Tony Black reviews Superman #6…
The epic conclusion to “Son of Superman”: Will Krypto be avenged?
Following a rousing start, the ‘Son of Superman’ story drives all the way to a slam dunk of a finale for this first arc in Superman, as writers Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason bring home the farm… and not just the Kent one! The battle with the Eradicator, attempting to protect the legacy of Krypton from the son Jor-El had with a human woman, has branched off even beyond Earth and now sees Superman in a desperate final battle to justify his son’s existence. Gleason also draws the panels and with Mick Gray’s inking really delivers a tremendous conclusion as Superman stands tall, but it’s the emotional knock on effect beyond this that if anything intrigues more.
The whole arc has been very much around acceptance of Jon and his role in the Superman mythos, with the Man of Steel being challenged by his ancestor forefathers through the Eradicator to almost believe he committed a sin in having a child with Lois, something Superman has been challenging from the get go. Tomasi & Gleason here fully allow Superman to make the point that his son is as important to him as Krypton ever was, and their legacy will be his son’s.
What’s great is how it shows the manner in which Clark Kent took the lessons he learned from being a young boy with the Kent’s and has applied them to his life as Superman, especially in relation to Krypton. When he later faces the consequences of the aftermath of his cataclysmic battle, Superman not only is reborn in the eyes of the American people in such a classical heroic way, but also presents himself as a powerful new, committed addition to a suspicious Justice League… with an exciting new element in tow.
As every good arc should, this first run of Superman under Rebirth concludes the battle with the Eradicator by very much setting up the next phase of the story, whereby it places Superman’s journey as not his alone. Indeed at one point, when asked by his nemesis, Superman explains he has never felt alone, and that’s key – it took Jon, it took Lois, it took the support of the JLA, all of those elements to defeat the Eradicator. With gorgeous, explosive artwork, a strong story which presents a rousing new Superman for us to follow, and a great final delivery which suggests a fun arc to follow, ‘Son of Superman’ has been a genuine success.
Rating: 8/10
Tony Black
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Originally published September 20, 2016. Updated April 12, 2018.
