Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Ivan Reis
Published by DC Comics
This has been a hell of a first arc for this comic book. This storyline about the Phantom Zone coming out into the real world and the results of that incident is stunning. Bendis has pushed himself to create some of his best work in years. This is one incredible storyline and I’m loving it month in and month out.
We get to see something I never thought that I would see in a Superman comic opening up the issue. It is Superman and Zod working together!
They are both trying to take down the villainous Rogol Zaar and it’s an all out, knockdown battle where everybody is getting the hell beat out of them! It’s great!
Then, at the most dramatic moment, Superman is pulled out of the Phantom Zone by Adam Strange.
This leaves Rogol Zaar and Zod to duke it out.
Superman, meanwhile, recharges himself. It was a heck a battle and it is over. He gets himself in order. He contemplates on what just happened.
And he tries to just get on with his life.
Bendis writes a good ending and almost epilogue to the last five issues. He grounds it in character and it just works. Superman is identifiable here and it’s wonderful.
The art by Reis works great with the story as well. His fight scenes are spectacular and we see some of the best work ever from him here. He also can work those dramatic scenes extremely well. The pacing and the facial expressions are great and really make this comic book sing.
The ending has quite a surprise that leads into the next issue. I don’t want to spoil it but it’s a very thought out moment and boy does it work. Bendis has a plan in place and it’s wonderful. Let’s see where it goes from here. I just know that it’ll be someplace great.
RATING: A
