"We are each other's shelter from the storm."
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #6

One day I walked into a library and my eyes fell on a book called Kingdom Come. I picked it up and to my surprise it was a comic book...or rather as I later learned, a graphic novel. But I saw beautifully painted panels and heroes that I recognized from my childhood who seemed ...well, grown up. I borrowed that book and I was moved and fascinated by, not only the story of men and women who are great heroes, but by they way they showed their humanity. They suddenly were not two dimensional people who just fought bad guys. They were deeply complex. I love books and reading on the whole and I guess getting into the comic genre as an adult woman was a case of serendipity. It led me to finding DC comics and the heroes I grew up with on TV and saw in movies and newsprint. It led me to finding Clark Kent or as he is known by his other name, Kal-El, and Princess Diana. I fell in love with them and am obsessed with all things Amazonian and Kryptonian now. I love their relationship. I love what they stand for. I love the contrasts of the princess/farmer's son; reporter/ambassador; pragmatic warrior/idealistic protector and empathetic teacher/enforcer of justice. A girl born of the earth and a boy who fell from the sky. The first daughter of Themyscira and last son of Krypton. And it surprised me to find that there were many fans like me, who adore them too.

DC rebooted their universe in 2011 and my favorite pairing is now canon!!! Yay.



Disclaimer : Superman and Wonder Woman are the property of DC comics.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Superman #15 Review




Superman is locked out of his own fortress. Kicked out by H'el. Together with Superboy he goes to meet with earth's greatest intellect: Lex Luthor.

Lex is being held in a military prison as the sole occupant. He's spending his days thinking about ways to break into the Fortress of Solitude, access its secrets and destroy its owner. Lex is quite upbeat and not at all bothered about his incarceration because it simply suits him right now.
The armed personnel are not happy to see Superman but have no choice to let him in.


Superboy is quite impressed. We learn also that the security features built into the prison was designed by Lex himself.


This issue showcases a really nice dynamic between Superman and Superboy. It's like a bit of banter between a younger and older sibling, the younger one trying to be snarky while the older one effortlessly, humorously and matter of factly puts him in his place, even while understanding much of the attitude is a front with the inexperienced boy. Superboy is out of his depth and he knows it. Clark reassures him.


Superman comes face to face with Lex and the shackles seem something that Clark would insist on to play to Lex's vanity as well. The last we saw Lex in Action comics he was a scientist for the military. It seems a lot has happened between then and now.


Lex toys with Superboy a little as well before he tells Superman that H'el's could very possibly go back in time and stop the destruction of Krypton. But it would be at a price to the Earth. And the reason why H'el choose the Fortress was to access artifacts kept there. But Lex suspected Superman already knew this and he only came to see him to psyche himself. Lex taunts Superman that the only way to stop H'el is to kill him.


Superman, realizing the gravity of the situation, calls in some friends to help : the Justice League.

This was a really enjoyable issue. Love this dangerous, smug, highly intelligent, scientific minded Lex. Lex even seems to imply that Superman might have come very close to crossing a line. The rage and inferno he talks about is very intriguing. How did he get those scars? What did he do to enrage Superman? And how are the Justice League going to help break into the Fortress?

I give this issue 4 out of 5 stars.

Best Panel: Since I am obviously biased, how can I not appreciate Lobdell took the time to reference Clark and Diana's relationship? It would have been weird not to see Clark mention Diana since in most of the issues we have had intros to all the players via the third person narration. And Diana has changed from ally to girlfriend. The use of Beloved on Diana's part is okay to me. Her vernacular would not be the same as ours seeing she is from a century's old society/ AncientGreek origin. Also it could be a reference to Lara's use of beloved for Jor-El.
The fact that it is mentioned that one person knows the secret means that this is after the Smallville date and their second kiss.



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5 comments:

  1. Silver Age BoyJanuary 19, 2013 at 7:44 PM

    Not really sure i like the ideal of superman Knowingly putting superboy's life at risk.Also that "is everyone from Krypton a butt" is a legitimate question. Loooove how smug and condescending Lex is,he's the real star of this issue.

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  2. HELLACRE13January 20, 2013 at 3:30 AM

    Yeah, Lex was the star. But the way I see it this is Clark's way to keep Superboy close. The kid's been getting up to all sorts of things before and needs some direction and by not coming on too strong (ie over concerned or paternalistic) and being matter of fact he's kind of gotten Superboy intrigued. We've gotten too complacent with the old DCU and assume that as soon as these two meet it should be embracing and instant acceptance. In the new 52 given both their origins and the way they debuted and what they have experienced, says to me will take them a little while to establish trust. A clone of Superman is not something for him to be happy about really. He barely know him.I suspect this is as much a test for Superboy as well.

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    Replies
    1. Silver Age BoyJanuary 20, 2013 at 10:54 AM

      New52 supes is taking it much better than young justice supes, that's for sure.Given there interaction i think Clark and superboy are developing a big brother/little brother relationship.

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  3. Silver Age BoyJanuary 20, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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