Category: DC Comics

Written and Artwork by Ngozi Ukazu.

Lettering by Wes Abbott.

Cover Art by Ngozi Ukazu & Wes Abbott.

SUMMARY:

Released in 2024 by DC Comics, writer/illustrator Ngozi Ukazu presents Barda as a 191-page romantic adventure adapted from Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga.

On the far-off world of Apokolips, Barda (a Wonder Woman-caliber warrior) is the field leader of Darkseid’s Female Furies commando squad.  One could estimate this Barda’s age as somewhere between her late teens and early twenties.  Barda’s discovery of an enigmatic book left on the battlefield inspires her discreet search for love – a sentimental thought process expressly forbidden on the desolate Apokolips.  The candidate for Barda’s romantic affection is her rival warrior: Orion, who will gladly bait her into another round of combat, just for fun’s sake.   

Raised in isolation from childhood by the malevolent ‘Granny,’ Barda and her fellow violence-seeking Furies (Lashina; Stompa; Mad Harriet; DeSaad’s sister, Bernadeth; and young Auralie) are committed to lethal missions for the almighty Darkseid.  Specifically, they are presently seeking out scattered artifacts that are ‘variables’ in Darkseid’s obsession with conquering the Anti-Life Equation. 

Privately, however, Barda realizes that suppressing her natural compassion and, more so, her conscience, prompts some dangerous consequences.  For instance, reminiscent of an ‘older sister,’ Barda finds herself protective of the innocent-spirited Auralie, whose therapeutic dancing is her teammate’s sole sense of salvation.  At the same time, Barda serves as the chief guard of a prisoner named Scott Free, who is being held underground in the seemingly inescapable X-Pit. 

Scott’s efforts (and temporary successes) at escaping captivity make Barda wonder perhaps a satisfying life lies somewhere beyond her sheltered existence on Apokolips. Finding out why Granny isn’t allowed to kill Scott, Barda deduces that her mentor intends to sadistically break the resilient young prisoner’s spirit, by any means necessary.  More so, Granny is becoming increasingly suspicious of Barda’s judgment. 

Death prompts an outraged Barda to at last seek out the truth of the book she has kept hidden from her fellow Furies.  More so, her long-repressed rebellious streak finds Barda on a mission previously unthinkable to her: challenging her ruthless teammates in battle to save a friend from imminent execution.  Going undercover, Barda risks her own future on a quest where reciprocal love becomes the endgame.   

Note: This title has also been released digitally.

REVIEW:

Unlike other creators writing for DC’s Graphic Novels for Young Adults, Ngozi Ukazu doesn’t pursue a vivid and/or even excessive re-imagining of an established DC Comics character.  Instead, with sufficient originality, she faithfully updates Jack Kirby’s work into a poignant romance retelling Barda’s discovery of a genuine soulmate.  Ukazu’s storytelling conveys a wonderful depth of character where she meshes thoughtful scripting with deliberately low-key visuals.

Meant to reintroduce Big Barda & Scott Free to a new generation, Ukazu’s Barda is a welcome tribute celebrating one of DC Comics’ most underrated couples.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Included is a twelve-page preview of Nicole Maines & Rye Hickman’s Nia Nal (the Legionnaire known as Dreamer) graphic novel entitled Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story.  Maines had previously appeared as the character’s live-action counterpart in the Supergirl television series.  Unlike Ukazu’s story, Maines’ storytelling uses some profanity-laced dialogue.

BRIAN’S OOD MOON RATING:                          8 Stars

Written by Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza.

Art by Mark Bagley; Scott McDaniel; Tom Derenick; Mike Norton; Art Thibert; Andy Owens; Wayne Faucher; Jerry Ordway; Mark Farmer; Karl Kesel; Pete Pantazis; Allen Passalaqua; Pat Brosseau; & Ken Lopez.

Cover Art by Shane Davis & Guy Major.

SUMMARY:

In 2009, DC Comics began releasing 2008’s weekly Trinity series in a trade paperback format.  The 364-page Volume 1 compiles Issues # 1-17, as a strange cosmic nightmare first zeroes in on Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.

