Superman #4

An emotionally stirring epic worthy of the Superman legacy! Read Full Review

I admit that I had some trepidation about this title when Bendis took over the reins after Peter J. Tomasi's superb run. However, Bendis is showing that he is fully capable of maintaining the high bar set by his predecessors. If this issue is any indication, the Superman titles are in good hands. Read Full Review

The writing is wonderful as usual. Again, I love when Ivan Reis draws this character. This is another fantastic issue in the Bendis era on Superman. I'm glad he's here doing what he does. It's been a golden time indeed. Read Full Review

So it's another excellent issue from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Ivan Reis - they have this series cooking on all burners! Read Full Review

That was a white knuckle ride of a brawl issue with spliced in scenes of emotion and ethics. And it all clicked. In particular, that 'perspective' panel progression is pure brilliance. And seeing a young, unscarred, less jaded Jon was a treat. It even made the quick solution to bring Earth back a bit easier to swallow. Nothing like a great Superman issue to make me smile. Read Full Review

This is an immensely entertaining and heartfelt issue. Bendis tells a story that is uncluttered, values-driven, and action-packed. The final panel sets up compelling questions: Did the team successfully pull the earth from The Phantom Zone and will Superman defeat Rogol Zaar? I highly recommend that fans get on board with this story. Read Full Review

Fantastic action and a strong emotional anchor elevate Superman #4. The story beats aren't completely new, but Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis add wrinkles that make the issue feel fresh and exciting. Read Full Review

If the fourth issue of Superman is any indication, I think the Man of Steel is in good hands. Read Full Review

Bendis does a great job of ramping up the tension in this issue. The story is moving at a really good pace and I like how Bendis is growing Superman as a character. Read Full Review

Superman #4 is a heartfelt and action-packed issue that showcases the creative talent behind this spectacular series. Bendis delivers one of his strongest stories yet, using the merits of violence to uniquely explore the characters values and behaviors. Read Full Review

This issue of Superman is action-packed and filled with excitement, but some long-term Superman fans may still need convincing to become fans of this new era for the character. Read Full Review

All in all, Superman #4 feels like the first comic where Bendis has really understood what it takes to write a Superman comic. Read Full Review

While I haven't been a fan of this Superman book, I have to say that this issue is probably my favorite that we've gotten so far because it was able to balance a huge fight, while also showing us Superman's heart.  Yeah, there's a lot of nonsense in the background that's going on here, but for this issue I was able to see past that and get a decent issue of Superman that made me long for the days that he had his family by his side.  Also, some of the best art you'll see this week in comics showed up here so that didn't hurt either.  Read Full Review

Superman iscurrently starring in three DC titles, with three individual storylines runningthrough each. One o hand, I expect a closer knit continuity, but at the sametime I appreciate a variety of storylines to appeal to as broad an audience aspossible. Something for everyone. Read Full Review

This book reads super smoothly. It's hard to explain the feeling when a book flows like a television show. Before you know it, you're on autopilot devouring the story and flipping the pages. Part of that is Bendis' impressive voice in Superman; an authoritative voice with a heroic modesty. Reis' art is the other half of the equation with a fantastic display of the chaos Earth is going through. I hope to the comic gods that we'll see Superman's plan unfurl next issue. Read Full Review

Overall: Superman #4 was a fun read. No, this is nothing all that unique or creative. But, it is a nice solid straight forward mainstream super hero action and adventure. There is certainly nothing wrong with that! I am encouraged by Bendis' effort on this issue. If Bendis can clean up a few small details then Superman is going to turn out to be a really enjoyable mainstream super hero title. I am encouraged by the direction that this title is taking at this point. Read Full Review

This is a can't miss issue which pits our hero against an antagonist he apparently can't beat. The fate of the planet is in the balance. Can Superman muster enough of what's left of Earth's resources to save our world? Are the few remaining Justice Leaguers up to the task of helping Kal-El in the ways that he needs them too? Just when it looks like this will be the final chapter of this tale, an unexpected guest star leads us… to be continued. **** (8.9 rating) Read Full Review

