Superman #27: Rage Quit

The Red K is coursing through Superman’s veins and causing uncontrollable rage, but can Marilyn Moonlight stop the fury of the Man of Steel? Superman #27 continues a new arc which follows Clark Kent, Superman, and de-powered 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. When a prison break activates Superman’s rage, it’s up to the Spirit of Metropolis to calm him down. 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 has been off to a great start. It’s sad to see Superwoman 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 a character she has been in this series.  I’m excited to see this new dynamic fleshed out and to see how Superman reacts to a life where his powers could go away. It’s an interesting reflection on what it means to have power taken away from you. This issue focuses heavily on the action, but Williamson still manages to weave a compelling tale. The way that Lex Luthor teeters between good and 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 personally am not a fan of “evil Superman” stories, but I think Williamson pulls it off well with the reverse roles of Superman and Lex. It’s a great way of exploring what it means to do good and how that differs in individual perspectives. Overall, 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 Barrow,s 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. Marilyn Moonlight also looks fantastic and shines off the page. 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.