Superman #9

There is beautiful terror in the visuals. The team does an uncanny job of being able to tell such a dialogue/monologue heavy story but seamlessly weave in stunning art. There is a panel with Ultraman grabbing Jon's head and screaming at him where the fury and terror radiates off the page. This recap only does this book so much justice. It's definitely a book you should read and read slow. Read Full Review

With this book stopping on another cliffhanger, which I'm sure will put poor Jon through even more trouble, I am eagerly anticipating the next issue. What's more, my enthusiasm is equally pulled by my desire to find out what lies beyond the "at the moment" struggles Jon is dealing with, to the greater threat that has been hinted at. And here lies the only danger this book has going forward. While I'm excited for now, I do hope Bendis doesn't overplay his hand or get too bogged down with side adventures, but this concern remains to be seen. Read Full Review

SUPERMAN #9 is exactly what this series needed as Bendis presents an astonishing tale depicting Superboy's will and grit. Read Full Review

I've had doubts about the wisdom of injecting a super-son into the Man of Steel equation, but so far it's been a very entertaining turn. Read Full Review

The art by Ivan Reis and Brandon Peterson is amazing. There is definitely more action and visual drama in this issue than others and both artists deliver some beautiful visuals throughout. Read Full Review

Hopefully he picks up the pace a bit. He works with some really amazing artists but it can be better. Right now I'm losing a bit of interest. Read Full Review

Superman soars as an emotional family drama built around the theme of unity and the struggles that come with that. It's exactly what Superman's always been about. Read Full Review

Grim and dark with a brimming beam of light at its center in the always loveable Jonathan Kent. Read Full Review

Like other Bendis stories, this issue feels a bit decompressed, but it's still the best Superman we've read in years. Read Full Review

Even though I'm not interested in The Crime Syndicate as a concept, I trust the story in the hands of the writer Brian Michael Bendis. The foreshadowing of a possible unified moment for the Justice League, the larger DC Universe, including The Zod Family is an interesting tidbit and piques my interest. Read Full Review

I really want to hate Bendis' Superman, but he's making it so difficult by writing engaging stories that are fun to read, despite my apprehension about his overall direction. I don't know what Bendis' endgame is, or whether I'll like the status quo that results for the Kent family, but I am enjoying the ride so far. Read Full Review

Jon continues to tell Superman and Lois his epic return to Earth. Bendis is hitting the story out of the ballpark, keeping readers intrigued. Read Full Review

Though Superman himself is a small part of the book we do get a good look at the Crime Syndicate version of him and there's definitely a lot of psychological issues at play there that Jon's exposed to. It's a pretty solid issue in showing part of Jon's journey on that alternate Earth and all that it entailed with some good seriousness and creativity on his part. Bendis works the overall concept well and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next part is like as I've always enjoyed the Crime Syndicate. Reis and Peterson continue to delight me with how the book looks as we get Clark but not quite through Ultraman and the differences in expressiveness covers a lot of important ground in doing this. Read Full Review

Bendis has a strong handle on these characters, and the art team is constantly upping their game. If you've liked this run so far, then there is plenty for you to enjoy here. Read Full Review

Jon is held captive in Ultraman's volcano on Earth-3, and escapes to the Hall of Justice, only to be accosted by another blast from the past. Read Full Review

Granted, I'm the kind of comic book reader that would probably complain that an ongoing series had detoured into a miniseries, crying foul as a ploy to sell more books. But in this case, there just seem to be a lot of superfluous breaks, jumping back to Superman and Lois for no obvious reason. Here's hoping it will all be explained at the end. Read Full Review

The art however is a thing of beauty in this comic. Each story segment is handled by different artists given each a distinctive feel and look. Both sets do a grand job from pencils to inks to colors I have no complaints. In particular I love the way Reis draws capes. If you are gonna do Superman comics you gotta draw some awesome capes. Read Full Review

