Weird Science DC Comics: Superman #28 Review

Maybe I left my cynicism in the Phantom Zone, but this issue pops with the thrill of classic superhero storytelling. It’s slick, fast, and just when you think it’s a victory lap for old-school Superman, it slams the brakes and slaps you with psychological warfare and a future full of danger.

Plot Analysis

Our story crackles to life on the Kent farm, with Clark returning home for some emotional R&R with Ma Kent. He’s nursing deeper worries, however: a recent attack by the monstrous Validus, an old Legion of Super-Heroes foe, is rattling him. Clark confides in his mother about his time-traveling teenage teammates, his private sense of isolation even among childhood friends, and his hope that the future still holds meaning.

No time for leftovers, though. Superman is contacted psychically by Saturn Girl, but this isn’t the Saturn Girl Clark remembers. She’s been corrupted or “inspired” by Darkseid, and she’s probing Superman’s mind for weaknesses. As she drags him through visions of carnage, including a haunting nightmare where Ma Kent dies, she tries to convince him his sense of hope is pointless against the coming darkness.

Meanwhile, a hostile Legion of Super-Heroes unleashes chaos on the Justice League’s Watchtower. Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad are players in a new, villainous agenda, working to break Superman’s spirit and gain the upper hand for Darkseid. Mentally, Saturn Girl tries (and fails) to shatter Clark’s hope with psychological torture while his adversaries push their plans forward in the physical world.

Just as things look bleakest, the Time Trapper breaks Saturn Girl’s hold on Superman. Trapper rescues him for a higher purpose, warning that the threat is even bigger than Darkseid’s current plays. In a twisty final act, Trapper spirits Superman away to a “pocket timeline” version of Smallville, where one last backup arrives to help save both the future and Superman himself – Superboy Prime.

Story

Williamson’s script zips along with snappy dialogue, code-switching nimbly between the corn-fed warmth of the Kent farm and mind-melting villain monologues. The story juggles past and future, nostalgia and dread, without turning Clark into a mope. He’s steadfast, even existentially threatened. It’s a tight balancing act: classic superhero plot beats in the first third, psychedelic psychic warfare by the second, and multiversal cosmic trickery by the end. The pace is relentless, almost breathless, but Williamson pulls it off with smart scene timing and a smartly self-aware tone.

Art

Dan Mora is flexing here, literally, with Superman’s muscles popping and Saturn Girl’s glare sharp enough to cut granite. His panel work is dynamic, especially when psychic assaults blur the boundaries of reality. Quiet farm moments glow with warmth under Sanchez’s colors, then the book detonates into moody purples, blues, and reds as things get psychic and weird. Mora can draw a midwestern kitchen and a collapsing cosmic fortress with the same bravado. Character design pops: Darkseid’s minions look freshly menacing, Saturn Girl’s makeover is deliciously unnerving, and Superman’s pain shows in every frustrated glare.

Characters

Superman benefits from a strong balance: a character who’s allowed doubt but never drowns in it. Ma Kent shows up to ground the superheroics with real warmth. Saturn Girl is the most interesting wild card: the script toys with us, framing her as both corrupted and still recognizably herself, which lets Mora and Williamson get weird with the usual heroic banter. The supporting Legion cast is less sharply drawn in this issue, mostly serving storyline functions, but their turn to the dark side is intriguing. Time Trapper is a scene-stealer, breezing in with the night’s craziest play.

Positives

Superman #28 launches with confidence and brings tons of energy. The issue refuses to coast on nostalgia. Williamson’s writing juggles heartfelt family moments, cosmic stakes, and genuinely unsettling psychic battles, while Mora’s artwork amplifies every turn with bold lines and sharp color work. The villainous Legion twist is a superb hook for longtime fans and an effective swerve for new readers. Standout moments, like Clark facing the horror of losing his mother and still standing up, grab your heart and don’t let go.

Negatives