Mild Mannered Reviews – Superman #28

Superman #28

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Superman #28

Scheduled to arrive in stores: December 15, 2020
Cover date: February 2021

“Mythological” – Finale

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Danny Miki
Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Alex Sinclair
Variant Cover: Kael Ngu

Reviewed by: Adam Dechanel




As Superman struggles under the influence of the orange sun his acute hearing is able to pick up Lana Lang’s podcast. Meanwhile the residents of the planet Synmar are surprised that Eisnor (aka Synmar Utopica) has become unhinged bringing Superman to their world.

Eisnor has laid waste to his planet but one of its residents that has studied Superman points out Superman is far from just the Last Son of Krypton. He is a symbol of hope to the wider universe, a member of the Justice League, the founder of the United Planets and that means they may seek him out if he is in danger.

Unable to cope with being elevated to similar status on Synmar, Eisnor has no such back up or ties and his loneliness in the role appears to have driven him to destruction.

Representatives of Synmar approach the weakened Superman in orbit, Galana, Eisnor’s life partner reaches out to Superman and tells him Eisnor’s origin. Shocked by what he learns about Eisnor’s tragic manipulation he begs to help his ‘doppelgänger’. Galana offers to give Superman Synmar body armor and the full support of the military to stop Eisnor.

The two fight until Eisnor witnesses Galana and the weakened population cowering in fear and in a mighty burst he expels his solar energy and surrenders to save his people any more pain.

They are interrupted by a new intergalactic police force – the United Planets Brigade. Luckily Kelex sent a distress call to the United Planets. Superman asks the Brigade, as its first action, to begin helping the Synmar people rebuild and take Eisnor into custody until he is rehabilitated.

Kelex was very busy, he even contacted Supergirl and Krypto who arrive using Jor-El’s teleport technology and help get Clark home.

Later a young woman is playing a guitar on her building roof and is taken aback to find Superman and Lois listening to her. They ask if they might dance along to her playing the theme to Mary Poppins.

THE END


2Story – 2: The podcast by Lana Lang was insightful. On its own, a very interesting piece. It is obviously the main reason for the title of the story arc. With the whole awful Synmar storyline a massive red herring. Was the pay-off worth it? No. Synmar and the whole storyline was a terrible misstep and the fake out with the reader that it was going to be bigger and more life changing for Superman was… a lie. The podcast was good but not worth the build up. You may not agree, and Synmar Utopica may now be your favorite Superman foe ever, and that’s ok, for me it was a waste of time. That could be because of the pacing, the misdirects or the marketing campaign. Though a tacked on after-thought, perhaps Superman and Lois dancing along in mid-air to Mary Poppins songs is the perfect end to your Bendis adventure.

I’m ready for the next chapter. I’m happy to debate in the comments!



4Art – 4: The art was far steadier this issue. The energy blasts were minimal so the art could really breath. Synmar and his people look detailed and well rendered in wider shots. Despite the great designs (reminiscent of Saru from Star Trek Discovery) I’d be fine if we never saw them again. Everything was nicely thought out and the compositions were not cramped. The rooftop scene, although bizarrely written, was beautifully illustrated and really lifted the issue.



4Cover Art – 4: The extra wispy cape is for dramatic effect I am guessing? A beautiful dramatic moment but a strange choice considering the bulk of the Synmar storyline. Fitting for an ending.



4Variant Cover Art – 4: Always nice to see Superman smile. We rarely get close up covers so it is great to see Ngu’s artwork shine.


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