By Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino (DC Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-84576-651-1
The concluding volume of the serial epic that ran intermittently in the monthly Superman comic is finally available, and although it is very impressive eye-candy I still question the fairness of two little books when the whole story could quite easily have fitted into one. In volume 1 (ISBN: 1-84576-434-X) the ancient Atlantean sorcerer Arion showed the Man of Steel a vision of the future where the hero’s continued defence of the planet inevitably lead to its destruction, and asked him to retire before that vision became horrendous reality.
In this volume (collecting Superman #662-664, 667 and Superman Annual #13) the Mage decides to force Superman’s decision.
Chockfull of guest-stars and featuring pertinent asides with the tragic Superman-analogue Subjekt 17, plus a pack of very young New Genesis truants and even old foe the Prankster, this is a very pretty adventure. But even although the final confrontation is visually spectacular, story-wise there’s nothing we haven’t seen before.
Shiny and simplistic, this is a pallid disappointment for fans with precious little to recommend it to the casual or new reader.
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