Superman #15 Review

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Kenneth Rocafort

Since Scott Lobdell, and Kenneth Rocafort took over as the creative team on this series it has been a lot better than it had been, and I am happy that Superman is once again a respectable series. The H'el on Earth storyline itself has also been very decent, and I love that you can enjoy any of these series' without reading the others (and not getting confused), whilst also getting a much more enjoying experience reading the entire crossover event.

Plot

This issue sees Superman, and Superboy locked out of the Fortress of Solitude by H'el. Superman and Superboy then head to a prison to visit it's sole prisoner, Lex Luthor.

Review

This was another decent issue in the H'el on Earth crossover, but I felt that it was a bit slow, and not as good as the previous issue. It also didn't really feel like it was fully connected to the crossover, as besides it being the center of most of the conversations it didn't really move the story forward. I still think that Lobdell did a decent job, and it is still miles better than the series was prior to him joining. Although it felt slightly forced I liked the involvement of Lex Luthor in this issue, and think that Lobdell wrote him very well, although I'll talk more about that later. Although it didn't move the story any further forward, I did like that it was still mentioned, and that it eventually set-up the next part of H'el on Earth brilliantly, whether it's this series, or the others.

The art was once again fabulous, and Rocafort did an amazing job. It's been a long time since Superman has had a mind-blowingly brilliant artist, and I'm, happy it has one, once more. It doesn't matter what Rocafort draws, it always looks beautiful, and I really think he could jump on any series, and make it look good, and he proves why in this issue, drawing all the characters brilliantly, as well as the backgrounds, and settings. I loved Rocafort's art on Red Hood and the Outlaws, but I feel that he's much more suited on this series, as despite his work on RHATO being fantastic, his art on this series makes it look average. I also loved that when he draws Superman and Superboy next to each other that Superboy actually looks like a boy. It's weird saying that this was a surprise, but due to the settings Superboy has been in so far in the New 52, as well as the characters he's interacted with it's easy to forget that he's meant to look young, but Rocafort show's it perfectly here.

Superman and Superboy Bonding

I loved the way Superman, and Superboy interacted throughout this issue, as it really shows the differences in their characteristics. Although it wasn't mentioned much, if at all, it was still noticeable that Superboy being a clone drove their feelings for each other. It was interesting to see what Superboy thought of Superman throughout this issue, as he was appreciative for Superman twice saving his life, but made it clear that he wasn't invested in Superman's affairs, or his family (Supergirl). I also liked that Superman was wary of Superboy, due to him being a clone, and that he wanted to keep him near by, for the foreseeable future. The most interesting conversation between Superman, and Superboy was when Superboy asked Superman if he wanted the help of the Teen Titans. The thing that was interesting about this was that Superman wasn't fond of the idea of a bunch of teenage superhuman's going about unsupervised. I will now be looking forward to seeing when/if Superman will confront the Teen Titans, and what series it will be in.

Visitors for Mr. Luthor

As I said earlier, I liked the involvement of Lex Luthor, and thought that Lobdell wrote him brilliantly, showing him as the brilliant, self centred, arrogant genius that he is. The thing that I liked the most about this sequence was the interest that Luthor has in Superboy. I've not read all the Superboy series, so I don't know if it's been confirmed that the human part of his DNA was from Luthor, like it was before the New 52, but this meeting shows that this is the case, and that Luthor knows it. If it is the case I will be looking forward to both Superboy's and Superman's reactions to this. The conversation about H'el was also interesting, and I found it especially interesting that despite Luthor being in jail he knew everything that was happening between H'el and Superman. I also liked that at the beginning of this issue, Luthor had built a mini replica of the Fortress of Solitude, reflecting the fact that Superman, and Superboy are locked out of it. I hope that we see Luthor in this series sometime in the future, whether it's in this storyline or not, and hope that it's sooner rather than later.

Enter the Justice League

The Justice League also made an appearance in this issue when Superman calls on them for help. They don't do much, but their appearance alone shows that the upcoming events in this storyline will be epic, whether they're brilliant, or not. I also liked that Lobdell put in a small mention about the Superman/Wonder Woman relationship, which started in Justice League #12, and that it's a secret to the Justice League, although one member knows (Batman). There was also an acknowledgement of this in the last issue, but it was nice to see it mentioned again, especially considering Wonder Woman featured in the issue. This also makes me wonder if there relationship will play any future role in this series, as although Lobdell stated that he wants to focus on Clark, and Lois Lane's relationship, it appears that Superman, and Wonder Woman's might play a role. The main thing I liked about the Justice Leage's appearance was Superboy's reaction to them, especially when he asked Flash if he was Man Flash, due to Kid Flash (who Flash doesn't know of since the events of Flashpoint, and the beginning of the New 52) being on the Teen Titans.

Final Verdict

This was a brilliant issue, and although it doesn't progress the H'el on Earth storyline much it was still a fabulous issue. I would highly recommend this issue, as well as the other issues of Superman, Lobdell's wrote, and am looking forward to the next part of H'el on Earth. Although you don't need to buy Superboy #15 to understand this issue, I'd still recommend it, as it shows why Superboy's wearing Superman's Kryptonian Armour, and was a decent comic in it's own right.

