Superman #30: Long Live the Legion

Darkseid’s Absolute Legion is running rampant through the timeline, and Superman must count on an unlikely ally to save the past, future, and present. Superman #30 ushers in an epic new DC event that pits the DC Universe against Darkseid. Since the All-In event, Darkseid has been watching Superman, and his now evil versions of Saturn Girl, Lighting Lad, and Cosmic Boy are attacking Superman. With the sacrifice of Booster Gold, they will be able to bring Darkseid to all corners of the universe. What does Darkseid have in store for the Man of Steel? And is the Man of Steel too late to save the future he saw as a kid? Find out in this astonishing issue of Superman by Joshua Williamson with art by the astounding Dan Mora.

All hail the Superman greats! It’s so exciting to have another long run of Superman, and this new arc is the center of this summer’s next big event! This issue focuses heavily on the plot, and it wouldn’t be a Williamson plot if it wasn’t a little complex. Williamson tends to play big: powerful cosmic forces, moral dilemmas, allied heroes & villains, threats that touch multiple parts of the DC Universe. Williamson doesn’t hold back with his storytelling and brings in shocking twists and turns. The inclusion of Superboy Prime in this arc is really fun, and his fourth-wall breakage helps Williamson trick the reader. It’s a clever storytelling device ,and it’s no wonder Williamson is a Superman all-star. The way he has reimagined the Legion of Superheroes and how their powers can be used for evil is so interesting. It feels like a spin on the “evil Superman” trope, as these are extremely powerful characters using their abilities for evil and torture. Since this is part of a crossover (“All In”), this issue probably spends more time building tension, setting up threats, and raising questions, rather than delivering completely resolved conflicts. So readers may find it heavy on setup. Side-plots or coming moral stakes will likely matter more than here-and-now resolution. Since this issue is leading to a larger event, it’s less accessible to new readers, as there are several issues from other series you need to catch up on. If you miss just one book, you might be a little lost. However, if this event is executed well, it will leave a strong impression and make readers eager for the next chapter.

The art in this issue is absolutely incredible. Mora is universally loved, and it’s for a good reason: his art is stunning, and he is unbelievably talented. The artwork by Mora and Alejandro Sanchez complements the story beautifully, with dynamic action sequences that leap off the page. This issue is action-heavy, and Mora and Sanchez do an amazing job at conveying what is happening scene to scene. This issue is also full of beautiful splash pages that are so good I want to print them and frame them on my wall. This is an all-star creative team, and it feels like they are not holding back their talents at all with this arc.