Mild Mannered Reviews - "Superman" Comic Book Reviews
Superman #24
Scheduled to arrive in stores: June 7, 2017Cover date: August 2017
"Black Dawn" - Part 5
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason
Penciller: Doug Mahnke & Patrick Gleason
Inker: Jaime Mendoza, Mick Gray, Joe Prado & Doug Mahnke
Cover: Ryan Sook
Variant Cover: Jorge Jimenez & Alejandro Sanchez
Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel
Click to enlarge
A flashback reveals how the Super-Elite aliens of Hamilton County had come to be indoctrinated to Manchester Black's cause. Kathy and Cobb seem more and more reluctant as Black's plan progresses. Meanwhile with Lois recovering, Superman reluctantly leaves her behind to confront these strange new foes but when he returns he discovers Jon and his manipulator Black. Clark is understandably angry but everything he does seems to push Jon away.
When Kathy and Cobb switch sides and help Clark to rescue Frankenstein, The Bride, Batman & Robin things seem to be changing for the better until an angry Manchester Black corrupts Jon into Superboy Black and the Boy of Steel, along with the remaining Super-Elite, vow to kill them all.
To Be Continued...
Story - 5: This story has been rumbling on for a while and has been throwing in some big twists and turns as the mystery of Hamilton County has continually escalated. I avoided the spoilers to allow the story to play out and it worked in my favor as I never would have put this all down to Manchester Black. I am also unsure as to Lois' fate, the media suggested her leg had to be amputated but there hasn't been a mention since then, except for that saddened look as Clark flies away. I'd grown to like Kathy as a character so I'm glad she and her grandfather aren't a completely lost cause.
Aside from the mass of reveals, we have the corruption of Jon Kent. I am keen to see where this goes especially now we have two teams fighting it out for his fate. The catch up between Superman & Action Comics is something I hope they fix soon.
Art - 4: I am a long term protester of artists flipping the art chores back and forth and this issue is a prime example as to why. One or the other, not both, as they are just too different and divert the feelings evoked by one in the opposite direction of the other. To be honest either would have worked but coupled together they seem to fight one another.
If I had to choose I think it should have been Doug Manhke on the entire book.
Cover Art - 5: I think the right phrasing for this is 'hits you right in the feels'. I'm old and a Brit so wholly unqualified to use it, but seeing poor Jon overtaken by dark forces and his parents powerless to help him is a powerful image and something many parents fear when bringing up their children. Aside from the emotional turmoil Sook has delivered a powerful image that works extremely well with the theme and is rendered beautifully with a soft fade palette.
Variant Cover Art - 4: Not as powerful an image as Sook's but Jimenez definitely delivers a variation focusing on the menacing Manchester Black and his dark influence over poor Jon.
It also brings up the question of what Superman would do in this situation... The covers this week are extremely powerful.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2017
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2017
- Superman #10
- Action Comics #967
- Superman #11
- Action Comics #968
- Superman Annual #1
- Supergirl #3
- Superwoman #4
- Justice League #8
- Justice League #9
- Trinity #3
- New Super-Man #5
- Earth 2: Society #18
- Red Hood and the Outlaws #4
- Cyborg #3-4
- Aquaman #11
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #8
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #9
- Nightwing #9
- Suicide Squad #6
- Deathstroke #7
- Super Powers #1
- Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Five: Annual #1
- Superman #12
- Action Comics #969
- Superman #13
- Action Comics #970
- Supergirl #4
- Superwoman #5
- Justice League #10
- Justice League #11
- Trinity #4
- New Super-Man #6
- Earth 2: Society #19
- Deathstroke #8
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #10
- Suicide Squad #8
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #1
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #2
- DC Rebirth Holiday Special 2016 #1
- Super Powers #2
- Supergirl: Being Super #1
- Superman #14
- Action Comics #971
- Superman #15
- Action Comics #972
- Supergirl #5
- Superwoman #6
- Justice League #12
- Justice League #13
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #3
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #4
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #5
- Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #6
- Trinity #5
- New Super-Man #7
- Earth 2: Society #20
- Suicide Squad #9
- Justice League/Power Rangers #1
- The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom #1
- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #12
- Aquaman #15
- Red Hood and the Outlaws #6
- Titans #7
- Green Lantern #15
- Super Powers #3
- Superman: Rebirth Vol. #1 - Son of Superman [Trade Paperback]
- Superman #16
- Action Comics #973
- Superman #17
- Action Comics #974
- Supergirl #6
- Superwoman #7
- Super Sons #1
- Trinity #6
- Justice League #14
- Justice League #15
- New Super-Man #8
- Earth 2: Society #21
- Justice League/Power Rangers #2
- Red Hood and the Outlaws #7
- Super Powers #4
- Supergirl: Being Super #2
- Superman #18
- Action Comics #975
- Superman #19
- Action Comics #976
- Supergirl #7
- Superwoman #8
- Super Sons #2
- Trinity #7
- Justice League #16
- Justice League #17
- New Super-Man #9
- Earth 2: Society #22 [Final Issue]
- Justice League/Power Rangers #3
- Batman #18
- Batgirl Annual #1
- Super Powers #5
- Superman #20
- Action Comics #977
- Superman #21
- Action Comics #978
- Supergirl #8
- Superwoman #9
- New Super-Man #10
- Super Sons #3
- Trinity #8
- Justice League #18
- Justice League #19
- Suicide Squad #16
- Super Powers #6
- Supergirl: Being Super #3
- Superman #22
- Action Comics #979
- Superman #23
- Action Comics #980
- Supergirl #9
- Superwoman #10
- New Super-Man #11
- Super Sons #4
- Trinity #9
- Trinity Annual #1
- Justice League #20
- Justice League #21
- Justice League/Power Rangers #4
- Suicide Squad #17
- Suicide Squad #18
- Injustice 2 #1
- Injustice 2 #2
- Superman #24
- Action Comics #981
- Superman #25
- Action Comics #982
- Supergirl #10
- Superwoman #11
- New Super-Man #12
- Super Sons #5
- Trinity #10
- Justice League #22
- Justice League #23
- Suicide Squad #19
- Red Hood and the Outlaws #8-11
- Supergirl: Being Super #4
- Injustice 2 #3
- Injustice 2 #4
- Superman #26
- Action Comics #983
- Superman #27
- Action Comics #984
- Supergirl #11
- Superwoman #12
- New Super-Man #13
- Super Sons #6
- Trinity #11
- Justice League #24
- Justice League #25
- Injustice 2 #5
- Injustice 2 #6
- Superman #28
- Action Comics #985
- Superman #29
- Action Comics #986
- Supergirl #12
- Supergirl Annual #1
- Superwoman #13
- New Super-Man #14
- Super Sons #7
- Trinity #12
- Justice League #26
- Justice League #27
- Justice League/Power Rangers #5
- Superman #30
- Action Comics #987
- Superman #31
- Action Comics #988
- Supergirl #13
- Superwoman #14
- New Super-Man #15
- Super Sons #8
- Trinity #13
- Justice League #28
- Justice League #29
- Justice League/Power Rangers #6
- Detective Comics #965
- Superman #32
- Action Comics #989
- Superman #33
- Action Comics #990
- Supergirl #14
- Superwoman #15
- New Super-Man #16
- Super Sons #9
- Trinity #14
- Justice League #30
- Justice League #31
- Detective Comics #966
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Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2017.