Superman #4 Review

George Perez continue to overwrite a book that never quite establishes its star, cast and foes in any real exciting or truly fresh way. Granted, he tries to incorporate real world problems that affect our hero and the way the media operates but it still feels all very lacklustre and redundant. We find Superman being questioned by the police about Heather Kelly but turns out she's fine and she's giving an interview on TV to try to get Clark/Superman off the hook. Lois is supposed to be managing her division but she seems to be preoccupied with Clark Kent to really do it. The three elemental foes all appear and they are as lame as ever and Superman we find is the one who supposedly created them.

When I lose interest in a book it is very tough to really review it properly. I take to summarizing stuff I find glaring.

So what I got from this issue.

1. Superman's supporting cast are really quite boring. No one pops. No one comes across with real personality and chemistry. I have read nothing to make me care Even Jimmy Olsen is a bore and that is disappointing since in Action Comics, he feels fresh and modern and is just as spunky as Clark. Heather is established to be what exactly? A rival for Lois? A cliched knock off it looks like. We have been given no reason to care for her other than the writing says she and Clark may have had something and she fancies him.

2. Lois is Watching: Is she Clark's Oracle or Den Mother? Honestly, can Superman not do anything without Lois watching him from a camera? Is this going to be an ongoing thing where she is constantly calling Clark on his phone to check up on him? She looks much older than him and there is actually no chemistry between them. In fact, Heather looks older than Clark too.He acts/looks like a college freshman while they look like his older sisters or something.

3. Please Get New Foes For Superman! Seriously, this is not good enough for the relaunch of a character. These elemental monsters are too old-school for my taste and what really have they contributed in this relaunch so far? To show how stupid Superman is, that's what.

I give this 2.5 out of 5.

Best Panel: Just another image by Merino. He draws Superman well. At least he looks manly here. Better than Nicola Scott, who did interiors last time.