The Crime Syndicate is back!........... and that's as far as we get of an explanation to how that's possible.  The art is amazing here, but someone really needs to inform Brian Michael Bendis on what's been going on in the DC Universe over the past couple of years.  Even with my continuity concerns put to the side for a second, there really wasn't much to this issue at all. Read Full Review

I really think DC needed to just give Bendis one of the Superman books. He does a great job on Action Comics, but his Superman is so disjointed and dull that it's hard to justify being interested in the next string of issues. Read Full Review

So after an issue of emotional torture by his 'father', my guess is we will have an issue of physical torture from Jon's 'mother'. And I don't know if I want to read that any more than I wanted to read this. I guess I have to wait this one out. I hope, somehow, that Jon is still that happy-go-lucky kid who was a foil to Damian. But I can't imagine that is true. Who'd think that I would miss Rogol Zaar? Read Full Review

The previous two issues won me over because Jon still seemed mostly the same. This issue casts a dark pall over that in a way that will be hard to fix. Read Full Review

Superman #9 is a Bendis book through and through, and that's it's the biggest problem. Visual storytelling is about showing, not telling, and Bendis has always ignored that lesson completely. This issue wastes a lot of pages talking about Ultraman visiting Jon, a plot point that seemingly goes nowhere, that could have been better used showing Jon's journey through Earth-3. Ivan Reis art is hit or miss, but Peterson is shining right now. There's a glimmer of some good characterization for Jon in this one, but Bendis wastes it. That glimmer and Peterson's art are the high points of the book, but they aren't enough to save it. This issue had potential, but Bendis squandered it by indulging his base tendencies as a writer. Read Full Review

Dorival

Mar 13, 2019

I like the Crime Syndicate of America by Bendis.

Andrea D’Alò

Mar 13, 2019

Bendis is a good writer, he’s so good, and he has a lot of plans for Superman and his cast, he is doing very well on Action Comics because I think he founds more easy to write an urban story instead a “Multiversal one” (if you know what I mean), but with the leading title of Supes he is alterning good issues to “Meh” ones, this is one of the second category. Bendis has a lot of plans but if his plans are too big? The story is wide ,and that’s a good thing, but sometimes you can loose the “control” of your characters. I don’t know, I see it like this. Bad away the issue is good and entertaining, Reis does a great work in the present scenes, Peterson is not in his best form but still keeps the attention of the reader on . more

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (2)

• egonnn244
• Darkseid24

egonnn244 - Mar 13, 2019

Good review. I agree, Action Comics is the better Super title, much better. But Superman is, for the most part, quite enjoyable also.

rayonymous

Aug 24, 2019

I like the Crime Syndicate and this isn't a bad portrayal in my honest opinion. What I found average is that how Jon was able to overcome great odds, I don't know it may be the will to get back home or something but it should have been more detailed.

egonnn244

Mar 13, 2019

"You have any kryptonite on you?" This is the second time that we see in this series a Kryptonian survivor having some vision/dream of an idyllic, peaceful future. I wonder where this will lead to. And if Bendis wants to give Superman and Lois a little baby girl in the future, I'm on board. The rest of the issue shows us how Jon was enjoying Ultraman's hospitality. It wasn't bad. Superboy had a warm bed, enjoyed meals rich with meat and got to spar with the host. Not bad, although it seems that Ultraman is one foul-mouthed fellow. This issue was better than the last one. Silly/cringy dialogue from the previous issue is mostly gone, we get to see Jon use his smarts and wits to escape and I got used to his "adult" version (but I still hope for some de-aging somewhere down the line). One thing bothers me though. Continuity is a bit of a mess right now and sometimes it's difficult to make out what happened and what didn't. But I'm pretty sure that Crime Syndicate is all but dead. If that wormhole sent Jon back in time to another Earth, then fine, it makes sense and would explain his age. But the way both Superman and Ultraman talk it seems that they know each other well and the latter is nowhere near to being dead. It's nothing super-big, but since I really liked both Forever Evil and Darkseid War, and Syndicate alive and well kinda undermines them, it upsets me. more

