Kyle King Comic Reviews

Action Comics #44 presents a mixed bag for fans of the Man of Steel.

The debut issue of Justice was a well-crafted comic written for the wrong superhero.

Bold imagery, bizarre twists, and beguiling ambiguity combined to make this issue a winner.

Though rushed and forced in places, Greg Pak's latest effort possessed depth, moved the story forward, and led Superman upward.

Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder have Superman on the path to redemption in this action-packed adventure.

The world's greatest superhero has new powers and the solar system's largest planet is becoming more massive. A comic book doesn't get much bigger than that!

Empowered by Metallos kryptonite heart, Superman attacks Vandal Savages Stormwatch Carrier as the comet is drawn nearer to Metropolis. Lois Lane, Lee Lambert, and Jimmy Olsen assist with relief efforts on the ground. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Mr. Terrific provide backup while the Man of Steel goes after Savage and his descendants. Superman rescues Lana Lang and the Justice League.

This story did what it had to do, but its need to do too much left little room for nuance.

This highly anticipated issue was an inconsistent, anticlimactic, and superficial hodgepodge that fell well short of expectations.

Dan Jurgens restores the iconic Superman in this exciting and uplifting tale.

Classic characters, energetic action, and simmering mysteries pack this effective issue.

Dan Jurgens and his collaborators once again have produced a good-looking book filled with action and intrigue.

Hard-hitting action, character-driven storytelling, and energetically compelling graphics combine to make this latest issue another winner.

Lex, left behind to guard Metropolis when Superman and Wonder Woman went off in pursuit of Doomsday, finds himself aided by the unseen Superwoman. Clark calls Luthors attention to the crashed vehicle from which the singleminded behemoth emerged, and the super-suited scientist is unable to explain the composition of the craft.

There is not a lot of nuance to the artwork in Action Comics #962. Facial features are not finely detailed, and an unintended side effect of an innovative layout featuring multiple panels shown from above or below is that bodies occasionally appear elongated. However, Path of Doom Conclusion is a story focused on the big picture, so what the graphics lack in subtlety, they make up for with a vitality that is larger than life.

Back at work as a newspaper correspondent, Clark finds that he has become a story. Daily Planet owner and publisher Lex Luthor arranges a press conference for Kent to explain himself, but his excuse that Superman sent him into seclusion and impersonated the journalist for his own protection fails to convince his listeners. Even after Clark passes a polygraph test, everyone still believes he is secretly the Last Son of Krypton.

Veteran writer Dan Jurgens has been playing the long game with the pre-Flashpoint Superman since the earlier iterations of Clark Kent and Lois Lane returned to the mainstream DC Universe continuity following Convergence. What answers did Jurgens and artist Patch Zircher have in store for this issue?

Lois Lane, who (along with Clark Kent and Superman) made her debut in Action Comics #1, returns to work at the Daily Planet only this is not the pre-Flashpoint Loiss newspaper, she is not the journalist known to the New 52 continuity, and its not just another day at the office in Metropolis!

Together with the New 52 Lana Lang and the post-Crisis Man of Steel, the pre-Flashpoint Lois Lane comes to grips with the fate that befell the version of her that was native to the current continuity. What will the status quo look like for the DC Universe in the future?

Lois Lane interviews Lex Luthor about the otherworldly technology at his disposal, Superman takes Superboy to the Amazon in search of Geneticron, and an attack is launched on Metropolis in an attempt to fight the future.

Self-appointed Superman Lex Luthor is under attack from alien assassins convinced that the battle-suited billionaire is destined to become the new Darkseid. Is it the pre-Flashpoint Supermans duty to save his archenemy or to let LCall execute the ultimate judgment against the nefarious supervillain?

Although Action Comics #969 engages more in weighty debate than in fantastic fisticuffs, the nuanced characterization and plotting keep the adventure lively despite its seeming simplicity. This in many ways was a transitional issue, but Men of Steel " Part 3 advanced and enriched the plot while offering a nice change of pace set in a more minor key. The tale's final line and closing image combined to summarize the fundamentals of Superman, ending a somber story on an upbeat note. Jurgens and Zircher turned in another superb effort, which was no less welcome for being expected.

