Comic Review: Superman #29 (2018-)

Superman #29

DC Comics

Writer: Philip Kennedy Johnson, Sean Lewis

Artist: Phil Hester, Sami Basri

Superman #29 marks the first issue with the new creative team of Philip Kennedy Johnson and superstar artist Phil Hester. Coming off the heels of the Bendis run (which I was a big fan of), my expectations are high for this new era, as is my hesitancy. It’s off to a strong start, but there’s still heavy lifting to be done.

What strikes me first about Superman #29 is its eagerness to pick up where the last team left off. The aging of Jon Kent was a decision met with a fair amount of controversy, and the attempt to move forward with the idea rather than backtrack it is a brave one. The Bendis run touched upon Jon’s aging and how it affects his relationships with those around him, but only briefly. If this issue is any indication of Johnson’s plan, that concept is going to be the emotional through line of this story. Johnson tackles the already complex issue of a father watching his son’s rapid growth before his eyes, but the added layer of time relativity in Jon’s story makes for an even more compelling relationship between Superman and his son.

Despite being titled Superman, this issue focuses much more on Superboy than Superman. I’m generally inclined to complain about this, but Johnson’s emphasis on the irreparably altered relationship between the two is fantastic. Jon is given very human dialogue that emphasizes his trauma without making the issue a total bummer. It presents an issue, and it can get quite sad, but it never feels hopeless. More than anything, it just feels genuine.

With that said, the issue is light on the plot. There are hints of a larger story seeded throughout, but the bulk of the issue boils down to a fight with nameless aliens, and the father-son dynamic. Make no mistake, both things are handled very well and tie together nicely, but from a story perspective, there isn’t much to grab onto yet. This leaves me conflicted because on one hand, I read an entire issue and still don’t know what the story is. On the other hand, the story is so light because the issue has so much room to breathe, and the ever-brilliant Phil Hester is given so much space to flex his muscles.

Hester has been a favorite of mine since his time on Green Arrow, and I cherish every book he’s drawn since. Yet again, he does not disappoint. Hester is given multiple silent pages in which he is allowed to carry the story with this strong sense of storytelling, and his angular style lends the book a unique set of visuals that are very uncommon these days from one of the Big Two. Putting this artist on a book as big as Superman indicates to me a step away from DC’s dedication to the house style they’ve grown so attached to since 2011. Perhaps this is wishful thinking, but this is a Superman book after all, and I’m walking away from it optimistic.

The Bibbo Bibowski back-up by Sean Lewis and Sami Basri was also a delight, and quite possibly the best Bibbo story since the Jurgens-era. Whether the back-ups continue to follow this specific story or instead jump around to other supporting cast members, I look forward to seeing it develop.

Superman #29 is a promising start. Philip Kennedy Johnson, despite his relative greenness,  displays an acute understanding of the form and characters. Phil Hester, who’s demonstrated his value over and over again, proves he has not lost a step over the years. The plot leaves a bit to be desired, but the strong character dynamics and wonderful visuals more than make up for it.