DC Comics reviews for the week of 8/8/18

Superman #2

Brian Michael Bendis is determined to make readers care about Rogol Zaar. Despite a less than impressive featured role in Man of Steel, Rogol Zaar has largely been just another big unstoppable force in Superman’s rogue gallery. This issue, Bendis starts to turn the corner with the character or at least make him more interesting. It’s still coming off a little forced, but this overdue effort is appreciated.

Fortunately, Rogol Zaar’s screen time is the least engaging aspect of the issue. It’s easy to have more patience with where Bendis wants to go with the character since he’s nailing so many other components of Superman. With Earth sucked into the Phantom Zone, Superman is stuck trying to find answers. Bendis wisely incorporates the Justice League since there’s no way to tell this story without incorporating Earth’s first line of defense.

Keeping with a consistent theme of his early run so far, Bendis crafts a terrific moment where Superman reflects on a conversation with a Leaguer and how that influences his outlook on life. Bendis continues to shine in these man elements in Superman right down to his journalistic pride in describing a bad situation. And Bendis finds time to work in a brief cameo from a Superman movie character.

Having Ivan Reis on board to draw Superman doesn’t hurt at all either. Reis seems fully motivated here and crams an amazing amount of detail on each page whether it’s an invasion force, the Phantom Zone or Superman chatting with the League. Thanks to Reis and his artistic collaborators inkers Joe Prado and Oclair Albert and colorist Alex Sinclair, the issue is one of the best looking releases this week save for one gaffe where Barry Allen is colored like he’s Wally West.

Bendis is still finding his way around Superman, but the early returns are definitely encouraging. The book hasn’t quite gotten back to its creative peak during the Tomasi/Gleason run, but Bendis is on the right path.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10