We Bid a Fond Farewell to Superman. What, Really?

Superman and his new team battle June Moon’s inner demons to get the Enchantress on the team – leaving just one member left to be recruited. Before the team can get to young icon Lightray, however, Superman’s old enemies rear their ugly heads (and uglier brains) for an all-out attack! Superman and the Authority #3 written by Grant Morrison, drawn by Michel Janín and Travel Foreman, colored by Jordie Bellaire and Alex Sinclaire and lettered by Steve Wands. 

Back on Earth Prime, though, a battle with Thao-La leads to Superman getting a glimpse of the newest Mongul, and realizes that he has no choice but to save the imprisoned Phaelosians from Warworld – and he’s going to have to leave Earth behind to do it. He settles his affairs in Action Comics #1035, written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, drawn by Daniel Sampere, colored by Adriano Lucas and lettered by Dave Sharpe. Tales of Metropolis backup written by Sean Lewis, drawn by Sami Basri, colored by Ulises Arreola and lettered by Dave Sharpe. 

With Kal-El leaving Earth, it’s up to Jon Kent to step up and become Earth’s Superman – but Jon’s got some problems of his own, as he attends his first protest as a Superhero leading to him quickly being put behind bars. Superman: Son of Kal-El #3 is written by Tom Taylor, drawn by John Timms, colored by Gabe Eltaeb, and lettered by Dave Sharpe.

Armaan Babu: You know, Tony. I am not afraid to admit when I’ve had a no good, very bad week. This was a very bad week. But there was good in there – there was even fantastic. We’ve said it before, this is a great time to be a Superman fan, and this week kicks off some things that have been in the works for a while. It all kicks off here, and I can’t wait to dive in!

Tony Thornley: What a week, and I’m glad to sit down and chat about these books at the end of it!

Morrisonian Fireworks

Armaan: So with no other Super-books to cover when this came out, we decided to push up our coverage of this book to this week – bringing us two Authority talk-abouts in the same week, but I’m getting ahead of myself. With this issue, we have finally the whole team together, get a quick glimpse into their dynamic, and have just enough space for us to meet brand new superhero, Lightray. Also? The Ultra-Humanite! There’s a lot going on here!

Tony: You know, for what essentially served as a transition issue, there really was a lot of meat on the bone here. This issue made me realize that the series really needs another issue or two, just to flesh out some of the moments that Morrison sets up but needs to rush through. They do some great stuff, but it feels like it needs more room to breathe.

Armaan: What I liked about this issue is that we get to sink our teeth into what this team can really be, as they wrap up one mission and start another. Last issue ended with the team trying to rescue the Enchantress from…well, herself, that eternal battle, and this issue opens assuring us that everything worked out fine before letting us know exactly how that happened.

More often than not, it feels like a team’s thrown together more because the writers want to play around with specific characters they’ve always wanted to write – and that’s a perfectly valid way to set up a team. Here, however, it feels like everyone’s not only got a specific role, but that their area of expertise opens up the kinds of missions the team can tackle. The current roster’s built for the sci-fi, the supernatural, infiltration, all-out brawls, and, as we open here, a more psychological battle for the Enchantress’ sanity. How do you feel about how all this played out, Tony? 

Tony: I think you’re exactly right. I mean, Morrison and Janin are clearly basing the team on the established Authority, but they also put a lot of thought into who took what role. It wasn’t a perfect issue, as it spent too much time moving pieces around the chess board, but it was smart, thoughtful, and generally pretty fun.

Armaan: I kinda liked the chaos. The first issue might have been a slow, relatively grounded introduction to the concept, but since then it’s just been firing Morrisonian wildness all over the place, and it’s been making the most of its limited run.

I’m interested in this new Lightray character, who (so far) appears to have no connection to the New Genesis Lightray we’re all more familiar with. Putting her powers aside, her gimmick is a simple one writ large – she’s got a bright, bubbly internet persona that hides a darker depression within. She, more than anyone else, makes me wish this series was longer, because I would love for her and this older Superman to have more of a heart to heart.

Both superheroes who inspire millions in a series about Superman handing the torch of superheroism to a younger generation. Where Superman became an icon the old fashioned way (in every sense of the phrase), Lia Nelson’s superstar status was manufactured, a product of algorithms, reality TV, and so, so many lies.

Tony: Yeah, this is a fascinating idea that I wish Morrison had more time to play with. They really didn’t write it like many people of their generation would have. Lightray will probably end the series as its #1 cipher, and I’m very interested to see what Johnson et al do with that later.

Armaan: The tragedy of this run is that this Superman is so compelling I want more time with him, and to see his interactions with the team he’s built; there’s so much to work with there.

