The title of this issue's story puts one in mind of Alan Moore and Curt Swan's classic "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" from the 1980s. Seagle and McDaniel's efforts here are a far cry from that milestone tale, though. On the surface, this book would seem to be a celebration of the ultimate super-hero icon, but instead, this is simply a resolution to the story arc that Seagle began when he took over the writing duties on this title. It's an almost completely impenetrable story that builds on plotlines that began four years ago. The guest artwork is pleasant, but McDaniel's exaggerated vision of the future looks distorted at best and silly at its worst.
Guided by a cybernetically enhanced version of himself, Superman travels into the future and witnesses a chain of events that leads to the destruction of everything and everyone he holds dear and the rebirth of one of his most formidable villains. He also learns the secret of Cir-El, the Supergirl who claims to be his daughter. The Man of Steel joins forces with his future Man of Metal self -- along with some allies, familiar and unlikely -- to oppose the returning evil.
I understand why DC has signed Scott McDaniel to an exclusive contract (on a couple of occasions, if memory serves). His style is a dynamic and unique one, and he did a great job when it came to bringing the dark weirdness of the worlds of Gotham City and Bludhaven to life. But Metropolis and future landscapes -- which serve as the settings for this story -- are a different matter. McDaniel's sketchy, inky and exaggerated style just don't fit the Man of Steel and the science-fiction elements that are an inherent part of his adventures. I don't care for his future Superman design here at all, though perhaps that's because we never get a clear look at it in the first place.
One strong visual in this book is the adaptation of the Batman Beyond title character design. Perhaps the tweaked look can be attributed to the writer or the regular penciller, but it shines thanks to Phil Jimenez's rendering. Gene Ha also contributes a stunning sequence that's all-too brief. There are a few pinups included in the tail end of this issue, and
the first one is a thoruoghly annoying shot of three female characters draped over one another as though they're about to erupt in a porno-movie daisy chain any second.
Seagle opens with a fitting three-page sequence that examines how the Superman legend has been altered over the years. While the changes are examined, the sequence also spotlights how the iconic and core qualities of the character have remained the same over the course of more than six decades. Furthermore, the nature of the storytelling on each page lends itself to the shifting artistic team approach.
Unfortunately, that examination of character fades and the resolution of the Futuresmiths storyline takes over the book. By the end of the story, there aren't any truly interesting characters participating in the drama. Superman's parental feelings toward Cir-El don't ring true at all, and it's hard to find tragedy in this unusual Supergirl's fate given that I felt relief that she was eliminated from the world of Superman.
Also eliminated is the rather unique take on Metropolis that's been prominent in the Super-titles over the past few years. While I do hate it when cosmic reset buttons are pushed, making any sense of change impossible in this long-running characters, I have to admit that a return to a more realistic urban backdrop is welcome.
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