Superman Unlimited (FCBD): In The Blink of an Eye

From the time of its announcement, Dan Slott’s Superman Unlimited has been met with a kind of uneasy excitement. While there’s nothing new about a major Marvel writer jumping over to DC Comics for a shot at Superman, that concept has been soured in recent years by one particular run. Still, that shadow has no business hanging over Slott. The Free Comic Book Day story, In the Blink of an Eye, showcases a familiar yet fresh approach to the character within current continuity—one that not only sets up a compelling premise for the upcoming series but also demonstrates a strong grasp of both Clark Kent and the world around him.

The simple goal of this short is to introduce the first major threat in Slott’s Superman run—and it does so with real stakes. Slott draws readers in by grounding the story with a solid sense of character, especially when it comes to Clark and Lois navigating the rise of unscrupulous modernity creeping into the Daily Planet. From there, we move through a day in the life of Superman that clearly communicates how Slott sees the character. The cherry on top is the explosive debut of a new threat that leaves the story on a high note—and leaves me wanting more. There’s nothing particularly game-changing about his approach, but much like his runs on Spider-Man and Fantastic Four, it promises thrilling stories told with a pitch-perfect tone.

As for the art—while I’ve loved Rafael Albuquerque’s work elsewhere, the rough, loose quality of his style doesn’t quite match the glowing, iconic feel that Slott’s writing seems to demand. Slott is typically great at writing to an artist’s strengths, but here, Albuquerque’s visuals fall just short of the grandness many of us expect from a Superman story. That being said, his normal skillset is still present and could impress within the core series once it launches this Summer.