Credits: Story by Louise Simonson, pencils by Jon Bogdanove, inks by Dennis Janke and edited by Mike Carlin.
Cast: Lex Luthor II, Supergirl/Matrix, Jonathan and Martha Kent, James ‘Jimmy’ Olsen, Perry White, Lois Lane, The Justice League (and a few other heroes), Lobo, Keith Parks, Professor Emil Hamilton & his girlfriend Mildred, Bill & Hillary Clinton (no, seriously) and Bibbo.
Plot: Lex Luthor II has organised a funeral for the Man of Steel as people mourn both him and the disappeared Clark. Superman’s funeral procession is awash in heroes as all the big names are there (as are the Metal Men and the Forever People for some reason) with all of them having black armbands. We get more reactions as the alien bounty hunter Lobo learns of the death and is angry about it too. Emil Hamilton muses on the loss along with Mildred. Keith Parks lets a grieving child hold his cat as elsewhere the crowds watching the funeral get rowdy and Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and Hal ‘Green Lantern’ Jordan help keep the peace. Part of the rowdiness of the crowds are mobsters trying to buy the rights to Jimmy Olsen’s now infamous picture. Bibbo stops a man selling overpriced souvenirs of the death by buying his entire stock and offering him a job at his bar, the Ace of Clubs. Martha and Jonathan watch their son’s funeral and breakdown in tears.
At the funeral, one of the speakers is the US president at the time and he and his first lady who talk about how Superman used his powers and that their thoughts are with his loved ones, whomever they are. Lois weeps and in Kansas, Jonathan and Martha bury some mementos (photos, scrapbook and teddy bear amongst other things) in the place where they found their son. As they do so, the coffin is interned and finally Lois calls the Kents who promise to come and see her.
Notes: The problem we have is that this issue is very much like the last, where we are seeing the aftermath of loss. It doesn’t really add anything of depth and has a weirdly out of place action scene. It’s probably the weakest issue so far with only a couple of stand out moments that elevate it. It reminds me of the film Superman Returns in that it is a not very good story, very well told. I wanted to hate it, or have some great reaction to it, but honestly. I don’t really have anything to say.
Verdict: Writing 2 out of 5 Nothing interesting added, this is just the next part.
Art: 3 out of 5: Bogdanove does great, but isn’t given much to do.
Overall: 5 out of 5 – A lackluster part of a great story that is still good enough that you’re engaged.
Next Time: Back to Gamorra with Deathblow
My Marvel Life 