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Superman Annual #2 - The Last Byline; The World of Krypton, Part 4: Eradication

4

Great news everyone! Lois Lane gets the spotlight. But what's with the title, "The Last Byline"? Uh oh?

The Good

I really like Superman. Sometimes I have to wonder if I like Lois Lane more. They are two completely different characters and can't really be compared but perhaps it's because Lois is often under utilized that I find her much more fascinating.

The good news is, Lois gets the spotlight in this annual. This is something I've been longing for for years. This is a good example of how Lois could be thrown into dangerous situations and shouldn't have to rely on Superman to come to rescue all the time. Although, the way this story ends...

Scott Lobdell has expressed his fondness for Lois. Perhaps it's also that he understands how much she means to many. This story does set things up in a big way for her which will keep us all on the edge of our seats until we find out more. Seeing ties to Grant Morrison's ACTION COMICS was a nice touch as well.

As for the art, how could you not get excited for Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund on this issue? The story has a strange 'classic' feel while still perfectly retaining the New 52 vibe.

The Bad

What's going to happen to Lois? This could be bad. We have to remain hopeful that everything will "work out" in the end.

I'm not the biggest Brainiac fan. He isn't the full focus here but it's enough to make me cringe a little.

I've been very lukewarm to the "World of Krypton" backup stories. While I fully appreciate the point of the stories and am glad to see them, they haven't fully captured my interest. Having Part 4 appear in an annual is something that bothers me. Annuals should be completely self-contained rather than contain a part that forces a reader to buy it in order to get the complete story. They will likely buy the issue regardless but having the option is always nice.

The Verdict

Knowing Brainiac was involved in the story of this annual left me on the fence over reading this right away but finding out Lois Lane plays a huge part in the story is a glorious treat. Lobdell shows us Lois is a character deserving of the spotlight and is more than capable of carrying a story. Let's hope we're able to see more Lois stories soon. Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund's art gives the story a classic feel but also captures the New 52 look from today's comics. There is a backup from "The World of Krypton" those following will want to check out. If you're craving for some Lois Lane action, don't miss out on this.