Review:
Stop me if you've heard these stories before. Desperate parents pack their son into a vessel and launch him away from a doomed planet. Sound familiar? It is the origin story of Ulysses, the 4th-dimension super-human come back to Earth as a grown man. How about this one? To preserve their superior lifestyle, a powerful race plans to destroy six million members of another race. It is the Holocaust-tinged challenge Superman faces - how to save the six million from becoming the fuel to power the utopia of life in the 4th dimension.
Ulysses is a fascinating new character in Superman's universe. His energy powers - absorption, reading, following, projecting - make him a force to be reckoned with, whichever side of the good/evil divide he ultimately falls.
John Romita Junior gives him a striking presence, with a powerful jawline and long, flowing blond hair. And writer Geoff Johns crafts a hero / villain with a playful side and a depth of character and emotion rarely seen in such a mainstream flagship title. His struggles with loyalty and devotion to his adopted parents vs rediscovery of his birth family is moving, strong story-telling.
In these pages, Romita Jr. teams up with his frequent inker, Klaus Jansen. This is not their best work overall, with a rushed and rote feel to many panels. But be sure to dwell on their full-page and two-page spreads, which are showcases for why they are such a highly regarded artistic team. The spreads are always stunning!
The tail-end of this collection is a standalone tale that feels like the B-side of a rock band's album. In it, Superman reveals his dual identity to Jimmy Olsen (or Jim here). Johns pens a sweet story of human connection and true heroism, as a temporarily powerless Superman talks down an armed and desperate hostage-taker. The invulnerability may be gone for the moment, but the bravery and pursuit of justice - in its many forms - remains.
Description:
A new era for SUPERMAN begins as Geoff Johns takes the reigns - and he's joined by the legendary super-talent of John Romita, Jr. in his first-ever work for DC Comics!
Enter Ulysses, the Man of Tomorrow, into the Man of Steel's life. This strange visitor shares many of Kal-El's experiences, including having been rocketed from a world with no future. New and exciting mysteries and adventures await. Plus, Perry White offers Clark a chance to return to The Daily Planet!
Collects: SUPERMAN #32-39
Authors: Geoff Johns
Artists: John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: April 19 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401258689
Pages: 256 pages
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