The Superman series is focused heavily on this whole Phantom Zone Earth storyline and the action with Rogol Zaar and it is a lot of fun in a big cinematic way with how it looks and the power of it all. It's a fast read in those sections but very much worth going over again slowly to really savor the artwork. The story does shift a bit here with a trick figured out in how to solve the big problem facing the Earth but I like that it's a small plot point in comparison to both the fighting and the parenting flashback. I really liked that flashback and it's this kind of material that's really keeping me coming back to it as I like this version of Superman from Bendis. Read Full Review

SUPERMAN #4 brings more dynamic movement to the series' overall slow pace. However, the issue ultimately still finds faults in its lack of character development. Read Full Review

In conclusion, Superman is looking up. This issue had better progression, more interesting events, good character moments and spectacular art. Overall, it was an improvement for Bendis's Superman and, if you were disappointed with the previous three, I would recommend this one. Whether this means that his Superman is getting better or if his next story will also be a decompressed bore" Well, knock on wood. Read Full Review

Superman #4 lets Superman throw down with a Doomsday level villain and features some nice cameos from his Justice League allies and incredible art from Reis, but Bendis is moving the story along too slowly to become fully invested. Read Full Review

While this might not be the perfect Superman issue, it has just enough to be worth the read, including a genuinely great cliffhanger. Read Full Review

Superman #4 is a mix of great action and off-putting dialogue. Read Full Review

Steve C

Oct 11, 2018

Really like the direction of this book and the tone of each issue. Plus, the art is fantastic.

Danicomics

Oct 14, 2018

Just amazing ... issue is action packed and has heart and best thing about bendis is he is trying to tell that superman is just like anyother person he does get angry and wants to kill people but has a reason to not do so , i am so far loving the series and hope it will keep on getting better and better..

Synthozoid

Oct 11, 2018

Script stalls a bit after the momentum from last issue, still fun

Simon DelMonte

Oct 11, 2018

Points off for BMB decompression and what might be a misleading cliffhanger. But I love the art and love how well Bendis gets Superman month in and month out. It's rare to have a Supes who doesn't think with his fists, and who can actually be strategic. I want more.

egonnn244

Oct 12, 2018

"I thought you liked Batman" Another month and another solid issue of Superman. I am really enjoying this run so far. Superman is more action orientated and bigger in scale than Action Comics, so we have Kal-El taking on the entire might of the Phantom Zone lead by crazed Rogol Zaar in this issue. The fight rages on, heroes come up with a ridiculous (awesome) plan to save the planet and Zaar proves to be a great villain and even match for Superman. But even with all this going on Bendis finds time to show us a little flashback with Clark and Jon. In it, we get a nice dialogue between father and son, where the latter learns that patience and some trust can go a long way. Good story, great art, and likable hero. Yeah, I want mor e. more

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Oct 15, 2018

There were some good father/son moments here, and maybe I have a bad memory but I feel like we saw this cliffhanger already?

Nihilist

Oct 10, 2018

From what I've seen so far, Bendis is taking his time to tell a story - he slowly unravels it in the span of multiple issues, sometimes not even focusing on it. Instead, he likes to shift the focus towards emotions and relations between characters featured, which personally, I have nothing against. I like that, in fact. The problem with this issue is, while we have some insight into Superman's relationship with his son, as well as with other characters who make nice cameos here and there, they just feel... odd. They are not well written, and most likely should have been revisited once or twice before greenglighting the issue. For a writer who focuses on interactions, I'd expect more. Overall it's a pretty solid comic, but dialogues coul d, and most like should have been better. Way better. more

ohhaimark

Oct 14, 2018

THE GOOD: -Ivan Reis's art is good as expected. One of the main things I look forward to in the ongoing series, the art has failed to let down as of yet. -The battle was done very well and in a way that felt truly epic. -I can't decide if the flashback scenes are sweet or forced. Right now I'm leaning towards the first option. I liked the relationship between Jon and Clark, even if the need to explore such a relationship in this issue came out of nowhere. -A great end to the issue. Funny, with a good cliffhanger as well. Makes me look forward to the next issue. THE BAD: -I'm not a very big fan of Superman's internal monologue. It actually detracts from the story and battle. -I might be saying this for a while, but I w ish they would just either drop Zaar or give him more depth. It's unfortunate to see such a one dimensional villain keep returning. more