Nideesi! LCall! Zade! Chaar! Darkseid! Parademons! Mother Box! In the face of such powerful and persuasive adversaries, can the Big Blue Boy Scout stay strong in his conviction that even his archenemy cannot be punished for his future crimes?

In the shocking conclusion of the preceding issue, Superman stated that he had been persuaded of Luthors guilt. Is the Last Son of Krypton truly prepared to let the Remnants of Nideesi carry out the death sentence their verdict has imposed?

Stranded on a planet that orbits a red sun, Superman and Luthor are forced to battle LCall and Zade at less than full strength. What will the desperation of their situation reveal about the true character of each of Metropoliss two caped defenders?

As the tales title implies, the mysterious Clark Kent figures prominently in Mild Mannered Part One. However, the bespectacled reporters Daily Planet colleague, Lois Lane, likewise headlines an issue filled with surprises including unexpected appearances by several notable names!

Superman and Steel are searching for ways to save the dying Lana Lang. The pre-Flashpoint Lois Lane goes out on a date with the post-New 52 Clark Kent in an effort to obtain answers to the mystery surrounding her Daily Planet colleague. What sinister forces are following the movements of the first couple of superhero comics, and what are their malicious intentions?

This super-sized special edition offered appropriate nods to the past while advancing significant existing plotlines toward a triumphant resolution.

The New 52 required Rebirth to walk a fine line in regaining fan confidence and reclaiming the noble legacy of Action Comics #1. 975 issues later, DC Comics has succeeded.

Everyone involved focused on the fine details without ever losing sight of the big picture in this masterfully crafted issue.

At the end of the long, careful climb up the mountain, this issue achieves the summit.

Everything that is right with DC Comics' Rebirth is embodied in this issue, which features another virtuoso performance by writer Dan Jurgens.

The pacing, characterization, callbacks, artwork, and action all clicked in this capably crafted comic.

Subtle touches, painstaking characterization, and hard-hitting action combined to make this forward-looking issue effective.

Vibrant artwork, careful characterization, and engaging action with meaningful stakes together made this another outstanding issue in the Rebirth revival of this iconic series.

Jurgens, Bogdanovic, and their coevals deliver epic fight sequences and stunning developments in the fast-paced yet unhurried Revenge " Part V. We invite you to ComiConverse with us in the comments about the exceptional Action Comics #983!

In a team-oriented issue, Greg Pak moved the story forward and showed a more genuine Superman.

Greg Pak had a lot to do in this issue, but the theme came through, restoring trust for the characters and readers alike.

The world's finest heroes get a welcome reset in the new creative team's solid start.

The Lost Kryptonian highlights the defining attributes of two characters who, not coincidentally, made their respective debuts in comics titled Action and Detective. Batman/Superman #29 would be a good story about these heroes in any era, and I am looking forward to the next issue for reasons beyond merely wanting to see the resolution of the cliffhanger ending.

Tom Taylor and Robson Rocha have crafted an exuberant tale that does justice to both title characters.

This adventure captures the characters, sets the stage, and advances the plot in effective fashion.

The latest Super League story was an improvement on the previous issue and a positive sign for the future.

Bizarro #3 is bringing back an enjoyable slice of Silver Age magic!

Bizarro #4 is fun for adults and kids alike.

Heath Corson and Gustavo Duarte have created a series that is smart, funny, uplifting, adventurous, and fun.

Bizarro and Jimmy Olsen finished their road trip across America in a final issue as warm and witty as the five before it.

Beautifully drawn and intelligently written, this one-shot began Rebirth with a bang and showed substantial promise.

Tim Seeley's script may lack depth, but Grayson's adventure with Superman features fun and fundamentals.

