Superman Unlimited #4 might be a Superman book, but it’s becoming clear that creators Dan Slott and Rafael Alberquerque want to touch on every character associated with the Man of Steel, not to mention the wide scope of the DC Universe. Case in point: this issue focuses on Jimmy Olsen and Gorilla City genius Tee-Nah as they attempt to investigate a mystery surrounding the Gotham City’s Daily Planet branch.
Trouble rears its head in the form of Man-Bat, and Jimmy pulls off the usual: triggering his special signal watch to call Superman. Thanks to the high levels of Kryptonite around, he’s weaker than usual…and susceptible to a bite that transforms him into a Super-Man-Bat. Even with the help of Damian Wayne, can Jimmy stop Superman’s mutant rampage?
Slott’s previously shown that other members of the Superman family can hold the spotlight in this comic, with the previous issue featuring Krypto the Superdog in a prominent position. Now he gets the chance to show why Jimmy is considered “Superman’s Pal”. Even though Superman’s mutated into a bloodthirsty monster and has Jimmy running for his life, Jimmy also wants to help him out no matter what. Tee-Nah also gets the chance to show off her genius, which means that for the first time in a long time, DC has an intelligent gorilla who isn’t trying to kill the Flash or conquer the Earth. Damian Wayne also shows up, letting Slott play with some new character dynamics.
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Superman Unlimited #4 also marks the first time that artist Rafael Alberquerque doesn’t illustrate a full issue. While Alberquerque does illustrate a handful of pages (including the epilogue that sets up the next issue), Lucas Meyer steps in to do the majority of the artwork. That’s not a bad thing, as Meyer has a refined art style that lends itself well to motion. Whether it’s Damian and the Birds of Prey battling the Super-Man-Bat or Superman swooping from the sky to save a falling victim, Meyer makes sure to keep the viewer’s eye glued to the page.
Marcelo Maiolo and Matt Herms also deserve a shoutout for the way they utilize color in Superman Unlimited #4. Since the majority of the issue takes place at night in Gotham City, they utilize a darker palette that throws shadows around every color, only broken up by the bright lights of skyscrapers or the moon. It helps set the tone for the story, and also lends a bit of horror to the proceedings since there’s a giant bat flying around.
Superman Unlimited #4 switches to a new artist and a new city, while showing off the scope of the story it’s willing to tackle. The only question is: which member of the Superman family will get the spotlight next, and where will the action go?
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