Well, I wasn’t planning on doing both Kingdom of Zod issues this week, but there’s one page in Action Comics #1102 that had me grinning madly, and I think it should be shared and gushed over. The set-up is that original Superboy Clark Kent and Supergirl Kara Zor-El managed to get into Booster Gold’s time bubble as Ursa stole it. She’s headed to Krypton’s past in the hope of stopping the destruction of the planet – not an evil idea, but a very stupid one. Mrs Zod runs towards the capital, Kryptonopolis, to warn the populace, and Supergirl runs after her, telling Superboy to stay back for fear of knackering the timeline.
But how could an orphaned teenage boy resist a peek at the place he comes from, a place he has no memory of?
Oh, and indeed, wow. I’ve not seen such a wonderfully odd conception of Krypton since the end of the Bronze Age – for the last few decades it’s looked just like Earth with sci-fi clothes and a bit of ice. This looks a place worth exploring, a pulp magazine dream.
Huge kudos to our guest artist, the mononymic Montos, for showing us a day in the life of Krypton, and Ivan Plascencia for the colours that contribute to such a memorable image.
The rest of the issue isn’t half bad either. Clark makes his way through the streets of Krypton, his powers fading, unable to speak the language.
Supergirl and Ursa, meanwhile, find themselves in a cell, being questioned by the authorities after a fracas in this week’s Supergirl #17.
Not a smart move, Ursa. Meanwhile, Superboy is listening in with the remains of his super-hearing. Is an opportunity to free his newly discovered cousin about to arise?
Back in the 21st century, in the tunnels of El Caldero, Superman and Lois find one another after too long apart, and the Daily Planet editor gets a shock.
Can Kryptonite Woman Lana Lang help? In other tunnels, Mary Marvel and J’onn J’onzz are feeling the pain of the Green Kryptonite plague unleashed by Zod.
Writer Mark Waid does a superb job of upping the drama on the various fields of conflict. Superboy’s discombobulation on Krypton is – call me cruel – fun, while watching Supergirl express her righteous anger towards Ursa is massively satisfying. There’s not much Superman in here, but he’ll get the focus in his self-titled book. Meanwhile, we get more developments with Kara, Ursa, Clark and Zod who, I suspect, will be coming back to our present day in a time bubble.
The work by Montos is excellent throughout the issue, with well-rendered heroes and villains pulsating with emotion, moving through nicely conceived settings. Ursa is particular fun, almost comically desperate at times. Plascencia’s attention to detail is a big plus, we always know where we are, with greens lighting the El Caldero scenes and Krypton glowing red.
Kryptonese in word balloons, grey font to represent whispering, typeface for future journalist Superboy’s thoughts… the letterer does a great job, but I can thank them only in the abstract as the credits spread has gone awol again. Still, I know editor Paul Kaminski has had a word with the digital people, so it’ll be sorted soon. Oh, and extra points to Paul K for starting a mini-lettercol in this week’s Super Family comics.
Outside the story pages, illustrator Lucas Meyer and colourist Giuliano Peratelli’s cover is a grabber.
The Kingdom of Zod crossover is getting better by the issue. I’ve no idea where it’s going, and I’m enjoying the ride hugely.
Again the gritty down to Earth isn’t my favorite art style for a Superman comic but it didn’t detract. I did enjoy the character beats, especially Ursa’s with her future murder victim.
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Now I need to know, what’s your preferred super-style? I like pretty much anything Bronze Age/Triangle Era bar Ed McGuinness. And Kurt Schaffenberger is always a treat, shame he’s gone.
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Swan is up there and Byrne’s run at least looked good. Modern day, Mora and anyone who can draw similarly.
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I’m with you, Swan, Garcia Lopez, Buckler…
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Never have liked Buckler, even before his actions sent Muchilie to Marvel.
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David Michelinie? What did he do?
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Copied exactly a starship design from a cartoon, Michilinie was told he’d be off the book at his insistence for doing that, and Michelinie went to Marvel when that didn’t happen.
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Great review, but what was the page that had you “gushing”? The Krypton sequence where Superboy doesn’t understand Kryptonese? I’m on the fence about that. I like a Superman who’s intellect is super as well; one who could learn Kryptonese or any language on the spot. Waid’s treatment grounds the story, but sacrifices wonder for needless realism.
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Clark does have a super brain but don’t you think with no context and with freaking out there wasn’t much chance he’d spontaneously learn Kryptonese? Besides, Clark has no clue yet his brain is as super as the rest of him.
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This would have been a great issue for him to realize that his brain is just that, superlative. It could have compensated for the other powers he was slowly losing. Wasted opportunity. Oh well.
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Yes, I like the citizens with floaty discs and the weird prosthetic.
Super-brain or not, wouldn’t Superboy need a big chunk of conversations to work out the words, grammar etc?
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No, not with a super-brain. Speaking isn’t the same as reading and writing, so he would first grasp things phonetically, and then he’s off to the races. It wouldn’t take long either. Most kids can do it and attach meaning pretty quickly.
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He could likely manage it were the situation not so scary and fast moving.
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So… Are they sticking with Tomorrow Man? I guess I like giving Jon an identity that *isn’t* Superman (because we only need one of those), and I guess we’ve already got a Superboy… but over in New Titans, he’s still very much being called Superman and wearing his regular super outfit. Are we waiting for the stories to sync up?
Honestly, I like the idea of Jon forming his own identity. It’s very “Nightwing” of him. But I don’t think Tomorrow Man is going to be the identity that should stick. I’m totally not sure what would work better, though. Jon definitely needs his Dick Grayson moment.
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He’d make a great Flamebird, don’t you think? Also, Tomorrow Man looks like something Marvel’s Captain Ultra would reject as too gaudy. And Jon doesn’t need that horrible face mask anyways.
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I’d give Jon a sock mask, they can look good and it’d immediately differentiate him from the other junior Clarks.
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It really should be Flamebird, it’s right there, unused bar the occasional Bette Kane incident (what was that stupid new name she was given in Batwoman or somewhere? (Looks it up…) Hawkfire! For goodness’ sake.
Mark Waid could then do another alternate World’s Finest team, Flamebird and Nightwing.
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Well done (Steve and Martin). Flamebird would work really well. There’s so much history there that could be built upon. And I think we’ve had stories where Dick and Jon have hung out and traded notes. This would be a great extension of that. DC are you paying attention? Make it happen.
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Let’s get onto Paul Kaminski!
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