Superman #6 review

Anyone who had to get glasses as a kid will recognise the moment. Superman suggests son Jon starts wearing specs for school, the new Superboy having been seen at his father's side by virtually the whole world. 

Yeah, cool...

It's just one of many great moments in this finale to the six-part opening arc, Son of Superman. The book opens with the final battle on the moon between Superman and the Eradicator, with our hero boosted by the power of Kryptonian souls, gathered up by the self-proclaimed protector of Krypton's legacy. It's a slam-bang, knockabout brawl, full of sound and fury signifying something. Namely, the moment the post-Crisis, pre-Flashpoint Superman reveals himself to the world from whom he's previously hidden and is welcomed as a hero... he's even presented with the key to the city of Metropolis!

Witnessing it all are Mrs Superman, aka Lois Lane, and Jon, who's been the Eradicator's target these last few issues. And they're there as a dear friend returns in a page that's rather awesome...

Yay! And indeed, Arf - Krypto the Superdog is back from his sojourn in the Eradicator's Stomach/the Phantom Zone. I suspected writers Peter J Tomasi and Patrick Gleason would pull this out of the proverbial hat, and I couldn't be happier that they've gone for it. For this Krypto is a very good dog, just part of the reason Superman can tell the Eradicator (you may need to imagine the letter 'a' into place)...

The issue also has some nice Lois moments - she really is the Mom of Steel - and a bit of Bibbo, and finally, the official introduction of a new hero (guess who). Oh, and Krypto gets a new cape to replace the one he unknowingly gifted to Jon at his exagerrated death, giving us the super-cute tied-at-the-neck look of the Silver Age. With gorgeous art from penciller Gleason, inker Mick Gray and colourist John Kalisz, Superman #6 is as much a feast for the eyes as it is the heart. 

And believe me, this is heartwarming stuff - the sheer warmth emanating from Lois and Clark could fuel a red sun. It's the unique selling point of this book, and while the tone has been weird occasionally (poor, poor Goldie) I think we now know what this book is going to be - an upbeat, family superhero saga at the centre of the DC Universe. And that's a comic I want to buy. 

Attractive covers don't hurt either: this issue's are by illustrators Doug Mahnke and colourist Wil Quintana (main) and Kenneth Rockafort (variant). The determination of father and son in the echoed poses sums up the spirit of Superman, while the dynamism of the moon chase really inspires the imagination. 

It's a great time to be a Superman fan. At last.