REVIEW: Adventures Of Superman: Book Of El #4
Adventures of Superman: Book of El #4, “The Shield of Lanternholm” brings in cosmic world building as we’re reintroduced to Ronan’s sister, Rowan Kent. Kryl-Ux’s desperation also goes on full display as he feels he’s the closest he’s ever been to achieving his goal. Things are certainly ramping up in this futuristic story that bookends Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s epic run on Superman.
The standard cover is by Scott Godlewski and Alex Guimarāes. Superman’s cape is being held by some sort of adversary in a victorious manner. Symbolically, Kryl-Ux does seem to be manipulating Clark to do what he wants and therefore “has him by the cape”, so to speak. The title, “The House of Kent Divided” is more apt to the story inside as there’s an apparent rift between Ronan and Rowan.
Rahzzah’s variant is a great scene of Superman flying near a planet with rings. The colors are so vivid and the art is extremely realistic. It really is a superb piece of work.
The variant by Lucio Parrillo is a portrait of Superman sharing an uncanny likeness to Henry Cavill. Looking serious and determined, Clark seems poised to handle anything that would be thrown at him. Whatever your feelings on the matter, Cavill makes an awesome looking Superman and Parrillo’s art helps to support that claim.
Sarah Baslaim’s variant is an interesting take on Superman’s relationship with chains. Chains had a powerful meaning during The War World Saga so it’s fitting to have a representation of that symbology for this series. All in all, it’s a fascinating cover of classic imagery.
Scott Godlewski with Colorists Alex Guimarāes and Matt Herms continue their spectacular interior work on ‘Book of El’. In the right hands Lantern centric stories deliver some of the more visually appealing, eye candy panels. With this issue, the art team proves they are amongst those considered to be the right hands. Even with the high stakes feel of the story, Godlewski, Guimarāes, and Herms makes this issue fun to read and, at times, a bit comical. That’s not to say the tone doesn’t match the writing as the action sequences are taken very seriously and the emotional state of both Ronan and Rowan feel very realistic. It’s just their timing for appropriate levity is expertly used. The art for this series has been extremely imaginative and goes far in maintaining the futuristic setting and this issue continues in that vein.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson, lettered by Dave Sharpe, effortlessly weaves in elements of his ‘Green Lantern: War Journal’ run making this story all the more rich. Don’t be alarmed, however, as you don’t need to have read that series in order to understand the situation at hand. There’s a lot of exposition this issue, but it doesn’t bog down the pacing. In fact, it helps highlight the lengths Kryl-Ux will go in order to get what he seeks as he not only breaks a treaty he had with Rowan, but doesn’t even wait for his own criteria to be met before unleashing a considerable threat upon the denizens of Laternholm. The House of El may have started out divided, but Kryl’s treacherous actions may be the catalyst that reunites them.
(9/10) Adventures of Superman: Book of El #4 is an exceptional issue that further builds on the futuristic setting of the series. Bringing in elements from PKJ’s Green Lantern story makes everything feel larger in scope and the last page betrayal gives the feeling that things are about to go bigger.