This rehash of overused themes covers familiar ground in an unoriginal and confusing manner.

Gene Luen Yang effectively blends the unique with the established in this highly original debut.

At the Ministry of Self-Reliances Oriental Pearl Tower, Baixi and Deilan the Bat-Man and the Wonder-Woman of China arrive to subdue the new Super-Man. Kenan is captured when his superpowers unexpectedly fail. Dr. Omen keeps Kong confined overnight, and the young mans father does not notice his absence because he is preoccupied by the work of his conspiracy theorist writers group.

Having revealed his secret identity to reporter Laney Lan and, through her Primetime Shanghai broadcast, to the entire world Kenan proceeds to expose the existence of the Justice League of China before Baixi and Deilan rein him in and depart. The three heroes deliver the captured Sunbeam to the Crab Shell, an underwater prison specially designed to house metahumans. Meanwhile, Kenans father, Zhongdan, sees his sons televised confession, and, spotting the octagon on the boys chest, resolves to move quickly into action.

Although Kenan Kong is still adjusting to his newfound role as the Super-Man of the Justice League of China, he is beginning to see the possible consequences of his impulsive actions but has the brash, rash hero overlooked critical clues about a mystery that threatens to hit him where he lives?

Vivid artwork, convincing characterization, and thematic intricacies enriched this compelling superhero adventure and added to this series' consistent excellence.

Super-Man and the Justice League of China! Flying Dragon General and the Freedom Fighters! August General in Iron and the Great Ten! Genetically modified Starros! Hijacked aircraft aimed at Zhongnanhai! A teen hero channeling Kal-Els life force! What more could you possibly want from a superhero comic than this?

The start of a new arc sees the series shift gears without losing momentum, as characterization is highlighted and nuances abound.

Gene Luen Yang and Billy Tan delivered another stellar issue that is bold in its historical allusions, deep in its philosophical nuances, and entertaining as a superhero character study.

The creative team takes the tale in a new direction while maintaining the series' consistently high quality across the board in another winning issue.

New Super-Man #10 is populated by ancient mythological figures, 1930s comic book characters ranging from the classically iconic to the offensively stereotypical, and modern-day additions to the DC Universe, yet no one appears either inaccurately rendered or out of place. Visually, this issue is another winner.

What's not to love about a superhero comic book that combines a Chinese legend with the Doomsday Virus to produce a 21st-century giant turtle man?

Despite one particularly gruesome image, this issue combined sophisticated storytelling, imaginative artwork, and satisfying surprises in a well crafted tale.

While perhaps not on a par with this series' best installments, this issue nevertheless moved swiftly, advanced established storylines, and developed the central character.

Robin and Superboy Damians superhero name is listed first because hes older, by the way go off in pursuit of adventure with youthful enthusiasm and impetuousness. How quickly will their efforts to follow in Batmans and Supermans crimefighting footsteps get the Worlds Smallest in over their heads?

Superboy and Robin may be off to a shaky start as partners, but their series has made a successful beginning with a second issue that looks great and balances the humorous with the horrific.

This issue highlights how this series is made up of two winning combinations: Robin and Superboy, as characters in the story, and Peter J. Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez, as creators of the story.

A total team effort produced a pitch perfect issue.

The latest issue fleshes out more fully the budding friendship between Robin and Superboy, nicely setting the stage for future adventures (with or without parental permission).

Characterization, dialogue, imagery, and plot all combine in this issue to form a harmonious and entertaining whole.

Sent to live with D.E.O. agents posing as her parents and assigned the role of an ordinary teen, Kara Danvers struggles to adapt to life in National City. She must conceal the scientific success she remembers from Krypton and ignore the jeers from her fellow high school students, so she welcomes the opportunity to spring into action and foil a high-tech train robbery.

Feeling isolated and conflicted as a resident of Earth with vivid memories of Krypton, Kara finds herself struggling with both of the cultures she claims. Supergirl is neither convinced by the claims of the Cyborg Superman who insists he is her father nor comfortable with the confidence that potential mentor Cat Grant expects her to exhibit. Will the Maid of Might fit in anywhere?

