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Review: Superman Annual #1

By Andy Frisk
December 4, 2016 - 21:18

Some of the mystery comprising the odd occurrences around Superman and his family since they arrived on their new Earth are resolved, but others remain, and new ones arise.

Referencing a mysterious event from Superman #1, The Swamp Thing does battle with Superman in order to help him attune to his new world and universe. It appears that his presence in this universe, one not of his origin, is causing "a disturbance in the green." This is why, back in Superman #1, when Clark Kent/Superman placed his hand in the grass there was a blue glow. With the help of this universe's Swamp Thing, Superman learns that there's more to being attuned to one's surroundings than just being active in it though...

"Tangled Up in Green", is the right story from Tomasi and Gleason to appear in the first annual for the new DC Comics Rebirth Superman series, as it addresses, for the first time, some of the mysteries surrounding the odd occurrences and warnings of foreboding that have been hovering around the Post-Crisis Superman and his family since they arrived in the Post-Flashpoint Universe. The story is a little extra normal (if not supernatural in some aspects), even for a Superman story, and Jorge Jimenez's art strikes an excellent balance between extra-normality of the Swamp Thing's world (so to speak) and the everyday real world look of the Kent farm. The story comes down to a rather simplistic, yet hopeful, resolution that will ultimately, and obviously, need to be addressed further. Like most of the DC Rebirth Superman stories from Tomasi and Gleason though, it has a feel good resolution that's tinged with just enough foreboding to hint at future tensions and challenges. Or, in other words, it's a great story that continues the smart new tradition of Superman stories that Tomasi and Gleason are establishing.

How many ways can I say it? I'm loving this new Superman series, and you will too. It's also great to see some of the mysteries around Superman's presence in the Post-Flashpoint Universe begin to be addressed. Superman Annual #1 strongly sets the stage for the next year of Superman stories from Tomasi and Gleason. 

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12