Superman Unlimited #8: Lois Lane as Katy Perry

The Year of Superman comes to an end with another green issue of Superman Unlimited. Superman Unlimited #8 is a one-shot story spotlighting Lois Lane’s adventure in space. Lois Lane has been selected to go to space in Toyman’s new spaceship powered by Kryptonite.  Clark worries that Lois is spreading herself too thin, but Lois is built for this. But when secret alien invaders plan to attack the ship, it’s up to Lois, Clark, and Guy Gardner to save the day. Will they be able to save the day?  Find out in this issue full of space, bowl cuts, and influencers.

This is an incredibly fun issue to round out a fantastic year for the Man of Steel! Dan Slott and Jeremy Adams manage to craft an interesting story that may be filler, but still captures the essence of Clark and Lois. The dialogue in this issue is sharp and purposeful, balancing philosophical weight with classic Superman flirtation. This issue explores how the Superman/ Lois Lane dynamic works and the ways in which they set out to save the world in their own ways. 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. This issue felt like a jab at the Jeff Bezos space mission, and it feels like fun satirical commentary. This issue didn’t explore Superman’s new power too much and kind of failed to bring up the whole “kryptonite is readily available” plot. The issue really is filler, with an action plot that is resolved questionably. However, any time we get to see Lois doing heroic things, I am a fan. This issue doesn’t do much to the overall story, but it stays true to all of the characters. 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. Overall, this issue is filler but still entertaining.

Visually, the book shines. Lucas Meyer and Marcelo Maiolo strike a balance between the grounded and the grand as Smallville is transformed. I was a fan of Meyer’s work on Titans, so seeing him draw one of my favorite characters is exciting. I had the pleasure of meeting Meyer at New York Comic Con this year, and his love for these characters shows. The panel layouts and action sequences are exciting and dynamic, the perfect mix for a space story. I also hope that Meyer and Maiolo continue the series. They deliver a stunning visual palette, clean, kinetic linework paired with bold colors that leap off the page.