Superman #35 Review

Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. are back after a month-long hiatus to tell the further adventures of Superman and his new BFF, Ulysses. Issue #34 ended on a pretty significant cliffhanger, making the extra wait that much harder to deal with. And even though the characterization in this issue is a bit off compared to the previous chapters, there’s no momentum lost as this partnership continues to develop.
Issue #35 does disappoint somewhat in its early pages. Rather than force the powerful but naive Ulysses to deal with the consequences of killing an innocent man, Geoff Johns finds a way to downplay that mistake. But the end result is still a heavy focus on the morality of being a superhero and te limits of what one man can do to change the world. Here Johns really taps into what makes Superman so super. Ulysses may be a physical match for the Man of Steel, but he doesn’t quite have Clark’s heart or head yet.

Aside from the tension-deflating opening where this issue stumbles is in its overly brisk handling of Ulysses’ arc. The character undergoes significant changes in terms of his world-view and relationship with Superman, and the whole process seems a bit rushed. In the process, the Machinist seems important more as a means to an end than as a lasting addition to Superman’s rogues gallery. The interaction between the two characters remains a highlight, though, and it’s really more a case of needing to see where this arc is headed before judging too firmly.

Johns' script offers John Romita, Jr. a winning blend of action and character drama to tackle. Naturally, Romita shows a flair for both. His use of body language early on hammers home the pain and despair Ulysses is feeling at the death he caused (even if that despair is fleeting). Romita's facial work shines in the Daily Planet scenes, apart from one panel where Lois' face is a bit off. And there's a great action-oriented sequence as the two heroes attack the Machinist aboard an oil tanker and battle all manner of crazy inventions. As always, I do wish Romita were paired with a different inker. There's a subtlety to his line-work that sometimes gets drowned out under Klaus Janson's heavy blacks. But at least Laura martin's colors give every panel that extra bit of vitality and depth.

THE VERDICT

It's good to have Johns and Romita back on Superman after the month-long hiatus. This isn't their strongest issue, as the underwhelming resolution to the previous chapter's cliffhanger and a fairly rushed approach to Ulysses' character arc are problematic. But there's still a great blend of character dynamics and epic action to be found. And through it all, Johns shows an ability and a willingness to delve into the heart of who Superman is.

Get full review from IGN here