Comic Book Review: Superman #682: New Krypton

Despite The Revolution’s reservations concerning the aftermath of the New Krypton story arc, we still remain immensely entertained by the New Krypton story itself. Johns and Robinson have done a fantastic job working together in order to create an exciting big event. I am sure that Superman #682 will be another quality read. Let’s do this review.

Creative Team
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Renato Guedes
Inks: Wilson Magalhaes

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with Clark and Martha visiting Jonathon’s grave during a rainy day. Clark offers to fly Ma the rest of the way to Pa Kent’s grave. Martha tells Clark that he is not Superman today. Today Clark is Jonathon Kent’s son. Martha says that they will walk to Jonathon’s grave. Clark responds that if Ma is out in the rain that she might…Martha then cuts Clark off and snaps that she and Jonathon once worked a field through a thunder storm in order to make a deadline with the grain inspector.

Ma and Clark arrive at Jonathon Kent’s grave and see Bizarro standing there. Bizarro is crying and says that he is so happy. Bizarro then flies off. Clark says that he will track down Bizarro later. Clark then says that he needs to stay with Ma and make sure she is safe. Martha asks if she is in danger. Clark responds that he does not know. Clark says that Jimmy told him that something strange is going on. Clark says that he sent Krypto to stay with her to make sure she was safe.

Martha responds that she is safe with Clark. Mother and son stand in front of Jonathon’s grave. Martha says that they can now take some time to be together with Jonathon.

We cut to the next morning at the White House with the President meeting with Agent Liberty. Agent Liberty requests a leave of absence from the President’s security team. Agent Liberty states that something does not feel right with the sudden appearance of Doomsday. Agent Liberty says that his gut is telling him that something is going on and that he wants to investigate it. The President tells Agent Liberty that he is a good American and for Agent Liberty to follow his gut.

We shift to Supergirl arriving at her parents’ house in Kandor. Supergirl asks why they did not invite Kal-El to join them. Zor-El replies that Kal-El is too much of Earth. Zor-El asks if he can trust that Kara is Kryptonian above all else. Kara responds that she is Zor-El’s daughter above all else. Zor-El turns to the crowd of Kryptonians that has assembled and he tells them that everyone knows there targets. The Kryptonians shout “For Krypton!” and they all fly off.

We zip over to the Science Police headquarters in Metropolis where Jim Harper is meeting with Rachel who is SP Control. Jim says that he is a superhero to which Rachel responds that she knows all about the Guardian. Jim them says that he is here to ask for a job with the SP.

We then cut over to DuBerry and his team of SP officers arriving at Stryker’s with the Parasite. Suddenly, Gor and his fellow Kryptonians from the military guild appear on the scene and demand that the SP turn the Parasite over to them. DuBerry refuses and a brawl ensues between the Kryptonians and the SP. The Kryptonians proceed to brutally beat all of the SP officers to death. The Kryptonians then leave with the Parasite.

We shift to Jim Harper trudging out of the SP building. In his mind he is replaying Rachel turning down his request for a job. Rachel stated that the Guardian is a part of the past and is out of step with today and the forward thinking SP. Before Jim gets out of the door of the SP headquarters, Rachel appears on one of the telescreens and tells Jim that she wants him to wait. Rachel says that there have been developments and that Metropolis needs the Guardian.

We slide over to Supergirl and a couple of Kryptonians taking down the Silver Banshee. We cut to some more Kryptonians viciously taking out Prankster. Black Lightning shows up on the scene and tries to stop the Kryptonians. The Kryptonians quickly take out Black Lightning.

We shift to Atlas sipping a cup of coffee in a diner in Metropolis. Atlas thinks how he must fully understand Metropolis before he attacks it again. Atlas watches a news report talking about how Kryptonians have been capturing various Superman villains. Atlas thinks about how superheroes have secret identities. At first, Atlas thought secret identities were silly. However, now he is now changing his mind about that.

We cut to a bunch of Kryptonians ganging up to take down Bizarro. We slide over to the Daily Planet and see the news reports of the Kryptonians attacking all the various Superman villains on all the television screens. Clark quickly gets into his Superman costume and rockets off toward Kandor.

We shift to Kandor at the El family house and see Zor-El, Allura and Supergirl together. Zor-El happily states that today has been a good day. Suddenly, Superman rips open the wall and shouts “What is Rao’s name were you thinking?!”

Superman barks that some of the Kryptonians killed policemen during their attempt to get the Parasite. Kara is horrified and yells at Zor-El that this was not supposed to happen. Zor-El agrees that he did not want anyone to die, either.

Allura snaps that the cops fought back against the Kryptonians and that fighting the Kryptonians was the cops’ mistake. Zor-El is stunned that Allura already knew that some of the Kryptonians had killed several cops. Zor-El asked why Allura did not tell him about this. Allura answers that she did not think it of any importance.

