This little diversion is more frustrating than #5’s origin issue.

The main plot deals with a time-traveling Superman from the present day and the Legion of Super-Heroes, struggling to prevent a plot from…well, a bunch of Superman villains you might recognize if you know his rogue’s gallery. But even if you go in knowing a lot, this is not an easy issue to follow. If you go in as a relative neophyte, knowing only the past five issues of ACTION COMICS or even SUPERMAN, you’re pretty much doomed. And it’s just not that interesting and misses the beat it was going for.

The backup is more redeeming, and explores the day Clark leaves Smallville for good. This does more to shed light on the nature of his relationship with the Kents in this continuity, and makes use of Lana Lang and Pete Ross, too. The art can be a bit distracting, but as a backup, it’s pretty good and works for what it needs to. Fortunately, perhaps, it doesn’t have much of anything to do with the lead story, despite the solicitation saying it does.

Hopefully #7 will be back to the story we last saw in #4, because these little side trips have been underwhelming.