DC's recent announcement of a rejuvenation of the core Superman titles is welcome news, as it's been some time since I was excited about the books. Still, there's no denying that there have been glimmers of promise in the Super-series, notably in Action Comics. Joe Kelly seems to bring the potential of the past year or two together in a new story arc, and I'm more than a little pleased with the result. The problem is that Kelly is weaving together so many loose threads that new readers -- and even those of us who have been checking out the books on a sporadic but semi-regular basis -- might find themselves lost.
Traci Thirteen has moved to Metropolis, drawn by an indescribable force that has led her to believe that something important is about to happen. Meanwhile, the sorceress dubbed Girl 13 isn't the only new resident in the City of Tomorrow. Lana Lang-Ross, wife to Vice-President Pete Ross, has planted her flag as well, so to speak. Family friend Lois Lane, as a reporter, is curious, of course, but her questions are met with anger and a surprising revelation. Elsewhere, an old enemy turns up to complicate Superman's life, and Steel's niece, Natasha, makes a shocking discovery.
Two artists provide the linework here, and while Ferry's and Kerschl's styles are quite distinct, the brief shift to the latter's style in the latter half of the book wasn't the least bit jarring. To be honest, I didn't even realize there were two art teams working on this issue until I checked the credits in order to write this review. Ferry's sleek style brings life and an alluring quality to Girl 13 while maintaining an eerie tone, and Kerschl captures Superman's imposing stature and power quite well too.
Where this issue falls short of expectations is the script's immersion in recent events from the various Superman titles. Kelly doesn't fill the reader in on Girl 13's story, on Steel's whereabouts and more. The writer created a significant accessbility challenge here, and he doesn't entirely surmount it.
This is something of a "girl power" story, as Kelly brings many of the female influences -- strong or passing -- from recent events in the title character's adventures together for this arc. The decision makes for a rich supply of storytelling material. The tension between Lois and Lana, Lana's longing for Clark, one woman's inheritance of a heroic legacy and Girl 13's raw, hip take on magic... any of these elements would make for strong stories on their own. Together, they form a complex story that's really piqued my curiosity.
