REVIEW: Superboy: The Man Of Tomorrow #1

The long awaited 2022 DC Round Robin winner, Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #1 is finally in our hands! Right at the beginning we’re told this story takes place before the events of Action Comics #1051 allowing some context to his whereabouts since Conner was last seen in Action Comics #1028.

Having been around the internet for over a year, the standard cover by Jahnoy Lindsay is practically iconic at this point. Ruck sack on one shoulder and looking over the other with a smile, Conner has always been ready to take on the world. The cover quality is just a tease to Lindsay’s stellar interior work, but it’s enough to assure you it’s going to look great.

Former DC Round Robin winner and artist for DC Mech, Baldemar Rivas serves up a fiery variant. With flames leaping all around him, Conner is no worse for wear. All that’s missing is the “It tickles” quote to be a Superboy take on the legendary Superman #22 cover. Regardless, it’s a great cover that symbolizes Conner’s hot-headedness and impulsiveness.

The variant by Joe Quinones is an absolute blast. Full of DC Universe references, Conner has his back to us but otherwise posed similar to his cover debut on Adventures of Superman #501. The posters on the front of Bibbo’s, along with the graffiti, really plays into Conner’s punk inspirations. Plus, it’s fun to imagine various DC characters as indie rock artists.

Keep a look out for the other two great variants by George Kambadais and David Talaski.

Jahnoy Lindsay takes on all the interior art duties. His use of depth and shading really grabs your attention and guides you through the important aspects of a scene. There are some great character designs as Conner heads off to help another planet in need. The action sequences visually capture all the attitude you’d expect from a Superboy book.

Kenny Porter, with letters by Lucas Gattoni, gives us one jammed packed first issue. From Metropolis to Smallville, The Fortress and another planet, Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #1 doesn’t spend too much time on filler scenes. The issue begins with Conner contemplating his place in a world that, at one time, forgot all about him. Set prior to Action #1051, he already feels like a fourth wheel as the world has three other Kryptonian protectors. After taking a moment to seek advice for Jonathan and Martha, Conner decides he needs to be proactive in helping people. He ends up on another planet to fend off a Dominator invasion.

Although handling himself quite well, he eventually gets aid from a new group called the Cosmoteers. Porter shows how much he understands Conner as we follow his thought bubbles throughout the issue. His swagger and attitude completely hit the mark making it feel like catching up with an old friend. This series simply can’t release new issues fast enough.

Star Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★