Disturbed by variations of a dream each had the night before, DC’s ‘Trinity’ of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman initially have little to go on beyond determining their common denominators.  Yet, sinister machinations by the sorceress Morgaine Le Fey, the snarky Enigma, and Despero soon unleash an expanding scheme upon their three mutual foes. 

Through the use of mystical branding discs, each of the ‘Trinity’ is destined to be marked with an archaic tarot symbol.  Once all three heroes become ‘branded,’ mystic forces will warp their world’s reality in ways reminiscent of Flashpoint and The New 52: Future’s End. 

As the Justice League (including many of their Titans/Outsiders reserves) investigates this bizarre mystery, more nefarious components come into play. Among them is the Crime Syndicate’s mass abduction scheme, which prompts the JLA to storm in retaliation the Syndicate’s own parallel earth.

During their missions, other Leaguers begin to notice subtle shifts in the personalities of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, as if their established core ideals are now rotating among them.  A seemingly climatic confrontation with the plot’s three major co-conspirators proves only the end of the beginning for the Trinity’s ordeal.  Sporadic hints of a fractured new reality are the first signs towards plot developments in Volume 2.

Meanwhile, the tarot-reading Marguerita (a character reminiscent of Madame Xanadu) has unsettling visions of what darkness is still to come for DC’s three greatest champions.     

Note: At present, this title hasn’t been released digitally.

REVIEW:

Considering 2008’s Trinity is another of DC’s yearlong titles (i.e. 52 and Countdown) from that era, one might have anticipated a reasonably good storyline. Unfortunately, this tiresome epic’s first third is really more of a glorified page count than a coherent, let alone vaguely interesting, read.  No one, in that sense, brought their creative A-game to this unnecessary DC ‘crisis.’    

While Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza merely conjure up ways to prolong the trio’s predicament, the art squad’s lackluster visuals straddle various shades of mediocrity.  Single panels (i.e. a facial close-up) occasionally look terrific, but it’s still a stretch to say that Volume 1 even delivers consistent B-grade artwork.  Some good news, however, is that DC Comics may have learned a practical lesson from peddling this dreck. 

By later simplifying the Superman-Wonder Woman-Batman premise to closely resemble the World’s Finest (or Superman/Batman) team-up formula, the artists gain much better odds of producing quality visuals.  Hence, DC’s subsequent Trinity monthly titles have proven consistently superior in both episodic storytelling and appealing artwork. 

That said, it’s entirely possible that this Trinity’s Volumes 2 and 3 are improvements, given the creative talent involved.  Reading the underwhelming Volume 1, however, isn’t worth indulging the time.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In the cover gallery, three covers at a time appear as two-page collage spreads.  For Issues # 1-6, the cover artists are Carlos Pacheco, Jesus Merino, and Allen Passalaqua.  Andy Kubert and Edgar Delgado are the cover artists for Issues # 7-12.  For Issues # 13-18, the cover artists are Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair. 

Artist Mark Bagley contributes a series of black-and-white sketches: a Trinity two-page collage; a Superman portrait; a Trinity portrait; an Interceptor portrait; a Graak portrait; and a Tarot character profile.  Bagley, with added color from Art Thibert and Pete Pantazis, provides a completed version of his earlier Trinity portrait.  Lastly, Shane Davis contributes the black-and-white sketch for this collection’s cover. 

Note: Issue # 18’s cover is included to complete a collage, but the story itself appears in Volume 2.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                                4 Stars

Written by Jeph Loeb.   

Art by Tim Sale & Bjarne Hansen.

Cover Art by Tim Sale & Bjarne Hansen.

SUMMARY:

Released in 1999 by DC Comics, this 208-page paperback collects 1998’s Superman For All Seasons # 1-4 mini-series.  Its segments are titled in order by the season (but not necessarily from the same year).   Each issue is narrated by a different member from Superman’s supporting cast, as their insights prove vital to the ongoing story arc.

Spring:  Told through Jonathan Kent’s sage perspective, he observes how his 18-year-old son awkwardly realizes that it’s time to leave Smallville after a tornado ravages the town.  After sharing his secret with a bewildered Lana Lang, a lonely Clark Kent moves away to Metropolis.  It isn’t clear how many years have then lapsed. 