Over the protestations of her foster parents, Kara ventures into space to meet Zor-El at the revived Argo City. Has Cyborg Superman truly brought their Kryptonian hometown back from the dead and what has motivated Supergirls mechanized father to rebuild his daughters place of origin?

Argo City and National City are now openly in conflict. Kara is trapped, unable to intervene between the women who both claim to be her mother, neither of whom quite qualifies and each of whom can only survive by stealing the spark of life that animates the other. When forced to make a choice, is Supergirl Earths Woman of Steel or is she the Last Daughter of Krypton?

Steve Orlando captures the essence of Supergirl in this action-packed adventure.

Steve Orlando writes Supergirl well, which added zest to a somewhat ordinary story, but the rushed look of the artwork again detracted from the issue.

The writing remains good, in spite of one significant flaw in the script, and the artwork was much improved over recent issues.

There was a lot to do in this issue, all of which managed to get done without feeling overly rushed, and much of which was accomplished with aplomb and charm.

The quality of the writing remained consistently high, but the unfinished look of the artwork detracted dramatically from the impact of this issue.

The action, artwork, callbacks, and characterization in this installment all stand out in the series' best issue yet.

Kara Danvers is a high school student on the verge of her sixteenth birthday. She runs track, hangs out with her friends, tries to relate to her parents and flies. Where is she from, where does she belong, and where does she begin?

The talented creative team keeps its focus trained on the fine details, producing a compelling and convincing character study of Kara.

A stark and straightforward honesty pervades both the writing and the artwork in the most recent issue of this exceptional exploration of an adolescent alien's arrival at adulthood.

This carefully crafted miniseries was brought to a convincing and nuanced close that is likely to become the definitive reimagining of Supergirl's modern emergence.

After Argo City survived the destruction of Krypton, Zor-El quarantined Lar-On to the Phantom Zone until his red kryptonite sickness could be cured. On present-day Earth, the D.E.O. has sent Zor-Els 16-year-old daughter, Kara, into the suns core in an experimental craft equipped with phantom drive and a Kryptonian regeneration matrix, in the hope of recharging the solar batteries in her cells.

Multiple contributors combine to deliver a parallel story that works for all concerned.

Due to this story arcs indefensible premises, Superman #43 builds to an insulting and inexcusable conclusion.

Gene Luen Yang can write Superman well, but Truth's story constraints and John Romita, Jr.'s rushed artwork detract from this issue.

Gene Luen Yang's intriguing script presents a Superman suspended between who he now is and who he ought to be.

Slowly but surely, Gene Luen Yang is moving Superman back where he needs to be.

There is still room for improvement, but Gene Luen Yang's restoration of the Man of Steel is nearly complete.

Gene Luen Yang continues to reinvent the resurgent Man of Steel in creative ways.

Gene Luen Yang makes an important issue appropriately large, iconic, and restorative for the Man of Steel.

Charged with the duty to shepherd Superman through the transition into Rebirth, Peter J. Tomasi provided a promising start.

Quality artwork was wasted on a story that was as doomed as its flawed hero.

In a tale literally and figuratively grounded in the Kent familys Hamilton County farm, Superman stars in a minimalist adventure without a villain. Tangled Up in Green is a surreal story in which much of what occurs is strictly internal, so what are fans to make of this offbeat annual?

Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason started strong as the new creative team for the Rebirth restoration of the Man of Steel.

This issue reads well, looks great, and effectively tells a seemingly straightforward story with multiple layers and considerable intrigue.

The artwork was gorgeous and the story combined stirring action, plot progression, and emotional weight while conveying its themes effectively.

In the Fortress of Solitude, Superman counters the Eradicators attempted attack on Lois Lanes and his son, Jonathan Smith. Jon wrestles with what to do until his mother gives him guidance, then Superboy joins forces with his father to deliver a devastating blow to the Kryptonian construct.

