Superman Unlimited #12: Beppo

Jon Kent is Metropolis’ favorite nepo baby superhero. After being launched into space for years, he returned to Earth a teenager and taking up the mantle of Superman. But when the time demon Master Txyz brings back a young version of Jon, it’s up to Superboy to pick up the pieces. Superman Unlimited #12 continues the exciting Reign of the Superboys event for DC. Mr. Mxyzptlk has warned Jon of a demonic threat coming to destroy his world. Jon doesn’t believe him until the demon, Master Txyz, bends time and space to show Jon his future. Master Txyz has brought a younger version of Jon Kent to Metropolis, and the Jon Kent we know and love has become Tomorrow Man. What can happen in a world with two Jon Kents? Find out in this exciting new issue!

This issue is incredibly fun and feels like the perfect imaginative addition to the Superman Unlimited series. If you have been reading my reviews, you know that Jon Kent is my favorite character ever. I have been waiting for him to take the spotlight, and he finally is. The dialogue in this issue is sharp and purposeful, balancing philosophical weight with classic Superman whimsy. This issue plays on some of the common Superman tropes and twists them in a way that only Slott can think of. I enjoy any time we get to see Jon Kent, and seeing him work with Mr. Mxyzplk is a fun twist. I’m excited for what seems to be a big summer event for Jon Kent! I am hoping it means he gets his own series again. While I am thrilled with this issue and the spotlight on Jon, I feel like some of the choices made came from a heavy hand from editorial. It feels like DC is trying to fix a mistake it made years ago by aging Jon up. They are also trying to revoke the title of Superman from him to avoid confusion. While I’m not thrilled with these choices, I don’t blame Slott and I think he did some clever fourth wall breaking to make this choice seem entertaining. Just let Jon be Superman! Other than that, this is a perfect issue and really digs into why Jon Kent is one of the best superheroes in the game.

Visually, the book is stunning. One of my favorite artists, Lucas Meyer, returns to the book to bring incredible visions of the future.  I got the chance to meet Meyer at New York Comic Con and he is just as pleasant in person as he is on the page. Meyer develops dynamic panel layouts and action sequences. The design of Master Txyz is absolutely terrifying and it’s perfect for a villain so comical. I love the way that Meyer illustrates Master Txyz’s time warping powers and how dynamic the character feels. Jon Kent also deserves some much-needed praise as he looks adorable in his new “secret identity”.  Meyer delivers a stunning visual palette, clean, kinetic linework paired with bold colors that leap off the page.