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Superman:The
Man Of Steel
Every Little Thing
134/MARCH/2003
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Mark Schultz
Pencils: Brandon Badeaux & Jon Bogdanove
Inks: Mark Morales & Jon Bogdanove
Colors: Tom McGraw & Digital Chameleon
Letters: Ken Lopez
Price: $2.75 US/R9.95 SA
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After looking at the milestone 800th issue of Action
Comics last month it’s time to take a look at another turning
point in Superman comic books. With issue # 134 we say farewell
to Superman - The Man of Steel, as the series which started back
in 1991 draws to a close.
Clark Kent has left his job and gone undercover to investigate Lex
Luthor’s corrupt dealings. Clark has to handle heat from Lois
as she starts seeing through his secret life as a jobless reporter.
Meanwhile Superman battles John Henry in an attempt
to save his life from the Aegis battle suit.
The storyline predominantly runs around the undercover investigation
of Lex Luthor by Clark. It is an interesting and gripping story
with some nice emotion shown between Clark and Lois. Overall this
part of the story is the most interesting on view in this issue,
the secondary story about ‘The Aegis’
just seems rushed and misplaced.
The whole ‘Last Issue’ bit is very
forced and is immediately shoved down your throat via a narrative
in page one which goes on about how everything has an ending. The
end of the book seems very forced and fake and removed from the
rest of the story. Superman discusses life with John Henry’s
niece and informs her that she must make her life count for something
no matter what happens. A nice enough point to be making but unfortunately
the crossover of plots/storylines just don’t add up and the
ending seems completely removed from the rest of the book.
Adding to the strange ending is the choice that the editor has made
to suddenly change artist for the final few pages of the issue.
The main storyline just ends up hanging in midair and the tertiary
‘happy ending’ suddenly appears from
out of nowhere. The art in the last five pages by Jon Bogdanove
is less than impressive and adds little to no value to the issue
at all, except to break the story at it’s peak.
A disappointing and confusing end to this title, a good central
story is left hanging with many loose ends and only the promise
of a conclusion in Superman vs. Darksied. Quite
frankly if this is the calibre of story this title had on a monthly
basis then no wonder it’s getting the axe. Mediocre
with a few characterisation highlights between Lois and Clark, otherwise
a bad ending to this titles run.
Score 3/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan
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Comic Reviews
