Based on the cover you’d think this is a Halloween issue, but last I checked there is snow on the ground. We delve into this done in one issue to answer the question: is it good?
Superman #17 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The summary reads:
“DARK HARVEST”! Jon and Cathy go deep into the woods of Hamilton to find a horror that hungers for the new Superboy!
Why does this book matter?
Clark’s son gets to be the hero in this issue, which means fun kid action is in store for the reader. Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason have clearly shown they know how to make for a good time and with artist Sebastian Fiumara I’m game to partake.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
I imagine your powers would be a problem especially at such a young age.
Superman #17 has a Stranger Things vibe–right down to the kids riding their bikes into the forest–with plenty of spooky vibes and trippy things that go down. The issue opens with Jon home alone eating ice cream as he watches a scary movie and gets scared by his neighbor Kathy; a cow is missing, as is Kathy’s dad, and the two must enter the woods to find out what has happened. Tomasi and Gleason instill a great sense of atmosphere and dread here that’s just delectable. The horror runs rampant and everything escalates quite nicely. Once it ends, you get a Saturday morning cartoon feel as Jon has his own little secret.
Fiumara draws a great issue and much of the atmosphere and creepy horror stuff works because of his art here. The foggy forest has an eerie look that helps remind us these kids are in some trouble. At one point they must enter a deteriorated mansion that’s covered in vines and perfectly sets the stage for the old school horror feel the story is going for. You never once question the look of the kids either as they have a realistic look that helps the horror vibe work as this feels all too real. On top of all this, Fiumara has made me fear cows. Good god, is there a freaky cow in this book.
It can’t be perfect can it?
This is a big departure from the usual Superman comic and readers might be put off by not only the horror story, but the fact that Superman’s son takes over. The story didn’t even need a superhero in it actually, which makes it even more strange. Given the epic nature of the last story arc it makes some sense to change gears though.
It’s also a bit odd there’s such a good horror story in February, but hell I’ll take it!
You have something on your face.
Is It Good?
Dare I say it: This is the best horror comic of the week! With impressive moody art and a fun done in one tale it’s hard not to like Superman #17.
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