Superman #26: Superman Red

Superman #26 starts a new arc which follows Clark Kent Superman and Lois Lane Superwoman, as they fight off Superman’s red kryptonite infection. After Mercy Graves takes over Supercorp and awakens the evil X-El, a Lex Luthor clone with the powers of Superman, the real Lex Luthor kills him. Now, a de-powered Lois Lane and red kryptonite-infected Superman must restore order and pick up where they left off. Can Superman control his rage from the red kryptonite? Or is the powerful rock too strong for the Man of Steel? Find out in this all-star issue of Superman by Joshua Williamson with art by the irreverent Sean Izaakse, Eddy Barrows, and Eber Ferreira.

It’s so exciting to have another long run of Superman, and this new arc is off to a great start. The introduction of Superwoman has been fantastic, and seeing Lois Lane with her powers has been great. It’s sad to see her in this new de-powered state, but it brings up such an interesting new dynamic between Lois and Clark. I’m shocked at how long she has stayed around as Superwoman and have been pleased overall with how prominent of a character she has been in this series.  I’m excited to see this new dynamic be fleshed out. This issue focuses heavily on the action, but Williamson still manages to weave a compelling tale. The way that Lex Luthor returns to evil is such a clever detail that shows the juxtaposition of Superman and Lex. Even when Lex thinks he is doing the right thing, it is not enough in Superman’s eyes. It’s a fascinating look into their character dynamic, and Williamson pulls it off incredibly. I’ve been liking the red kryptonite storyline and I’m interested to see what direction Williamson brings it in.

This issue has a number of great Superman artists contributing. Sean Izaakse, Eddy Barrows, and Eber Ferreira do an incredible job balancing their art styles to make one epic comic. The action in this issue is astounding, with dynamic fluid movements that pop off the page. Seeing the full effects of the red kryptonite was amazing, and the splash page of red is a work of art. The facial expressions on the characters are also expressive and human-like. This series has been running for almost two years now, and I hope it continues to get the love it gets, as it has been exceptional.