The astonishing presence of Superman coincides with Clark’s arrival as a rookie journalist for The Daily Planet.  The Man of Steel’s interception of a nuclear missile targeting Metropolis has dual significance.  Specifically, it draws the interest of Clark’s colleague, Lois Lane, and glowering resentment from the city’s other ‘superman,’ Lex Luthor.

Summer: As a jaded Metropolis sophisticate, Lois Lane contemplates the Man of Steel’s seemingly too-good-to-be-true intentions.  More so, she acknowledges that Superman’s mutual enmity towards Lex Luthor is really a boon for a career.  After Superman rescues an unconscious female fan from an overnight fire, Luthor senses a nefarious opportunity.

Fall:  Seen through Lex Luthor’s eyes, a humiliating overnight stay in the Metropolis city jail expedites his desired revenge against Superman.  Lois gains a brief insight into Clark’s private life before an unknown virus cripples Metropolis.  Only a few, including Superman and a conveniently well-protected Luthor, are unaffected.  With Luthor’s help, it’s up to the Man of Steel and an unexpected ally to douse the city with the airborne antidote.  The price, however, is a tragic casualty.

Clark despondently comes home to Smallville while a triumphant Luthor gloats.

Winter: Reuniting in Smallville for the first time since their high school graduation, Lana and Clark poignantly observe the humble adults they have become.  Encouraged by Lana and his parents, it’s up to Superman to save Smallville from a flood.  Clark realizes that he must accept his responsibility as the world’s savior.  Meanwhile, in Metropolis, Lois Lane curiously ponders the simultaneous absences of Clark and the Man of Steel. 

Note: This title has been re-released multiple times, and its formats include hardcover and digitally.

REVIEW:

One included observation from Smallville’s co-creators, Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, describes the timeless Superman For All Seasons as reminiscent of a John Ford film.  That assessment is accurate, but this All-American take on Superman also ingeniously mirrors Frank Capra’s filmmaking style.  Predictable as it may be, readers will get the feel-good experience of Luthor’s ruthlessness losing to Clark’s humble innocence and the human spirit, as personified by Smallville. 

Keeping such a familiar origin tale simple yet insightful, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s creative teamwork is beautifully rendered.  More so, this duo’s classy storytelling would be hackneyed in nearly any other team’s hands.  More so, what is so impressive is the story’s heartfelt vibe.  Superman For All Seasons, in that sense, is conveyed as if it were fresh from a Norman Rockwell painting. 

Excluding the usual components like Krypton, the Lois & Clark romance, the Fortress of Solitude (apart from a brief wink), and an assortment of outlandish villains, a far greater balance between Superman and his supporting cast is achieved.  Hence, Superman For All Seasons, as an introspective, is a masterpiece for fans of any age.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Tim Sale’s full-page cover precedes each segment.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     8½ Stars

Written by Brian Michael Bendis & David F. Walker.

Art by Jamal Campbell & Wes Abbott.

Collection Cover Art by Jamal Campbell.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2023, this 144-page hardcover compiles 2022’s Naomi: Season Two # 1-6.  Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, and Jamal Campbell are the title character’s co-creators.  Chronologically, this storyline occurs after the events of 2022’s Justice League, Volume 1: Prisms, also written by Bendis.

It’s been three weeks since Black Adam and Superman made an unexpected visit to Naomi in Port Oswego.  As a rookie Justice Leaguer, teenager Naomi McDuffie is struggling to adapt to her new responsibilities.  In particular, maintaining control of her radiant super-powers is at the top of the to-do list.  One night, Naomi and her suspicious adoptive father, Greg, discover that their Thanagarian ally, Dee, has ominously vanished.  Quite possibly, Dee has left for Naomi’s home world to seek out Zumbado to avenge Naomi’s birth parents. 

Naomi’s subsequent investigation brings her into a crisis at S.T.A.R. Labs. where she encounters Cyborg.  Then, an agitated Hawkgirl becomes involved over a malevolent Thanagarian dial Naomi had found among Dee’s discarded possessions.  Once a gravely injured Dee returns, Naomi seeks out help from the Justice League.  Yet, when mysterious invaders from her home dimension invade Port Oswego, it’s up to a desperate Naomi to protect the town. 

