Superman Unlimited #6: The Emerald City

This year is the Year of Superman, and it continues with this action-packed new issue of Superman Unlimited. Superman Unlimited #6 concludes the two-part adventure: the Kryptonite Kingdom. El Caldero, a nation-state with extraordinarily high concentrations of kryptonite, has come under siege by the Kobra Kult. It’s a place Superman knows he ought to avoid, but when its people cry out for help, he can’t turn his back. Thankfully, the Man of Steel has developed a new power to help his combat the effects of kryptonite. Deep in the kryptonite mines of El Caldero, Superman does his best to stop the Kobra Kult from stealing the Kryptonian Sun Crystal. But he’s not alone, as Lois Lane is there to help. Can Superman stop the Kobra Kult from stealing the Sun Crystal? Or will his greatest weakness be his eventual downfall? Find out in this issue full of green, mining, and heroic acts.

This issue is so incredibly fun! Dan Slott manages to craft an interesting story with an all too common Superman topic: Kryptonite. The dialogue in this arc is sharp and purposeful, balancing philosophical weight with classic Superman earnestness. I like how Slott integrated some of the feel of this year’s Superman movie, so new readers coming from that audience can feel connected. He still brings new ideas and a new spin to Superman. Superman has a new superpower (as if he needed more), but it’s so interesting to see how this new world changes the Man of Steel. El Caldero’s kryptonite saturation is a strong conceit: not just for atmosphere, but because it forces Superman to navigate danger in his own “weak space”. The fact that the very nature of his power (or vulnerability) is baked into the environment raises tension well. It reminds us how Superman stories are at their best when they challenge him physically and ethically. I will say some of the writing felt a little flat and “matter-of-fact”. While the kryptonite-threat setup is effective, some readers might find the idea of Superman being put in a kryptonite-heavy environment a little too familiar. Superman stories often use kryptonite, so differentiating this scenario enough to feel new and not just a remix is a challenge. This issue tries to explain too much instead of showing. However, it makes the issue accessible and overall, the story is fun.

Visually, the book shines. Rafael Albuquerque, Mike Norton,  and Marcelo Maiolo strike a balance between the grounded and the grand: El Caldero looks like a living city, and Superman looks like a god who chooses to walk among us. This issue is action-packed, and the action sequences are dynamic but not overstuffed. The horror in this issue is fantastic and made me even more excited for the Fall. They deliver a stunning visual palette, clean, kinetic linework paired with bold colors that leap off the page. Overall, it’s a pretty issue.