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Review: Action Comics #967

By Philip Schweier
November 9, 2016 - 05:23

The Genetricron puzzle continues, as Superman & Son locate the corporate headquarters of the mysterious company that vanished from downtown Metropolis in a previous issue. But the who, how and why still remain.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, Lois continues her impersonation of herself as she interviews Lex Luthor. While the perennial foe of the Man of Steel hasn’t had a complete change of heart, his approach is all the more puzzling. He’s adapted his power suit into a Superman-themed suit of armor, and seems bent on turning the classic S emblem into his own vision of what a superman should be.

I know the character pre-dates Iron Man by a couple of decades, but this incarnation seems too derivative of the Marvel character, especially in light of Iron Man’s high bankability in recent years. At the same time, I am uncertain how DC could have avoided the inevitable comparison, and have no solution at this time.

But now the famous S emblem has become a bullseye, as two extraterrestrials – L’Call, the Godslayer, and his lackey – target those who wear the red S. While their grievance may or may not be legitimate, there is some confusion as to their true target. Is it a blanket vendetta, or is Superman and/or Luthor somehow wandered into the line of fire?

Tyler Kirkham returns to full art duties, but as with many of DC’s titles these days, it remains to be seen for how long. It seems as if very few artists can fulfill more than one or two issues. I know the current Rebirth schedule is grueling, but that’s a problem that should have been worked out long before now. I won’t speak to who is the “better” artist, believing it’s usually a matter of different, not better. But consistency on the part of DC on all its titles would be welcome.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12