Superman comments that the way that Allura is acting is alarming. Allura quips that she has learned an Earth term lately: collateral damage. And that the police were simply collateral damage. The police were merely unlucky. Superman demands that the Kryptonians who killed the police officers be turned over to him so that they can answer for their actions pursuant to Earth law.

Allura snidely asks if Superman really thinks that she is going to hand over any of their people. Supergirl urges her mom to do so stating that Superman is right. Allura snaps for Supergirl to hold her tongue. Allura then tells Superman that the villains are alive. That the Kryptonians placed them somewhere safe.

We cut to the Phantom Zone with Mon-El stunned at the sudden appearance of a bunch of Superman’s villains. We see Parasite, Bizarro, Silver Banshee, Prankster and Toyman surrounding Mon-El.

Comments
The Good: Superman #682 was another entertaining installment of the New Krypton story. Robinsons kicks up the intensity of this story as we finally see the inevitable conflict between Superman and the Kryptonians from Kandor rear its ugly head. This issue was well balanced between action and drama and was certainly a quick read as the pacing on the New Krypton story picks up in speed compared to the previous issues.

Superman #682 was a strongly plotted issue as Robinson progresses multiple plotlines in this issue. This issue probably had the most plot progression that we have gotten up to this point. Robinson lays the foundation for Agent Liberty’s plotline. I actually like Agent Liberty and I am interested to see what role Robinson has for him in this story. If nothing else, Agent Liberty could end up being a good ally for Jimmy Olsen as it appears that both men are embarking on the same mission.

Robinson also builds off of Jim Harper’s appearance in Adventure Comics Special #1 and gives him a place and purpose within the New Krypton story arc. I like that Robinson places Harper with the SP. During the Atlas story arc, Robinson did a fine job emphasizing the futuristic aspect of the SP. And Robinson continues that theme by having Rachel elaborate on what a forward thinking organization the SP is. It is a neat twist to see a Golden Age “relic” like the Guardian assuming a position with such a futuristic group like the SP.

Robinson also fully established Gor as being one of the main villains of the New Krypton story. The military guild of Kandor continues to display a complete and total disregard for the people of Earth. The scene with Gor and his military soldiers brutally killing the SP officers is the moment that most readers have been waiting to see. And this is exactly the type of occurrence that will re-enforce General Lane’s concerns and make him that much more committed to his belief that the Kryptonians present a clear and present danger to America.

Robinson also brings Atlas back into this mix in this issue. I was wondering when we would see Atlas again. I am curious to see how Atlas fits into the post New Krypton landscape. Since Superman is going to be leaving Earth at the end of the New Krypton story, it only makes sense that another super hero will step up to fill the void left behind by Superman. I am interested to see if it is the Guardian or Atlas who becomes the next official super hero of Metropolis.

Robinson crafts plenty of solid dialogue. The character work was well done as each of the main characters are nicely developed. My favorite scene in Superman #682 was the one in the beginning between Martha and Clark. This scene was wonderfully touching and perfectly written. Robinson takes this opportunity to show Clark with his human family since so much of his time during the New Krypton story has been spent with his fellow Kryptonians.

I found Martha’s insistence that Clark not use his powers and simply walk to Jonathon’s grave with her very telling. Martha does not view Clark as a super powered alien. Clark is simply her son. And it is this love and upbringing from Ma and Pa Kent that keeps Clark so grounded and humble despite his incredible powers. Robinson effectively uses this scene to emphasis the differences between Clark and his fellow Kryptonians from Kandor. I also liked the nice touch of having a grieving Bizarro visiting Jonathon’s grave.

Robinson whipped up an excellent final scene to this issue. The reader got a strong sense of Superman’s rage and feelings of betrayal as he made his dramatic entrance into Jor-El’s house. I have to admit that I was totally stunned by Allura’s cold and heartless reaction to the deaths of the SP officers. This was a douse of cold water on the reader who automatically assumed that Allura being of the House of El would automatically be the same kind of person that Kal-El and Kara are.

This scene also showed how Zor-El being a scientist, is definitely not like your typical Kryptonian. Allura is more like your average Kryptonian who is going to have little sympathy or love for Earthlings. This scene nicely sets up the conflict between Superman and Supergirl on one side and the Kryptonians from Kandor on the other side.

Superman #682 ends with a solid hook ending with Mon-El surrounded by Superman’s villains. Being a huge Legion fan, I am glad to see Mon-El being brought into the mix. I am certainly looking forward to how Mon-El deals with his current situation.

Renato Guedes and Wilson Magalhaes deliver some solid artwork. All in all, this is a pleasant looking issue. And the artwork never gets in the way of the story.

The Bad: I have no complaints with this issue.

Overall: Superman #682 was another entertaining installment of the New Krypton story. Robinson certainly cranks up the intensity with this issue as several plotlines move forward and, more importantly, the divide between Superman and his fellow Kryptonians finally surfaces in a dramatic fashion. If you have not given the New Krypton story a chance then I definitely would recommend picking this story up when it comes out in trade paperback format.