Comic Review: Superman #7 (DC Comics)

As the cover asks, along with a sort of retro style visual: “What Happened? Superboy’s Lost Years.” The typography ain’t no Gaspar Saladino, but we get the point. This is the issue where we learn what happened during Jonathan and Lois’ ‘summer vacation’ with Grandpa!

Superman 7, from DC Comics, begins with Superman and Jonathan having a sky filled and tear-filled reunion. It’s lavender, it’s puffy clouds of love, it’s emotional. Jonathan is back from his ‘time away in space’, and Superman is a happy alien for his return. But things have changed for Jonathan.

So, “What Happened on my summer vacation?”. No spoilers, but quite a lot happened actually, entertainingly so.

The three-person art is highly detailed and well composed; Ivan Reis, Brandon Peterson, and Jason Fabok contribute pencils, plus Oclair Albert with Peterson on inks, and Alex Sinclair on colours. A variant cover by Adam Hughes is also available. That’s a lot to look at!

I can mention a few things without spoiling the surroundings; Brian Michael Bendis’ script is strong, and I like the direction and drama inherent in this arc. I do find that young Jonathan’s ‘voice’, that is, his dialogue delivery, to be all over the map. First, he’s a little child, then in the next breath, he is a fully grown Mensa member, spouting wisdom. Then he sounds like someone else. Perhaps Bendis is struggling to further define Jonathan, from inside out… still searching.

Lois appears to have been a bit hit on the alien planets: an outer space hottie! In one segment drawing significant attention to her uh, physical appearance. Reach out and don’t touch me there! it’s up to the reader to figure out whether this is a nod and a wink from the creative team, or just a coincidence. And you know what they say about coincidences: there aren’t any, lol.

A solid issue and it looks like there is a solid story continuing to emerge, and that is also not a coincidence, methinks.

DC Comics, Superman #7, $3.99 for 22 pages of content. Rated Teen