daddyT

Oct 11, 2018

best 6 rating ever. seriously. I liked it, I just can't come up with "why." from a base of 6, this gets a rating of: 6. -1 because: it was confusing. +1 because: the big blue boyscout as always

waltgator93

Oct 10, 2018

Loved the art. That was the only thing I enjoyed. Bendis seems to have the voice for Clark Kent in Action Comics and at times voice for Superman is great. It's just this story is a bit non-sense (even for a comic book). Was glad to see Jon in the issue however, his dialogue was just painful! Like where the hell did that come from?! The dialogue about Batman seemed a bit too much. If he reworded it a bit I would have loved it. Besides the art, I did enjoy see Adam Strange still there, I will admit I did chuckle at it.

Psycamorean

Oct 13, 2018

Not a fan of this dialogue. And Rogol Zaar doesn't work. Let him go.

Spacey Medicine

Jun 02, 2019

I think this had some ideas that could have really worked, but on the whole I don’t care for the execution and I certainly don’t care about the plot. Wow another massively powerful evil guy who is just too powerful to punch how exciting. Extra .5 because Superboy ships Batman/Superman.

RBL

Oct 10, 2018

This is gonna be my shortest review yet. The first page of this comic can be used to describe this whole issue, nay, the whole volume, perfectly. The first statement in this comic describes the Phantom Zone as the Nightmare Dimension where Krypton sent its worst creatures, criminals, and GARBAGE. That last statement is exactly what this volume continues to be, the pile ever growing with each issue bendis churns out. And just like Superman says immediately after “and here comes that GARBAGE now!”. Too bad you’re already drowing in it Big Blue. Next writer to take on this book will have to do one hell of a dumpster dive to recover anything of value after bendis is done with his run, because so far it’s what amount a giant polish ed turd that somehow people keep getting up. No amount of poor humor, that keeps on missing its mark, and snarky remarks can compensate for one of the worst stories in Superman since the 90’s. Also, why does bendis keep crapping on Barry Allen? Could anyone tell me, because I’d like to know. more

+ Like • Comments (26)

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Super17 - Oct 10, 2018

So sad that you have to create an account to hate on a comic and a writer. You only review superman and action comics since Bendis join, I pity you

egonnn244 - Oct 12, 2018

It's not that short.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Yet I can write entire essays on how the current volumes of Superman and Action Comics are absolute garbage. And yeah, I’ve felt compelled to continually review the Superman family comics since bendis took over because they went from legitimately good stories to absolute trash. If they were not as bad as they are and a complete affront to Superman himself, I would not do this. But as long as people keep rating this barely passable garbage as 7+/10 I’ll keep stating what I believe.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

And Super17 you forget I also thought the Man of Steel mini-series was a massive stain on Superman’s legacy after it’s historic issue #1000

egonnn244 - Oct 12, 2018

Well damn, I like garbage. Who knew? Are you, possibly, able to elaborate why this is bad? I'm curious.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

bendis can't maintain consistency in the characterization of his own original character, rogol zaar, possibly the most generic "alien warlord" type there is. He blatantly ignores established continuity and has characters act in ways that make absolutely no sense given their previous portrayals in other, and even concurrent, books; look at how Barry Allen appears in this title, you'd think he's the biggest idiot there ever was. To me his humor never hits its mark, it's always cringey.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

He effectively took away one of the facets of Superman that lead to the biggest growth in his character in the previous volume, his family, for no reason. The way he did so makes absolutely no sense, because the last time Superman actually saw his father, who he let his family leave with, they were enemies. They never reconciled, yet he ignored that. He portrayed Jon Kent in a way that is basically the opposite of how he's shown in Super Sons, a book exponentially better than this one.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

An example taken directly from this issue, he has no idea how Superman's powers work. The way he used his solar flare here is not in line with the actual idea of how it functions. He also basically has Superman forget how the initial conflict with rogol zaar was resolved. It's part of his M.O. of ignoring everything established about a character just to tell whatever story he wants, no matter how asinine it is.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