Rating: 4/5

Superman #14 Review

Writer: Scott Lobdell

Artist: Kenneth Rocafort

The first year of this series was terrible, but since the arrival of Scott Lobdell as of issue 0 the series has become what it should have been all along, great. I have been a Superman fan since a child so seeing the main Superman series do so dreadful whilst others like Action Comics doing so well wasn't nice. Nothing against any of the other series, and mainly Action Comics, which Grant Morrison has done a great job on, but the main Superman series should be the best like the main Batman series should be better than the other Batman series.

Plot

This issue sees Lois Lane visit Clark to try and persuade him to come back to the Daily Planet. Her visit is however cut short by the arrival of Supergirl (who can now speak English), who takes Clark to meet the Kryptonian, H'el, who claims he can restore Krypton.

Review

This was a brilliant issue and a great start to Superman's role in the H'el on Earth crossover. Lobdell's work over the three series he writes (this, Teen Titans, and Red Hood and the Outlaws) has been very interesting, as this series is brilliant, Red Hood and the Outlaws has been fairly good, but Teen Titans has been poor as of recent. I have however loved what Lobdell has done with this series since joining, and how during this issue he's been able to integrate Supergirl, and Superboy also. His work since joining the series has been brilliant and I like how he's made a distinct difference between Clark and Superman whilst finally giving Clark a back bone. It's been interesting seeing Clark use more of his Superman traits in real life and I love how it's been done subtly. I also like how Lobdell writes all the Super's in this issue, and how you can easily tell they're different. Having read Superboy since the start (which Lobdell used to write), only missing issues 10-12, and reading the last issue of Supergirl, I have been able to appreciate them from their own series', ans I think anyone who is a fan of them series' will love what Lobdell has done with them in this issue, and appreciate how he's kept their characteristic's, and tones.

The art in this issue is simply astonishing. Kenneth Rocafort produces some of the most amazing art I have ever seen, and whether it's on this series or his time on Red Hood and the Outlaws, it's always outstanding. The detail he puts into his work is phenomenal, and the emotion into the characters is amazing. I love how he keeps the characteristics of the characters the same as their respective series', which is great as the fans of them series' wouldn't be happy otherwise. It's also nice that he can still add his own uniwue tone to the issue whilst doing this, as it makes his art easily recognisable. The colours from Sunny Gho throughout this issue is beautiful, and make Rocafort's art event prettier (if possible). I like how the colours in this series are similar to the colours Blond produced in Red Hood and the Outlaws, making Rocafort's art even more easier to recognise. The thing I like about the differences between Gho's colours in this series, and Blond's in Red Hood and the Outlaws, is that the colours in this series are a lot lighter and give a more warm and calmer feel to the series, whereas Blond's darker colours gave the type of tone Red Hood and the Outlaws needed.

Lois' appearance in this issue was brilliant, and although it was brief I have a feeling this will be setting up things that will happen either during H'el on Earth, or more likely after. The interaction between Lois and Clark in this issue was very well written, and the chemistry shown between them was perfect. I like how Lobdell writes the different feelings they have towards each other, as it's obvious that Clark want's to be more than friends with Lois, whilst Lois only classes Clark as her best friend. It will be interesting to see how their relationship progresses in later issues as Lobdell stated that he was going to focus on Clark and Lois' relationship and that Lois and Clark should be together. I do however hope that the Clark and Lois relationship isn't developed any more than this issue did during H'el on Earth, as I think it would take away from the bigger story and rush the progression of the Lois and Clark relationship. I also liked how Lobdell put in a reference to the Superman/Wonder Woman kiss from Justice League #12, and it will be interesting to see if this has anything to do with the development of the Clark and Lois relationship.

 

The way Supergirl was introduced into this issue was great, and I loved how Lois reacted thinking that Clark was interviewing some cosplayer. The way Clark reacted to Supergirl's arrival was also brilliant, and I loved the conversation they had about how she almost blew his secret identity. The differences between Superman and Supergirl, are perfectly shown throughout this issue also, as we have Superman who sees Earth as his home, and wouldn't be happy if his secret identity was revealed, whereas Supergirl just wants to return to Krypton, and thinks that it's silly that Superman goes about pretending to be a human.

H'el's role throughout this entire crossover has probably been the most interesting. The way he's brought all the Super's together in one place is outstanding, and the mystery throughout his character is amazing. I think H'el has been a brilliant villain, and the thing I like most about him is he's not your usual villain. He' like most villains, as in he thinks his ways are just, and that he's doing no wrong, bit where he differs is due to him being an alien. He knows a lot less about humans than Superman does but his ambition to restore Krypton makes him such a dangerous villain. I also liked how he's put a fracture in the already small relationship between Superman and Supergirl. I also liked how he brought Superboy, "the abomination", along with him like he did in Supergirl #14, and the way both this and Supergirl's appearance has been integrated into this isue make both Supergirl #14 and Superboy #14 even more worthwhile reading. I also loved how Lobdell managed to connect the event from Superboy #14, and Supergirl #14 brilliantly, making the experience of reading all three amazing, whilst making this issue a brilliant stand alone issue.

Final Verdict

This was an amazing issue and a perfect way to start the Superman section of H'el on Earth. I would highly recommend this to everyone, and if you read Superboy or Supergirl I'd recommend trying out this issue, as it continues both series brilliantly. It's also a great starting point for new fans, and the perfect place for older fans who lost faith in the series prior to Lobdell joining returning. I for one am looking forward to seeing what H'el has in store for Superman, Supboy, and Supergirl in their respective series, and if this will come back to this series, like it did with this issue.

Rating: 4/5