Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1 launches this week with a story that’s been years in the making. Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and illustrated by Scott Godlewski, the issue continues the story from Future State: House of El and Johnson’s Action Comics, sending Superman into a mythic confrontation with a godlike ally-turned-opponent. Phillip Kennedy Johnson spoke all about it at FanExpo Boston, but how does the opening salvo stack up?
Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1 opens with an epic climb as Kryl-Ux seems to be reaching the peak of a mountain, only to discover it’s the finger of a giant statue. The epic scale gives readers a sense of what this story is about, with time travel, Earth invasions, and more to come.
After the epic opening, the story shifts to Smallville, where Superman is overseeing the children he saved from Warworld. There’s a lot of love in Superman as he kisses Lois, who is feverishly working on a story, and shows care all around him. Godlewski and color artist Alex Guimaraes capture a wholesome feel in this scene, from the wide-open double-page layout to the scenes set in the warm sun. Everything suggests life is good, until it isn’t, when portals open up in the sky.
Love the wide open layouts.
Credit: DC Comics
The fight comes fast with epic speed from Superman and his enemies. The scale of giant harpoons hitting the Earth is well done, and again, Godlewski does a great job with the double-page layouts to draw your eye across the page.
Johnson does a good job establishing the familial element, as well as the main villain, by the end of the issue. The opening helps convey the epic nature of this tale, with the final few pages diving right into what’s next for Superman. The scope and size of this story feel event-worthy.
The final few panels help convey what we’re in store for, though a couple more pages might have rounded out what Superman is up against. Instead, the issue concludes in a way that leaves you wanting more, yet not quite enough, which is relayed to inform the reader of key details. It’s essentially your single-issue failing when stories are told over multiple issues. Certainly not a dealbreaker, but it feels like we could use a bit more here.
Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1 is a powerful, cinematic opener that blends mythic scale with heartfelt humanity, showing Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Scott Godlewski have big plans for the Man of Steel. While the cliffhanger comes a touch too soon, the epic tone and family-first heart make it clear this story has the makings of a major Superman saga.
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