Superman #21 review

Jon Kent and Damian Wayne wake up to learn Batman is missing. He left while the kids, Clark and Lois were sleeping, determined to find a connection between the milk of neighbour Cobb Branden's cow, Bessie, and Jon's super-arrested development. Before they can go and investigate, who should come calling but Cobb himself, and his granddaughter, Kathy. Bearing gifts. 

More of that infernal milk. And if there was any doubt Clark no longer trusts Cobb, it's in that Man of Steely glare.  
As he leaves, Cobb seems to recruit Krypto as a spy. 
So far I've been thinking Cobb a nuisance, able to get away with ... whatever because Clark and Lois have been too busy to notice his shenanigans. But if he can mentally control a Superdog, Cobb really is a threat to the family. Even more so if he's this chap. 

A foot as a trophy? A cigarette? How many old Superman villains with a cosmic background smoke? Terra Man, maybe. I'll admit it, I'm stumped, but sticking with my Brainiac guess - certainly, he'd have access to an interplanetary zoo of the type that might supply such monsters as we see this issue. Just keep them shrunk for ease of handling and enlarge to order!

As Superman and the Super Sons search for Batman, Cobb brings his 'distraction' into play at the Hamilton County State Fair (Hamilton seems to throw these every other week). 
Now that's a distraction - the giant octopus monster Clark and Jon fought months ago in Alaska, that was controlled by space crystals. Superman tells Jon and Damian to stay put while he fights the beastie, but when a second line of menace appears, inky humanoids, they've no qualms about jumping into the fray. 
Along the way, Jon is asked to use lethal force on the octopus, and he doesn't hesitate... to say No. Jon is his father's son and won't kill if he can help it. Sadly, someone gets badly hurt as a result of this decision - and still there's no sign of Batman. 

Superman again benches the boys while he heads for Dead Man's Swamp, having finally been told by Jon about his recent adventure there with Kathy. Speaking of whom, she's none too pleased when she finds Damian and Jon fighting. And it turns out she can stop them...

There's more to Kathy than meets the eye, it seems, adding another layer of mystery to a book choc-full of them. What's in Bessie's milk? Who is Cobb really? Has Batman been pasteurised?

The Caped Crusader isn't seen at all this time, but it's hard to miss him when there's so much going on. Patrick Gleason and Peter J Tomasi's script is expertly paced, with terrific character moment, and they provides tons of fun things for the former to draw in his other role as penciller. There's the cosmic calimari, of course, but there's also an opening dream sequence showing us what Jon wants most; the visit by the Cobbs, with the idyllic inset panel behind Branden; the ever suspicious Damian; Krypto, shadows providing the outline of a cape; and those extremely creepy ink men, especially the one animated in the form of Cobb's bad self. A trio of inkers - Mick Gray, Joe Prado and Ray McCarthy - complement Gleason's linework, while John Kalisz' colours are a delight; I love that he isn't afraid of brights, and extra points for remembering Damian should have a darker skin tone than Jon. 
It's excellent to see Jon being crowned town hero, even if it is at the expense of his dad, and Damian adds spice to the country corn bread. My only quibble is that Lois gets even less to do than last time, vanishing from the book early on - she's one of the best reporters on the planet, no pun intended, and really should be investigating Cobb from another angle. 
Gleason, Gray and Kalisz are the team behind the spectacular main cover, while Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez - artists on the sister Super Sons title - provide the teasing variant, another beauty. 

It's hard to choose a favourite moment from such an entertaining issue, but how about this?  

Comments

  1. Great review, Mart! It looks the the Hamilton adventures are finally coming to a head with this storyline. Perhaps Superman will be my next DC Rebirth reread, just so I can recognize any pieces that have been in play all along.

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    1. Thanks. I know Anj has been mulling over a Kathy-related theory and I hope it comes up in his review at Supergirl Comic Box Commentary... it's brilliant.

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  2. Loved this issue too for all the things you say! Like you I have been trying to figure out who Cobb is by all the dropped clues? Prankster? Morgan Edge?

    But the dad/son moments are the best things about this for me. Clark discussing fear with Jon was special.

    And my theory is up on my site tomorrow.

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    1. I love your theory... I hope Cobb's secrets are revealed soon.

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  3. okay kinda between the big villain Being The Ultra-Humanite or The Brain in a new robot body

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    1. Either of those would be tremendous - there's something about a disembodied brain...

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  4. The evil reminds me of the Reverend villain. Nobody else matches and I want to know more. By the way I can't find your reviews on Titans issues 9 & 10. Where can I find them? Help.

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    1. Remind me, who's the Reverend? And I didn't do those Titans issues. I shall almost certainly be looking at the coming crossover.

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    2. The creepy alien harbinger of an alien parasite overlord as seen in episode Unity of Superman the animated series. Of course there he was a pastor he didn't smoke.
      Oh no! What am I going to do now? I love your Titans reviews! They are good like the rest but I find them to be more funny and optimistic.

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    3. I shall have to track that episode down, I've never seen the whole series.

      Titans next week, I think, and if I can get wifi on my cruise down the Western Med, there'll be a review!

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