It’s such a shame this run by JMS is going the way it is. It keeps JMS plight as a late writer to continue and the interlude issue is really going to hamper the pacing of this. However, I am going to try and enjoy what I am reading with this series then focus on the production angle of this series.

This is the strongest issue of the run so far by JMS. It gives Superman a better idea of just what he’s doing to his image by walking the country, it gives more of an insight to other heroes reacting to his plight, and also (maybe?) giving us the villain for the run. I don’t know why, but I like it that JMS is giving Superman more of a mean streak to him. It felt off at first, but the opening pages feel right for some reason. Supermann should have a bit more of an angry side to him and not be the ‘peace and love’ guy we’ve seen through out the years. I am happy we are getting a bit more of an idea who the antagonist is for this arc. At least now we know it won’t just be Superman walking the entire time and he has something to look out for. There’s some hiccups along the way, mainly with the Batman encounter. It’s not bad but JMS has written him much better in other series. Then again he is trying to write Grayson here and not Bruce, but it awfully feels more of the latter then the other.

Speaking of which, just how bad was Eddy Barrow’s artwork you say? Well so bad that it clearly is Bruce Wayne under the cowl yet the dialogue clearly states its Dick. Barrow’s art from page one really, really looks bad. From characters looking really freakish, to people looking stiff in general; this is just not good comic book art. Superman really looks different in almost every panel and the fighting he does here is pretty standard. The page of showing a montage of fighting was pretty sketchy and feels rushed. Plus don’t get me started on what Batman is wearing. Is there a pattern on Dick’s outfit or is this Barrow’s attempt at trying to add ‘wrinkles’ in a costume?

So the story is getting better as the issues go along, but then again the art is getting worse as well. You know a lot of people are not going to like this issue and I can see why. JMS’s take on Sups is vastly different from others and the pacing is a bit slow I admit. However, there is a lot to like with the writing in this and it keeps me going because I want to know where JMS will take us next. Then again, Barrow’s extremely bad pencils hamper any other enjoyment I could have with this series.