REVIEW: Superman #21
After such a fierce last issue, you’d expect Superman #21 to up the ante – what comes after a Doomsday fight must be extreme, however, this issue reads more like an interlude than another main entry in the story at the end.
Grant Morrison once said Superman takes his dog on walks on the asteroid belt, so naturally, he takes his wife for milkshakes on the moon in Dan Mora’s cover. It’s that part in superhero comics where sci-fi becomes fantasy and life is more fantastical than futuristics – Superman does this the best than any other. While antagonists usually appear in the background looming over everything on posters or covers, Doomsday is right in front beneath it all like the devil he is.
Dave Johnson goes retro for his variant cover. Those old advertisements from sea monkeys to x-ray glasses just as entertaining as the comics they were seen in. So much so, that they inspire the artwork of several illustrators. Johnson nails the Silver-Age art style (that really is how Superman was drawn in all marketing and products) and printing and the coffee mug stain in a meta detail.
With her Halloween pieces, it was a matter of time before we were getting some holiday-themed ones from Chrissie Zullo. Her design of kid Superman is very charming with the tied-on blanket becoming a staple of drawing Superman as a kid. The Justice League ornaments make it feel like a happy holiday from DC. I think we will see this in the DC Shop at some point on shirts for the season like with Zullo’s other seasonal illustrations.
Other variants are available from Jessica Fong, Chris Samnee, and David Lapham.
Doomsday has been subdued using the Black Mercy and is being held at SuperCorp, but Doomsday Time Ripper is still out there and planning something even bigger than a single Superman-killing monster. But it’s the calm before the storm as Lois enjoys her time with Clark as Superwoman and Superman. At the same time, Lois shares how she feels as editor-in-chef and not writing as much (as was explored in Superman Special #1) while Superman continues to worry about Doomsday.
Lois and Clark’s outings are interluded with where-are-they-nows of the supporting cast. Jimmy and Silver Banshee have a movie night (and day by the looks of it), Doomsday continues to dream endlessly about killing Superman, and Mercy may realize she likes Luthor better this way. But what was mentioned earlier is that this is the calm before the storm.
With Superwoman Special #1, it seems odd that Joshua Williamson would have the next main Superman issue be another interlude as opposed to running from where Superman #20 left us. However, this can be good filler. Lois and Clark’s little outings are fun and not too much from Superwoman Special #1 is repeated with Lois. So, it’s good we get to hear more from Clark. Gemworld and Amethyst are nice inclusions too. With the whole supporting cast, it’s fair to say that the Superman status quo is in a very unique place. Letters are by Ariana Maher.
It could be the holiday season in the comics since we get some winter scenes and some ice monsters from Mora in Superman #21. His Gemworld armor designs are pretty refined as well. Amethyst’s armor has never had this much detail put into it before. The art is really more in the panels themselves than how they sequence together, and Mora had a lot of settings to draw. There’s a great homage to the original Death of Superman in one panel and manages to be both modern and retro at the same time. I personally really like how Mora handles faces. Colors are done by Alejandro Sanchez.
(7/10) Superman #21 continues the interlude that Superwoman Special #1 began which feels like more of an interlude within the Doomsday story at hand. But if that’s the case, then it’s good filler. The holidays are in full swing, but Lois and Clark make us feel like it’s Valentine’s Day.
