Superman #20
Scheduled to arrive in stores: February 12, 2020
Cover date: April 2020
“The Truth” – Part 3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artists: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Oclair Albert
Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Alex Sinclair
Variant Cover: Bryan Hitch & Alex Sinclair
Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel
Journalists are arguing over Superman’s new role as a reporter on himself.
Elsewhere Mongul is mocking the United Planets coalition and Superman is struggling to protect them from harm.
As the Daily Star bullpen debate ethics and Superman’s duplicitous nature as a writer who used his own heroics to further his own career over his colleagues and competitors, someone in space begins transmitting the declaration by Superman that he will represent Earth in the United Planets parliament.
A close personal friend of Superman offers to get the exclusive on Clark and the United Planets for the Daily Star and that revelation will shatter Superman’s past.
Meanwhile Mongul’s plot to divide the United Planets before they start has become an all out war that has terrible losses for all sides. Whoever survives will be under Mongul’s rule if Superman cannot stop them.
The Daily Star‘s plan to get the exclusives on Superman is in full effect and a reporter who was always a few seconds too late to get that Superman story has tracked down Lois Lane in her hiding place. Her name is Bethany Snow and she has questions for Mrs. Superman…
To Be Continued….
Story – 3: Lana Lang was a successful scientist (and former superhero) when last we saw her she was working as a partner in Steelworks. Suddenly she’s a reporter and has a dislike for Superman? *Sigh*
I like that the Daily Star staff are to a degree discussing some of the serious ramifications of Superman killing of his Clark Kent persona.
I am also lost as to who recorded the private meeting of the United Planets and was able to broadcast it to Earth from deep space?
The Mongul subplot is a by the numbers snooze-fest, but this issue wasn’t a total loss. The Daily Star characters really saved this issue. I just wish they were a little more aggressive in their assessments of the whole situation.
Weirdly, I sympathize with Bethany Snow.
Art – 4: The art continues to be a high point. The difficult part of that is, it’s the only high point and nobody buys a comic book for just the art. I feel like I am doing a huge disservice to the art team but as fantastic as they are, they cannot float a book forever.
Cover Art – 3: I’m not sure how to put this, the cover is a little pedestrian. A villain’s eye view is fun but I think I would have liked seeing Superman fighting back instead of pulling away.
Variant Cover Art – 3: Angry eyes! We never get tired of Superman with angry eyes do we folks?
Check out the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.
WTAF did Bendis just do to Lana? Aw hell no! This best be a misdirect and she’s not really “out for Clark’s blood“ as her main goal, so to speak.
Who the heck filmed the historic meeting and formation of the United Planets as well? Mongul?
” ..nobody buys a comic book for just the art….”
yea…uh a lot of artists, (including myself) DO actually buy comics for the art, regardless if the story is good or bad. . SMH
#supporttheartist
#respecttheartist
I tried doing that to just enjoy Ivan Reis’s art but seeing Bendis trash the characters cast way to large a shadow over the quality of the art.
So you don’t read the story? OK… I can appreciate art and the skill as I said and don’t appreciate the #respecttheartist hashtag because you’ll see from past issues he’s always, ALWAYS scored a 5.
But if the writing is really bad and disrespects the artist – that’s wrong. Sorry you don’t see a problem with a writer not supporting the artist.
I never said I don’t read the stories. Comic Books are FIRST & FOREMOST “Visual Storytelling”. (many people forget or don’t know that) Yes I will not argue that the “IDEAL” comic is supposed to have a great story with great art…but reality is, it does not always happen. (whether it’s a great story with bad art or bad story with great art) Comic Books are ALSO a job…for the writer, artist, inker, colorist, etc. & do not always work well together or get to choose who/what they have to work with (The ONLY exception I can think off right… Read more »