Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points!
For this entry, the Man of Steel has fallen! Amanda Waller dealt a shocking blow. Absolute Power kicked off in a monster way. Superman’s powers are no more. After being shot, Clark Kent is currently fighting for his life. It’s an unfathomable thought come to life. Is the DCU about to lose Superman again?
SUPERMAN #16 by Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell and Ariana Maher jumps in the fallout of that fateful moment!
Let’s not waste another second and dive into the story!
SUPERMAN #16 by Joshua Williamson, Jamal Campbell and Ariana Maher (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Williamson takes readers down a few paths for this issue. Seeing a rare glimpse of Young Clark sets the stage for the shocking reality of events. The writing creates the desperate attempt to save Superman perfectly. Once at this stage, the spotlight is thrown on Zatanna to take the baton and run.
Her portion of the book is one that fans will become fully invested with. In this “new” powerless era, Zatanna adapts to the new stat quo with some unlikely help. Tying back to the beginning of this series, it solidifies how far one character has changed working with Big Blue. Even with the seriousness of Waller’s onslaught, there’s a great sequence involving well timed humor.
The break balances out the chapter heading into the final act. Once there, the story mixes in some surprises. None will stand out more than the final page. This is largely due to the artwork of Campbell.
It has been a while since readers have seen him on a full Superman book. Readers received a quick reminder of how great his vision of Superman’s world is. The young Clark moments creates the wholesome era of Smallville. The transition to present day is pulled off with dramatic ease.
Zatanna steals scenes with her fighting skills. There are a few half page panels that signify her impact on the current state. Mixed in with the heavy weight of knowing of Jon Kent’s status, the imagery makes for a strong portion of the book. It fully conveys how much of this war has been Hell already.
The final page is a great reveal. Campbell sets the wheels in motion for the next chapter with a full page action shot. It caps off a visually impressive chapter that fans will have much to rave about.
FINAL POINT: 8.7
Waller’s biggest blow in her attack was mortally wounding DC’s symbol of hope. Superman begins his redemption story with a solid opening chapter. Williamson juggles multiple characters with excellent writing and pacing. Campbell constructs great action along with emotionally driven moments for a chapter that shouldn’t be missed.
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