Adventures of Superman Jon Kent #4: A Spot Of Tea

Tom Taylor has written this story exclusively to provide closure for one of the best alternate earth Superman stories ever written, and I am here for it. So many heroes vs. hero conflicts (as well as their real-world counterparts) could be nipped in the bud if the lead characters would only set down their fragile insecurities for a moment and communicate like adults, and it’s both heartening and hilarious to see what are possibly the most violent incarnations of these characters being forced to do that — and by a teenager, no less.

If you haven’t read Taylor’s Injustice run, do yourself a favor and pick up the TPBs. This book is worth the price of admission solely for the privilege of revisiting that world. The fact that Taylor has crafted a robust and good-hearted story about the difficulties of coming to terms with grief and betrayal and the necessity of self-aware introspection is just the buttercream on top of the fairy cake. The psychology of these characters is phenomenally well drawn, but that’s hardly a surprise, given the source material. I especially love the focus on Damien. He is so very much himself, and his inability to forgive applies just as strongly to himself as to every other character.

I don’t need to belabor that one of the artists who made The Boys such a lasting and vital story is incredibly well suited for producing a dark, humane take on the DC heroes. Darick Robertson’s pencils are perfect for this story. He’s capable of an incredible amount of subtlety, alongside a ravishing knack for violence, and he’s brought his A-game to this book. Jordie Bellaire has added colors that contribute to the bright, dystopian facade of the world. He’s brilliant in his own right.