Carrying his wife and son inside a submersible, Superman arrives on the dark side of the moon, where he enters a secret base Batman has built for experiments and equipment too dangerous to store in Gotham City. When the Man of Tomorrow declines Superboys offer of assistance, Lois urges her husband to be more of a mentor to their son.

Superman and the Eradicator are battling in the Batcave on the moon. What more could anyone want out of a comic book than that?

The Man of Tomorrow is working the night shift, performing superheroics from the space station to the South Pacific until dawn. Clark returns home as the sun comes up over Hamilton County, and he promises to spend the day with Lois and Jon without taking time out to be Superman.

Following a relaxed family outing to the county fair in the previous issue, Superman #8 dials the action back up to eleven. How big does this issue get? Would you believe World War II ordnance, Krypto the Superdog, and dinosaurs?

Superman! Superboy! Krypto! Captain William Storm! Dinosaurs! Gorillas! World War II combat ordnance! Space-age pseudo-scientific technology! Escape from Dinosaur Island Part 2 pretty much offers everything you could want from a comic book, doesnt it?

Storytellers Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, the current creative team behind Superman and veterans of Batman and Robin, brought the caped crimefighters from both series together in this prequel to Super Sons, which is due out next year. How well will it go when Superboy meets the Boy Wonder?

Although their fathers may be friends, Robin and Superboy dont like each other very much. Will Batmans and Supermans elaborate efforts to teach their sons teamwork help the lads learn a valuable lesson, or will they keep exhibiting the animosity that previously existed between their dads?

Lois is back after a conspicuous absence, and her effort to make her mark in Hamilton County places her in the path of Frankenstein but why is the undead S.H.A.D.E. agent targeting the publisher of The Hamilton Horn?

An unwelcome alien interloper has been apprehended by the undead agent of S.H.A.D.E., but can Frankenstein keep his quarry after his ex-wife arrives to claim the detainee as her prize? What will Superman and Lois have to do to protect their bucolic community from law enforcement monsters and sinister offworlders?

Superman's new story arc is off to a strong start that works on many levels and ties into Rebirth's biggest and boldest themes.

The authors are aiming high in this ambitious arc, and, so far, they are maintaining the high quality of the source material they are extending.

The final chapter in the Multiplicity arc gets to the heart of the matter by presenting Grant Morrison's grand themes in a manner more direct than dense.

Left alone for the evening by Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Jonathan accompanies Hamilton County neighbor Kathy Branden on a spooky search for her missing grandfather. What mysterious menace is hiding out in the foggy bog?

In DC Universe: Rebirth #1, Mr. Oz cryptically remarked to the ostensible pre-Flashpoint Metropolis Marvel: You and your family are not what you believe you are. And neither was the fallen Superman. In Superman: Reborn Part 1, the journey to learn the hidden truths underlying those worrisome words begins.

Although the story could have used a little more space, this effective installment advanced the story in a compelling and convincing way.

Now that the Superman Family has been restored, there are new avenues to explore, and Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason continue to do so effectively.

The story progresses steadily, but the plot details are neither slighted nor forced, and the artwork is exceptional. Apart from Lois Lane's consignment to a limited role, this issue was pretty close to perfect.

This story was rapidly paced, returned Lois Lane to center stage, advanced the adventure, and tied plot threads together in an exceptional installment of this energetic series.

In almost every respect, this issue was flawlessly conceived and executed, but the final product was marred by a distressing throwback to unfortunate past trends.

Clashing artistic styles, tangled plotlines inadequately explained, and the revival of unfortunate tendencies all worked to prevent this story from succeeding as it should have.

Despite a scattering of nice moments, the concluding chapter of the Manchester Black storyline was a messy patchwork of inexplicable motivations, mishandled characters, and narrative conceits.

The backup crew offers slipshod execution of an unimaginative idea that produces an indecisive outcome in this throwaway one-off issue.

