Anyone who's worked in local newspapers will know the feeling. You're having a good day when a member of the public drops in to see you.
And the day was going so well. After years of not being a reporter, Lois Lane has two newspapers on the go. She's back working at the Daily Planet in Metropolis, and about to take a gig with local paper the >snicker< Hamilton Horn. She wasn't expecting Frankenstein, Agent of Shade, to demand the death of almost-boss Candice.
But Frankie isn't going to have an easy time of it - Lois has alway been a fighter and since marrying Superman she's only become more formidable. Soon she and Candice have taken flight - literally. And while she doesn't have a signal watch, she does have a husband who checks in regularly and he's ready to defend the missus.
And it's not only Lois and Superman who stand up to the super-agent.
That's one calm fella. And I adore this sequence.
The story continues next issue, with this one ending on a fun cliffhanger I won't spoil. Superman #12 is another fast-moving, great looking romp. Super-Son Jon isn't around this issue - he's at school, presumably - but we do get the other two-thirds of the Superman family and they're on top form. Lois has the heart of a lion, Clark is steadfast and true - they're a wonderfully well-matched pair. As for Frankenstein, he was one of my favourite New 52 characters so I'm chuffed to bits to see him around after DC Rebirth.
And doesn't he look brilliant as pencilled by Doug Mahnke, inked by Jaime Mendoza and Christian Alamy, and coloured by Wil Quintana? He's a formidable presence, his dark charisma lighting up the panels. Add that to Mahnke's gift for composition and you get some memorable sequences.
Writers Peter J Tomasi and Patrick Gleason continue to show their creative synergy - whether they're purely co-writing or Gleason is pencilling too, their names on a Superman book guarantees a quality tale, replete with character-motivated action and the spirit of Superman. They really have the character voices down - no pun intended - pat, and they're constantly jumping genres to keep things fresh.
Throw in two fantastic covers - one by Mahnke, Mendoza and Quintana, the other by Andrew Robinson - and you have the latest in a splendid run of Superman issues.
Loved this issue moved almost faster than a speeding bullet u might say, an this town is straight up X-Files freaky what r the chances that S.H.A.D.E. may decide 2 keep an outpost there or maybe have the Ant-Farm permanently stay.
ReplyDeleteI hope not, I want Hamilton to be as normal as possible - let Superman confront the weirdness away from home, as far as possible.
Deletehey Lemire did a good job making Smallville weird an normal at the same time don't tell me that in Silver Age Superboy Series Smallville was completely normal.... was it
DeletePS eye never read the pre Flashpoint Superboy series by Jeff Lemire so don't be afraid to call me out if Eye am incorrect
Another great issue -- I'm astounded that DC is managing to get Superman right again, after so long. And Frankenstein is always a blast...especially when drawn by his co-creator*, Mahnke!
ReplyDelete*for this version, at least -- although it's hardly even the first DC Frankie.
Yeah, Mahnke doesn't half give good man-monster. I want that jacket.
DeleteI wonder how much Jurgens and Tomasi are coordinating, though. Just little things bug me. In Action, Superman has his own fortress hallowed out in a mountain. But Tomasi has him using the traditional fortress made out of ice/crystal. And why does Lois need to go to work at a small town paper when she's back at The Planet?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing this is a brief overlap for Lois and that when this short story is over it'll be all Planet for our girl. Unless they have her take over as the new editor of the Hamilton Horn.
DeleteThat two page spread of Frank hanging onto the hovercraft and the progress of the panels below is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how Lois plans to live both lives. I figured once she took over the Planet position she'd drop the Hamilton one. Seems too unwieldy.
But a wonderful comic these days! Makes me happy!
poor lois she can't get a job interview without turning into a action horror movie
Deleteplus with computers an such lois could easily email her works also eye get the idea that lois will finish the book then leave the daily planet but eye could b wrong
Ah Ann, we're on the same page. Whatever happens, we have two fun books. I could easily see the family deciding to move to Metropolis...then again, how would she explain Jon and Clark. Oh heck!
DeleteOops, sorry Anj, you got 'autocorrected'.
DeleteCobb? Wasn't that the alias used by Mon-el when he was living with Superboy pre-Crisis? What's the status of Mon-el these days?
ReplyDeleteYeah, Bob Cobb. Wouldn't it be amazing if he's Mon disguised by Nora. And Kathy is Proty... I don't know what Mon's status is. Maybe he's in Metropolis, five blocks south and ten blocks north... (bad joke for readers of the late, unlamented Legion Lost New 52 series).
Deleteor maybe he's Cham in dsguise leading the Legion Espionage Squad in a secret mission possibly to find Irma or maybe Saturn Girl was a member an they all got seperated
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