| Superman #37 |
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| Wednesday, 24 December 2014 22:27 |
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I don't entirely subscribe to the maxim of "Ignorance is bliss," but not knowing stuff really does make things easier sometimes. For example, maybe if I didn't read so many comics day in, day out, I'd be more impressed with the moment when [Spoiler alert!] Neil admits his offer of a perfect world to humanity is all a ploy designed to feed that world's sustaining core. Instead, the whole time, I'm just thinking, Silver Surfer rip-off. He says "Seeker," I say Herald. Same diff.
These similarities were fairly apparent from last issue, which cause the revelations here to have even less impact. Even if you've never heard of Galactus, Silver Surfer, and Co., there are just so many stories about utopias harboring deep dark secrets that you can easily guess where this is all going. Johns sort of sets this one apart by the admittedly clever way Neil manipulates Clark to get the credibility he needs to con so many people. On the other hand, it's only been five issues since Neil appeared, and it feels a bit of a stretch for Jimmy to say, "He's Superman's friend."
This is especially true when you consider that Clark and Neil have been bickering for the last few issues over the same old thing: humanity's doomed, no it isn't, etc. Clark doesn't have a hard time winning this argument, and not just because he's Superman, either. Neil's just being unfair, working with a stunted view of the world yet "condemn[ing] us before we fail," as Clark says. And Neil's one to talk about living in such a perfect world when its existence is predicated on mass murder.
If Neil wants sympathy, maybe he should talk more about the gratitude and obligation he feels toward his adoptive world, if not his parents. We've gotten hints that his adoptive parents aren't exactly the 4D versions of the Kents: the mother slightly in horror of her son's powers and the father revealed to be Klerik, who worked with Neil to cook up this whole kidnapping scheme. On these facts, it's hard for us to understand why he'd side with them over the Quinns, who worm their way further and further into your heart with every issue. They're not Kents, either, but they're good people and loving parents, and that's key to the issue's big turnaround.
But Neil's change of heart comes a bit too late, it seems. His and Clark's impromptu plan to save both the people of Earth and 4D literally explodes in their face, leaving us on one of those classic Johnsian cliffhangers, where you have no idea what's going to happen next. Neil naturally blames Clark for the apparent destruction of his adoptive homeworld and the deaths of everyone there, including both sets of parents. He's wrong, of course; blame him or Klerik, but all Clark's been doing is trying to save everyone, as usual. Still, this is a major blot on his record; is Johns really committed to keeping it there?
Romita's at his best when the energy levels are high, when he can have his characters speeding in and out, throwing punches and energy blasts to their hearts content. Johns obliges with a world-smashing plot, but even so, I can't say that the art is very special. Romita does have his moments, however, and not always in the middle of action. We've been waiting both curiously and dubiously to see this so-called Great World, and the flower and waterfall-covered paradise, with its floating, languid platforms, does fit the bill. Its appearance is brief, but alluring enough to make you sorry to see it blown to smithereens.
Some Musings:
- Maybe Clark should take Neil on a tour of Apokolips. The nice thing about that place is every other place benefits by comparison.
The post Superman #37 appeared first on Weekly Comic Book Review. Read more: http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2014/12/25/superman-37/ |
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