DC Comics in time for Superman Day has released the Summer of Superman Special #1 wtih the writing teams that will take the direction of the new Superman titles! This is part of the All In titles that forms the DC Universe after the defeat of Darkseid in All In Special #1 (2024). Jorge Jimenez, interior artist, provides the cover which has Superman in his classic heroic pose. The background is separated in four, Lois with the young Jon Kent and his father with Krypto flying in Metropolis. On the right is groom and bride, Lana Lang and John Henry Irons. Love the parallel of the two groups with blue skies. On the bottom is young Clark Kent as Lana Lang races forward all in yellow. Then, on the right, in red, is Zod blank eyes, maybe controlled by a device on his brow, and a space station.
“The Past, The Present, and The Future” is divided into three chapters and an epilogue. “Chapter One” set in Smallville, “Years ago”, is written by Mark Waid. He is the writer of Action Comics with issue #1087 and artist, Skylar Patridge. This moves from the Kent Farm to a large panel of Lana Lang, in her yellow cheerleader sweater and classic headband. She asks what is on his mind. Young Clark Kent with glasses Very funny. replies that she looks sweater! The narration by the older Superman notes that he can still smell her perfume, first crush, and that summer they turned 16. He notes that she was the “sweetheart of Smallville”, in panels showing her volunteering with the V.A. happily pushing the wheelchir of an elderly man.
She helps run a bake sale with two lil’ kids and teaches Sunday school. What I think really strikes Clark is somehow who gives so much of themselves, like himself as hero, and eventually someone who fights the good fight like Lois. Lana eyes him through a lock opf red hair and though best friends, Clark narrates that he wanted to be more than friends, sorry Clark, you will be trapped in a place more unescaple than the Phantom Zone, the Friend Zone! Clark in narration says that Lana was the one and that he wanted her to know “all the secrets” of his life. Closeup as we see Clark lower his glasses. Then, he hears something, smoke in downtown Smallville, we get a closeup through the lens of Clark’s glasses of the powerful villain, Validus, great shot!
He makes the excuse to Lana that he had too many pancakes and needs some antacid. A streak of red and then a closeup of Clark using his fingers to make a supersonic whistle! Then, we get a splash page of Superboy as Krypto comes streaking up behind him. Superboy was a Golden Age addition to the Super Family with More Fun Comics #101 (1945). Krypto made his debut in Adventure Comics #210 (1955). Superboy has been dealt with kid gloves in the modern DC, but it looks like he has returned with the Legion of Super-Heroes of the 30th century. They take on the mindless giant, Validus, part of the Fatal Five that took on the Legion in Adventure Comics #352 (1967). Great design, Validus is massive, cables on his rms, and a brain cover that sparks over what would be his eyes and nose.
Krypto swoops around him at super speed almost a red cage, but then Superboy slams into him with his boots! In the fields Superboy descends to try to talk reason into Validus. Instead, Validus hits him with a lightning blast from his face, slams him down, but both are thrown into a temporal portal. A full page shows them falling while there is pictures of a cave man, International Space Station, atomic blast, and Doomsday! So glimpses of history. Another page shows the first meeting with Batman, while the battle continues, the Daily Planet, and then Superboy sees something. Superman with Lois Lane whom he realizes is his wife, and Jon Kent back in the Super Sons days. Closeup as Superman kisses Lois, and then Superboy’s face as he realizes the woman who is his destiny. I love a concrete moment when Lois knows he is destined for Lois. The next falling thorugh history is through the life of Superman.
Validus punches his back from behind, both figures highlighted in pink, and then Superboy winds up for a punch in rage. Instead, Validus fades with the super punch, and the portal. In narration, the event has become a mystery without explanation, the memory is starting to fade for Superboy. Clark returns to see Lana who smiles at him. He admits that he is in a bit of a daze, and says he will be back to normal. She says “Normal is good” and for Clark to never change. This section has everything, a moment with young Clark and Lana, a supervillain with a mystery, and a wedding! “Chapter Two” continues with the Smallville of “Today.” It is written by Dan Slott who is the writer of Superman: Unlimited with artist, Rafael Alburquerque. The story is again set in Smallville without Metropolis which is where Steelworks is located and also Team Steel with his neice, Natasha Irons.
Preparations are getting ready for the wedding. Joanathan Kent sits saying his knees tell him a storm is coming, Clark tells his father that he had Lois have super senses. Lois became Superwoman in Superman #19 (2024) written by Williamson. She detects some trouble, overhearing Lana wanting to postpone the wedding! Lois tells Clark about it and he says it is job for Lana’s super friend. Nice nod to the classic Superman line and the cartoon. Clark talks to Lana and she brings up all of the problems, they are superheroes now?, including turning into an Insect Queen, a nice mention of her super identity in Superboy #124 (1965)! Clark says marrying Lois was the best thing that happened to him and wants this for Lana and John Henry. They are interrupted by another portal and the giant, clawed foot of Validus!
