Superman Unlimited has greatly shaken up Clark Kent’s world with the arrival of a massive Kryptonite meteor that crash-landed on Earth, with the largest deposit landing in the nation of El Caldero, now nicknamed the “Kryptonite Kingdom.” In its push to go fully global, the Daily Planet uncovers that El Caldero possesses a Kryptonite sunstone much like the one that formed Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.
That type of Kryptonian technology is extremely dangerous in the right hands, meaning that the Man of Steel has no choice but to travel to the Kryptonite Kingdom and speak with its president, Castillo. The only problem? The Kobra cult has infiltrated El Caldero, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the sunstone.
Superman Unlimited #5 lets Dan Slott play around with readers’ expectations, resulting in some surprises sprinkled throughout the story. Superman expects to be dealing with a massive amount of Kryptonite in El Caldero, but when he arrives, he learns that there isn’t as much Kryptonite as he originally thought…and that the people of El Caldero love him! The irony of a place that is utterly fatal to Superman housing people who adore him isn’t lost on me. Slott does attempt to outdo himself with another twist at the end, which feels less organic and more like it was tacked on to up the stakes.
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Slott also pulls back the curtain on the origin of El Caldero, especially where Castillo is concerned. It turns out that before he became El Caldero’s ruler, Castillo was a humble worker who was inspired by Superman. It makes the moment where he refuses to give the sunstone to Superman all the more shocking, and if that wasn’t enough, there’s a disturbing moment that hints that the “Kryptonite King” may become a foe, rather than a friend, to the Man of Steel.
Rafael Alberquerque continues to be Superman Unlimited’s secret weapon, as he illustrates action sequences with an eye-catching fluidity. In a flashback depicting the origins of El Caldero, the massive Kryptonite meteor seems to literally race at the readers. Ditto Superman’s “Supermobile”, which bears the Man of Steel’s signature red and blue color scheme along with his S-shield, rendered in vibrant color by Marcelo Maiolo. Superman himself is clad in a form fitting bodysuit meant to protect him from Kryptonite radiation, which once again lets Alberquerque pay homage to Superman: The Animated Series.
Maiolo’s color work also takes on a different hue when the flashback sequences kick in. Images are awash in a light green shade, representing both a memory and how the presence of Kryptonite has changed El Caldero. It’s a sharp contrast to the present day sequences, which features dark green towers and emerald hued armor for the Kryptonite Knights. The only shade of Kryptonite that isn’t green is the sunstone, which true to its name bears a brilliant golden hue.
Superman Unlimited #5 digs deep into the Kryptonite Kingdom, revealing a potential new danger for the Man of Steel. If Slott and Alberquerque play their cards right, they could add a new layer to Superman’s mythos, and a new foe to boot.
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