Superman

Smallville Season Eleven Special #5 – Harbinger

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Smallville Season Eleven Special #5 - HarbingerThe latest Smallville Season Eleven Special turns its attention the more magical and mystical aspects of the wider Smallville Universe by offering the first team-up of Zatanna and John Constantine. As a bigger fan of Zatanna than Hellblazer, I’ll admit I enjoyed both versions of the characters who are thrown together while dealing with the cult of Brother Blood who desperately wants a book of magic which once belonged to Zatanna’s father.

With some surly Constantine, some backwards incantations, and he reveal of the true enemy Blood wishes to bring forth, Smallville Season Eleven Special #5 – Harbinger also introduces a new character to the Smallville Universe who can now assume her rightful place with the Teen Titans.

The comic collects all four of the previously-released digital Harbinger issues in single issue. And Daniel HDR’s art, particularly the two leads, fits well with the wider vision of the Smallville Universe writer Bryan Q. Miller continues to carve out. Now if I could just convince him to add some super-hero rabbits to the mix. Worth a look.

[DC, $4.99]

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Superman #33

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Superman #33Continuing the “Men of Tomorrow” storyline, Superman #33 sees both Superman and Clark investigate Ulysses‘ origins (which leads to a tearful reunion) while Ulysses, learning about secret identities for the first time, attempts to become acquainted with his new home.

The comic keeps the two heroes apart for much of the story while Clark pumps Perry White for information about the Ulysses Research Laboratory and follows up the leads as Superman, but writer Geoff Johns keeps the pair connected through the shared common themes of heroes raised on worlds far from home. The choice to reunite Neil with his parents is an intriguing one. Along with underlining the threat of Klerik, the comic further sells me on the idea of Ulysses as a genuine hero (while not completely removing my fear of an eventually heel turn for the character).

Clark’s renewed interaction with The Daily Planet staff also brings back more classic elements of the character. Now if they could just get him out of that ridiculous armor. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #4

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #4Wrapping up the latest mini-series, Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #4 features Green Arrow getting a measure of revenge against Prometheus and Superman calling on the help of Chloe and Tess to reboot the yellow rings and stop Parallax and his new army of brainwashed Yellow Lanterns who include John Stewart.

The final issue wraps up the various threads of the mini-series, although it does have to rely on a giant space whale fighting a giant space worm which began to make my eyes glaze over (as it did when Geoff Johns introduced the various space entities in charge of the color spectrum). Despite being impaled by a yellow-ring construct Superman comes out unharmed, and with the reboot of both Yellow and Green Lanterns rings he also says farewell to the responsibility of being a member of the Corps. Although Lex doesn’t actually get his hand on a ring he does learn the valuable lesson on the usefulness of allies which means we may see a legion or secret society in Smallville’s not-too-distant future. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Superman #32

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Superman #32I haven’t been that big a fan of the New 52 boyish Superman who is far removed from moral pillar of the DCU he was before the reboot. Offering a new creative team in writer Geoff Johns and artist John Romita Jr., Superman #32 begins a new arc exploring Superman’s distance from humanity (even in the guise of Clark Kent) by introducing a new character in Ulysses.

Born on Earth but sent into the Fourth Dimension by his scientist parents 25 years ago, Ulysses returns home following a monster from the Fourth Dimension he helps Superman stop. The near-identical origin story feels a bit much, but it also gives Superman someone who to relate to. I have a suspicion where the storyline is headed but I hope I’m wrong and Ulysses doesn’t become he villain in yet another Superman vs. Evil Superman-lite tale.

Superman #32 doesn’t sell me completely on the comic going forward, but it does pique my curiosity as to where Johns and Romita will take the Man of Steel. Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3

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Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3With the Earth being bombarded with yellow rings seeking out those able to harness great fear Batman and Superman have their hands full. Despite his recent injuries, Green Arrow jumps back into the fray this time in a suit of armor. And, in bad news for the heroes, in space another Lantern falls to Parallax.

Setting up next month’s conclusion to the four-issue mini-series, Smallville Season Eleven: Lantern #3 leaves things looking rather bleak for our heroes with John Stewart now leading Parallax’s warriors into battle. It will be interesting to see how Clark and the group manage to turn the tide, but I’m actually more interested in the fallout with several questions to be answered.

Who will wear the Green Lantern ring of New Krypton? If Parallax is defeated and the Guardians are freed does that mean other possible victims (such as Hal Jordan?) may make an appearance as well. And what might happen if Lex Luthor gets his hands on one of those yellow power rings? Worth a look.

[DC, $3.99]

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