There's plenty wrong with the writing, and no matter how good the art may be it cannot compensate. For every great splash page showing what may be a great action sequence, you have panels filled with senseless dialogue that just takes away all the momentum it can build up.

egonnn244 - Oct 12, 2018

With Flash, I agree, he does come off as a bit of dumbass. Not so much in this issue though. Rogol Zaar I think is consistent. Big, angry alien hell-bent on killing Kryptonians. Generic? Maybe, but I think it's executed well. As for ignoring established continuity. It's a bit hard to tell nowadays what's in and what's not in continuity, but I don't recall any deviation from continuity made by Bendis.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

rogol zaar is anything but consistent, he's initially shown as a being wanting to "safeguard the universe", then he's willing to kill an entire planet and billions of inhabitants to get to 3 kryptonians. He's supposed to want to eradicate kryptions, then he strikes a deal with one of their biggest criminals who's part of the race himself.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Everything to do with Jor-El here is a massive deviation of continuity. His lack of an understanding regarding Superman's powers can easily fit into that as well. Jon choosing to leave his parents for a grandfather who last time he encountered him was an ENEMY of his father, is downright stupid.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Heroes who have faced multiple multiversal threats losing their damn minds and not being able to maintain any shred of composure? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

egonnn244 - Oct 12, 2018

As for the Superfamily, that angle is more touched on in Action Comics. But I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because it's clear that he is trying to build towards something. We still don't know what happened on that trip with Jor-El. Maybe Robin's attitude rubbed off a bit on Jon and he decided to stay in space with Jor? Maybe that's why Lois wasn't very keen on meeting with Clark? One thing is for sure. Super-dad made me like Superman.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

For that trip to even make sense, there would have to be a reconciliation with Jor-El. That never happened. That makes the whole premise of his family leaving with him be ludicrous. Jon choosing to leave his family, when it goes against the very values he was instilled in, is as I said, dumb as hell. The previous volume with Gleason and Tomasi was fantastic. This is a far cry from it and from the "Super-dad" you just stated you like. This is terrible writing.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

If there is something bendis can write it's street-level heroes with very limited history and characterization so he can mold them as he chooses. But the most storied Superhero in all Western comics, that is the worst fit for him to manage.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

As far as Action Comics goes, it's not any better than this book, is equally crap. Maybe even more nonsensical than this one if issue #1003 is any indication of the quality of its story.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Just about the only main universe book with Superman being released right now worth a damn is Justice League. The key difference between that book and Superman & Action Comics, bendis has no hand in it.

egonnn244 - Oct 12, 2018

Well, I will refrain from any judgments right now, since we don't know everything about this whole ordeal with Jor-El. In Man of Steel there were only tidbits of info and in AC it's just getting some spotlight. So I'll wait.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

I won't, the idea behind is frankly beyond dumb, and it ignores clear storylines that just happened in the past volume. It asks for far more suspension of disbelief that it merits. Everyone acts out-of-character, sometimes in the most nonsensical of ways, and whatever "intrigue" the story is supposed to build is just lost through that. The art is great though, too bad the writing cannot measure up.

Synthozoid - Oct 12, 2018

Noted, RBL. I agree that this issue was not perfect, but I still enjoyed it. Totally respect your opinion though. Serious question: Do you like any current comics? If so, which ones?

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Justice League, Aquaman, Detective Comics, and Green Arrow are a few I consider good. The Flash is for the most part solid, Hal Jordan & the GL Corps was pretty good, sucks it ended. Probably the Wild Storm is what I’m enjoying the most. JL Dark, Odyssey and Hawkman have promise. Stuck to DC with this list.

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Nightwing tended to be good, but the Vire story arc was weak and issue 50 should never have existed, but depending on how long they draw that cheapness out how bad it will be.

Synthozoid - Oct 12, 2018

Right on, Wild Storm is friggin' great! Nice selections, man!

RBL - Oct 12, 2018

Thanks, man. Nice to see someone else appreciates that book, it's really good mix of espionage, sci-fi action. Would really like to see a few more titles in that line, but so far it's going strong.

READ RUMBLE - Oct 13, 2018

I agree with your analysis RBL and actually I just dropped both Superman and AC from my pull list.