Superman/Gen13, Superman: Last Son of Earth

Superman/Gen13 1-3

Plot A: Gen13 visits Metropolis because Caitlin has a crush on Superman.  Caitlin gets amnesia after Superman collides with her during a fight, and starts thinking that she’s Supergirl, unable to fly due to Red Kryptonite.  (Like how Miles blames everything on puberty in Into the Spiderverse.)  

Heh.  I like this cover.

She goes about trying to do good deeds, but screws it up each and every time because she’s Archie Andrews.  

Superman and Gen13 spend three issues chasing her down as she wreaks havoc across the city.  

Plot B: The kids think Superman’s lame, but come around one by one as he wins them over with his strong arms (Roxy), superheroics (Bobby), and strength of will (Sarah).  It’s Adam Hughes’ take on “What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?”, showing why he thinks Superman’s wholesome character is still relevant and as important as ever in today’s society.  It works for me, but I never needed to be convinced in the first place. Love me some well written Superman, and this series qualifies.  (Great work by Lee Bermejo, by the way.)

Whodathunk Bermejo could do slapstick so effectively?

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman: Last Son of Earth 1-2

What if Clark Kent was sent from Earth to Krypton instead of the other way around?  He’s a human baby found and raised by Jor-El, forced to live in an exoskeleton to compensate for the heavier gravity.  It’s a fascinating take that I really enjoyed, well told by Steve Gerber.

Unfortunately, it veers back into conventional Elseworlds territory in the second issue after Clark gets a Green Lantern ring and returns to a devastated Earth.  (Where Lex, Lois, Martha, and Jimmy are all alive, of course.) But on the whole, not a bad outing.

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? No

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Fine