Bug aliens from space hell, religious kooks, and a planet monster are all ingredients for a good SUPERMAN soap opera.
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artists: Peter Vale, Jesus Merino, Renato Guedes, Jorge Correa Jr., Wellington Diaz, and Jose Wilson Magalhaes
Cover: Alex Ross
Summary: The new Insect Queen makes her debut—and that spells trouble for The Man of Steel in this new volume collecting SUPERMAN #671-675! And what is the Insect Queen’s connection to Lana Lang?
Review: Remember how eager I was to read more Superman comics after CAMELOT FALLS? Yeah … SUPERMAN: SHADOWS LINGER perfectly represents many of the reasons why I just can’t enjoy reading about the godly character and his super pals (and foes). Prepare to enter a universe that bears the slogan, “He’s Superman—of course he’s going to win.” And I’m not kidding. Those are Lana Lang’s exact words.
First of all, I’m not even sure why the name on the front of the trade says “Shadows Linger” when the bulk of it actually consists of the “Insect Queen” storyline that precedes it. However, I would have been much happier if “Insect Queen” only comprised two parts, as well. The comic begins with new LexCorp CEO Lana Lang—replacement of Lex Luthor, currently a wanted fugitive—being kidnapped by some disgusting giant space bug. Unfortunately, the story just plummets downhill from there, from Superman hitting a baseball to the moon for charity (and explaining the action with bullshit logic) to a Lana look-alike insect queen who has the hots for Clark and a moon-hive (”There’s no record of them on any lunar map”—well, no friggin’ duh).
Superman was never the brightest stick on kryptonite on the planet, and the artists only prove that point with the ridiculous expressions they paint on his face. Writer Kurt Busiek doesn’t do much better with the narration he provides for Superman and Lana—the verb tense melts somewhere between active or passive to retrospect, and overall it feels redundant. In fact, the narration seems to detract from the story’s action, which doesn’t help to make the comic any less campy or unbelievable. Sadly, “Insect Queen” only possesses one genuine moment; it comes on the last few pages. Because thirty pages ago would have been, you know, way too soon.
The second installment in the book, “Shadows Linger,” proves only a slight improvement—despite that the art steps down a notch or two. The plot weaves a little more tightly and actually has something to do with recent, significant events in Supes’s life (mainly CAMELOT FALLS). This read won’t bore you to tears like the last one, even if the gigantic resolution resembles a deus ex machina in disguise (reminding me why, again, I’m not a big Superman fan).
SUPERMAN: SHADOWS LINGER shares the same problem as MIDNIGHTER: ASSASSIN8 in that the comics that are even remotely worth reading—incidentally the ones that offer some sort of progress for the characters and their world—take up a pathetically small portion of the book. SHADOWS LINGER just doesn’t add up to a strong comic, and this is one of the rare instances I’m giving a score that’s in between.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
March 18th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Why is Superman’s name in all caps? Is he like the PLAYSTATION 3?
March 18th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
They both shoot lasers: one red, one blu. Zing!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
It sounds like Superman is played out?
March 19th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Yeah I wasn’t thrilled with the Lana/Queen Bee storyline either. I think maybe you’d enjoy the current New Krypton stuff more Steph.
March 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am
It’s because they’re shouting.