The action takes a break and Jim Lee gets an art assist in the latest issue of the increasingly grand “Superman Unchained”.
Written by Scott Snyder
Illustrated by Jim Lee and Dustin NguyenSuperman and Wraith form an alliance to rescue a hostage and strike at the heart of Ascension, but the mission goes awry when it becomes clear the Man of Tomorrow and the soldier from beyond the stars have very different methodologies—and objectives! Plus, secrets are revealed about Wraith’s people!
Fresh off the attack by the Ascension terrorist group on the city of Tokyo, Superman and Wraith have reached a level of mutual trust. Superman leads the new alien to the Fortress of Solitude, intent on showing Wraith his more humane, less military-deemed-threat-to-the-world side. Wraith notes the collection of weapons and technology that Superman has collected from his enemies over the course of his career, and questions why he hans’t shared it with the US government. When Superman uses his usual “too powerful for anyone” argument, Wraith counters with the fact that Superman operates in the middle ground that is unsustainable. He paints a picture that details a future where the people who Clark has hung his humanity on have grown old while he stays the same, and his mere presence on Earth pushes science and technology to an accelerated pace that negates Clark’s attempts to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of wrongdoers. Suffice to stay, Clark is pretty bummed out. Meanwhile, Lois continues her investigation into Ascension and is taken to see their leaders, and the organization’s deadly plans come into focus.
It must be said that Scott Snyder is not afraid to swing for the fences, as “Unchained” reached the mid-point of its first ( and possibly only) story arc. Not content to be another Clark and super-guy punch each other hard story, this series is turning into something akin to the classic “All Star Superman”. Snyder has woven a large tapestry that highlights the most traditional aspects of Superman as a character, while highlighting the difficulty such a figure would have meshing with a modern context. While elsewhere in the New 52 this difficulty has been addressed by making drastic changes to Superman’s personality and character, Snyder has avoided throwing a cloud of grim and gritty over proceedings. Instead, his Superman stands in defiance of this mold.
Of course, the nature of epic storytelling means that at moments it’s a little difficult to see the big picture before it comes into focus. Some readers have argued that “Unchained” lacks focus, and heaps plot thread on top of plot thread with no sign of resolution, and this issue won’t really dissuade the argument. The issue features an extended flashback sequence which has nothing to do with Ascension or Wraith, but instead is designed to speak to Clark’s character growth and personality. The larger theme, as espoused by Wraith, is that Clark does not fit into this world and his presence will cause unintended consequences, and the flashback highlights this perfectly.
It’s virtually impossible to say anything new about Jim Lee’s art work. The guy is a legend, has spawned a generation of imitators, and, some would argue, is chiefly responsible for the oft-critiqued pan-New 52 visual style. “Superman Unchained” has proven that despite the politics and increased negative attention brought on by his co-Publisher role, the man can still draw a mean Superman. This issue is much less action heavy than previous installments but the art is not boring or stale. The holographic journey through the cosmos to Wraith’s home world, and Lois’ encounter with strangely robotic Ascension leaders are particular standouts. The entire issue is filled with detail and finesse that speaks to Jim Lee’s high stature as an artist.
The aforementioned flashback sequence features art from Dustin Nguyen, known for stints on various Wildstorm titles, “Detective Comics”, and the loveably surreal “Lil’ Gotham”. In contrast with Lee’s realistic style, Nguyen’s art is like a nightmarish Norman Rockwell painting. It’s start out as a nice sepia toned trip down childhood memory lane, but as the real world encroaches on young Clark, the art quickly becomes more sinister. As soon as Clark uses his superpowers, everything becomes more dangerous and threatening, echoing Wraith’s future warning of unintended consequences. Nguyen’s art makes the flashback one of the most memorable sequences in the entire run of “Unchained”, and adds another interesting layer to the story.
A character with the nearly unlimited power set of Superman calls for big storytelling, and Scott Snyder is using “Superman Unchained” as the opportunity to tell a big story not just about good guys vs bad guys, but about the very character of the Man of Steel. Jim Lee maintains his status as a legendary artist with page after page of quality art, but Dustin Nguyen’s surreal flashbacks are beautiful to look at and basically steal the issue. With a story this grand, it’s easy to lose sight of the end destination, and the issue does feel very opened, but one can argue that Snyder has earned the chance to stick the landing by crafting a story that speaks to the most traditions aspects of Superman’s character and the world he lives in.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy.This is the best Superman comic in the New 52, and Nguyen’s art is a very welcome addition to the series.
