DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN ANNUAL #13

The Fall

2008

Written by Kurt Busiek

Pencils by Carlos Pacheco

Inks by Jesus Merino

Cover by Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino

Synopsis

[Continued from Superman, issue #667] 

Centuries in the future, the Phantom Stranger shows Superman that Arion’s prediction of the end of civilization is one of many possible outcomes.  Now, Superman destroys Arion’s underwater lair and then attacks Arion, who turns into a large sea creature.  With one punch, Superman knocks out Arion, takes away the source of his magical power.  This causes Arion’s lair to collapse.  Superman then takes the unconscious Arion to the authorities.  In 1659, Arion returns to his time period.  The one Superman took to the authorities is the fake Arion, magical disguised to look like Arion.  Elsewhere, Lana Lang may have saved LexCorp with the invention of the camera globes.  While life returns to normal in Metropolis, Khyber rises from the grave. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The ending to this story has been a long-time coming, with the storyline being delayed several times in the past couple of months.  So, this final part of the story has come with the expectations that the delays better be worth it.  The problem with expectations is that one expects something to happen.  Even if it is bad, at least we can accept that something happened.  Sadly, Busiek fails the readers in that department as nothing is resolved in this issue.  Oh, sure, Arion is defeated and we get to see Superman fighting three sea creatures so in a sense a fight is won and the problem (Arion attacking Superman to make him stop saving humanity) is fixed, but Arion’s basic assumption (the future of the world) still exists.  So, nothing happened, and we are back to where we are. 

I also take umbrage with the method Superman defeats Arion.  First, he needs only one punch, count ‘em:  one, to knock out the sea creature and return Arion to human form.  Really?  Superman is able to do that to a magical creature? But, wait.  He then uses his super speed to take away all of his magical trinkets, essentially taking away all of his power.  Really?  Let’s see, remove rings, cause lair to collapse (again, I might add, I guess the whirlpool didn’t quite do the job) so the magician is then knocked senseless.  Is it just me or is this really lame.  I really hope Superman recalls this at a later date whenever he meets up with someone with magic. 

You know, I had completely forgotten about the Young New Gods subplot.  Seeing how it plays out here in this story, I have to wonder what the hell Busiek was doing putting them in the story to begin with.  It just seemed like a complete waste of time and effort to get them into the story for what amounts to a lackluster payoff.  And, yet, the entire story featured a lackluster payoff, so I guess I am not surprised. 

The Best Day

Written by Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza

Pencils by Renato Guedes

Inks by Jose Wilson Magalhes

Synopsis

Superman takes his extended family to a remote family for a picnic.  While Supergirl cooks traditional Kryptonian food with Mary Kent, Clark and his father go fishing, and Chris goes to play with Krypto. 

Review

This was a decent and fun story that gives Guedes a chance to draw some really strange and weird looking creatures.  I don’t necessarily buy this little outing (as if Superman could afford to take a dat off; what happens if Lex decides that is the day take over the world. You know, that sounds like a good story idea) and I am not sure if recalling what happened when the rocket ship landed in the Kent’s backyard was worth repeating, but hey, what can you do. 

Someone forgot to tell Guedes that Lois Lane should have really, really short hair.  Compare Lois’ look between the two stories in this issue.  See?