Monday, June 8, 2009

Superman: World of New Krypton #4 (of 12)

If I were asked to review this comic in one word or less, the answer would have to be "Meh."

It's not that Superman: World of New Krypton is a bad comic, it's just that it's not a particularly great comic.

For DC to have uprooted the Man of Steel from Earth (and his own comic titles) and transplanted him to a new world, the story needed to be really compelling, groundbreaking or at least action-packed. Four issues in, and this series has been none of the above.

The story finds Superman given the career of being in the military, heading up a unit of soldiers. His commander is none other than General Zod, who must be delighted at being able to order Jor-El's son around.

This issue revolves around a visit from the Green Lantern Corps (headed up by Hal Jordan, naturally) and the attempt to capture a Phantom Zone criminal.

The art by Pete Woods is quite good, but everyone looks so much alike (they're all in some kind of official uniform), it's a bit of a struggle sometimes to tell who's who.

But it's the story by James Robinson and Greg Rucka that just seems to be puttering along. We're learning about New Krypton at a glacial pace, it's difficult to understand why Superman gave up his life (and his wife) to take up residence here, and none of the Kryptonians are especially interesting.

Perhaps the next issue will turn things around, but so far this book has just been average at best. In other words, "Meh."

Grade: C+

No comments: