Superman `78 #5 Review!

Superman `78 is the movie sequel given flight in comic book form and now it is Superman vs. Brainiac!  It features a cover by Francis Manapul of Superman flying out as we see the bottle city of Mtropolis wiht the Daily Planet and the looming face of Brainiac.  The creative team of Robert Venditti and Wilfredo Torres have crafted the penultimate issue of “Brainiac Chapter Five”!  A red-tinged Metropolis has a middle-aged man in his bathrobe walking his dachshund.  The dog is yapping until it is surprised, the streets are broken!, the buildings of Metropolis are lifted up!  The computer, a tube with the Brainiac skull, reports that Metropolis has been separated and being taken up to the skull ship.  

He orders the computer to sterilize a bottle for Metropolis!  I think the important part is to put in a breathable atmosphere and stablize the terrain.  At the Bottle City of Kandor, Superman and his parents, Jor-El and Lara are in a chamber.  Jor-El explains that he is using Lex Luthor’s transmission to tap into Brainiac’s computer.  I like the Kryptonian service robot hovering in the back.  Superman puts on a band to amplify his alpha waves.  There is an awkward goodbye with Jor-El.  Superman stands at the hoops that had surrounded Zod and his followers in Superman (1978) before they were sent to the Phantom Zone.  He tells his father to send him home as we see Brainiac order the miniaturization of Metropolis!   

We see the citizens of Metropolis calling out for Superman in the red glare of Brainiac’s ray.  One citizen looks like Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) from Superman III (1983).  We also got Jimmy Olsen and Perry White.  Then, Lex Luthor against a red sky inflating his balloon, like the Wizard of Oz?  Lois Lane looks up at the sky for Superman’s return.  Jor-El is adjusting the controls while he says to Lara that Kal-El has returned hope to him.  A nice moment.  Then, energy crackles and Superman screams!  Lara wants to shut it down, but her son is able to ask for the transport to continue!  She places the last crystal into the machine and Superman screams until he fades away.  The computer detects the intrusion of the miniaturization ray which Brainiac says is impossible.  

Then, he faces Superman!  The Metropolis citizens are confused.  Lex Luthor is floating in his balloon above the city.  Closeup of Lois’ face as she says her call was answered.  Superman flies and gives Brainiac a haymaker punch!  He says Brainiac broke his word, Earth’s safety in exchange for Superman’s sacrifice, of course the Coluan villain says it was a technicality.  So of course, Brainiac sends in his drones.  They seize him and blast Superman back.  He collides with shelves of bottles, but uses his superspeed to collect them!  Superman grapples with a drone sending energy from his arms.  The battle seen by the Kryptonians in the bottle city.  He takes the drones arms to destroy its skull!  Superman must defeat the drones and he still has to face Brainiac who has gone for an upgrade!  What is Luthor’s plan?  I’m ready for the conclusion and any further limited series or that Batman `89 crossover!  Another thrilling chapter of Superman `78!  

Five Drones out of Five! 

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