[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writer: James Bonny
Artist: Tyler Kirkham
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
“BREAKING POINT” Part 1! Lois Lane is after the interview of a lifetime. The subject of her Daily Planet article… Deathstroke the Terminator. Determined to get “inside the mind of a killer”, Lois follows a trail of bodies across the globe and comes face to face with the ultimate assassin. But the encounter turns deadly and, with Superman half a world away, the interview of a lifetime could cost Lois Lane her life!
Positives
This story focuses on Lois, which is a refreshing change of pace. Lois has been sidelined or entirely absent from the title recently. And even when she has been prominent in the story, she has shared the spotlight with Clark and Jon. So, we get to see Lois pursuing a story from her own point-of-view.
This allows Lois to show off her reporting skills: her intelligence, tenacity, and daring as she tracks down one of the DCU’s most dangerous killers – the assassin Deathstroke. We also see Lois’ conflicting emotions at being rescued by Clark – relief and pleasure, but tinged with a bit of anger at him for not trusting her to act without him needing to keep an eye on her.
Interestingly, this seems to be set before (or possibly somewhat after) the current events in his own title, where he has reformed and is attempting to be a hero instead of a killer.
It’s also good to see Perry and Jimmy, if only briefly, make an appearance. Although they have been spotted in Action Comics, not much has been seen of the Daily Planet staff in this title. Hopefully we will see more of them now that the Kent family has returned to Metropolis from Hamilton County.
It’s a small touch, but I appreciated Perry’s reference to Deathstroke’s full nom de guerre, ‘Deathstroke The Terminator’. DC has downplayed the ‘Terminator’ part of the name ever since the first Terminator movie, and I don’t believe it’s been used at all post-Flashpoint. I think it’s past time DC reclaimed the name, after all, it’s not like readers are likely to confuse Slade Wilson with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Negatives
The core of this title is the Kent family, so it’s always a bit disappointing when one of the family is absent. This issue, Jon is missing from the issue. However, this leaves more room to focus on Lois. It’s inevitable that Jon will get plenty of chances to shine in future issues.
Verdict
Even though I am eager for Tomasi and Gleason’s return to the title, Bonny and Kirkham are doing a great job of filling in for them. Superman is the foremost title in a stellar stable of books.