+ Like • Comments (13)

Show all comments

RBL - Mar 13, 2019

It’s a pre-Flashpoint incarnation by any indication. I doubt bendis will even acknowledge Trinity War, Forever Evil or Darkseid War because he doesn’t care about any other story but his own. Shame his story is about one of the worst Superman stories I’ve read. This issue is as much filler as the Batman title has been for the past months. Nothing of value happens.

egonnn244 - Mar 13, 2019

To me, they look like ripped right out of Forever Evil and Trinity War is best left forgotten. The issue itself I think is far from being a filler and extremely far, like from Earth to Krypton, to being a filler when compared to recent Batman issues. It's good that Bendis cares for his story, I think every writer should and it's the first time since he started at DC that I see some continuity glitch in his Super books.

RBL - Mar 13, 2019

It’s been a continuity glitch from the beginning. Krypton destroyed by an alien who considered them a threat to the universe at large, when they had no capacity for interstellar travel, real good stuff there. They aren’t the same Syndicate though, in Forever Evil they state their first time in the Prime Earth is at the end of Trinity War. Like it or not, that’s how it happened. They also already had knowledge of Superman and the JL, if it’s not pre-New 52 or Flashpoint it makes no sense.

egonnn244 - Mar 13, 2019

Rogol Zaar is not a glitch, just a lore expansion/small tweak to history if you will. As far as I can tell comics did stuff like this for ages. And we still don't know if what he says is true. He is a crazy zealot. As for the Syndicate, this is what threw me off. Forever Evil was their first contact with Prime Earth and now they seem to be well acquainted with Supes and the rest. Like I stated in the review, it's not a huge thing, but still, it is a bit jarring.

egonnn244 - Mar 13, 2019

And I might be wrong here but I believe that Krypton was capable and did interstellar travel, but that was later forbidden for some reason. Part of why they are nearly extinct now.

RBL - Mar 13, 2019

They were incapable of it, hence why Jor-El’s rocket was at once a breakthrough and the only way he saw to save his child. If they were capable of Interstellar travel they would have been able to survive the planet’s destruction as a race. If they chose not to it’s asinine. Generic alien is a terrible character. And the Crime Syndicate here, wasted.

RBL - Mar 13, 2019

We clearly won’t agree on this, as I believe this title is a raging trash fire and you somehow don’t. So let’s leave it at that.

egonnn244 - Mar 14, 2019

Admiral Zod (General's ancestor) commanded their space fleet that conquered many planets. But some couple hundreds of years before planet's destruction the Science Council decided they were too aggressive about and the planet turned to isolationism.

egonnn244 - Mar 14, 2019

And I don't think Zaar is a good or a bad villain, as a motor for the story he works. Is he generic, probably, but I would dare to say that many, now iconic, villains started as a generic template and were later expanded upon. And to be honest I don't necessarily seek an agreement.

egonnn244 - Mar 14, 2019

I like it and you don't, it's all cool. Don't know about you, but I don't have any preconceived notions about Bendis and I don't get spasms, like I saw some people on the internet do, when I see his name. Some of his work that I know is good (Daredevil, Action Comics, Siege) and some of it not so much (Civil War II, Secret Invasion). I guess that's enough of our rambling.

RBL - Mar 14, 2019

I’ll just point out what you said yourself there, hundreds of years prior they decided to curtail travel outside of the planet. Destroying a planet for something done centuries before doesn’t strike you as idiotic, because to me it clearly is. You can add Guardians of the Galaxy and Iron Man to poor runs he’s had. Quite a few arcs in X-Men and Avengers as well, that’s why Hickman writing them was met with praise from the outset. AvX is contentious.

egonnn244 - Mar 14, 2019

I enjoyed his Iron Man, with Tony, with Doom and with oh soooo controversial Riri. His Avengers, Guardians or X-men I didn't reed. And like I stated before, Zaar is a crazy zealot, so I don't expect his reasoning to make sense, just like I don't expect something like that from Joker or Reverse-Flash.

egonnn244 - Mar 14, 2019

I didn't read*. A little typo there.

