When Superman #28 kicked off the “Legion of Darkseid” story arc, fans were probably expecting to see some twisted takes on the Legion of Super-Heroes after they fell under Darkseid’s influence. They probably weren’t expecting Superboy-Prime, of all characters, to show up in the final pages. Superman #29 picks up on this jaw-dropping cliffhanger, as Superman and Superboy-Prime travel through time and space to find help in their fight against the corrupted Legion. They soon learn that the future isn’t the one they remember.
Of all the big swings Joshua Williamson has taken so far in his Superman run, introducing Superboy-Prime is one of the biggest. Prime is a polarizing character since modern storylines, including the infamous Infinite Crisis, tend to use him as a mouthpiece for how some fans view DC Comics’ modern stories. He’s also become the poster child for edgelord tendencies in recent years, and in a comic book landscape that includes characters like Spawn and Lobo, that’s saying something.
Williamson does manage to justify Superboy-Prime’s appearance with the Time-Trapper/Doomsday explaining that Superman needs someone who the Legion isn’t expecting…and who may be willing to cross a line he won’t. Superboy-Prime’s in-universe comic book knowledge tends to be a double-edged sword, though. On the one hand, he’s able to cross time and space in a unique way (most fans will probably get a kick out of how this is displayed) but at certain times he sounds less like a Superboy and more like a Deadpool.
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A constant that fans will be happy to see is Dan Mora on art. It’s taken a bit of time, but Mora has managed to give his work on Superman a smoother, cleaner look that fits the Man of Steel. In contrast, every member of the Legion of Darkseid looks hard and jagged, from their armor to their appearances – Chameleon Boy, in particular, receives a frightening upgrade that wouldn’t be out of place in an Alien film. Even the future feels particularly harsh under Mora’s pencils; wreckage is strewn as far as the eye can see, and the Legion members who didn’t enter into Darkseid’s thrall look like they’ve been through hell.
Mora also continues to push the envelope in terms of action beats. One page features Superman and Superboy-Prime literally tumbling through time and space, with different eras of the DC Universe reflected behind them. Another splash page showcases the Legion of Darkseid in all its horrific glory, which will make readers understand just how intense this fight is going to be. Alejandro Sanchez also deserves a great deal of credit for how his color art changes, as the issue leaps from the sunny plains of Smallville to a war-torn future crackling with the signature reddish-black energy that fuels Darkseid’s every move.
Superman #29 brings back a character that no one expected, and starts setting the stage for what might be one of the Man of Steel’s biggest battles to date. Whatever’s coming up next, readers are bound to be in for even more surprises if Williamson and Mora keep up this momentum.
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