REVIEW: ‘Superman’ Issue 22

Superman Issue 22 is published by DC Comics. Written By Joshua Williamson, with art by Dan Mora, and colors by Alejandro Sánchez and Becca Carey.

When a race of mysterious aliens comes from Doomsday, Superman must put his morals to the ultimate test or lose his city. Superman Issue 22 begins with a standoff. Superman and Superwoman are welcomed into the flagship of the Aftermath, a race of beings who are survivors of Doomsday’s attack across the galaxy. Doomsday is in captivity within Supercorp and the Aftermath. While they openly say what they want to do with him, with promises of efficiency, there is tension in the air.

The pace builds slowly, focusing on the friction between Superman and the leader of the Aftermath. Everything about this organisation is a mystery, and their true intentions are so well-hidden that what they aren’t saying is much louder than what they are. But then the action erupts, and the pace is instantly intensified. It becomes a matter of both trying to contain and protect.

Any plans that are made are stopped as quickly as they are dreamt up. The conflict produces the most unlikely teammates in a sprawling and uncontrollable fight scene. Doomsday’s appearance early in this arc was only the start of the escalation, which is remarkable.

All three of the characters on the flagship are superbly written. Williamson ensures that Superman is not the naive, innocent golden retriever he is sometimes portrayed as. The last issue ended with the Aftermath threatening the city, so now Superman is alert and much less willing to compromise.

However, in Superman Issue 22, the title character is calm and tries to avoid conflict at any cost. The villain is well-spoken and terrifying. Whilst polite, he is direct and determined. He’s not leaving until he gets what he wants and is solely trying to manoeuvre his way around the superheroes to do it. There is a paranormal unease around him.

What really alters the situation is Lois. Just because Lois is now, Superwoman has not dampened her skills as a journalist. She is able to pierce through lies and any front that the villains put up because she has experience with egos and PR. With Calrk, the duo are true partners in crime who trust each other implicitly.

The art is fantastic. Mora embraces the glorious hard sci-fi elements of Superman Issue 22. A fleet of spaceships hovers above Metropolis, ready to attack instantly. The level of detail in the panels showing this spectacle is incredible. The characters are then taken into an incredibly dark bridge/throne room. This focuses the attention on the characters’ faces, which are absolutely phenomenal.

Superman’s stare is stern and stoney-faced. This is not a man trying to have fun. But the protector of Metropolis is standing up for his home. He’s big, never flinching from the villain’s outbursts. The head of the Aftermath is a peculiar and intriguing design. The headpiece and mask make it tricky for him to read, as there are no features.

The art changes suddenly in the second half of Superman Issue 22. The villains’ design is entirely different, and the change is startling and captivating. The action is fast-paced and energetic, again utilizing sci-fi as the tech of the aliens, and Supercorps is put to the test. It all builds to a ridiculously cool double-page spread.

The colors are beautiful. Metropolis may be bright and sunny, but the rest of the issue frequently steps away from those. The costumes of every Super character involved are still vibrant. Whilst the ship is dark and gloomy, dazzling blue strips behind the leader’s phone are dazzling.

The darkness is part of the build-up to the reveal, which leads to a stunning burst of intense bright light. Supercorps is shrouded in a purple light that is both scientific and ominous, which evaporates once the action starts. The letters are consistently effortless to read, and there’s an excellent transition later in the book at the same time as the pacing of the art.

Superman Issue 22 showcases the best of the characters. In a tense negotiation, Superman and Lois both rely on their instincts when given an ultimatum. The standoff is not about protecting Doomsday but stopping the Aftermath from enacting whatever plan they have in store. The sudden change of pace turns the tense standoff into an exhilarating action comic. Both Clark and Lois demonstrate why their brilliance extends beyond heat vision and flying.

Superman Issue 22 is available where comics are sold.