Comic Book Review: Superman #654

Superman #654 marks the point where Geoff Johns hands off sole control of this title to Kurt Busiek. Kurt is a fine writer and I’m sure that this will be a good issue. Carlos Pacheco replaced Pete Woods as the artist. That is a huge loss. I really like Woods’ artwork. I like mi hermano, Pacheco, but not quite as much as Woods. All right, enough of the lead up, let’s hit this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciler: Carlos Pacheco
Inker: Jesus Merino

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: This issue starts with Lois waking up and walking to the kitchen and seeing that Clark has made breakfast in honor of their “anniversary.” She hears on the radio that Clark is battling some villain downtown. (Ok, I can’t go any further without commenting on Lois’ insanely wack looking hair. Woods gave her an ugly soccer mom hair style. Pacheco gives her the most disgusting slick haircut that looks like something from a really bad manga.)

We cut to Superman in a braaaaawwwl with Neutron who has been hired by Intergang. Neutron was placing odd energy spheres around the area. Neutron says that the spheres are Mannheim’s farewell present to Metropolis. Superman takes out Neutron and then lets the newly formed Metropolis Technology Squad take care of containing Neutron and cleaning up the area. We learn that the Technology Squad has been nicknamed the “Science Police.” (That is a very cool nod to the Science Police that enforce the law on Earth over in the Legion of Super Heroes.)

We then shift to the Daily Planet where Perry White yells at Clark for being late. White tells Clark that he has two plum assignments for him: interviewing the new CEO of Lexcorp, Lana Lang (Wow! Now that was a shocker!) and interviewing the foremost arcanobiologist Dr. Carolyn Llewellyn (who has a hair cut like a U.S. Marine). But, in order to get those plum assignments, Clark must earn it by talking Perry’s task of crappy jobs for the day that nobody else wants to do.

It turns out that before Clark came to Metropolis, he had a history with Dr. Carolyn Llewellyn. (Gross. And, seriously, Lois’ hair is so nasty I almost throw up each time I look at her.) Jimmy then makes a bunch of guesses at what “anniversary” Clark and Manga Lois are celebrating.

We cut to Clark covering one of the meaningless stories on his task list from Perry. Clark then hears the high pitched whine from the Intergang spheres from earlier this morning. He intercepts a team of Intergang agents. He takes them out and then gives one of the spheres to the Technology Squad so they can study it.

We then see Clark as Superman having to take out Intergang agents all across the city through out the entire day rather than being able to complete all of Perry’s tasks. Superman finally realizes that if he slows down the high pitched whine of the Intergang spheres that they sound like a heart beat. Superman recognizes it as Mannheim’s heart beat. (oooookay.) He tracks the source of the heart beat to an abandoned warehouse. There he discovers Mannheim who is now giant sized. And with that we have another braaaaawwwl! Mannheim tells Superman that he has made it unprofitable for Intergang to be in Metropolis. Superman defeats Mannheim and renders all of his spheres inert. Superman suspects Darkseid to be behind Mannheim and Intergang. Mannheim tells Superman that it isn’t Darkseid. That Superman isn’t even close. With that Mannheim teleports away.

Clark then runs back to the Daily Planet. Perry White is already gone for the day and Clark only managed to complete half of the tasks assigned to him. He is upset that he now won’t get the two plum assignments.

Clark schleps home and sees Lois waiting for him with a bottle of vino and wearing a sexy little outfit. (Except that I can’t get past her greasy nasty haircut.) Lois tells Clark that she finished all of his assignments that were on Perry’s list. The couple then goes to the deck and they float up into the air and dance with each other. Their anniversary is the 12th anniversary of the first time that Lois flew with Clark and got her first interview with him. (Nice touch.)

We then shift to a secret lab in Kazakhstan. Suddenly there is a serious tremor in the area. We see Marine gunnery sergeant Dr. Llewellyn prays that Clark arrives soon. We then see a mysterious red eyed character in the shadows in the secret base. End of issue.

Comments:
The Good: This was a very good issue. Busiek is doing a great job on this title. This issue moved at a nice pace and had a good rhythm to it. The dialogue was well done. Busiek has a good feel for all the various characters and that enables him to give them their own unique voice.

I like that Clark has to return to his old erratic self over at the Daily Planet. You can tell that it is annoying Clark that he has to do this. Still, this is nicely done and gives Clark an enjoyable human element. Even though he is Superman, as Clark Kent he takes his lumps at his job just like everyone else does. Busiek does a great job showing Clark’s dejection over failing at his task to finish Perry’s list of jobs in order to get the two plum assignments.

And speaking of the assignments, talk about a big bomb! Lana Lang as the new C.E.O. of Lexcorp! That is a great move. I love it. I cannot wait to see where Kurt takes this storyline. I’m glad to see that the supporting characters from Smallville are turning up in the comic book. This should make for some interesting drama in the future.

Marine gunnery sergeant Dr. Llewellyn is a new character. Since she knows Clark from before he arrived in Metropolis this should turn out to be pretty interesting. And, just what exactly is she doing at that secret base in Kazakhstan? And who is that mysterious red-eyed figure? Kurt just keeps the various plotlines cranking on this comic!

The revelation of Mannheim behind the Intergang plots in Metropolis was interesting. However, I like that we found out that Darkseid is not the mysterious entity backing Intergang. I’m thrilled about that. The last thing I wanted was for DC to trot out Darkseid as the mastermind behind Intergang. That would have been unsatisfying and predictable.

The ending to this issue was a nice touch. Busiek tugs at our heart and ties the comic to the movie by continuing the theme of Lois and Clark’s first flight together. I really enjoyed the scene of the couple in the sky. Lois and Clark are a great combination and it is nice to see the bond and love between the two of them. Busiek is doing a great job showing us that this comic book is much more than the Big Red S.

Pacheco is a solid artist. For the most part I enjoy his art. I liked Woods more on this title, but Pacheco is doing a fine job as well. This is a good looking comic and Pacheco’s art compliments Busiek’s story. I definitely like how Pacheco draws Superman. Very cool.

The Bad: Seriously, Pacheco’s Lois Lane is gross. Woods may have made her look like a boring soccer mom, but at least she didn’t look like a total skank. Lois is such a pretty hottie in the new movie Superman Returns. Why can’t they just have her look like that in the comic?

Overall: Superman #654 was a great read. Busiek is doing a masterful job weaving various interesting plotlines together to make an entertaining story. Pacheco is a solid artist who turns out a good looking comic. This is a balanced comic book that is definitely worth checking out even if you aren’t a huge fan of the big red S.