Martin Deer reviews Superman Unchained #3…
“Superman’s found out the secret the U.S. Army tried desperately to keep from him—or more specifically, that secret’s found him! But with hijacked drone aircraft tearing Tokyo apart, there’s not much time for mystery…and with Lois Lane on the case as well, what’s in the darkness will come to the light!“
Two solid issues for this series thus far and that continues here in issue three. Last we left Superman he had been attacked by the U.S. Army with a new weapon, and a character we thought was going to turn out to be a villain, Wraith, came to his aid. The issue starts with a flashback to 1938 and humanity sending a message out to space, which was immediately answered by Wraith’s craft. Cut to present time and where we left off in issue two.
Scott Snyder has been able to build in these three issues an expansive world that continues to become more enveloping. What’s interesting is how he has positioned this new alien; making us believe he is a villain, only to have him help Superman. That continues here with admiration and respect being show, and a great twist at the end, which should make for a fantastic fourth issue.
Superman is not just attacked physically in this issue, but his methodology is also attacked. His lack of involvement in taking down tyrannical world leaders is questioned and is reminded of the lives he leaves to suffer as a result. Given that this is all coming from General Lane, of course makes it questionable, and no doubt these themes will come larger in to play further in to the story -hopefully, when Superman is positioned as the bad guy the story can suffer, but one gets the feeling Superman will get to show General Lane and the world why he is the true hero.
As mentioned Snyder is building a large world for Superman Unchained, and the two sub-plots of the issue with Lois Lane and Lex Luthor both provide depth to the issue. As for Wraith, Superman notes that Bruce was right about their cells being similar, yet decades of Solar radiation exposure has had a different effect on him, which raises the question is he Kryptonian, or something else. Issue three is another solid issue, and the best thus for story and enjoyment; Superman Unchained is proving to be a worthy investment. But we are still waiting for Superman to crack a smile…
Martin Deer
Originally published August 21, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
