In the lead-up to DC K.O., Scott Snyder teased that the focus would be on Superman as the heroes of the DC Universe battle to save the universe from Darkseid’s grasp. If the Man of Steel is currently at the center of DC’s big event, what happens to his solo title? Superman #31 tackles this dilemma head-on by focusing on the moments before and after DC K.O. #1, and wisely shifts its focus to Lois Lane.
I’ve long felt that anyone who wants to write a good Superman story needs to write a good Lois Lane. Lois is just as important in the grand scheme of things; not only is she Clark Kent’s wife, but she’s also a fearless reporter and a dynamic character in her own right. Josh Williamson has ensured that Lois is an integral part of his Superman run, whether as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet or as Superwoman. This continues in Superman #31 as she begins to investigate the secret history of Krypton.
This leads to a major reveal surrounding Superman’s birth parents, which Williamson had already teed up in Justice League: The Omega Act #1. The best parts of Superman #31 aren’t the callbacks, but the more quiet moments between Clark and Lois, or Clark and the Kents. It sells just how big DC K.O. is; this time, Superman and the rest of the Justice League is fighting for all reality, including their loved ones, so they make those moments count.
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Superman #31 brings back the art team of Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreria to illustrate this new arc, partly because they’ve assisted Williamson on previous issues of Superman and partly because Dan Mora has a full plate with Justice League Unlimited, Transformers at Image/Skybound, and the upcoming DC K.O. tie-in miniseries Knightfight, which will reunite him with Williamson. Barrows and Ferreria are more than willing to bring the big imagery, replicating a massive fight scene from DC K.O. #1 or displaying the massive crystalline palace that is the Fortress of Solitude.
It isn’t all splash pages, as Barrows and Ferreria get the chance to draw plenty of tender moments between Lois and Clark. The attention to detail in those panels is remarkable, allowing readers to feel the love and worry pouring out of an embrace between the two. It doesn’t hurt that Alejandro Sanchez bathes the page in a warm light, which makes it feel more inviting. Sanchez even makes good use of white space to put the spotlight on certain characters, adding to that more intimate feel.
If this was just a story about the moments before DC K.O. #1, that would be great. However, Superman #31 decides to follow up on the fallout from the previous “Legion of Darkseid” story arc, resulting in a moment that fans probably won’t see coming. But it also proves that you can tell a Superman story even if Superman isn’t fully in the picture. Superman #31 manages to juggle being a tie-in to DC K.O. and a Lois Lane-centric story, packed with action and emotion in equal measure.
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