DC Comics reviews 3/19/24 – Nightwing #112, JSA #9, Superman #12

Superman #12

This issue wraps the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad arc. Writer Joshua Williamson largely writes a satisfying conclusion — especially since he proactively addresses a question that could have made this arc stumble in hindsight.

With Kryptonite gas all around Metropolis, Superman can’t leave SuperCorp. But Lex Luthor can. Back in his Rebirth era armor, Lex finds himself in a role reversal instead of being the guy in the chair, he’s listening to him. And that guy is Superman. That was a fun twist of the norm for this run.

Williamson has been very intentional about exploring new avenues for Superman and not just repeating what’s been done over and over. This fresh approach helps make the stories less predictable and much more enjoyable. The only thing holding the story back was the ease in defeating the Revenge Squad after they’d been built up on their own as major Superman-beating level threats.

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The art from David Baldeón with Norm Rapmund is decent. Baldeón has a more animated style than some of the previous artists on the title and at times can look somewhat cartoonish. That would work for characters like Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Fire & Ice, etc. but not for the culmination of a big arc. Rex Lokus’ bright color choices are fitting for this storyline giving it a bolder, sense of a new day dawning. Adriana Maher’s lettering is nice and clean with fun sound effect fonts.

Next up is the House of Brainiac, a crossover with Action Comics. Hopefully this plays out like some of the stronger Superman title events.

Rating: 8 out of 10