Upon reconnecting with her birth mother’s friend, Akira, Naomi makes a pivotal decision, as to her short-term future.    

Notes: This title is also available digitally.  As of this writing, the trade paperback’s wide release is evidently still in the works.  The title character’s subsequent DC moniker is ‘Powerhouse.’

REVIEW:

As with Season One, artist Jamal Campbell’s excellent visuals are Season Two’s most valuable asset.  The teen-friendly plotting that co-writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker put forward is a good second round yet hardly remarkable. 

Their Season Two finish just comes off as too contrived that an inexperienced and impulsive Naomi would be allowed to return to her home world (without even finishing high school) as a solo freedom fighter.  As upbeat as this ultra-dangerous notion is made to sound, continuing to develop Naomi’s character depth in Port Oswego would have made better sense to set up a Season Three.    

At least, Cyborg and particularly Hawkgirl make solid guest appearances that contribute to Bendis and Walker’s plot twists.  The same, however, doesn’t apply to the Justice League/Justice League Dark’s hollow presence; their star power is squandered as Naomi’s glorified cheerleaders. 

For Naomi fans, Season Two still presents a solid Young Adult read (without resorting to cheap profanities).  Outside of this book’s intended audience, other potential readers might want to at least discover Campbell’s high-caliber artwork. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

For Issues # 2-5, Campbell’s wonderful covers follow each story.  Evidently, the cover for Issue # 1 is the collection cover.  After the first issue, artist Carla Cohen’s full-page retailer variant cover is provided.  From Issue # 2, also included is a full-page Matt Sayles variant featuring actress Kaci Walfall from Naomi’s live-action TV series.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       6½ Stars

Written by Brian Michael Michael Bendis & David F. Walker.

Art by Jamal Campbell; Josh Reed; & Carlos M. Mangual.

Collection Cover Art by Jamal Campbell.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics (via its Wonder Comics imprint) in 2019, this 160-page hardcover compiles that same year’s Naomi: Season One # 1-6.  The teenage title character is the co-creation of Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker, and Jamal Campbell.

In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the sleepy town of Port Oswego witnesses a brief skirmish between Superman and Mongul.  As the Man of Steel once did, seventeen-year-old Naomi McDuffie ponders unanswered questions of her own adoption shortly after birth.  It’s a normal issue (for a normal teen), as Naomi’s therapist assuages her.  Yet, amidst the local excitement of Superman’s presence, Naomi’s suspicions quickly mount. 

In particular, she is bewildered why reclusive town mechanic D. (or Dee) specifies the exact date of her adoption.  Her rattled adoptive parents, Greg and Jennifer McDuffie, though loving and supportive, are evasive of Naomi’s inquiries.  Upon confronting Dee late at night, Naomi pressures the mechanic into relenting as to his guarded past. 

Told of Dee’s origin as a refugee/fugitive from planet Thanagar, Naomi is abruptly retrieved by her irate parents.  Feeling he can longer keep it secret from Naomi, Greg explains his own arrival nearly twenty years before on Earth as a Rann-born soldier.  Opting to abandon his assigned surveillance of Dee, Greg subsequently married the human Jennifer. 

Marking sure Port Oswego stays safe, Greg and Dee also uneasily established a détente as interplanetary refugees.  Dually investigating an interstellar energy alert one night, Dee and Greg fended off an apparent attack from another dimension.  Left behind for some unknown reason was an infant girl that Greg and Jennifer immediately adopt.

Upon showing Naomi his long-hidden Rann spacecraft, Greg gives his daughter a mysterious cube that had been sent along with her.  It causes Naomi’s radiant super-powers emerge from within her.  More so, a narrative of her birth parents’ ordeal on another Earth is revealed.  Naomi also learns of her home Earth’s tyrannical overlord, Zumbado. 

Transported to her decimated home Earth, Naomi’s defiant showdown with Zumbado is the beginning of their feud.  Returning to her adoptive home, Naomi’s future is now stunningly bright.  

Courtesy of Bendis, Naomi returns to her decimated home world in 2022’s Justice League, Volume 1: Prisms (Issues # 59-63). 

