Superman Unlimited #5: Kryptonite Kingdom

The summer of Superman is ready to transition to the fall with a haunting new issue of Superman Unlimited. Superman Unlimited #5 kicks off a multipart adventure: the Kryptonite Kingdom (El Caldero), a nation-state with extraordinarily high concentrations of kryptonite, comes under siege by the Kobra Kult. It’s a place Superman knows he ought to avoid, but when its people cry out for help, he can’t turn his back. Thankfully, the Man of Steel has developed a new power to help his combat the effects of kryptonite. Can Superman stop the Kobra Kult from stealing the Sun Crystal? Or will his greatest weakness be his eventual downfall? Find out in this issue full of green, mining, and heroic acts.

This issue is so incredibly fun! Dan Slott manages to create an issue that is filler, yet still incorporates important moments into the wider story. The dialogue is sharp and purposeful, balancing philosophical weight with classic Superman earnestness. I like how Slott integrated some of the feel of the new Superman movie, so new readers coming from that audience can feel connected. He still brings new ideas and a new spin to Superman. Superman has a new superpower (as if he needed more), but it’s so interesting to see how this new world changes the Man of Steel. El Caldero’s kryptonite saturation is a strong conceit: not just for atmosphere, but because it forces Superman to navigate danger in his own “weak space”. The fact that the very nature of his power (or vulnerability) is baked into the environment raises tension well. It reminds us how Superman stories are at their best when they challenge him physically and ethically. I will say some of the writing felt a little flat and “matter-of-fact”. While the kryptonite-threat setup is effective, some readers might find the idea of Superman being put in a kryptonite-heavy environment a little too familiar. Superman stories often use kryptonite, so differentiating this scenario enough to feel new and not just a remix is a challenge. This issue tries to explain too much instead of showing. However, it makes the issue accessible and overall, the story is fun.

Visually, the book shines. Rafael Albuquerque and Marcelo Maiolo strike a balance between the grounded and the grand: Metropolis and Gotham look like living cities, and Superman looks like a god who chooses to walk among us. This issue is action-packed, and the action sequences are dynamic but not overstuffed. The horror in this issue is fantastic and made me even more excited for the Fall. They deliver a stunning visual palette, clean, kinetic linework paired with bold colors that leap off the page. Overall, it’s a pretty issue.