Superman Unlimited #17 review

Zod has a big gun, but what does it fire?

Kryptonian slinkies! Supergirl’s deadliest weakness.

OK, I’m kidding, they’re pretty formidable when your powers are fading.

In case you’re late to the party, Supergirl and original Superboy Clark Kent pursued Mrs Zod, Ursa, into the past to stop her attempts to prevent Krypton from exploding, potentially throwing a spanner into the works of the future.

Young Zod doesn’t know she’s his future wife, so far as I can tell, despite the first panel of the story telling us we’re just ‘one orbital cycle before [Krypton’s] destruction’. He does, though, seem to believe she’s from the future, and is keen to exploit her knowledge. He has plans for Supergirl too.

And that’s the last we see of this lot as the rest of the issue takes place on 2026 Earth, where current day Zod has unleashed a Kryptonite plague on Earth. All over the world people are sprouting painful green rock from their bodies, eventually turning into zombies. Even Superman and his allies are affected – how the heck can he fix things?

With the power of dodgy plotting, of course. Firstly, Lana Lang, who has had on-off super powers for quite some time, has randomly turned into a Kryptonite Woman.

Then, Superman has a wizard wheeze.

Firstly, boo to Lois for undermining Lana’s excellent bit of Smallville wisdom, then, so far as Superman’s eureka moment goes, whaaaaat? Can anyone out there see the thread of logic he’s tugging on?

Given writer Dan Slott mentioned the stupid golden power he gave Superman in issue one for the first time in ages last month it’s no surprise it comes up here… but as a cure all for the entire planet in just over three minutes? The big question is, what happens when he can’t succeed in a super-feat that would’ve beaten even the Silver Age Superman?

Moot point. He does it, with time enough along the way to give Metallo a new Green K heart, finally telling us he loves us all. Thank you Jesus.

Oops, wrong god.

How I hate destinies. And what’s happened to his costume? Superman must be itching to find out.

Not so much. With his remaining seconds, Superman goes back to where he started – El Caldero.

So, Superman has saved the world. His gold power has burnt out. His Zod-given injuries are healed. Lana is back to regular human. Even his beard has gone. If I didn’t know better I’d think Slott was clearing the decks for an incoming writer, but it’s been announced he’s about to shift the focus of the series to Superman and Jon team-ups. Plus, there’s that ‘destiny’ business nodding towards Superman Prime of Superman One Million.

It’s weird, last issue was excellent, but here Slott looks to be rushing to clear away left over subplots. And yes, I’ve called for the golden shell business to be dumped, but the idea it can not just protect Superman from Green K, but give him jumped-up powers, along the way, is too much.

And I seriously hated Supergirl spitting on Zod, it’s just not Kara (even if it’s not the first time Kara has done this to a villain).

Still, Slott is on happier ground with Jon, giving the new Tomorrow Man a thoroughly entertaining fight with Zod lackey Eradicatrix.

Returning guest artist Rachael Stott does a good job keeping the visual tone of the Kingdom of Zod event. The storytelling is nice and clear, the characters immediately recognisable. Superman’s’ world tour is silly, but Stott sells it, and the arrival of the Eradicatrix is seriously impressive.

Colourist Giuliano Peratelli is also a power player, especially with such moments as Superman loving every one of us little people, while Dave Sharpe’s letters have real pizzazz.

Peratelli also colours the work of Lucas Meyer for the cover. It’s not strictly relevant to this issue, being part of a much bigger piece, but it’s great.

So, not my favourite chapter of the crossover, but the overall quality of Kingdom of Zod has been so good that I’ve high hopes for the two concluding instalments. Bring them on!