Absolute Superman, Volume 1: Last Dust of Krypton Review (Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval)

It’s a brand new imagining of Superman - get this: an alien boy sent via spaceship from his doomed home planet Krypton to Earth where he’s raised by the kind Kents and discovers he has superpowers. Superman grows up to be a paragon of truth and justice, using his superpowers for good against evil. Wait - “new”? Absolutely not.

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor Review (Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch)

Lex is dying of something mysterious - can Superman help him find a cure before it’s too late?

Pretty basic premise and obvious from the title. But was it entertaining - could a story of Lex slowly dying and Superman carting him through a round robin of familiar Superman locales be? No and probably no - at least not in Mark Waid’s hands.

Superman: Action Comics: Superstars Volume 1 Review (Jason Aaron, John Timms)

Superman: Action Comics: Superstars: Volume 1: Jesus Can We Can We Get Another Fucking Subtitle In Here Already is a collection of three short stories that I guess filled up space in between the main storylines written by whoever drew the short straw to write this title. “Superstars” is a bit of a misnomer. Jason Aaron, sure, but Gail Simone and Rainbow Rowell? Definitely not - especially with the quality of their contributions to this book.

Absolute Superman #1 Review (Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval)

I’ve been a fan of Jason Aaron’s since the Vertigo days of The Other Side and Scalped, before he went to Marvel and did great work there for many years. His Punisher is as good as Garth Ennis’ - which is really saying something because Ennis’ Punisher is the definitive run on that character.

Superman: Space Age Review (Mark Russell, Michael Allred)

Superman: Space Age is a bit like Darwyn Cooke’s New Frontier except it’s not set in the ‘50s but the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. We follow Superman and the usual DC cast as they do their thing through the years and history plays out more-or-less as it does in our timeline - except for the world ending in 1985 when the Anti-Monitor destroys the universe (a nod to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths that came out in ‘85).

Dark Knights of Steel, Volume 1 Review (Tom Taylor, Yasmine Putri)

In Injustice we saw a world dominated by an evil Superman. In DCeased we saw zombies overrun the DC Universe. Now, in Dark Knights of Steel, we see Tom Taylor’s latest Elseworlds-style series, where familiar DC characters are placed in a generic fantasy setting. And, like Injustice and DCeased, Dark Knights of Steel is pretty underwhelming.

Tales from the DC Dark Multiverse Review (Scott Snyder, Kyle Higgins)

Tales from the DC Dark Multiverse is an anthology of really bad bumper-sized one-shots presenting What If…?-style retellings of famous, and also really bad, storylines. Two bad tastes that taste bad together. I’m guessing it’s “dark” because it’s spinning out of one of those Dark Nights things. Ugh…

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen's Boss Perry White #1 Review (Matt Fraction, Steve Lieber)

I picked up Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen’s Boss Perry White sight-unseen, thinking it was going to be a one-shot follow-up to Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber’s excellent award-winning Jimmy Olsen maxi-series. And it is - partially (Fractionally?). Fraction/Lieber produce a new short story about how Metropolis saves Superman for a change, which is fine, but it’s only 7 pages!

Superman: Son of Kal-El, Volume 1: The Truth Review (Tom Taylor, John Timms)

Superman’s gotta leave the planet for reasons so it’s down to his recently back from the future son, Jon Kent, to pick up the mantle and be Earth’s new Man of Steel. Meanwhile, a banana republic tyrant is doing dodgy stuff with metahumans and who decides to target Jon once he involves himself in his bizness.

Superman: The One Who Fell Review (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Phil Hester)

Superman’s son Jon is back from being part of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future and is by his father’s side as Superboy - but, oh no, Superman can suddenly be hurt somehow (and not Jon)! Jon realises he must soon take his father’s place as the new Superman when his dad becomes… The One Who Fell!

Superman: Action Comics, Volume 3: Leviathan Hunt Review (Brian Michael Bendis, Szymon Kudranski)

The Invisible Mafia are still having clandestine meetings to discuss… nothing… while The Red Cloud still continues to fight Superman for… nothing… Elsewhere, Rose and Thorn punch Leviathan to no effect and Lex is pointlessly doing an Emperor Palpatine impression. Also Naomi cameos to help Superman punch Red Cloud again. Riveting stuff.

Dark Knights of Steel #1 Review (Tom Taylor, Yasmine Putri)

Tom Taylor specialises in DC alternate worlds. First there was the fighting game-inspired Injustice, then zombie apocalypse DCeased, and now his latest one is a Game of Thrones-y flavoured story: Dark Knights of Steel. A young prince Superman rules the land with his parents and the help of bastard enforcer, the Bat-prince. But, in a rival kingdom, King Jefferson plots to take the throne of El and magical assassins have been dispatched…

Superman & The Authority Review (Grant Morrison, Mikel Janin)

In an alternate future where the Justice League aren’t around for some reason, a sexy older dad Superman, whose own powers are nearly gone, must assemble a new team to meet imminent threats: The Authority! Only this time, joining Authority regulars Midnighter and Apollo are some unusual additions: Manchester Black, Enchantress and Steel’s daughter.

Superman and The Authority #1 Review (Grant Morrison, Mikel Janin)

In a world where the Justice League has failed, an older Superman who’s losing his powers makes one last attempt at resurrecting the spirit of collective action by putting together another superteam: The Authority! But time is running out as rogue robots loose in the Phantom Zone threaten to break through and destroy our world and a mysterious villain in space plots to kill a weakened Superman, once and for all…

Lois Lane: Enemy of the People Review (Greg Rucka, Mike Perkins)

A Russian journalist is dead and Lois Lane cares for tenuous reasons! Also immigration stuff, someone’s trying to kill her for even murkier reasons, and an English witch, or something. Leviathan too - but mostly Lois and Superman smooching!

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? Review (Matt Fraction, Steve Lieber)

Someone wants to kill Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen - but who and why? To find out, Jimmy Olsen must fake his own death and puzzle it out on the sly!

Superman Smashes the Klan Review (Gene Luen Yang, Gurihiru)

I know DC’s recently started focusing more on their YA books, as well as making sure they’re full of wokeness, so I’ve been staying away from that stuff because I know they’re not for me; YA is generally boring and woke stuff is embarrassing to say the least. But Superman Smashes the Klan sounds like it might be fun in a corny way, and I have enjoyed some of Gene Luen Yang’s comics in the past and Gurihiru’s art is always good, so I gave it a shot. Well, I should’ve just listened to my instincts and not bothered - this was exhaustingly tedious to read.

Event Leviathan Review (Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev)

Kobra, Task Force X, ARGUS, the DEO, Spyral - all the spy agencies of the world get ‘sploded by Leviathan. Except it weren’t Talia al Ghul ‘cos she’s been usurped by a mysterious someone. Who is the new head of Leviathan and what do they want? Find out in: Event Leviapants!

Superman: Action Comics, Volume 2: Leviathan Rising Review (Brian Michael Bendis, Steve Epting)

Blue explosions are taking out organisations like Kobra, the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) and Spyral. The only clue: the word “Leviathan” - but is Talia Al Ghul’s group really behind this, and who is that mysteriously menacing shadowy figure seemingly causing all of these ‘splosions? Superman and Lois are on the case!

Superman: Up in the Sky Review (Tom King, Andy Kubert)

A little girl is alien-abducted and taken somewhere… Up in the Sky! Only Superman can save her. But if he leaves Earth to go rescue her, how many more will die without his protection? But he’s gotta Saving Private Ryan-it because Plot he’s Superman! Eh…