Ok. So this comic was a little weird and fast paced. Too fast actually.
So basically we start off by having Clark (no, Superman is not even nearly back) going after Steve Trevor, because he needs a favor from him. We get a few action scenes, nothing special, and then they're both off. And on a side note just in case you missed the most recent issue of Superman-WonderWoman, Clark is now at level zero. His powers are totally gone. He's no more powerful than the average human. But take this in mind because later on this is gonna create a mental s*** storm. At least it did to me.
And here's when things get weird, in more than one way.
First weird thing. Clark out of nowhere basically explains to Trevor why his powers aren't working has they should. He explains to Trevor that the upper layer of his body cells got mutated and now they're unable to process sunlight like they should. But he believes his healthier cells just need the damaged cells to be removed in order for him to get his powers back. Or to put in a simpler way, the cells closest to his skin and even his skin cells are all damaged, but the cells below those one's are healthy and only need the damaged one's removed. But here's the problems with that theory:
- Normally our cells get replaced at a regular pace. And seeing Clark has been operating at extremely low levels of power, he's basically just like any other human. So if that was the case his damaged cells should've have died off already and been replaced by healthier cells.
- Normally damaged cells and healthier cells don't simply choose a convenient place to be at. Or to put it more simpler, healthy cells and damaged cells should be layed out randomly and not conveniently have the top layer cells damaged and the one's below it healthy. This goes against everything biological.
- And last but not least important, how he managed to get to that conclusion totally baffled me. Because until now Clark pretty much was clueless as to why his powers no longer worked properly. All he kept saying was that he got his powers stolen, when we know that only the energy stored in his body was stolen, not his powers. And now out of nowhere, boys and girls, we got a answer. A stupid nonsense answer, but a answer all the same.
Second weird thing. What Clark wants from Trevor is that he gives him access to A.R.G.U.S. cache of kryptonite. Because Clark believes the radioactivity from the kryptonite will kill off those damaged cells. He calls it a hunch based on his recent experience with the kryptonite powered armor Steel built for him.
And so Steve indulges Clark wishes and on the way down, they have a nice little chat about how Diana is now Clark ex-girlfriend. We even get this really weird moment where Steve admits that initially he was angry that Diana left him for Superman, but as time went on he began to see why Superman worked better for Diana, than he did. That they could understand each other in ways that other regular normal people can't. And that he was happy that they made each other happy. Yeah! Has I was reading this, for brief seconds I believed my mind was playing tricks on me.
So they arrive at A.R.G.U.S. lets call it, storage level, and we get to see what happens when the big box holding like a one ton of kryptonite, opens. And to my surprise what happens is pretty much what would happen if Clark was powered up. He starts to feel weak, can't even really stand up.
Steve immediately pulls Clark away, and here we get another weird dialogue. Not only Clark insists on continuing to be exposed, but he asks Steve that if for some reason that doesn't work and Clark basically kills himself that he tells Diana that in Clark's dying moments his thoughts were of her. At this moment I had my own personally mob screaming inside my head, demanding blood.
And at this moment another of Vandal Savage sons arrives with his new body, provided by HORDR_ROOT, calling himself the Puzzler. Really who in their right minds comes up with this crap!? And starts trashing A.R.G.U.S. defenses like they were nothing.
So before continuing lets examine this:
- Time and time again we've been shown not only in the New 52 but throughout almost all versions of Superman, that when his powers are down, and in this particular moment they are at zero, that kryptonians in general aren't affected by kryptonite. That kryptonite becomes really deadly to kryptonians mainly because it interferes with the power processing ability of their superpowered bodies. But if their powers are down, then kryptonite affects a kryptonian much like it would a human. So has I see it, that scene makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
- When DC came out and said we were gonna get a kryptonite fueled Superman, I always thought "Well, whatever altered his DNA will now most likely allow him to do has Ultraman does, and his cells will absorb the kryptonite radiation and restore at least some of his powers." I even thought for a moment that DC would play with the kryptonite powered thing and show Clark having his physical abilities back, but his other powers would come with a twist. Like for example his super-flare power, would become his main power, but again with a twist. Clark would not only be able to release energy, but absorb it from his surroundings, mold it much like a green lantern molds his green light, and that he'd be able to a certain degree expand the range of his super-flare power much like a magnetic field, that would allow Clark to control objects at a distance. But no. We get Clark reacting just like his powers had nothing wrong with them.
- The scene with Steve was a little far fetched. So DC is breaking up Clark and Diana, but at the same time they're saying why they shouldn't do it. I'd do a water check on the building at DC because these actions almost reach schizophrenic levels. If they want those two together then stick with them, and not gives us this lameass excuses. Like Clark smug face when he said "I broke things off" like he was proud of it. Honestly Clark face on that scene, I only felt like punching the smug right off.
- And why does DC insists on kryptonians becoming like mummies, is beyond me. In Clark final efforts he looked like a vampire had drained him nearly dry. So the excessive kryptonite that shouldn't be doing anything to him, starts to turn Clark into a freaking mummy.
And so we arrive at the end with Clark dragging his mummified body inside the kryptonite box and sitting on it like some king on his kryptonite throne, waiting to die.
Honestly to me the scene with the kryptonite box was done all wrong. If I was writing that part, I'd show that the kryptonite initially had no effect whatsoever on Clark. And it would be only during Puzzler great entrance that I'd show him grabbing Clark and throwing him inside the box. We'd see one of the kryptonite crystals pieces piercing Clark body, there would be a big yellow light explosion, and we'd see Clark in full super-flare mode. Only this time he'd be in total control and we could see him one-shot turn Puzzler into pieces. And we could've gotten a closing line of Clark saying "Well this was unexpected, but it will do." he'd thank Steve and the final image would be of Clark flying towards somewhere.
Basically showing with those scenes that Clark was ready for the final fights that are ahead of him.
So my conclusion of this comic is this.
It was too fast, poorly planed, and most of the dialogues were weak, almost down right irritating.
Savage Dawn is not going well. And if it keeps up like this, I fear for Superman comics in general.
Here are the scans...
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