[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]
Writers: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Artists: Doug Mahnke, Patrick Gleason, Jaime Mendoza, Mick Gray, Joe Prado, Ray McCarthy, Scott Hanna, & Matt Santorelli
Reviewed By: Derek McNeil
Summary
Superman and his allies must battle Manchester Black and his Super Elite team. However, Black has taken mental control of Superboy, pushing Jon’s powers to their limit, which possibly makes him more powerful than his father.
Positives
I was quite relieved at the way Lois’ losing her leg was resolved. It makes sense that Black would fake an injury to Lois as a way to manipulate Jon’s emotions. It fits in with how Black operates, so it doesn’t seem like a cop-out for it to be a mental trick and not real.
I was afraid that Kathy Cobb being revealed to be a super-powered alien would lead to her being written out of the supporting cast of the title, but the glimpse of the future we get seems to hint otherwise. In that image, we see what appears to be the future Jon and Damian as Superman and Batman, but beside them is the adult Kathy. Perhaps she is going to be a big part of Jon’s future after all.
Another interesting thing we see in the future is the Bizarro Earth. Is this hinting that Bizarro will feature in the Kent family’s near future?
Also, I won’t spoil it here, but the predicament Manchester Black finds himself in at the end of the story is a fitting punishment… and hilarious.
Negatives
It seems a bit out of character for Clark to be easily convinced that Kathy should be allowed to live on her own. Yes, she’s an alien, but she’s still a little girl. Even Lois gives in with only a bit of easily overcome misgivings. I would expect that the two responsible parents of their own ten-year-old would insist on her having some adult oversight. Could she be exerting some form of subtle mental manipulation herself?
Verdict
Sadly, it seems that the Kent’s time in Hamilton County is drawing to a close, but I trust that their adventures in Metropolis will be every bit as good as Tomasi and Gleason have given us so far.
