There is always something classic about Superman. Whether it be his costume, his powers, or his heart of gold, he has always been a shining beacon straight out of Action Comics #1. It doesn’t matter how much he changes, his core characteristics always remain the same. In Superman #9, Joshua Williamson, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and Ariana Maher put the proof to page.
Superman #8 saw a horrific turn of events for the Man of Steel. Exposed to an obscene amount of Kryptonite during his fight with the Chained, he was left half-dead and completely unable to fight for the foreseeable future. Now, the Chained may have been defeated, but Lois Lane is left in the aftermath, looking after a husband who — predictably — does not want to stay down.
DC Comics
The issue begins with Lois reading letters to Superman, while he lies suspended as he heals. The first few pages reflect on the influence that Superman has had on Metropolis. Instead of drowning in the dreariness of Batman comics or the contained repression of the current Wonder Woman run, this book focuses on optimism, even as Metropolis’ hero faces one of his greatest moments of weakness. The people reflect on the good he has done, and the city seems to sit in wait, as if the world really does pause when it can’t be saved by the Man of Steel.
It’s a great section that leads well into the next hard moment: Lois reflecting on the good that Clark has done for her. There is a touching page that manages to communicate Lois’ emotions with just nine panels. What makes it even more impactful is that Lois speaks in only two of them. It’s a testament to how much Williamson trusts Redondo’s art to properly communicate his intentions, and it works masterfully. Even the dialogue that is there feels unnecessary, compared to the easy flow of the panels.
While Lois waits for Clark, however, the Luthor family has meaningful conversations of its own. Lex, his mother, and Lena all have a moment to reflect on where they are after the short timeskip. It seems that, while Superman has spent the past few issues integrating Clark’s family, this issue is more interested in focusing on Lex’s.
DC Comics
The parallels between Lex and Superman have been readily apparent throughout this book, and every issue seems to ingrain them deeper into the narrative. At worst, it is an opportunity to see more about what makes Lex into the man he is. At best, it shows why Superman and Lex ended up on such different paths — and how they can begin to rectify that course.
Yet Lex is not alone in being in an uneasy alliance with Metropolis’ leading hero. After being teased throughout the run, Marilyn Moonlight finally has an opportunity to show who she really is. While the issue never delves too deeply into her backstory, it offers a few tasteful hints that only make her more compelling. Her design alone makes her worth some attention, and her limited dialogue leaves many questions in its wake. It will be interesting to see where Williamson takes her in the next arc of this book.
If Superman is an ode to the classic nature of the character, then issue #9 is all about classic comic books. Without giving away too much, it reintroduces characters who first appeared as far back as 1948 — all while allowing them to team up with a redesigned Clark Kent.
DC Comics
The upcoming arc is certainly an odd direction for the modern Clark, but it could be a way for him to gain some insight into Marilyn Moonlight, even as he comes to discover the truth behind his newfound enemies. It also offers a new perspective on the comic’s leading man that would otherwise only be possible in Elseworlds comics.
After Superman #9, the direction of the book is clear, even if Superman’s decisions going forward won’t be. In this issue, the art is spectacular and does an excellent job of communicating inner monologues without drawing too much focus away from the underlying tension of every panel.
While Lex’s continuous flirtations with good and evil can become somewhat tedious in their repetition, it helps to communicate exactly what Superman has been struggling with for so long. In that way, this book accomplishes everything it means to — all while teasing a fascinating new direction for its titular hero.
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