Mild Mannered Reviews - Superman: Son of Kal-El Comics
Superman: Son of Kal-El #13
Scheduled to arrive in stores: July 12, 2022Cover date: September 2022
"Dreams and Nightmares"
Writers: Nicole Maines and Tom Taylor
Artist: Clayton Henry
Cover: Travis Moore and Tamra Bonvillain
Variant Covers: A.I. Kaplan/Clayton Henry and Marcelo Maiolo
Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel
Click to enlarge
To escape the revelation that the head of The Truth, that was attacking the President of Gamorra through pirate transmissions was actually Jay Nakamura, the previous ruler's son, Superman decides they should hide out in the arctic Fortress.
When they arrive they are shocked to discover Dreamer inside, but not Jon's friend Nura, from the future, but the original, Nia Nal.
She reveals that her newly emerged powers have revealed a vision of the future that sees the deaths of several Justice Leaguers. Jon thanks her for stepping up despite her unease with her new powers. He assures her that just by sharing the dream, she has changed the future and gives her a gift from Nura in return.
Nia is astounded to find the encounter has given her full control of her abilities and she quietly tells Jon that his father will definitely return to Earth, sooner than he thinks.
Elsewhere, the reveal of Jay's identity leads Bendix to exact a terrible revenge.
To Be Continued...
Story - 5: A well deserved top mark for Nicole Maines and Tom Taylor who share a writing credit this issue. Nicole provides a great, unique insight to Nia having played the character in the "Supergirl" TV series for a few years.
The introduction is more than a publicity stunt as is integral to the story and serves as a way to link Jon's Legion days back to the present. The vision was full of shocks and did a lot of 'world building' in relation to 'The Rising' and I won't spoil it here.
The moment revolving around Clark was touching and the bickering between Jay and Nia did give rise to a few chuckles.
I hope Dreamer stays around, she's a really fun character.
Art - 4: The airbrushing technique to color is a little difficult to embrace but for me this issue excelled with Nia's dream. Just brilliant, but I only wish it lasted longer! (But not come to pass!)
Cover Art - 4: Nia Nal is here and what a cover for a debut! I think this is a really evocative cover that has that 'special event' feel. I feel it could only have been improved if Dreamer shared the spotlight with Superman - it is his book after all!
Variant Cover Art - 3: Dreamer looks fantastic here but I'm not a great fan of Jon's depiction here, he looks almost caricaturist in nature. I feel that it really detracts from how beautiful the image is.
Variant Cover Art - 3: The weakest of the three covers, for me it just does not have the epic feel of the others. I'm not sure if it is the pastel palette or the tame visions chosen compared to the screaming victims on the main cover.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2022
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 2022
- Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1
- Action Comics #1036
- Action Comics #1037
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #5
- Superman '78 #3 [of 6]
- Superman '78 #4 [of 6]
- Superman vs. Lobo #2 [of 3]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #5 [of 8]
- Justice League #69
- Justice League: Last Ride #7
- Justice League Infinity #5
- Justice League Incarnate #1 [of 5]
- DC vs. Vampires #2 [of 12]
- Dark Knights of Steel #1
- Action Comics #1038
- Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1
- Superman '78 #5 [of 6]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #6 [of 8]
- World of Krypton #1 [of 6]
- Justice League #70
- Justice League Infinity #6
- Justice League Incarnate #2 [of 5]
- DC vs. Vampires #3 [of 12]
- Dark Knights of Steel #2
March 2022
- Action Comics #1039
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #6
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #7
- Superman/Robin Special #1
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #7 [of 8]
- Justice League #71
- Justice League Infinity #7
- Justice League Incarnate #3 [of 5]
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #1 [of 6]
- Superman '78 #6 [of 6]
- World of Krypton #2 [of 6]
- Dark Knights of Steel #3
- DC vs. Vampires #4
- Action Comics #1040
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #8
- Nightwing #89
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #8 [of 8]
- Justice League 2022 Annual #1
- Justice League #72
- Justice League Incarnate #4 [of 5]
- World of Krypton #3 [of 6]
- Dark Knights of Steel #4
- DC vs. Vampires #5
- Action Comics #1041
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #9
- Superman vs. Lobo #3 [of 3]
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #1
- Justice League #73
- Justice League #74
- Justice League Incarnate #5 [of 5]
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #2 [of 6]
- World of Krypton #4 [of 6]
- Dark Knights of Steel #5
- DC vs. Vampires #6
- Action Comics #1042
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #10
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #2
- Justice League #75
- Earth-Prime #2 - Superman and Lois
- World of Krypton #5 [of 6]
- Dark Knights of Steel #6
- Action Comics #1043
- Action Comics Annual 2022 #1
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #11
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #3
- Justice League: Road to Dark Crisis #1
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #3 [of 6]
- World of Krypton #6 [of 6]
- Jurassic League #1
- Action Comics #1044
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #12
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #4
- Justice League #75 (Special Edition)
- Dark Crisis #1
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #1
- Dark Knights of Steel #7
- Jurassic League #2
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen's Boss, Perry White #1 (One Shot)
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #1
- Earth-Prime #6: Hero's Twilight
- Action Comics #1045
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #13
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #5
- Superman: Space Age #1
- Dark Crisis #2
- Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League - Superman #1
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #2
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #2
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #4 [of 6]
- DC vs. Vampires #7
- Jurassic League #3
- DC: Mech #1
- Young Justice: Targets #1
- Action Comics #1046
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #14
- Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #6
- Dark Crisis #3
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #3
- DC's Saved by the Belle Reve #1
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #3
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #5 [of 6]
- DC vs. Vampires #8
- Jurassic League #4
- DC: Mech #2
- Young Justice: Targets #2
- Action Comics #1047
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #15
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #7
- Superman: Space Age #2
- Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #4
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #4
- Justice League vs The Legion of Super-Heroes #6 [of 6]
- Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms #1 (One Shot)
- DC vs. Vampires #9
- Jurassic League #5
- DC: Mech #3
- Young Justice: Targets #3
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #16
- Action Comics #1048
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #8
- Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #5
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #5
- DC vs. Vampires #10
- Jurassic League #6
- DC: Mech #4
- DC's Terrors Through Time #1 (One Shot)
- Young Justice: Targets #4
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