A solid story concept was unevenly executed, suffered from subpar art, and sometimes permitted the strictly philosophical to get in the way of the persuasively personal.

Superman/Wonder Woman #20 is an exceptional contribution to the Truth story arc.

Where this issue fails is in making us want to root for the supposed superheroes.

Everyone associated with this issue should be embarrassed by its mistreatment of both the characters and their fans.

Queen Hippolyta and Jonathan and Martha Kent would disown their children after reading this issue.

After some of the worst issues in the Justice arc, this story showed long overdue improvement.

Despite its flaws, this inventive story of Superman's spiritual journey to recovery got to the heart of the character.

These back-to-back chapters rush along at a frenzied pace, offering a lot of fun but not making much sense.

This issue does exactly what is required of it, but not one iota more.

This issue did what it came to do, but it was bogged down by significant problems.

Despite having some nice moments, this issue suffered from inconsistencies in the writing and the artwork.

Max Landis makes us care about the Kents all over again in this simple, sincere, and original story.

Though marred by one major flaw, Max Landis's second Superman installment was expertly crafted.

Suspend your disbelief at the dock and enjoy Max Landis's latest delightful and insightful escapade with the young Clark Kent.

Max Landis has given readers a lot to unpack, but this revealing tale is well worth the effort.

Max Landis and Francis Manapul have produced an outstanding issue that confirms that this is the best Superman series in a decade.

Though the artwork fell short of the series' usual standard, Max Landis authored another winning issue.

Max Landis and Jock provided a worthy conclusion to the best Superman story in a decade.

Superman and Lois Lane do good in an issue that Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks did well.

Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks perfectly capture the look and feel of the real Clark Kent and Lois Lane in this terrific series.

Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks continue to deliver in this exceptional adventure featuring comics' first couple.

Dan Jurgens continues to deliver Clark Kent and Lois Lane the way they are meant to be.

The highlight of Dan Jurgens's intricately plotted tale is the honest authenticity of the central characters.

Clark concentrates, listening intently with his super-hearing, while Lois calls the cell phone of her publisher, Cora Benning. Identifying the sound of Coras Lois-specific ringtone, he locates the kidnapped editor and rescues her from the Intergang assassins who have forced her to reveal Author Xs identity. Lois picks up Jon from school, and, upon discovering that her son is researching Superman, she steels herself for the conversation she has long dreaded having.

Dan Jurgens knows how Lois Lane and her son, Jonathan, feel when watching Superman take flight, and he has written a story to make readers experience that same sensation.

Dan Jurgens simply understands everything that is right about Superman.

This DC Comics one-shot summarized a complex past and conveyed a simple and essential premise.

Neal Adams plays to his strengths with an epic adventure possessing the look and feel of the best of the Bronze Age.

Neal Adams's latest Superman story is a perpetual-motion nostalgia machine that churns out over-the-top fun.

Neal Adams's unbridled imagination is on full display, but the exuberant storytelling is mired in the muddled plotting.

Neal Adams needs to get down to business and tell a coherent story instead of just relying on being Neal Adams.

Neal Adams's artwork is great, but his writing is weak and increasingly incomprehensible.

Every aspect of this series declined in quality between the first issue and this one, which was a ridiculous meaningless mess.

Lois pays the latest of several visits to Lana in Smallville, showing that she has gained Supermans powers and asking Clark Kents oldest friend to help her learn to control them. Lana reluctantly agrees, but becomes concerned when Lois begins having nosebleeds. Lois discerns that Lana, too, has been empowered by the solar energy from the dying Superman, and the two form a partnership after Lane promises Lang that she will not desert her.

While Lex Luthor pontificates and the Gestalt is evacuated, a conspirator hidden in the bowels of the vessel launches the warships passive weapons at Metropolis, targeting Lexcorp-owned properties and knocking out the citys power. Lana, left alone by Loiss death and facing a pair of assailants with chalk-like skin, escapes and is joined by Steel shortly before the Special Crimes Unit arrives and takes the metahuman couple to the police station. Maggie Sawyer senses that the surviving Superwoman is being less than truthful, but the captain chooses to trust the costumed hero.

