REVIEW: Superman #23

Superman #23 brings us the conclusion to the latest Doomsday chapter as it comes to an end, but it seems like the saga is only just beginning. Teaming up at the site of their very battle and death years and years ago, Superman and Doomsday fend off Radiant and the Calatonians while Superwoman gets to the bottom of it with Time Trapper and his grand scheme.

Dan Mora entangles Superman with Time Trapper, which is one of the coolest designs for the character of all time. Having Doomsday take up the mantle adds a mystique to him that he never had before. The chains are symbolic of time as some personifications of Father Time include them.

Guillem March’s variant isn’t just a good cover, it’s a good Superman/Clark Kent piece overall. Seeing Clark turn into Superman is like seeing Santa Claus – that playful “shhh” moment of magic being real. March captures that perfectly with a modestly realistic art style and background which allows it to pop.

Dave Johnson’s incentive variant is a fun one as it pays homage to those gimmicky toys and products found that readers could mail in for from old comics. This saw such classics as pet rock, X-ray glasses, and invisible ink. The Superman Sonic Amplifier sounds just crazy enough to be sold alongside them. Johnson goes full retro here with Superman and even includes a mock order form. The NSA approval is also hilarious and the fact it has a fake ad disclaimer is even more so.

More variant covers are available from Nathan Szerdy, Dan Panosian, and Kaare Andrews.

While Superman and Doomsday feud with revenge-hungry Radiant and Calatonians sent by Time Trapper in an effort to push Doomsday towards the ultimate evolution by killing him, Superwoman is face to face with Time Trapper. The time lord Doomsday reveals that he does remember Lois from Metropolis during that day as well with her crying being the last thing he heard.

Clark is in full rage mode as he and Doomsday fight Radiant in the crumbling Metropolis. Members of the SuperCorp are on the scene as well as Lena and Lex Luthor with a plan to stop and hold Doomsday for the time being. It’s crazy to think that Superman has teamed up with Doomsday and Lex Luthor at the same time. But how long could any of it last? And what of Lois’ continuing as Superwoman?

Joshua Williamson started this issue off strong with a chilling reflection of The Death of Superman with Lois and Time Trapper – how Doomsday remembers her crying and how it was for the fact Superman had to kill rather than him dying. That’s more or less a new way to look at the timeless story that this one is built on. From there, it’s the kind of action that this issue would need more pages to do justice. Radiant makes an imposing antagonist too. Some readers may have forgotten just how powerful he is. Lex Luthor continues in his amnesia-ridden hero arc without much sign of cracking. Williamson also has a couple of things to tease in this issue for the future to continue the hot streak this series has had going since All-In began. Letters are done by Ariana Maher.

Mora gives us glorious full- and half-page action shots nearly every two pages in Superman #23. Some of these are an angry Superman with glowing red eyes and a battle-damaged costume that needs to be on a poster immediately. If it hasn’t already been said, Mora has joined the ranks of Jim Lee, Gary Frank, Jorge Jiménez, and more as one of the best modern Superman illustrators. This whole story arc and tons of covers he has done cemented him as such. Doomsday himself could’ve made more appearances beyond Time Trapper, but it’s been established they are one and the same. Colors are by Alejandro Sanchez.

(9/10) The official synopsis for Superman #23 is inaccurate and this works tremendously in its favor as it closes out this chapter in Doomsday’s elusive saga explosively rather than intricately. And, with the road ahead it seems like the post-Absolute Power Superman hot streak may continue.