

Otherwise, Slott still has my attention, I laughed at the idea of Krypto-Currency and marvelled at the notion of a Gorilla City Daily Planet correspondent. It turns out that the G’nort lookalike on the front of last issue’s cover is an ape person named Tee-Nah.

I wasn’t a big fan of the artwork in the debut issue. Same again. Albuquerque’s storytelling is fine, we move from the A of page 1 to the B of page 22 with no bumps. But the journey isn’t too pleasant – Albuquerque’s people are just weird, as if he has a family of animatronic dolls in his studio to act as models, but they’re all constipated. The most convincing character is an actual doll.

And Maiolo isn’t a great fit for the artist, the colours just don’t sit well on Albuquerque’s work. Maybe that’s the problem – I’ve enjoyed Maiolo on Green Arrow, for example, and Albuquerque on Blue Beetle, they’re talented. I don’t know, maybe they’ll start to gel, or I’ll get used to things. I’m sure some readers love this stuff.

Actually, looking again, not wishing to sound like an old meanie. page 10 gives me hope – a fair Superman and clever colouring.

Dave Sharpe letters and does a splendid job; he always does. I’m especially fond of the way he drops in character logos.

The cover, by Messrs Albuquerque and Maiolo, is certainly an attention grabber, and the scrappy Superman facing the unseen thugs, the glowing weapons ready to hurt him, is pretty decent.

All in all, Superman Unlimited #2 is a diverting read, I’d definitely enjoy it more with art that was to my taste. Already, though, I’m tiring of the overarching world of Kryptonite business – Slott is excellent at single-issue tales, and I’d love to see him go nuts in the lesser-used corners of Superman’s toy box. I wonder what you thought of this issue.