Billed initially as a Lois Lane solo title, Superwoman stunned readers straight out of the gate by killing off its supposed star in the opening edition. This has left Loiss reluctant partner, fellow costumed crime-fighter Lana Lang, to fight the good fight alone. Is Lana stable enough in mind and body to serve as the sole surviving Superwoman?

Throughout the series brief run, reluctant superhero Lana Lang has been haunted by the lost loved ones from her past. In the tale subtitled Together Again (For the Very First Time!), though, has that become literally true, or is the Daily Star science reporters despair descending into madness?

Unearthly Ultrawoman Lena Luthor has conquered Metropolis through the technology she commands, and she is using Bizarro clones and temporal cubes to capture and compartmentalize everything and everyone in the city. Is the physically and mentally disintegrating Lana Lang up to the challenge of confronting her inhuman antagonists?

Plotting, pacing, callbacks, and characterization were the hallmarks of this strong installment, which helped to overcome the shocking disappointment of the series' beginning.

Phil Jimenez's carefully crafted words and pictures combine to create an impressive issue that goes a long way toward overcoming the lingering doubts readers legitimately retain.

In attempting to stuff too much story into too short an issue, the latest installment did nothing well and fell far short of its ambitions.

This was perhaps the poorest effort yet in a series that has struggled to figure out what it is supposed to be, raising questions whether it is time to pull the plug on this misfiring title.

After a rocky debut, the new creative team stepped up its game across the board for this much better follow-up feature.

Equal parts family drama, character study, and action adventure, this issue was marred only by minor flaws.

A weak beginning and a handful of artistic excesses marred an otherwise serviceably effective effort that was salvaged when the creators stuck the landing.

The first installment of the opening Better Together story arc is a chapter entitled Family Dinner. With the exception of Steve Wandss lettering, the entire issue was the handiwork of Francis Manapul. Was the writer/artists singular vision sufficient to bridge the gaps between superheroes from different universes?

After an initially awkward family dinner at the Hamilton County farm, the pre-Flashpoint Man of Steel began forming bonds with the Caped Crusader and the Amazing Amazon from the New 52 continuity. As soon as the titular trio coalesced into a team for the Rebirth DC Universe, though, they found themselves staring across the threshold of another world. Did they pass through the looking glass in Smallville?

Trapped in a dreamworld with his fellow Justice Leaguers, the Darknight Detective is forced to relive his parents murder and its tortured aftermath. Does the experience bring the heroes any closer to escaping their hellish hallucination? Can anyone from the outside world rescue the protagonists from imprisonment inside their own imaginations?

The Action Ace and the Caped Crusader each has relived a critical moment from his past, and now it is the Amazing Amazons turn. What secrets will be revealed on Paradise Island, and will the titular threesome at long last learn the identity of their antagonist?

Francis Manapul moves the story forward while looking backward, delving deeper into the dream while building a new reality in this excellent issue.

Mongul, trapped inside his own dream by the Black Mercy, has broken free of his fantasy world with the help of the White Mercy. Is the intergalactic villain now able to conquer Earth, or will Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman be able to find a path back to reality?

This clever comic book took an unconventional approach to the start of a story arc, and the result was an impressive success.

Conceptually sound yet unoriginally executed, this issue efficiently constructed a foundation for future stories but did nothing more than that.

Despite disquieting questions concerning this tale's place in the current canon, Francis Manapul almost singlehandedly produced a solid story including timely Twin Peaks allusions.

Cyborg is dying. The Watchtowers orbit is decaying. Aquaman and the Green Lanterns are infected with an alien virus. Batman and the Flash are trying to reach the escape pods. Superman and Wonder Woman greet the dire warnings of an alien invader with skepticism. Can the trio of heroes save the day in time?