REVIEW: Superman #24

It would be difficult to follow up with an issue as explosive as the last one, but Superman #24 maintains that same level of reader excitement and engagement with a new threat from within SuperCorp. With some bonus hero appearances and more of a focus on SuperCorp, this could shape up to be quite a story arc based on this first chapter. 

Series regular artist Dan Mora steps away for this issue but stays on for the cover which seems to imply that Superman is having disputes with both Lois and Mercy. Lois is wrestling with being Superwoman, but not outright conflicting with Clark. Mercy, as we’re about to read, is another can of worms entirely. 

March Madness enters the later rounds as the Final Four collegiate teams to play for the championship in April are almost determined. The mainline Superman series finally gets its courtside variant cover by Leonardo Romero. The bold lines colors and minimalism to a nice contrast to the detailed background courtside variant of Action Comics.

Fernando Pasarin and Oclair Albert create another sport-centric variant with Superman and the entire Superfamily plays a round of zero gravity football in the backyard of the Kent house. It looks as though Lois is calling them in before joining in herself. Everyone’s having a good time here in their modern Action Comics suits with a nice background of the Kent farm. Colors are by Luis Guerrero. 

Other cool Superman (and Superwoman) variants are available from David Nakayama, Guillem March, and Rafael Grassetti.  

It’s not long before Clark and Lois find out about Lex and Mercy’s newfound relationship that the last amnesia-ridden Lex stories and issues have been focusing on. In addition to the stasis bottled city that’s holding Doomsday, The Aftermath, and Radiant, Mercy hopes to finally show what SuperCorp has been working on when not helping Superman on his recent adventures.

Meanwhile, Lois answers a Justice League call to Markovia concerning alien invaders. She and a Justice League of America-style team of Hawkgirl, The Creeper, both Blue Beetles, Vixen, and Mr. Terrific are on the case as the attackers are revealed to be the warlike Khunds. While the others hold back the invasion and evacuate citizens, Superwoman and The Creeper get to the bottom of why the Khunds are attacking this time. As it would turn out, it is seemingly linked to what SuperCorp has been up to. 

The Superwoman and Justice League mission nicely fills and satisfies the action quota while we get a closer look at the mysterious company that Superman seemingly inherited. It’s a nice touch having reporters-turned-superheroes Superwoman and The Creeper (Jack Ryder) team up. The cover would have you believe Lois’ Superwoman arc is more involved, but that’s not the case in this issue. Of course, the real twists to be had are at SuperCorp. Apparently, Superman #25 is set to be a major issue so it will be interesting to see what Williamson does with the story for it. Letters are by Ariana Maher. 

Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira and Alejandro Sanchez handle the art for Superman #24. Barrows had done a great job in House of Brainiac thanks to his gritty art style that often compliments horror themes. It’s weird going from the bold colors of Dan Mora’s art to the darker tone of Barrows and Ferreira’s in this issue. Doomsday would have been the perfect villain for them to draw. Even the Justice League group fights on a stormy night rather than the daytime – the pouring rain details are nice.

(8/10) Superman #24 doesn’t fall into the trap of feeling like an interlude issue after the explosive previous one.  Lex continues taking baby steps toward his true return while someone else seems to have already taken his place with the question of whether Superman should share his alien technology, the bad and the good, for Earth’s benefit being explored.