Notes: This title is also available digitally and as a trade paperback.  Though Naomi: Season One’s cover image is taken  from Issue # 6, neither the Justice League nor Young Justice actually appear.  Only Superman makes a brief appearance.  However, the Justice League are guest stars in Naomi: Season Two (along with a brief cameo by Young Justice).  The title character’s subsequent DC moniker is ‘Powerhouse.’        

REVIEW:

If absorbed as a Young Adult graphic novel, Naomi: Season One is a solid treat for its intended teen audience. 

Buoyed by artist Jamal Campbell’s stellar visuals, co-writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker collaborate on an intriguing origin tale.  Still, revelations and red herrings regarding Dee, Greg, and Naomi’s extraterrestrial origins become somewhat muddled.  Bendis and Walker’s ambitious plotting, as a result, risks overcooking their new heroine’s ‘last survivor’ concept far too soon. 

Even so, Naomi McDuffie makes a fun protagonist to join DC’s Young Justice generation of heroes.  Naomi: Season One, in that sense, is certainly worth a read.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Campbell’s inspired full-page cover precedes each story.  Bendis pens an insightful two-page ‘Afterword’ to readers.  Campbell supplies the three-page ‘Drawing Fire’ (two pages in color; one in black-and-white) as a character design guide.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   7 Stars

Written by Ram V & Simon Spurrier.

Art by Rafael Albuquerque; Dani; Dave Stewart; & Ariana Maher.

Collection Cover Art by Evan Cagle.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2023, this 152-page hardcover compiles 2022’s Detective Comics # 1062-1065.  Approaching midnight at the Gotham City docks, Batman’s routine clash with a gang of thugs has him worried why his timing is now inexplicably off. Worse yet, he senses something ominous has descended upon Gotham City. Brief consultations with Nightwing and a reformed Harvey Dent don’t ease Bruce Wayne’s mind.

Beyond being slowed by a combination of age and accumulated injuries, Bruce Wayne is now haunted by his own terrifying inner demon: Bar-Ba-Tos.  Its ongoing distraction risks costing Bruce his life.

Already rivals of Ra’s Al-Ghul’s League of Shadows, the Orghams, as foreign royalty, intend to stake its ancient claim upon Gotham City. First up is re-acquiring the decrepit remains of Arkham Asylum, which somehow has astronomical property value. Expecting the League’s ambush, the Orghams reciprocate with a vicious battle at the docks pinning down the outmatched police and media. Among the Orghams’ operatives is a psychopathic werewolf that even Talia’s fearsome bodyguard becomes easy prey for. 

Having baited Batman twice, Talia’s enigmatic presence in Gotham doesn’t clarify if she comes as a friend or foe.  Per a flashback, Talia reveals to young Damian Wayne their country’s ancient myth of the ‘Grim Soldier.’  Its outcome now impacts a present-day Gotham City’s bleak emergency mostly orchestrated by the Orghams.

Falling behind is a bewildered Dark Knight.  No matter his weariness, Batman must quickly catch up on the rules of a deadly game commenced between the League of Shadows and the Orghams.  With a cured Harvey Dent falling to the Orghams, Two-Face has resurfaced to take command of Gotham’s criminal underworld.  Designed as a gothic opera, Gotham Nocturne: Overture ends with an unconscious Dark Knight sidelined.  He is in no position to thwart the Orghams’ nefarious scheme.       

Related is a three-part back-up story entitled “Coda,” with deliberately murky artwork.  Now retired, an elderly James Gordon is prodded into searching Gotham City for a drug-addicted prostitute’s missing son.  His investigation leads to a grisly discovery within the ruins of Arkham Asylum and a mysterious young man hiding there.  Gordon’s arc later links with the Dark Knight’s subsequent return to the docks in Overture’s climax.  More so, the ex-Commissioner’s face-off with the mysterious demons now plaguing Gotham City set up his next post-retirement phase.

Starring Harvey Dent, another three-part back-up tale begins entitled “A Tale of Three Halves.”  Having been forcibly relapsed into his Two-Face persona, Dent’s tormented mind struggles with silencing his innocent psychiatrist at the Orghams’ behest.