This team – or some version of – is going to be getting to interact with a Superman we’re more familiar with soon, though, back on Earth Prime.

Superman’s Goodbyes

Tony: Ho-lee-crap. Armaan, I don’t think this is a perfect comic. I don’t think this is the best Superman comic that’s ever been published. However, I do think this is the platonic ideal of what a Superman story should be, and I genuinely love this issue.

I have been worried about Johnson and Sampere sticking the landing on this story for months, and here we are with the conclusion of the arc… And they pulled it off. Superman stops Mongul’s plot, he faces the consequences of his actions, and he leaves Earth to save Warworld. I think the only thing that it didn’t nail was the Authority entering the picture. There probably could have been a bit more foreshadowing there.

Armaan: I’m not sure Superman would approve of your language there, Tony, but you’re right, this is a fantastic Superman story. While Action Comics has been setting up a lot of stuff, it did manage to make the story in the present not feel too overshadowed by the story to come. This, however, is very much a zero issue for the arc ahead, loosely wrapping up the conflict that brought us here before explaining why Superman needs to leave Earth – and why that’s a bigger deal than it usually is.

Tony: Yeah, you’re right. In fact, the only complaint I think I have is one you hint at here. I think before Clark headed off to Warworld, we could have seen a little more with the consequences of the last six issues. Otherwise, I think it got pretty much everything right.

Armaan: But before all that: Whatever happened to the phenomenal Phaelosian?

Even for someone with newfound Kryptonian-like abilities, Thao-La’s under a lot of pressure. It’s pressure she wouldn’t be under at all if she was just a smidgen more selfish, a mote more cowardly, but she clearly has the heart of a hero, which puts her in a very difficult position. On the one hand, she has her orders from Mongul to wreck Superman and his family – orders backed up by Mongul holding her people hostage.

On the other hand, she has idolized Superman for her entire life. She’s spent enough time around him and his family to know what good people are. She’s trapped – and all Superman can do is give her a moment to breathe, and listen to the heroism he’s inspired in her since her childhood.

Tony: Oh absolutely. I was actually extremely disappointed to see that she’s sticking around on Earth. It would have been great to see her get more time to be fleshed out and to serve as the Authority’s guide on Warworld. What an interesting character.

Armaan: Three panels here stand out to me. First is the moment that ends the fight. Tempered by Lois, who has had nothing but compassion for Thao-La since this story began, Superman ends the fight, but not with a punch. It’s a simple but powerful expression of strength – an open palm stops her fist. Daniele Sampere once again gives us a magnificent, iconic Superman. Strength but not violence. He will not let Thao-La hurt his family – and with his strength and authority, he doesn’t need to hurt her, either.

The second panel, the one that breaks my heart, is Thao-La’s “I don’t know what to do” moment. It’s a beautiful lead-up to my next favorite moment: the breaking of her chains. We’ve seen Superman heroically breaking free of chains so many times, but it’s something special to see him inspire others to do the same. Knowing what those chains mean to her makes this especially powerful. Unfortunately, it also nearly kills her, effectively taking her out of play.

I’m not happy with what went down here with Thao-La. This is not a criticism of the story – her tale was well told. I’m just sad about it. Enraged at Mongul. And there’s a deep impatience in my gut – there’s clearly lot more to Thao-La’s story, but with her unconscious and recovering, it’s a story that’s been put on the backburner for now. I think all these feelings are there by design, so well done, Action Comics, BUT I’M NOT HAPPY.

Tony: Know what though? Clark’s challenge to Mongul? That was just pitch perfect. It was exactly what the arc needed. I’m more and more interested in this take on Mongul. He’s incredibly different from his 90’s predecessor, but also very much the same. This is a villain I think Superman’s needed for a while.

But we would be remiss if we didn’t chat about that ending. Johnson, Sampere and Lucas give the issue a wonderful epilogue with Jon and Lois both. The Lois and Clark scene in particular… Well, Lois is another character that I’m disappointed is staying on Earth. I get it from the standpoint of everything going on with Jon and with her work at the Planet… it doesn’t make sense for her to be there.

I’m so happy that we got this near-perfect coda here, so if something DOES happen to Clark (I mean, it won’t, but if) there will be closure with his family.

Armaan: I don’t ask that a comic try to make me believe that Superman will die – that’s not going to ever happen in any permanent way. But what this comic does do is make me believe that the characters in it believe there’s a chance he might die – and in a genre where fatal danger crops up every issue, it can be hard to have any kind of threat have that weight behind it. 

