The last title for the September 14 review set appears to have been set up by Scott Lobdell to relate closely to Lobdell’s other title, the Teen Titans. So far, Superman’s corner of the DCU seems have undergone the most drastic change post Flashpoint.
General Information
Title: Superboy #1
Author: Scott Lobdell
Illustrator(s): R.B. Silva (pencils), Rob Lean (inks), The Hories (colours)
Cover Date: November 2011
Cover Price: $2.99
Buy the digital edition.
Premise
An organization called N.O.W.H.E.R.E. has a “clone” with the combined DNA of Superman and an unnamed human. The purpose seems to be ownership of a weapon of mass distruction, and that weapon is about to be pointed somewhere.
High Point
“We have no idea who the human donor was – but we know for sure the alien part at his core. Say what you want about the man’s politics, but it’s clear Superman is osessed with helping people. So unless Superboy’s human cells originated in a deeply pathological, megalomaniacal narcissist, the likes of which the world has never known… it means we did something wrong. Which means it is our responsibility to make him whole before we let him out of this laboratory.”
Low Point
As someone who knows something of this character’s past, I ask myself how much of his history is intact. Does the character have amnesia, or is his history gone?
The Scores
This is an original take on the character. His mental state and attitude are not like I’ve seen from him before, which is why I wonder if it’s the same character or one with a similar origin. I give it 5 out of 6.
The artwork is clear and emotive, but lacks a bit of detail, giving everyone a soft look. (Think “Howard Chaykin” but with normal sized jawlines.) I give it 4 out of 6.
The story is interesting. There are questions I want answered, by gum! I give it 5 out of 6.
The characterization is somewhat odd. The title character isn’t fully defined, but that’s what the story dictates. He’s trying just as hard to discover himself as the readers are, and those who recognize names will have some major questions surrounding one of his handlers. I give it 4 out of 6.
The emotional response is good. I originally decided to pick this up mostly because I was already planning to pick up the other three Superman family titles, but now I’m interested in following the title in its own right. I give it 5 out of 6.
The flow works well. There’s only one scene that jumps suddenly, but we eventually learn why it needed to. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, this is a super-book that bears little or no resemblance to last week’s Action Comics #1. It’s worth checking out; there’s a lot of potential in this direction. I give it 4 out of 6.
In total, Superboy #1 recieves 32 out of 42.
The New 52
Here are handy links for the reviews of all 52 new #1 issues:
- Action Comics
- All-Star Western
- Animal Man
- Aquaman
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman and Robin
- Batman: The Dark Knight
- Batwing
- Batwoman
- Birds of Prey
- Blackhawks
- Blue Beetle
- Captain Atom
- Catwoman
- DC Universe Presents
- Deathstroke
- Demon Knights
- Detective Comics
- The Flash
- Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.
- The Fury of Firestorm
- Green Arrow
- Green Lantern
- Green Lantern Corps
- Green Lantern: New Guardians
- Grifter
- Hawk and Dove
- I, Vampire
- Justice League
- Justice League Dark
- Justice League International
- Legion Lost
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Men of War
- Mister Terrific
- Nightwing
- O.M.A.C.
- Red Hood and the Outlaws
- Red Lanterns
- Resurrection Man
- The Savage Hawkman
- Static Shock
- Stormwatch
- Suicide Squad
- Superboy
- Supergirl
- Superman
- Swamp Thing
- Teen Titans
- Voodoo
- Wonder Woman