Can a Mass Murderer Actually Become the New Superman?

Writing

Joshua Williamson masterfully handles the tonal shift from cosmic horror to meta-heroism by leaning into Superboy-Prime’s unique perspective as a character who knows he is in a comic book. The dialogue feels authentically sharp when Prime dismisses cash grabs, yet it maintains enough emotional weight to make his desire for a second chance feel grounded. While the pacing masterfully accelerates through the action beats, the structural focus on Lois Lane’s skepticism provides a necessary counterpoint to Prime’s unearned optimism. The story hits all five basics of a narrative by establishing a clear goal for a flawed lead who faces significant social obstacles.

Art

Dan Mora continues to prove why he is the gold standard for modern superhero aesthetics with layouts that flow with an effortless kinetic energy. His character acting is particularly impressive, capturing the subtle shift in Superboy-Prime’s expressions from an arrogant smirk to a vulnerable longing in a single page. The visual storytelling remains crystal clear even during the Watchtower sequences where the background detail could easily become overwhelming.

Alejandro Sánchez employs a vibrant color palette that emphasizes the All In era’s hopeful tone, contrasting the bright blues of the Superman crest with the clinical grays of the Watchtower. The lighting choices throughout the issue enhance the mood, specifically how the shadows cast on Prime hint at the darkness still lurking beneath his hopeful facade. Every panel feels meticulously balanced, ensuring that the reader’s eye moves naturally across the page without any visual friction or composition errors.

Character Development

The exploration of Prime’s motivation is the issue’s strongest asset, as it moves past his traditional role as a villainous parody into something more human. He is consistently portrayed as a child who was robbed of his life, making his desperate grab for the Superman mantle both tragic and relatable. Lois Lane also shows significant growth as she balances her grief with the pragmatic necessity of guiding a volatile godling. Their interactions provide the emotional stakes needed to justify this new direction for the title and the lead character.

Originality & Concept Execution

Using Superboy-Prime as the lead of a Superman title is a bold pivot that successfully deconstructs the tropes of the replacement hero narrative. The meta-narrative execution avoids being too cute for its own sake, instead using the character’s unique history to comment on the nature of comic book cycles. It delivers on the premise of a Reign of Superboys by setting up a complex redemption arc that feels genuinely fresh. The stakes are internal and reputation-based, which is a welcome change from the usual world-ending threats.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Dan Mora’s masterfully clean line work and expressive character designs drive visual engagement.
• The meta-commentary on event fatigue provides a witty and self-aware narrative framework.
• Superboy-Prime’s vulnerability adds a layer of unexpected relatability to a traditionally polarizing character.

Room for Improvement

• The transition from the previous event feels slightly rushed for new readers joining here.
• Lois Lane’s loss of powers feels like a repetitive trope that lacks fresh technical justification.
• The pacing in the middle pages slows down significantly during the Watchtower exposition dump.

Final Verdict

Superman #36 serves as a compelling pivot point for the franchise that successfully balances meta-humor with a genuine attempt at character redemption. The stunning visual execution by Mora and Sánchez elevates a familiar replacement hero premise into something that feels essential for long-term fans. While the narrative occasionally stumbles over its own exposition, the core journey of a villain trying to find a home in a world that hates him is worth the investment.