One thing that charmed me about this goodbye here is that while Lois may have fallen in love with and married Clark Kent…every now and again, she gets to be in love with Superman, too. The icon, ready to take her to the skies, to be held hundreds of feet about the ground and know she’s completely safe. It’s magic. It’s a perfect ending, followed by a brief nod to the Authority – whose Prime Earth story’ll be told in another comic, closing out one chapter of this tale to open another. I’m excited.

As for Jon, he gets more of a goodbye to his father over in his own title, so let’s get into that one!

Son of Kal-El

Armaan: Son of Kal-El ties into the events of this week’s Action Comics. I like soft crossovers like this, bringing in the shared universe without putting so much pressure on needing to be caught up on eevvverything. This book’s been a little bumpy – I think it’s fair to say that while we’ve loved the superheroics and the family moments here, we’ve enjoyed its tackling of social justice issues…a bit less. It doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon, but some great superhero moments help make the whole thing a lot more palatable.

How’d you feel about this opening?

Tony: Yeah, when Taylor does the soap opera or the heroics, this book is exactly what we hoped it would be. Revealing that the young meta from the first issue wasn’t an isolated incident was great, and the revelation of who’s behind them, while not surprising, was a good way to bring it all together. And poor Faultline, you sympathize for her immediately, despite her limited page time.

Henry Bendix was a deep Wildstorm cut (deep enough that a few of our CXF colleagues thought he was a joke on previous Superman writer Brian Michael Bendis).

Armaan: I hate to admit, I was one of them.

Tony: Like I said, he was a deep cut. If I hadn’t read the original Authority I would have known either. I think we mentioned this with last issue, but for those who may not remember, he’s the Stormwatch Weatherman who also created Apollo and Midnighter. Using him as a fascist head of state slash mad scientist with a vendetta against Superman… It makes sense and creates a unique villain that fits the Superman rogues while also presenting something new. A little Luthor, a little Ultra-Humanite, a little Zod, but definitely his own thing.

It’s also nice to see Wildstorm toys being used in the DC main line that aren’t Apollo, Midnighter, or Grifter.

However, like you said, Jon Kent, crusader, is leaving a lot to be desired. I think it comes down to the idea of “Show, don’t tell.” Taylor has the attitude right, and Timms gives Jon the visual presence to match. But having him speechify instead of just doing the right thing doesn’t work. Clark does the right thing when presented with it. So does Lois. Jon (and Taylor) need to learn how to do that.

Armaan: So Jon’s first protest ends with him nobly being sent to jail, which leads to what may be the most inadvertently terrible panel I’ve ever seen in a Superman comic, and I’m a little baffled by the choices made here. Naturally, Superman comes to pick his son up from jail – but the reveal shows him in shadow, flanked by two shadowy cops, the bars placed between them and the reader.

It’s a throwaway moment, as far as I can tell from the writing, meant to denote nothing but the fact that Superman’s here to pick up his son. There’s no playful twist where Superman plays the intimidating father before letting Jon know Clark’s proud of his son, it’s just intimidating. I don’t want to see a darkened Superman flanked by cops if it’s not some evil universe version of Superman (and there are plenty of those to go around). I don’t think there’s much to read into it, but it’s a sour note nonetheless.

Tony: You’re absolutely right, and I think this is the only thing that Timms gets wrong art-wise.

Armaan: Cheerier notes come with Jay, the journalist behind The Truth, an online news site that Jon’s trying to be a part of. Jay’s not made much of an impression so far, but him meeting Superman, and then freaking out over meeting his hero Lois Lane, are things that endeared me to the character. These scenes are charming, and silly, and emphasize what open hearts the Kents all have. Timms brings a kindness to the Kent faces that’s just wonderful to see. Dinner with the Kents is interrupted, however, by Superman somehow off-panel getting the news that he has to go.

We both enjoyed Clark’s farewell to Lois, how did you like this goodbye to his son?

Tony: This was probably the best part of the issue. It has a bit of a passing the torch feel without the true permanence to try to trick readers into thinking “it’s really for real this time!” Taylor and Johnson both did a great job this week of making us doubt Clark would come back without trying to say “we’re so clever, we know you know he will but maybe this he won’t!” It’s got the right emotional stakes and is executed well. This is how you do that without gaslighting your readers (looking at you Superior Spider-Man!).

Then, we get a coda as Bendix starts his war against Superman. And how does he do it?

BY DROPPING FAULTLINE ON THE KENT FARM.

Dammit Taylor.

Armaan: Dammit Taylor.

Daily Planet Headlines

• It’s always a little surreal to be reminded that Superman’s secret identity is public, and that Jon doesn’t have to even think about hiding who his parents are.
• Ultra-Humanite hiding in plain sight as a statue in Superman’s gallery is peak Looney Tunes comedy. 
• “Tales of Metropolis” was a welcome return in Action! I hope to see this continue for a while.