Superboy #5 – Review

By: Scott Lobdell (writer), R.B. Silva (penciller), Rob Lean (inker), Richard & Tanya Horie (colorists)

The Story: What is it about redheads that gets the best of every male superhero?

The Review: One of my long-running complaints about this series has been its inability to take major steps forward in the story.  A lot of what we’ve seen in the past few issues has been the same type of confrontation or information recycled into different scenes, resulting in very little progress for Superboy’s character development other than a lot of repetitive and vaguely pretentious inner dialogue.  In short, it’s been a rather bland read.

It’s also been a bit frustrating to see Superboy demonstrating few, if any, heroic qualities whatsoever.  Last issue he came somewhere close by defeating “Sweety Bum” and “Honey Bunny,” preventing them from further practicing human immolation, but his choice to confront them felt rather arbitrary, motivated more from boredom than virtue.  It really gave no sign as to whether Superboy was actually starting to grow a conscience or not.

Here, it feels like Lobdell tackles both problems at once.  That earlier taste of heroism seems to have rubbed off well on Superboy, as he goes out of his way to rescue Caitlin Fairchild from her uncertain but surely grim fate with “the Colony,” whoever they are.  It’s especially significant he describes her actions as “sav[ing] me from myself,” indicating he can distinguish between what’s right or wrong (with himself, no less) to some degree.  After all, you can’t be saved unless you’re in danger, and since Superboy’s proven that physically, little can endanger him, that leaves only moral danger for Caitlin to save him from.

It’s also important to note Superboy himself decides to move forward with this plan.  Up till now, he’s been acting, or at least reacting, on the allowance of others.  This really marks the first time he’s conceived an affirmative plan of action and carried through with it, which bodes well for what might happen after his upcoming encounter with the Teen Titans.  But let’s not oversell things; Superboy did get help from an outside force, someone who worked with Caitlin and who’s neither Rose nor Dr. David Umber, who’s tried befriending Superboy in Caitlin’s place.

Superboy #5 – Review

By: Jeff Lemire (writer), Pier Gallo (artist), Jamie Grant (colorist)

The Story: Like my alarm clock whenever I want it least, the race between Kid Flash and Superboy is on!

The Review: Some people are inclined to call interlude issues—the done-in-ones between story arcs—filler, and there’s just cause for that.  Since they tend to have lower stakes and be less involved than the usual stuff you tend to get, it’s easy to dismiss them as distractions from the bigger picture.  But interludes can be important if they not only entertain, but do some work developing the characters or laying the groundwork for the next big plot.

Lemire succeeds on all three points.  Sure, the Superboy-Kid Flash race is a hokey gimmick, but that doesn’t take away from the sheer fun and silliness of it.  It’s also a great legacy moment for the featured teen heroes, a reminder that one day they’ll take over for their predecessors and be counted among the world’s finest.  Now, I won’t spoil who wins the deal, but rest assured—it beats the obligatory “tie” that always seemed to be the result of the Superman-Flash races.

Connor’s bromance with Tim Drake is by now an old DC mainstay, and but his friendship with Bart Allen has been less developed.  As Impulse, Bart always seemed to exist in his own world, making it easy to forget he was part of the original team-up with Superboy and Robin as Young Justice.  Their heart-to-heart this issue is a nice step forward for them, with Bart’s cheerfulness taking the place of Tim’s sensibility for soothing Connor’s romantic woes.

In fact, Superboy’s interactions with all the Teen Titans sound so natural, they call attention to how awkward his relationships with his Smallville “friends” have been so far, particularly Lori.

Even now, her role in this series still remains up in the air, as Superboy himself is taking a lot of pains to exclude her from his heroic and civilian lives.  Still, the appearance of the Phantom Stranger and her many monologues show Lemire has big plans for her in the upcoming storyline.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Axe Cop: Bad Guy Earth #1 – What a great and refreshing comic this was!  I love that a comic that has such outlandish ideas as an actual Axe Cop Academy, a talking hammer extolling his now brainless warrior companion (the cup) and a hero named Handcuff Man who has to be put to bed at night is told with 100% seriousness.  Lest we get lost in all the accolades this comic is getting for its zany story, let’s not forget that artist Ethan Nicolle is doing a wonderful job illustrating this comic.  I’d gladly take an ongoing Axe Cop comic!

Most Anticipated: The Walking Dead #82 – Ya know….because the zombies are going to eat some people.  The shit got REAL last issue as a quasi-main character got chewed, and I’m sure it’ll just get worse/better this month.  I do know one thing……  If I were trapped in a locked-up facility with a horde of zombies, I’d feel pretty good that Andrea was “safe” on the outside.  Do you think she’d run away or do something to help?  Me too….

Other Picks: I, Zombie #11, 27 #4, Lil Depressed Boy #2, X-Men Legacy #246, Batman Inc #3

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Powers #7 – It was a real dog-fight between this and Sweet Tooth #19, but in the end powers gets the nod, if only because I love Thor and this issue of Powers’ approach to the more problematic aspect of mythologically based superheroes really rung true to me.  This book may have taken half a year to come out, but it was smart, funny, and and pretty to look at.  It also had Deena Pilgrim in it, while Sweet Tooth did not.

Most Anticipated: Venom #1 – When this was first solicited, I yawned.  I haven’t cared about Venom since I was ten and Eddie Brock was under the symbiote.  Also, another covert-ops book?  Worse still, I have yet to totally forgive Rick Remender for Frankencastle.

But then I read Slott’s back-up introducing the new Venom.  Then I got tricked into buying Amazing Spider-Man #654.1 and really enjoyed it.  Then I read the preview for this issue, and liked what I saw, especially given that I’m always a sucker for gritty narration.  Hell, I even went and checked out a little Fear Agent just to wash the stink of Frankencastle a bit off of Remender.

Now I’m excited.  And Tony Moore?  That man and has fantastic art are always in my good graces, even with Frankencastle on his resume.

Other Picks: PunisherMAX #11, New Avengers #10, Batman Incorporated #3, Superboy #5, Wonder Woman #608