DCU Comic Book Reviews

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #9

Part 9

January 2010

Written by Greg Rucka and James Robinson

Pencils by Pete Woods and Ron Randall

Inks by Pete Woods and Ron Randall

Covers by Gary Frank and Mark Buckingham

Synopsis

Jemm, Son Of Saturn appears before the New Kryptonian High Council, interrupting talks between New Krypton and Thanagar.  Security attempt to deal with the intrusion, but Jemm and his men fight back.  General Kal-el jumps into the fight, confronting Jemm and convinces him that he is Superman and, based on their past, to stand down.  Jemm agrees.  However, he is angry at the New Kryptonians’ arrogance to meddle with solar system when they moved one of Jupiter’s moons.  Out of respect for Superman, Jemm leaves, but the Son of Saturn will be watching.  Afterwards, Kal-el joins the Council at recess, where he witnesses a heated exchange between guild members regarding the prospect of war.  When Kal-el advocates peace, but the Military Guild member doesn’t want to listen.  Time passes.  Red Shard notices Non following Kal-el everywhere.  During an exercise, Commander Gor is beating on his soldiers when Non attacks and gives Gor a taste of his medicine.  Kal-el warns the troops, there is always someone bigger, so be careful.  Elsewhere, the Labor Guild complains there voice isn’t heard, despite Alura’s promise she would put them on the Council.  Meanwhile, General Zod asks Kal-el if the troops are prepared for war.  Kal-el tells him they are ready to protect New Krypton.  Suddenly, Ursa appears.  Something is wrong in the High Sector  At Councilor Mar-li’s residence they find the door locked.  When they open it, they find Mar-Li on the floor, covered in blood.  And Adam Strange standing over him.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Oh, boy.  For the past eight months, this has been on of the most enjoyable, if not the best, Superman title on the stands.  This issue fails to live up to that standard.  I was really disappointed.  If there was ever a moment a series can jump the shark, this may have been it. Why?  Because the scenes with the Thanagarians and then with Jemm of Saturn are nothing more than stalling tactics.  Both are characters and conflicts they create that are introduced to lengthen a story.  Nothing of consequence happens and there is very little impact on the overall story being told.  Both Jemm and Wing-Master Dae appear, cry fowl over New Krypton, get reassurance from Superman, and then leave.  Other than to show New Krypton and its effect on the rest of the DC universe, it doesn’t accomplish anything with the story that the writer’s are telling.  I think the past issue and a half could’ve been skipped and you would not have missed anything. 

You can also tell this issue is a bit of a story stretcher as there are several pages of random scenes of various characters that don’t have much a plot.  Don’t get me wrong, I like these scenes as they are great character and story builders, weaving a tapestry that shows the impact that Kal-el is having on various people of New Krypton.  It really sets the mood of what it is like on the planet and it helps to really flesh out the characters a little bit more.  But the scenes appear in such a way that makes me think they were written without any thought to the story or how it flows.  It feels choppy, slightly out of sync.  Maybe it was intended, to show the passage of time, but even given that assumption, it still feels disjointed.  The story itself doesn’t resume until Kal-el and Zod have their conversation. That is the moment when it feels like the story is back on track.  The dialogue is well-written, especially the way they dance of the question of war or when they both answer when Ursa calls out, “General.”  These scenes are the core of the story, the battle between Zod and Kal-el so it is nto surprising the best scenes are these.  But then it loses it again with the appearance of Adam Strange, a character much like Jemm or Dae that feels like we are in for another stall session.  I hope Adam Strange has more to offer than Jemm or Dae. 

Interesting and somewhat curious little scene with Jemm and the member of the religious guild followed by the weird moment with the same guild member and Kal-el.  This scene just jumps out in such a way that you have to wonder what it will mean in the future.  Given the fact that Flamebird has been appearing in Supergirl (and Action Comics), I have to wonder if the Gods of New Krypton are going to make an appearance at some point.