Superman #19 marks the beginning of a new status quo for Superman and company. With Absolute Power over, this is the first new issue of Superman after DC’s All-In relaunch. Joining writer Joshua Williamson and letterer Ariana Maher are new series artist Dan Mora and colorist Alejandro Sánchez. It’s the first issue of a new storyline, starring Lois Lane as Superwoman, and the return of Doomsday (back from hell). The team sets that up nicely without telling us why, establishing an exciting mystery.
The issue starts with the Time Trapper talking to a blazing Superman in a far future. The two talk, and then we’re taken to the present day’s Daily Planet, where Jimmy Olsen is showing Lois pictures that he’s taken for the front page. Lois says she wants a picture of the new Superwoman. An explosion sounds off in the distance, and Lois leaves Jimmy and rushes to the supply closet where Clark Kent is already waiting. The two unbutton their shirts to reveal their matching bright S emblems, and they fly towards the danger together.
WRITING
This story feels like it’s very exciting to Williamson, therefore making it feel exciting to the reader. Not all our questions are answered in this first issue, but that’s okay! He builds up to the reveal of Superwoman well here. Williamson has written a great Lois for the majority of the run, and this issue marks one of the best instances of that. Lois and Clark working together as a superpowered married couple is an incredibly entertaining idea. Williamson really utilizes it to its fullest here by having Lois feel as though she’s on top of the world. He then contrasts that with Clark reminding her to not lose herself in it.
In this issue, we also learn that there’s definitely more to Lois gaining her powers than meets the eye. Something that either insinuates that she might not have them for long, or that the more she uses them the more she exerts and damages herself. Whatever it is, it’s an interesting little ticking timebomb that Williamson has set up that hopefully leads to a big moment.
ART
Mora astonishes with every book he’s on. He constantly puts out impressive work that somehow manages to surpass his last, and this is no exception. He draws an amazing Superman and Lois, and his Superwoman design for Lois is really striking. It’s a great take on the classic Superman suit with some touches that really change it to make it hers, like the gloves that go up her forearm and soles at the bottom of her feet.
Mora also just captures the general vibe of each character’s feelings in this. There’s one panel where Lois and Clark are flying together for the first time and he flies straight while she flies at an upward angle, crossing his path. He’s used to this by now, but she’s taking it all in and appreciating it to its fullest. It’s a great small contrast. Not just that, but Mora also panels exceptionally in this. There’s one specific set of them where each curve of Superman’s crest is a new panel, and it just looks beautiful.
COLORS
Sánchez hits the ground running here. Superman of the future is covered in flames, and they look astonishing. The oranges and yellows and reds in that beginning portion all come together naturally and beautifully.
There’s another great detail too that really sells the issue for Lois. The Daily Planet is so hectic for her. It’s all darker colors when she’s there with no escape. No matter how far through the Daily Planet she goes, it’s still shrouded in these darker colors. When she suits up though, Sánchez flips it completely. It’s all bright colors, Lois glowing especially in them. Even the interiors of the planet look brighter than they were before. It’s a really nice touch.
LETTERS
Maher does her best here to give not only the characters, but the city itself a personality through the lettering. A couple have their own custom logos that pop up in the speech bubbles, and they really help to tell us about the character before we even see them. In Doomsday’s case, his logo doesn’t look much different from regular text, but it’s all rigid and messy, like it’s meant to represent someone more barbaric than the average person.
Maher also gives Metropolis itself some life, adding extra text to the civilians on the ground below the heroes. We know Superman can hear them, but now we see that too, and Lois as well considering most of the issue is told from her perspective.
CONCLUSION
This team really rounds out a great Superman issue that not only looks beautiful, but houses some really intriguing story beats as well. It feels like what the first issue of a new story in an already running comic should be, and doesn’t lose any steam with this being the nineteenth issue.
This book really needed something fresh and exciting after those Absolute Power issues, and this is it. It’s a new beginning for Superman and Superwoman as much as it is for some of their enemies, and exploring that in the future is going to be very exciting.
