Plot: Replacement Superman Mon-El gives provides the reader with a travelogue of the international DCU while back in Metropolis, media mogul Morgan Edge attempts to drum up hostility towards the city’s newest protector.

Comments: A question--why aren’t the characters that Mon-El encounters in his global adventures receiving more exposure? With the exception of the new Dr. Light I’m unfamiliar with most of the visually interesting characters Mon meets: Congorilla, Beaumont, and Sunny Jim, or La Sangre. I recall a subplot from a couple of years back where there was an attempt to assemble a new JLI (it was some plot or other to target the JLA, or Superman or whoever) but for the most part the heroes of the rest of the globe get little if any page time.

I’m glad Robinson has taken this opportunity to expose readers to some of these characters and in a fairly interesting way: as he counts down the days until his death, Mon-El travels the world in the hopes of getting as much experience into his young life as possible. Naturally, a superhero can’t go anywhere without getting entangled in adventures so between perusing Matisse paintings in Paris he’s helping Barcelona’s resident vampire heroine dispatch gangs of augmented Basque terrorists. These action-packed panels contrast well with the droll narration by Mon-El, who’s happy to be taking it all in.

Back in Metropolis, Mon-El has a PR problem with media mogul Morgan Edge launching a campaign against the new protector, accusing him of being a stealth Kryptonian. This storyline doesn’t gain much traction given its almost pat resolution before the book’s end.

Meanwhile, General Lane keeps his plot against Kryptonians rolling and I find this to be the least interesting of all the subplots. Maybe because Lane’s anger at Kryptonians seems so outsized--it’s hard to grasp the weird, detached villainy. None of the principal cast even knows he’s alive much less that he’s an antagonist – and he just feels disconnected from the greater story.

Finally, John Henry Irons takes on a partner at the Iron Works. Something happens at the end of this issue but I feel like it’s telegraphed much to easily. Also, I’ve forgotten who the character is who John’s showing his most secret work. Part of it has to do with having read so much between issues but I can’t help but believe such a large cast and multiple storylines could use a few more brief captions to keep readers up to date.

Renato Guedes keeps it all looking organic and lively. His colorist, David Curiel, makes the art pop and look vibrant. This team is perfect for this book and Robinson is lucky to have them (and vice versa). Even if the story doesn’t always gel perfectly for me it looks great.

Final Word: In spite of this reader’s lack of familiarity with some of the characters in the subplots, Robison keeps the plot moving at a good clip and Renato Guedes keeps it all looking pretty.

If you liked this review, be sure to check out more of the author’s work at Monster In Your Veins

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