Guest artist Scott Kolins joins Greg Pak as he kicks off ‘Enemy of the State,’ the latest chapter in the surprisingly enjoyable ‘Doomed’ saga.
Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Scott Kolins“SUPERMAN: DOOMED” continues with “ENEMY OF THE STATE” as Superman struggles against the Doomsday virus – but is he losing the fight? How much longer can he stay in control? And how far will he be pushed when he’s faced with a world against him and a shocking betrayal at the end of this issue?
If you had asked me a few months ago what to look out for in 2014 regarding the Man of Steel, I would’ve instantly mentioned Geoff John and John Romita Jr.’s upcoming “Superman” run, or perhaps even the conclusion of Scott Snyder and Jim Lee’s “Superman Unchained.” What I wouldn’t have even given a second thought, however, was the “Superman: Doomed” crossover. A true lesson in never judging a book by its cover (although the cover to this particular issue is astounding), ‘Doomed’ is shaping up to be not only one of the defining Superman stories of 2014, but one of the most definite Superman tales of the New 52.
Entering into its second act, ‘Doomed’ is beginning to feel as much an event as the Batman stories of recent memory. Greg Pak, Charles Soule, and, to a smaller extent, Scott Lobdell have crafted a story that touches on most every aspect of the Superman mythos. Not to disappoint, Greg Pak continues this trend in the latest issue of “Action Comics.”
While the issue does a great job at servicing the crossover at hand, it doesn’t disservice the series’ own unique identity. Much like last month’s “Batman/Superman” #11, “Action Comics” #32 builds heavily on the series’ New 52 history, particularly Grant Morrison’s work on the title.
Pak reprises many of the characters from the first arc of “Action Comics,” to great result. Reviving the tangled web of Corben, Luthor, Steel, Sam and Lois Lane that was established way back in the series’ first arc, Pak manages to raise the already high level of tension even more. His use of John Corben is especially noteworthy. Corben’s motivation for submitting to Senator Lane, for Lois’ sake, engenders sympathy for the somewhat pathetic man, and his estimation of Superman is has the slightest ring of truth, regardless of his current predicament. Luthor continues to be a wildcard, working on the side of the angels in this post “Forever Evil” world, resulting in some rather interesting and unusual character dynamics. His interactions with Steel, another character whose time in the spotlight has increased thanks to “Doomed,” are particularly fun.
The situation is made all the more complicated by the sinister machinations of a possessed Lois. This thread continues to stick out as the sore thumb of “Doomed,” feeling most tangential and shoehorned into the proceedings. Until the connection between Lois and Clark’s respective ailments is established, I imagine this will continue to be the case.
While it’s disappointing that Kuder was unable to work on the issue, Scott Kolins is an astonishingly fitting fill-in for the artist’s distinct visual style. While his pencils are scratchier and less refined than Kuder’s, Kolin’s work delivers much of the same visual “pop.” Interestingly, Kolins’ pencils are much smoother than usual when depicting the book’s leading ladies, Lois and Wonder Woman. The artist makes great use of perspective, particularly for flying characters, resulting in several kinetically charged pages. The artist’s bookending pages are great examples. The issue opens with a splash page of a frightened, half-transformed Superman, flying forward to the right of the page. The closing page is a continuation of that, with Superman fully entrenched in the “Doomsday” persona and flying further off the page, obscuring the reader’s view. Whether or not the design choice was intentional, it’s a nice touch visually and thematically.
Kolins is joined by regular colorist Will Quintana, who lends another layer of visual continuity to the book. Quintana’s diverse and bright palette is a terrific contrast to the darker tone you might expect from a Doomsday story. The vibrant greens and purples of Metal-0 and Atomic Skull saturate the page, and the book’s explosive climax is stunningly rendered.
Continued belowIf there’s one real fault that can be laid on the issue, it’s that it technically doesn’t progress the story all that much. The issue’s conclusion follows a similar formula to the last chapter in “Superman” #31, with a rogue Superman rampaging freely. Regardless of similarities, the journey from start to finish remains an enjoyable one, and the point at which the story leaves off presents interesting implications, not only for Superman and his allies, but for the world at large.
Multiversity editor Brian Salvatore recently called “Action Comics” the best book currently published by DC, and the latest issue of the series speaks to that praise. Greg Pak exhibits a deft understanding of Superman’s core character aspects, presenting a hero that is selfless and noble. The issue makes great use of the extended cast, giving a sense that the New 52 incarnation of Superman has finally begun to settle in. Regardless of whether you’re following the “Doomed” crossover, “Action Comics” #32 is an issue worth checking out.
Final Verdict: 8.4 – Buy
