Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #6
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 2, 2024
Cover date: June 2024
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Gavin Guidry
Cover: Gavin Guidry and Jordie Bellaire
Variant Covers: Ozgur Yildirim and Marco Santucci
Reviewed by: Marc Lax
Superman and Metallo have a final throw down. The people of Russia begin to see that Metallo may not be the hero he thinks he is. The destruction he causes in Moscow and his disregard for his people begin to turn them toward Superman. After a girl gets injured during the fight it’s Superman who comforts her. No matter what Metallo throws at him Superman gives it right back. But he also tries reasoning with him. With the help of that little girl Metallo realizes that his mission is meaningless. The government has been lying to him this whole time. Feeling he has no other choice after all he’s done Metallo flies high into the sky and self destructs. After the government calls Metallo a disgrace, a traitor, Superman says the people who witnessed the fight will always remember the sacrifice Captain Maxim Nikolaev (Metallo) has made. Superman flies off with the people of Moscow cheering and chanting his name. Back in Metropolis the Daily Planet staff, not being able to contact Moscow, are worried about Superman. Clark walks in apologizing for being out with a cold. After being dismissed because he had the sniffles Clark leaves to take some medicine. Suddenly Jimmy takes a picture outside Perry’s window. They turn to see Superman floating outside the window safe and sound. Back in Moscow the young girl Superman helped runs through the street with a makeshift Superman shirt and cape while bystanders smile.
Story – 4: This was a fun book. Combining the the Cold War with the coming of Metallo worked out perfect. While this is an action packed story I think it’s all the character moments that really shine. They feel authentic. Very much in character from their movie counterparts. This could have been a great story for the main books or even one of the movies. I do think Metallo turned a little too easily. I guess that little girl melted his Kryptonite heart pretty easily. This issue was a great ending to a terrific mini series.Art – 4: From the first issue to the last Guidry’s art has been one of the bigger highlights of this series. While he makes these characters his own it’s his subtle take on the actors that really shines. You can tell it’s Christopher Reeve’s Superman but mainly in expressions. The characters are not drawn to look like exact copies of the actors, which in certain cases can be kind of creepy. None of that here. If we get another “Superman ’78” series I hope Gavin Guidry is attached.
Cover Art – 5: I really cannot say anything bad about this cover. Superman flying towards the reader drawn by Gavin Guidry. That’s all there is to say.Variant Cover Art – 4: A very cool cover featuring almost all the main characters from the four Christopher Reeve films. Very nice!
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