Supergirl: Survive #4
(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Rod Reis
Kara and Kal experience something they’ve never felt before … the restorative power of a yellow sun. But a storm is coming, and with it, a challenge that will push the young adventurers to their very limit. But from the dark clouds comes a helping hand … but are they friend or foe?
Superman: Father of Tomorrow #4
(W) Kenny Porter (A) Danny Earls
JOR-EL MEETS BATMAN AND ROBIN! Superman is struggling with how to help humanity reach their potential, so he looks for help from a friend in Gotham City. Enter: Batman and Robin! But Jor-El might have his hands full in Metropolis when General Sam Lane brings his WildC.A.T.S. to the city to face down the Man of Steel!
Dark Knights of Steel II #2
(W) Tom Taylor (A) Otto Schmidt
THE HOUSE OF EL IN DANGER! A sickness has befallen the Els, sending the Kingdom of Metropolis into disarray. But what — or who — could bring true harm to such a powerful royal family? Queen Diana and her Amazonians are intent on finding answers, but what will it cost them? Amidst the chaos, Amanda Waller takes surefooted steps into the vacuum of leadership… but she harbors an agenda far darker and more twisted than anyone yet realizes.
Supergirl: Survive #3
(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Rod Reis
MEMORIES OF KRYPTON! After their run-in with the Lantern Corps, Kara has taken Kal back to Krypton… but the real Krypton no longer exists. This one is of her own making. A shimmering city of blue constructs that shelters them from the pain of their loss. Kara could call it home and keep her cousin safe… but she’d be living a lie. Fortunately, the arrival of an interdimensional imp will help change her mind.
Superman: Father of Tomorrow #3
(W) Kenny Porter (A) Danny Earls
LEX LUTHOR HAS A PLAN! Jor-El sets out to revolutionize the world with his new energy source, but General Sam Lane has other plans for Jor-El’s tech. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor travels the globe in search of power!
Dark Knights of Steel II #1
(W) Tom Taylor (A) Otto Schmidt
THE FAN-FAVORITE ELSEWORLDS EPIC CONTINUES! An entire medieval world was forever changed when a spaceship crashlanded from a doomed planet. Monarchs died, kingdoms rose, long-buried treachery came to light… and a League was born. Now an ancient, violent war brews beneath the waves, one that promises untold destruction should it break the surface. If the League hopes to weather it and protect the lands of its realms and beyond, it must first root out the treasonous agents hiding in plain sight amidst its own ranks! Worldwide bestselling writer Tom Taylor (Detective Comics, Nightwing) and acclaimed artist Otto Schmidt (DC vs. Vampires, Green Arrow) welcome you back to the epic high-fantasy world of Dark Knights of Steel, where the darkest days yet still lie ahead!
Supergirl: Survive #2
(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Rod Reis
KARA AND KAL AGAINST THE LOBO GANG! Kara and Kal have lost their ship and, light-years from their destination of Earth, are now forced to seek travel from a busy spaceport. Conviction alone won’t be enough to keep Kara and her baby cousin safe from the vagabonds and swindlers of the planet — and Czarnian bounty hunters put the duo right in their crosshairs. Fortunately for them, there’s a full-spectrum squad of Green Lanterns nearby.
Supergirl: Survive #1
(W) Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan (A) Rod Reis (C) Rod Reis
ETHAN PARKER, GRIFFIN SHERIDAN, AND ROD REIS TAKE SUPERGIRL ON A NEW ELSEWORLDS JOURNEY! Kara Zor-El lives a life of small problems. How are you supposed to hold a floppy little baby like her new cousin Kal? Who should she ask to the spring formal? And when will her father and her uncle Jor-El stop squabbling? But the planet Krypton has big problems… like the militaristic dictator Zod ruthlessly crushing dissent and threatening to unleash the planet’s most dangerous weapons on the opposition. And when things boil over and Krypton begins to burn, Kara and her infant cousin will find themselves trapped together in a prototype rocket, struggling to survive in a hostile universe that doesn’t care if they live or die… and which might prefer the latter!
Breakout writers Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan (Eisner Award nominee Kill Your Darlings) join visionary artist Rod Reis (New Mutants) to tell the story of teenage Kara and infant Kal, sent on their journey through the stars together, not apart… that is, as long as Kara can keep him alive!
In a corner of far-flung space, a world explodes. A lone rocket escapes the destruction and races through space, ultimately landing on a small farm in small-town Kansas. A kindly couple steps with trepidation toward the alien craft as the door opens. Out steps a man named Jor-El, the sole survivor of the planet Krypton! As Jor-El fits in to his new home, he realizes that he can help the world, not just with his newfound powers but with his intellect as well. Witness how a Man of Steel and Science saves the world! Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 is an interesting Elseworlds tale that has potential but its first issue is a lot of setup and not a whole lot of new.
Written by Kenny Porter, Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 flips things a bit with Jor-El arriving to Earth from a dying Krypton instead of his sone Kal-El. Porter keeps things pretty familiar with Jor-El connecting with the Kents and instead of adopting a son, they instead connect as an adopted brother to Jonathan Kent. From there, we’re introduced to Jor-El, now going by the name Jordan, and his impact. Instead of going in front of the world as Superboy/Superman, Jor-El, as Jordan, helps the Kents with their farm tasks. We get a sense that Jor-El wants to be helpful, sharing his technology with the world for the better, but is held back due to not wanting to interfere.
We see that change as familiar tragedy strikes forcing Jor-El to face that he could do good if he were to push aside Kryptonian beliefs and instead share his knowledge and abilities with the world.
It’s a familiar concept in many ways. A hero born out of tragedy. A hero realizing they could have done more if they didn’t hold back and hide due to some rule. None of that is new or different and that’s partially what makes the debut issue a bore. Porter doesn’t push things far enough. Instead of a superhero shaped by the beliefs and values of the Kents, Jor-El arrives as a grown adult already with those. We get a sense of that but it’s never really instilled as to the why of it all. Why is he hiding/holding back? Why is he sticking to the rules of a dead planet when he could do more? Beyond “thems the rules,” we’re never given the motivation and drive for the decision.
Danny Earls art is just ok as well. With color by Nick Filari and lettering by Lucas Gattoni, Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 doesn’t feel quite the visually engaging comic as it could be. The opening sequence lacks drama and the issues biggest moments never really feel all that big. It lacks drama in the visuals. There’s something cool with Jor-El’s costume but overall, the comic has a lot of small issues that add up. Faces look odd. Positions of body parts don’t quite add up. It’s a very choppy and inconsistent art that at times detracts from the moment.
Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 has potential, and it’s easy to see Jor-El overstep his wanting to do good and become a monster as well as the negative reaction he’ll receive by the world. But, there’s so many small choices, odd choices (why was Lois at the Metallo unveiling like she was!?), that odd up for a rather bland reading experience. This could be a series you can jump into the second issue and not miss much and here’s hoping that follow up gives a reason to do just that.
Story: Kenny Porter Art: Danny Earls
Color: Nick Filardi Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 7.25 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.95 Recommendation: Pass
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
Batman/Static: Beyond #6
(W) Evan Narcisse (A) Miguel Mendonça
TOGETHER TO SAVE THE FUTURE! The Beyond Universe’s blockbuster team-up crashes into its crescendo here! After plunging the world into darkness, Shutdown threatens to unleash even more chaos as revenge for what’s happened to him. As Batman and Static race to stop his plans, an intergalactic armada looks to invade Earth and plunder its resources while the planet is vulnerable and crippled. How can Static, Batman, and their teammates in the Justice League stop these threats without making everything worse?
