Superman Unlimited #11 is written by Dan Slott and published by DC Comics. Artwork by Lucas Meyer. Colours by Giuliano Peratelli. Letters by Dave Sharpe. Main cover art (left) is by Dan Mora.
Absolute Superman #17 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
THE FINAL MOMENTS OF JON KENT! What’s worse than a fifth-dimensional imp? A fourth dimensional demon! Jon Kent faces off against his greatest archenemy, a terrifying time-bending foe who’s attacking him years before they’ve ever met! Witness the final moments of Jon Kent, Superman.
Also in this issue: Superboy?! No. Really? Wait. What?! Yeah. You’d better not miss this one. Call your retailer now. Reserve your copy now. Don’t wait. Go. Call. Now!
Review
The Reign of the Superboys continues in Superman Unlimited #11: The Fallen Son! In the wake of DC’s massive K.O. event, the original Man of Steel, Kal-El, has vanished. Now, a host of Superboys have stepped in to fill those iconic boots, with Superman’s son, Jon Kent, taking the reins in Unlimited.
Jon Kent is up against his own future. Specifically, the fourth-dimensional demon Master Tzxz who knows that in the years to come, Jon is destined to defeat him. Therefore, his solution is to travel back in time and destroy a younger, more vulnerable version of his nemesis before that victory ever happens. Or so he thinks…
I have to hand it to Dan Slott’s script; if you missed the K.O. event, fear not—you won’t be lost. The transition into this new status quo in Unlimited goes down like iced tea on a hot summer’s evening. Not only do you get caught up on what happened to Clark Kent, but you also get a clear picture of exactly where Jon stands within the wider DC Universe.
A central theme here is the burden of Superman, a thread I hope continues throughout the Reign storyline. While the DC Universe has a massive Super-family made up of cousins, children, and clones, Clark Kent remains the Superman the world looks to. Because of this, one has to wonder: what does that mean for the rest of the family?
In addition to the plot, the psychological battle between Tzxz and Jon is a masterstroke of writing. Slott doesn’t beat around the bush; instead, he bluntly addresses the meta-aspect of Jon’s specific role as “Superman.” For my money, it was pitch-perfect. Tzxz essentially calls Jon the Wish version of Superman, which subsequently gets to the very heart of the story: identity.
The issue poses the big questions fans can debate for years: What does it mean to be the son of Superman? And what is it like living in the shadow of that greatness? However, it’s not just the writing that shines. This issue has that one-two punch that makes comic books great: a compelling story met with fantastic art.
Moreover, Lucas Meyer’s art, combined with Giuliano Peratelli’s colours, is an absolute feast. Each panel sizzles with visceral chaos, which allows Slott’s story to truly soar. Sometimes an issue comes along that really pops, accomplishing more in twenty-one pages than some twelve-issue arcs do. While I can’t say if the rest of Reign will hit as hard as this, fans are certainly in for a treat here.
Verdict
With great art and an excellent story, Superman Unlimited #11 is a fantastic character study of Jon Kent and what it means to be a Superman. Readers will approach how Dan Slott’s script finely balances the transition from K.O. to Reign of the Superboys, without feeling like you missed a beat! More than that, though, it promises a fascinating journey for everyone wearing that big red “S” on their chest.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We are also members of the Forbidden Planet Affiliate Program.
