Superman #34: Prime Time

DC’s largest event of the year has launched, and with it comes all new problems for Metropolis. With the start of the DC K.O. event, Superman and the Justice League members are set out to fight in a no-holding-back tournament to crown the next King Omega to take down Darkseid. With the League fighting in a tournament at the center of the Earth, Darkseid’s minions start to take over the planet. Who will be the savior of Metropolis? Superman #34 continues the epic new arc that follows the Super Family as they protect the planet during DCKO. Superman is competing in Darkseid’s death tournament, but the League’s plans for the villains is thwarted by Lex Luthor. Now, Superman must face some of his greatest obstacles while working alongside Lex. Meanwhile, Lois Lane has just gotten her Superwoman powers back, just in time to save the Fortress of Solitude from Darkseid’s minions. She and Superman Prime must bring their new knowledge to the Time Trapper. But will they make it in time? And what will Superman Prime learn about himself on the way to the Watch Tower? Find out in this astonishing issue of Superman by Joshua Williamson with art by the astounding Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira.

This run of Superman has been excellent, and Joshua Williamson has done an exceptional job at tying in everything from his run into the big DCKO 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 Superman Prime in this arc is really fun and his fourth wall breakage is incredibly entertaining. It’s a clever storytelling device and it’s no wonder Williamson is a Superman all-star. We also get the exciting return of Superwoman in this issue.  The way Williamson is able to tell the DCKO storyline through the eyes of so many characters is impressive. Since this is part of a crossover, this issue 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 ingrained 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 standard, but the Mora touch is definitely missing. Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira do an alright job, but after seeing Mora’s work in this book it’s hard to celebrate anything else. I’m not the biggest fan of how Lois is drawn in this book, she looks scary almost. However, I am happy to see her with her purple eyes. I also think some of the shadows are too dark for a Superman book. That being said, this issue feels grand and the splash pages pack a punch. This is an all-star creative team, and it feels like they are not holding back their talents at all with this arc.