Notes: Some sources inaccurately claim that this book is 232 pages; it is not – a manual tally confirms 152 pages.  This title is also available digitally; its trade paperback’s release is scheduled for July 2024.

REVIEW:

Anchored by high-caliber visuals, writer Ram V’s opening salvo makes for a potentially intriguing read. Other than James Gordon, Two-Face, and cameos by Nightwing, Damian Wayne, and Renee Montoya, it’s quite noticeable that the Bat-Family and other supporting cast members aren’t included. 

More so, with Bruce Wayne sidetracked by mental problems, the humorless Volume 1 focuses less on Batman and more on his multitude of current adversaries.  To Ram V’s credit, he isn’t telegraphing future plot twists, but this storyline’s surplus of operatic self-indulgence can be grating on readers.  Hence, its pretentious tone doesn’t necessarily make one want to seek out Volume 2.

Batman – Detective Comics, Volume 1: Gotham Nocturne – Overture clearly isn’t meant to engage casual readers.  For die-hard adult Bat-fans, however, this first installment likely stirs the pot enough to keep them tuned in.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In a full-page format preceding each story is a variant cover: # 1062 {1:25} (by Innhyuk Lee); # 1063 {1:25} (by Amano Yoshitaka, though it is credited within the story as ‘Martin Simmonds’); # 1064 {1:25} (by Martin Simmonds); and # 1065 {1:25} (by Simmonds). 

Afterwards, in a full-page variant cover gallery, these covers appear:

• # 1062 (1. Lee Bermejo 2. Julian Totino Tedesco; 3. J.H. Williams III; and 4. {1:50} Williams III);
• # 1063 (1. Jim Lee, Scott Williams, & Alex Sinclair; 2. Lee (pencil sketch); and 3. Drew Zucker;
• # 1064 (1. Jay Anacleto & Arif Prianto {Harley Quinn 30^th Anniversary}; 2. Williams III; and 3. Williams III {1:50 Foil};
• # 1065 (1. Lee, Williams, & Sinclair; and 2. Lee).

There is also a promotional two-page spread by Rafael Albuquerque, which is followed two pages of his character sketch designs.  Then, there is a single page from Ram V’s script for Issue # 1062’s pages 4-5.  Next is a single panel by Albuquerque and Dave Stewart, as it evolves through two additional stages into full color.  The final extra are four logo designs by artist Darran Robinson.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     6 Stars

Written by Mark Russell.  

Art by Michael Allred; Laura Allred; & Dave Sharpe.

Collection Cover Art by Michael Allred & Laura Allred.

SUMMARY:

Released by DC Comics in 2023, this 264-page hardcover compiles 2022-23’s Superman: Space Age # 1-3.  Per the onset of 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Superman of Earth 203495-B sadly realizes that his universe’s annihilation by the Anti-Monitor has commenced. 

In a flashback to the fateful November of 1963, farmer Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas, decides it’s time to reveal his existence after President Kennedy’s shocking assassination.  With the United States and Russia agitated to the brink of war, Clark’s naivete ironically almost causes World War III.  After fighter pilot Hal Jordan shoots Clark down as an ‘UFO,’ the future Man of Steel discovers his Fortress of Solitude at the North Pole.

In 1964, Clark joins The Daily Planet as a rookie reporter and gradually develops a friendship with his colleague, Lois Lane.  Meanwhile, industrial rivals Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor pursue a vital U.S. defense contract to build the country’s future war strategy.  Outmaneuvering Wayne, Luthor’s chilling arrogance soon precipitates the nuclear annihilation of Coast City.  Superman and Wayne’s Batman unknowingly aid each other in averting another close call with World War III.  Luthor is sent to prison for mass murder for the next two decades. 

In the subsequent years, a Justice League forms, though no one realizes that its most secretive member is their benefactor: Bruce Wayne.  While Lois becomes the guiding light exposing Watergate, Clark’s encounters at a Metropolis bar finds him in sporadic contact with Pariah.  Despite Clark’s skepticism, Pariah matter-of-factly prophesizes that the world is doomed in a matter of years, due to the Anti-Monitor. 

In the meantime, Clark and Lois finally acknowledge their mutual love and marry.  Both have previously acknowledged being influenced by their fathers’ own wartime experiences.  Lois and Clark soon have a young son: Jonathan, raising him at the Fortress with help from Jor-El’s hologram.

