Mild Mannered Reviews - Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent Comic Books
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #2
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 4, 2023Cover date: June 2023
"Countdown to Injustice: Chapter 2 - Out of the Volcano"
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Clayton Henry
Cover: Clayton Henry and Marcelo Maiolo
Variant Covers: Zu Orzu, Tiago Da Silva, Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer
Reviewed by: Craig Boehmer
Click to enlarge
SPOILER WARNING!
The story opens with kid Jon and Ultraman in the volcano, then it cuts to Lois and Jay waiting in the Fortress of Solitude. Lois gives Jay some terrible advice about what to do when Jon is away, seriously, just awful advice. Then Red Tornado Lois, Val, and Jon find where Ultraman will strike next and head out. Before they leave Lois embraces Jon and gives him something, and Jay and Jon kiss. The three heroes arrive on a different Earth. Red Tornado Lois is immediately broken by Ultraman, and she and Val are sent to the Phantom Zone. Ultraman notices Jon and is surprised to see "his" Jon there. They fight, with Ultraman gaining the upper hand until Jon turns blue and knocks him out. Turning blue expended too much of Jon's energy and he collapses, giving Ultraman the upper hand again. He starts to choke Jon and threatens Jon's mother.
SPOILER WARNING!
Injustice Superman swoops behind Ultraman and breaks his neck. Jon is incredulous that he killed Ultraman, and Injustice Superman is floored that Jon has Lois' eyes.
Story - 3: The ending originally thrilled me to no end. But as I have had time to digest it, I am a little concerned about it. First this was advertised as an opportunity for Jon to face Ultraman, the whole purpose of this series seemed to be so that he could gain catharsis for his years of torture in the volcano. Now that's gone, and I guess he got some closure, but his last image of Ultraman will be getting choked to death until Injustice Superman killed him. Second, Ultraman is a pretty major character to be taken off the board like this, it's a little underwhelming. It seems like Ultraman was only used to give Injustice Superman a chance to show how strong he is. I always hated when writers did that to Superman.
I really liked how Ultraman sent Red Tornado Lois and Val to the Phantom Zone so quickly, though it does make Val look kind of dumb. I have mixed feelings about Jay and Jon's last interaction. The dialogue feels like Whedon or Bendis silliness. It feels unnatural to the characters, especially given the gravitas of the moment.
Art - 3: It's the same artist as last issue, but it doesn't seem to bother me as much this time. It is still very simplistic and cartoony. The action is pretty good, but some of the faces just look... bad. I was really looking forward to seeing Jon's new costume design, and we get a glimpse of it here. It was a little disappointing, it is basically the same suit design with a different color scheme. I was hoping for more of a radical change to something closer to Clark's blue Superman suit.
Cover Art - 4: I don't like the artist's style on this book. Both Ultraman and Jon have heads that are very rectangular. Aside from that though, the cover is cool. Ultraman looks menacingly dangerous in the background. Jon looks determined and hopeful in the foreground, I also enjoy the text along the side providing a glimpse of what's to come.
Variant Cover - 5: This is a great cover. Val and Jon fighting against Ultraman makes for a great image. All three characters are posed amazingly, and the face work is beautiful.
Variant Cover - 1: I do not like this style... at all.
Variant Cover - 3: This cover of Ultraman and Jon fighting is fine. The texture on the suit looks great, but the poses just seem a little wonky. Jon's hair looks good, which is rare for him.
Variant Cover - 4: This is a fun cover of Clark and Jon flying up together. I really liked the blurred coloring on this image.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2023
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2023
- The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #17
- Action Comics #1049
- Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1 (One Shot)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #9
- Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #6
- Dark Crisis: Young Justice #6
- DC vs. Vampires #11
- Multiversity: Teen Justice #6
- Dark Knights of Steel #8
- DC: Mech #5
- Young Justice: Targets #5
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #18
- Action Comics #1050
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #10
- Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
- DC vs. Vampires #12
- DC: Mech #6
- Young Justice: Targets #6
- Action Comics #1051
- Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 (One Shot)
- Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 (One Shot)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #11
- Dark Knights of Steel #9
- Superman #1
- Action Comics #1052
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1
- Superman: Lost #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #12
- Superman: Space Age #3 [Final Issue]
- Superman #2
- Action Comics #1053
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #2
- Superman: Lost #2
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #13
- Dark Knights of Steel #10
- Superman #3
- Action Comics #1054
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #14
- DC Silent Tales #1
- Superman #4
- Action Comics #1055
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #3
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #2
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #15
- Superman: Lost #3
- Batman: The Brave and The Bold #1
- Power Girl Special #1
- Superman #5
- Action Comics #1056
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #4
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #3
- Steelworks #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #16
- Superman: Lost #4
- Batman: The Brave and The Bold #2
- Dark Knights of Steel #11
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #5
- Steelworks #2
- Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 (One Shot)
- Knight Terrors #1
- Knight Terrors: Superman #1 [of 2]
- Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1 [of 2]
- Knight Terrors #2
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #4
- Superman: Lost #5
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #17
- Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1
- Batman: The Brave and The Bold #3
- Superman vs. Meshi #1
- Superman Annual 2023 #1
- Action Comics Presents Doomsday Special #1
- Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #6
- Steelworks #3
- Knight Terrors #3
- Knight Terrors #4
- Knight Terrors: Superman #2 [of 2]
- Knight Terrors: Action Comics #2 [of 2]
- Knight Terrors: Night's End #1 (One Shot)
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #5
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #18
- Dark Knights of Steel #12
- Superman #6
- Action Comics #1057
- Steelworks #4
- Superman: Lost #6
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #19
- Superman: The Harvests of Youth
- Superman #7/#850
- Action Comics #1058
- Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #6
- Steelworks #5
- The Return of Superman 30th Anniversary Special #1 (One Shot)
- Supergirl Special #1 (One Shot)
- Superman: Lost #7
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #20
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #1 [of 7]
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