The most recent story arc of Superman Unlimited has followed two versions of Jon Kent, as the present-day version has taken up the mantle of “‘Tomorrow Man” while a younger version is getting used to life in the modern world. Superman Unlimited #14 finally brings this duality to a head, as it reveals that young Jon’s torment at the hands of Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate on Earth-3 might have changed him – and not for the better. Meanwhile, Lois Lane struggles to understand the changes her son is going through.
I have to give Dan Slott props for the emotional work he does in Superman Unlimited #14, as he’s not shying away from the trauma young Jon went through and how that affected him. It plays out in his fights with supervillains, where he takes an overpowering approach to fighting certain villains; the biggest moment concerns Volcana, which sends him spiraling. Equally as effective is a conversation that Lois has with Jonathan and Martha Kent, who, true to form, give her the words she needs to deal with her situation. More often than not, we see Lois in full on reporter mode, so for her to admit she’s in over her head is a big deal. And Jonathan rightfully points out that in a world of gods, aliens, and monsters, it’s a miracle that she was reunited with the younger Jon.
Even Slott’s tendencies to set up multiple subplots work in his favor, as there’s a massive twist that shakes present-day Jon to his core while also bringing Damian Wayne back into the fold. There’s also the return of Kryptonite from El Caldero, which has a less-than-pleasant effect on Lana Lang and sets the stage for the upcoming “Kingdom of Zod” storyline that will run throughout the Superman titles. Given that El Caldero is also the site of the Kryptonite meteor that kicked off Superman Unlimited, it’s no surprise that it continues to have an effect on the overarching storyline.
DC
The secret sauce that makes Superman Unlimited #14 sing is the artwork by Lucas Meyer and David Messina. While Meyer’s been a stalwart part of the book, Messina is a newcomer. Other comic book fans will instantly recognize his work from Jonathan Hickman’s run on Ultimate Spider-Man, and Messina brings the same hyper-smooth art that he did there to the world of Superman. You can see every rivet in Steel’s armor, every detail of Tomorrow Man’s costume, and every fracture in the mountain of Kryptonite growing within S.T.A.R. Labs. Said Kryptonite also results in some gruesome imagery when it meets human flesh, or when it starts to poison Lana.
What’s really striking to me is how Meyer and Messina’s respective art styles complement each other. Unlike other comics that feature two or more artists, you’d have to squint to see the differences here. It makes for a smoother overall reading experience, and I hope Messina is sticking around for a while as things get intense. Superman Unlimited #14 might have taken a while to get to its turning point, but the destination is definitely worth the journey.
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