In Gotham City, Bruce Wayne’s ironic feud with his own corrupted company tips his beloved Gotham City’s breaking point.  Subsequent clashes with Maxwell Lord and the Joker may prove too much for even Batman.  Considering the Justice League’s tragic encounter with Brainiac, Superman realizes his Earth’s time is now rapidly running out.  It’s up to him to make a desperate bid to save humanity, even as a gloating Lex Luthor returns to the free world.  Meanwhile, an expanded Justice League makes a last stand in Washington, D.C., without either a Man of Steel or a Dark Knight.

Elsewhere, the Superman of Earth 832654-Z is again the lone survivor of his planet – it’s conveyed by a collection of Brainiacs that this depleted Earth might still stand a partial chance of survival.  With humanity forever lost, this other Superman grimly awaits any cosmic sign that his existence isn’t for nothing. 

Note: This title is also available digitally; its trade paperback edition is set for release in 2025.

REVIEW:

Visually, Michael Allred and Laura Allred’s low-key artwork is far more endearing than it is aesthetically impressive.  Still, their simplistic visuals provide an ideal accompaniment to the storyline’s heartbreaking content, making Superman: Space Age a DC must-read. 

Apart from ingeniously spinning off Crisis on Infinite Earths in a historical narrative reminiscent of Forrest Gump, writer Mark Russell devises a down-to-earth brand of storytelling.  Though his Batman and Justice League are glaring underachievers (in comparison to DC’s primary versions), Russell’s take on this alternate-reality Superman and Lois Lane’s maturing bond is a treat to explore.

Russell’s balance of poignancy and a bleak plot isn’t without fault, however.  For instance, the main characters’ aging over twenty-two years doesn’t make much sense from the get-go (i.e. how is Clark a ‘teen’ as he claims in 1963, but Bruce and Lois are evidently twenty-somethings? Or how could Lois then only be 28 at the time of Watergate?).  It’s one of several questions in plain sight that Russell doesn’t address. 

Case in point: Why isn’t Supergirl (or even a Krypto) in this reality? Why wouldn’t Martha Kent be with Clark’s family come the world’s end?  Why doesn’t Russell divulge the fate of seven abducted Gotham City children?  Lastly, why is this Justice League’s mindset so ridiculously passive for years awaiting a cosmic cataclysm?  Even with such plot holes, Russell’s tale still makes a gripping read. 

The Space Age Superman’s fate presents, in effect, a timeless philosophy lesson.  The conveyance of hope as merging one’s inner peace with selfless bravery – even in the face of imminent death – makes an apt analogy for the human spirit’s resiliency. Russell and the Allreds offer a thought-provoking exploration of a doomed world (echoing Krypton) where super-powers can’t surpass reality’s worst nightmares. If anything, this Space Age Superman’s solution for saving his beloved world leaves room for some thoughtful debate, as to what actually constitutes life after death.      

Another argument is that DC Comics’ crass reliance upon style (and even sleaze) over substance has been its own worst enemy for nearly forty years since the first company-wide Crisis.  Fittingly enough, this nostalgic tribute to its Silver Age/Bronze Age is a reminder that DC Comics can still generate excellent work.  A gem like Superman: Space Age delivers welcome proof.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

All three Michael Allred & Laura Allred covers are included in a full-page format.  In a full-page cover gallery, there are variants for Issue # 1 (1. Michael Allred; 2. Nick Derington; and 3. Steve Rude); Issue # 2 (1. Derington; and 2. Dave Johnson); and Issue # 3 (1. Derington – a Dean Cain homage; and 2. Joe Quinones – a Superman III homage). 

Also included are Michael Allred’s black-and-white cover and sketch work; and the Allreds’ full-page Action Comics # 1050 variant cover.  The last page is an advertisement for other DC works by Mark Russell.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                8 Stars

Note: Another thoughtful Superman title worth discovery is 2004’s Superman: Secret Identity (written by Kurt Busiek).  In an alternate reality reminiscent of DC’s original Earth-Prime, this Clark Kent/Superman ages in real time during his life’s journey.