I’m reviewing this issues with only cursory knowledge of the current storyline so I may or may not make proper assumptions. I feel that is fair though as any comic book can be someone’s first comic. We begin with Superman having a vision many years into the future. He is celebrating World Peace day with his adult family and a large body of superheroes as they greet General Zod and his own Kryptonian contingent before all present are suddenly attack a multitude of super beings obscured from the reader before Superman snaps back to the present and the situation with his son Johnathan. There is no way for me to judge if this is an alternate timeline or even alternate dimension from this comic alone but Bendis is clearly setting up something dramatic and likely climatic for this storyline or one down the road a ways.
In the present though Clark and Loris must deal with the apparent return of their son who has aged up five to eight years by the looks of things. Now I’m not clear on a few things and unfortunately the story doesn’t fill me in on these gaps. John has spent and unknown but harrowing amount of time in the dimension of the Crime Syndicate as the prisoner of Ultraman. I know that John demanded to go into space with his grandfather and Lois tagged along and it appears all were separated somewhere along the way. Jor El is even featured on the cover facing off against the Crime Syndicate with John but he is a complete no show in this book. Plus I don’t know how Lois got separated from them or what has become of Jor El or how any of them in fact got home. Nor apparently was Lois around during the time John aged up. While it doesn’t ruin the comic per say I would really have appreciated a short blurb on “in last issue”“ or some such.
As far as the story there are highs and lows and most of them deal with characterization. Ultraman is played up to a tee but we are given some rare insights into his character. You get an understanding of how isolated the most powerful being on this planet is as Ultraman uses John as someone to talk to, to vent at and abuse when he needs to unleash some mental or physical cruelty. His insecurities are laid bare and its easy to see why Owl Man is truly the one in charge on this Earth. It’s good stuff and I’m interested in seeing more.
The super family however just don’t feel quite right. The senario John describes gives me the impression that he should be showing signs of sever PTSD. He has been barely fed in a place where he could hardly breath assured that he was never going home while having to deal with some of the JLA’s most dangerous enemies, two of whom are alternate versions of his parents! I’m sure Bendis has his own plans and heroes are supposed to be strong but it just feels like Bendis has missed the boat here. Meanwhile comes across as kinda small here, less than I’ve ever seen him. Both Lois and John almost chastise him in a couple of places and he seems kind of impotent. Lois is surprisingly blasé about Johnathan’s ordeal and there is only one moment of any real emotion between the family and it brief at that. This who situation just doesn’t seem to have had any real effect on the three of them. It’s all to easily taken in and accepted.
ART
The art however is a thing of beauty in this comic. Each story segment is handled by different artists given each a distinctive feel and look. Both sets do a grand job from pencils to inks to colors I have no complaints. In particular I love the way Reis draws capes. If you are gonna do Superman comics you gotta draw some awesome capes.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s got some issues but its ok, 3 out of 5!
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
REVIEW: SUPERMAN 9
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Ivan Reis
Art: Brandon Peterson
Inks: Joe Prado, Oclair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
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