Summer of Superman Special #1 – Mark Waid, Dan Slott, Joshua Williamson, Writers; Jorge Jimenez, Artist; Tomeu Morey, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: Superman has had a creative resurgence in recent years, finally feeling like he’s atop the DC heap where he belongs. That hot streak is only getting hotter, with one of the top creators in the industry heading off from the competition to write a new title. And it all starts with this one-shot, giving all three creative teams a chance to show off.
Mark Waid and Skylar Partridge are up first, previewing their Action Comics run where they’ll reinvent Clark’s Superboy years in Smallville. This story picks up when Clark and Lana are about to turn 16, and Clark is ready to confess to Lana – both his love, and his secret. But first, he has to fight Validus, an iconic villain from the future, in Smallville – and then through time. This leads to him getting a preview of his future self – with some shocking reveals that he quickly forgets due to the Legion giving him a psychic block on future spoilers. No surprise, Mark Waid is so good at writing this character, especially when he gets to lean into the deep continuity and lore he has from 80 years of stories.
Next up, Dan Slott makes his big Superman debut. The iconic Spider-Man writer has penned a few DC stories over twenty years ago, but now he’s in the thick of it. His story is also set in Smallville, in the present day, as Lana and John Henry Irons are about to tie the knot. This seemed an odd pairing to start, but I’ve been won over by it. The wedding is about to go off, but Pa Kent insists his knee is telling him a storm is coming. It is – a storm of the century, along with Validus, returning to wreak more havoc. The dialogue is great, and it feels like Slott has a better than average handle on John and Lana in particular. The story also has a very topical edge at times that feels like it works very well, and sets up an interesting new status quo for Smallville.
Finally, Josh Williamson closes us out with a story looking to the future that starts with the wedding, as Superman reflects on summer in Smallville, and then teams up with Mister Terrific to seek answers about Validus. With the help of Omen, they probe Validus’ mind – and find that the monster isn’t attacking. He’s running – and he’s terrified. And we find out from who in the final sequence, as we discover exactly where Booster Gold has been since he disappeared in the All In Special – and also who is holding him captive, adding a dark twist to one of DC’s most storied legacies. The future of the Man of Steel is brighter than ever – but the threats are bigger than ever. This whole line is brilliant right now, and this book is another cherry on top.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