He has brought the storm of the century so John Henry and Natalie shift into their super suits as Steel, they should have separate identities. Natalie was not really in the background so just suddenly appeared. I think putting the focus on Ma and Pa Kent may take away from Natalie. Lana as the energy powered Superwoman blasts Validus with Steel slamming down his kinetic hammer! She regained her Superwoman powers in Steelworks #3 (2024). Lois and Clark go into action with a large image of Superman and Superwoman along with yellow speed lines! Superman reaches out to punch Validus along with Superwoman’s flying punch, strange, he could take on Validus as Superboy anyone of the heroes could probably match the supervillain, but now there is a team of five! Steel tells Team Steel and Lois’ Superwoman that they should take care of “people, pets, and livestock” and they can rebuild the rest. A large horizontal two pager has Superman slamming into Validus. Steel smashes his kinetic hammer into the engine of an eighteen wheeler truck!
Superwoman uses her super breath to counter one of the tornadoes. Lana also as Superwoman for the first time tries to draw in all of the lightning! Since the focus on Lana for the wedding, I’m not certain why Lois, Natalie, and Lana have to take a back seat to Superman and Steel taking action and giving orders. I think Lana could discharge the energy to eliminate the storms. Superman again tries to calm down Validus shouting at him. He doesn’t try the exact same words calmly he used as Superboy? Superman is distracted by Pa Kent and then is struck by Validus’ lightning blast. Heading to the storm cellar, Ma Kent walks down the steps, Pa Kent ries to close the door, but the winds whip him away! He is drawn to a tornado, but Superwoman Lois saves him! Superman sees that the tornadoes have left Smallville and then punches Validus, yawn, until he fades away with a bolt of lightning. A connection with lightning, Lightning Lord? Maybe the time shifts are from another Legion villain, Time Trapper? A team up of the Legion of Super-Villains?
Superman returns to see some of the destroyed buildings of Smallville. He tells the Super Family that they are amazing. Natalie asks what caused teh tornadoes. Superman says that Validus is not to blame, then it gets a bit lecture-y with if they make changes and listen to scientists, they can save the planet. Clark Kent and Lois back in civilian clothes asks John Henry that Steelworks will entirely fund the reconstruction of Smallville. I think it also needs a tech upgrade to detect storms and other threats. Buildings that can resist damage. Lana says they will hold the wedding in Smallville. This wraps up with Chapter Three with art finishes by Belen Ortega. The writer is Joshua Williamson who currently writes the Superman title with art by Dan Mora, Eddy Barrows, and Eber Ferriera. “Chapter Three” has the nine panel grid; doves fly, guests take their seats, and closeup of John Henry straightening his tie.
His kinetic hammer by some flowers, closeup of Clark setting his glasses on his face, and Pete Ross, best friends with Clark, with his son, Clark. Extreme closeup of the ring placed on Lana’s finger, the priest, and the ring on John Henry’s finger. Another Smallville summer with the kissing of the bride in a large two page spread with John Henry's mother to the side. Superman’s narration goes over the summers helping out Pa Kent. There is clapping by all fo the audience including Pete and his son, probably some other cameos. The party continues, Lana throws the bouquet, it looks like it is headed towards Natalie! John Henry and Lana wave goodbye on the back of a Just Married truck. Lois is by the side of Clark. Later, Superman is hauling a massive device, talking with Mr. Terrific. He is a hero who first appeared in Spectre #54 (1997). Mr. Terrific is one of the most intelligent persons on Earth, his t-mask is a communciation deivce and ctonrls the roboitc T-Spheres akin to Brainiac-Five.
He wonders if Kal-El’s rocket caused the anamoly or if the anamoly brought the rocket and Validus. The mystery that will lead to whoever is controlling this dark future. Superan has a containment grid from Steelworks that can contain Validus. Mr. Terrific activates the device to serve as a gateway for the time ruptures. Superman reaches into the gateway to pull out Validus, but also gets slammed away. They have also brought along the telepathic Omen, she is a character who was introduced in Teen Titans #25 (1970). Currently, she has teamed up with Power Girl. The containment grid restrains Validus as Omen probes his mind. Validus shouts a warning before he disapears. Omen has found he just felt emotions and he wasn't trying to kill Superman, Validus was running away! A glimpse of the future is in the Epilogue with art by Mora, something has killed the future of the 30th century! Some great stories and art are in the Summer of Superman Special #1 with the mystery set up to be explored in the Superman titles!
Four Tornadoes out of Five!
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