REVIEW: ‘Superman’ Issue 28

Superman Issue 28 is published by DC Comics. Written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Dan Mora, colors by Alejandro Sánchez and letters by Ariana Maher.

In Superman Issue 28, Superman is greeted by Saturn Girl, one of the Legion of Superheroes. But Saturn Girl and her friends are now part of the Legion of Darkseid. This issue finally taps into what was found at the end of the All-In Special. Booster Gold went to the new Earth that appeared in the walls of Darkseid’s death, finding evil versions of the Legion of Superheroes.

But now they’re on the main Earth, in the present day, in front of Superman. Superman Issue 28 prepares us for what to expect, discussing the Legion before they even appear, the old Legion that is. It harks back to a classic period of Superman’s history, where he spent time in the 31st Century, where the team resides. They are heroes and Superman’s friends, held in a similar regard to the Justice League.

The scale starts small, with just Saturn Girl meeting Clark, but then the pace moves quickly. Williamson’s pacing and movement in Superman Issue 28 are sensational. Showing the danger and ferocity of these new enemies that were once friends. Everything is attacked and suddenly, no one is safe. There is vulnerability everywhere, from Superman’s home to the Justice League Watchtower. There’s a shocking turn of events, showing how merciless the Legion could be.

It’s easy to figure out what’s happened, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing, due to how sudden and severe it is. Then the action stops, and Superman is taken somewhere else. With more surprises around the corner, it’s a nonstop, Kryptonian rollercoaster of emotions.

The characters are fascinating, because many of them are so different. Superman’s affectionate personality is almost never changing, and his care for people shines in the early stages of Superman Issue 28. He’s concerned about his friend’s future, feeling a need to check in on them. His heart is his strength—more than his fists. When Saturn Girl arrives, she brings darkness with her. This Legion of Darkseid is terrifying.

The Legion has always been a fun team, but now they’re villains and horrifying. The second half of Superman Issue 28 is extremely scary. The characters are terrifying. What they are capable of and how easily they can do it makes the blood run cold. It pushes even Superman to breaking point. His powers aren’t capable of fighting them all, and a side to the Man of Steel starts to surface when his emotions are shattered to such an extent.

Saturn Girl’s dialogue is unsettling and wonderfully written, because she knows so much about Superman and she can see inside his mind to find out more. There’s a familiarity to her, yet something new and sinister as well.

The art is fantastic, perfectly portraying that shift in tone. The opening is warm and welcoming, set at Superman’s mother’s home. It’s where he feels safest. There are illustrations of his time in the Legion, showing him as a younger man with more extravagant hair. Then Saturn Girl arrives and the book becomes more precarious and uncertain. The new designs turn them from corny sci-fi heroes into a cabal of dangerous villains. The costumes are stony and severe, their expressions filled with mischievous evil.

Superman looks youthful at the start, but haggard and experienced by the end. What he witnessed in that time is daunting and traumatizing: death, destruction, brutal injury. It causes Clark to fight back, and fight hard. His punches are free of restraint, the full might of Superman in the most desperate of circumstances.

The colors are fascinating, getting darker and darker. Early in Superman Issue 28, the sky is blue and it looks like it’ll be an idyllic, bright day. Yet, the leaves are changing color and the season is changing to something colder and associated with. It’s disturbing to see Saturn Girl, who has a dark costume, amid such loveliness and comfort. As the Legion start to unleash its horror, the skies and the panels get gloomy and nefarious. The lettering is superb and very easy to read.

Superman Issue 28 heralds the coming of something cataclysmic. For so long, the Legion of Darkseid has been far away, almost forgotten about. Now they’re here, and they’re very dangerous. The intensity and potential danger in the book are phenomenal. They start with Superman as their first target, and even the strongest can’t stand a chance against their power, ruthlessness and sheer numbers. It’s a heart-stopping issue that shows the Justice League truly has their work cut out for them.

Superman Issue 28 is available wherever comics are sold.