DGalek12

Mar 29, 2019

Apart from the great looking cover and pencil work by Reis, this issue was a poor continuation from previous. I really want to care about what happens next, but these issues are becoming boring really fast. It feels as though Bendis is trying to tell us a story but, he's stretching it out. He needs to get to the point fast. The only thing that keeps me coming back to this series, is Reis and hopes that Bendis will turn this around.

waltgator93

Mar 13, 2019

This story how Grandpa is “crazy” seems to be getting out of hand. Unfortunately any respect you had for Ultraman is going out the window as you read this issue. Artwork is about 7/10.

+ Like • Comments (1)

• Likes (4)

• Darkseid24
• myconius
• Nihilist
• J.J.E.

RBL - Mar 13, 2019

Artwork is about the only thing the title has going for it, the writing is certainly subpar.

Darkblazy

Mar 13, 2019

Me molesta mucho ver a Jon en este estado tan lamentable. Parece que Bendis solo quiere lastimarlo

Psycamorean

Mar 16, 2019

That full page of Ultraman with Jon's dialogue over the bulk of the page is so Bendis, it's unreal. I don't like Bendis anymore.

InsanePeasant

Mar 13, 2019

Maybe they'll explain later but really poor use of continuity in this series. How is Earth 3 still a thing? Probably the same reason why Superman trusted his unhinged father after the Oz Effect. "because bendis."

Spacey Medicine

Apr 05, 2019

Nope. No thanks. No.

RBL

Mar 13, 2019

I sure made a good call to expect nothing from the appearance of the Crime Syndicate last issue, because that’s what was delivered! This issue was pointless, had little substance, as much filler as the “Knightmares” arc happening on Batman. Do not purchase this issue, in fact I daresay don’t even read it, it’s not worth the time: The best part of the issue is Superman’s dream/hallucination of a Kryptonian future. This occurs with no rhyme or reason, a “tease” of an upcoming storyline which fails to generate any interest due to the sheer senselessness of it all; Jon apparently takes quite some damage in this future losing an arm and an eye, that sure is a happy future. Cue first facepalm. Presumably the Legion of Superhe roes attacks the Kryptonian gathering, which makes me fear for that team’s future at the hands of bendis. The interactions between the Superman Family are very off and not consistent with how they acted in previous issues, which proves even more irksome when couple with cringeworthy dialogue such as Superman now not having to sleep or having anger issues he takes out on things. Again, I am perplexed that people actually believe this writer can portray Superman well. I have yet to see that. The big fight with the Crime Syndicate teased last issue? It doesn’t happen, the team barely even appears. Ultraman is shown taking Superboy to a secluded volcano and keeping him prisoner there, using him as someone to vent to for some reason. Suffice to say, that is not what people expected and considerably underwhelming since they reduce what should be an evil Superman to, in Jon’s words, a “messed up and totes uncool ‘jersey’ version of dad”. It takes bad villain monologuing to another level. To note, Jor-El is thrown aside from the start so there goes anything involving him. Cool. Most people expected an answer for why the Crime Syndicate is even present, Earth-3 having been destroyed and the Syndicate being killed in the Prime Earth. Well, this is a pre-New 52 version somehow, doubtful we’ll get an answer for it, so I am disappointed as I expected something like this be the case. The lack of involvement of the rest of that team is a major missed opportunity. The ending where Superwoman confronts Jon, that will lead to nothing equal to my interest in the next issue. This title continues to be a severely lacking comic book. more

PeteRick

Mar 13, 2019

Anyone still thinking this is a masterpiece?