Between DC universe cameos, rouge battles, and a cliff hanger Jeff Lemire’s premier issue of Superboy packs in a lot to grab the attention of the reader. Someone new to the Connor Kent mythology need not to be worried the story does well to stand on it’s own legs and makes us excited to read more Superboy.

The story opens on Superboy, Conner Kent, reflecting on the fact that he doesn’t really need to further explore his conflicting lineage of being half superman and half Lex Luthor to be a happy person. He and Krypto just sit atop a water tower and take in Smallville, only to be interrupted by the phantom stranger who delivers a cryptic message warning Connor of the danger that awaits him if he stays in Smallville. Lemire quickly reintroduces us to Conner’s Smallville peers, Lori Luthor and Simon Valentine, and sets the seeds for the roles they will play in his life. Finally the final battle with the villain who had been laying low all issue does a fine job of showcasing Connor’s telekinesis ability that often gets overshadowed by his super strength.
Pier Gallo’s art didn’t hold my attention at first until a page halfway through the book with an interesting layout. The page is just Connor and Ma Kent having a conversation the panels rotate clockwise around the page with the center panel being the Kent farm from a distance. What this picture did for me was really illustrate the silence of the country side. No wonder Superman comes here to clear his head to escape the hustle and bustle that is Metropolis. Gallo’s art was able to turn Smallville into a charter in its own right.
The final page is a teaser of things to come for Superboy, all of them being very “superhero” activities. These are the things we want for Connor of course, because he isn’t Superman or Lex Luthor. He doesn’t need to go through life to grow up to become who he is. Jeff Lemire knows Connor was born a superhero.