Superman #41 review

When we left them, Superman and son Jon were fleeing a horde of angry natives. Having learned that the world is soon to explode, like Krypton, they’ve come to save the no-doubt-grateful aliens. Except, they don’t wish to be saved. So far as the people of Galymayne are concerned, planet death is the will of their god and who are they to deny it?

Superman and son’s one ally is Klain, a scientist. He’s helping them find a safe place to plan their next move. The certainty of Galymayne‘s leader that the earth folk should butt out - he rallied the populace to a worldwide psychic attack on Superman and Jon that weakened their powers - has given our hero pause. 

Klain knows he has no chance of persuading his peers, but he does have a plan to ensure his species survives. 

The Kents agree to escort Klain and his spawn to a suitable world, only for trouble to come calling. 

James Robinson concludes his guest storyline in fine style. The aquatic extraterrestrials are fascinating, with the undersea setting making for a nice change of pace. The Superman of earlier years would never have countenanced letting the world die but comics are in a morally more complicated place today. And while, ultimately, Superman can’t get beyond his own perspective - how’s this for judgemental...

... at least there’s some attempt at debate.  The leader turns out to be more than a one-note zealot, and there’s a melancholy moment as it seems not everyone is ready to go gentle into that good night. 

(Ah yes, the god’s name is Dhermet. I’ve been trying to avoid acknowledging that... it has to be an in-joke, somewhere Robinson is showing this issue to a Dermot and laughing.)

The visuals from illustrator Ed Benes and colourist Dinei Ribeiro are really something, dynamic, thoughtful, quite glorious at times. And the loveliness of a space explosion turns out to be Robinson’s seed for a rather terrific moment between father and son. 

Victor Bogdanovic’s cover with colourist Mike Spicer is a good-looking, fair summation of the issue’s theme, while Jonboy Meyer’s variant cover is a decent battle moment, a bit big on the S-shield, but OK... maybe Meyers is nodding towards the Hope bit, by thrusting it in everyone’s face. 

The Last Days has been a thought-provoking, good-looking story. Thanks to everyone involved. 

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Superman #41 review, James D Robinson, Ed Benes, Victor Bogdanovic, Mike Spicer, Jonboy Meyer, Dinei Ribeiro