Adventures of Superman #629
Originally presented at Comixtreme.com on June 12, 2004
Quick Rating: Fair
Title: Battery Part Three
The son of Replikon causes problems for the Metropolis S.C.U., and Lt. Leocadio goes after what she wants.
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Renato Guedes
Inks: Eddie Wagner
Colors: Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: Doug Mahnke & Tom Nguyen
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: While I still like Greg Rucka’s characterization of Superman the best out of the three new writers that were ushered in a few months ago, I had a few problems with this issue that it’s hard to wrap my head around. The plot itself is pretty straightforward - Lois Lane gets a new assignment while embedded with the military in the Middle, East, and Clark throws down with the son of Replikon, a surprisingly powerful villain he’s faced off with earlier in this story arc, while trying to fine-tune his relationship with the new head of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit.
Rucka has a great handle on the Lois/Clark relationship, proving that in the e-mail she sends him in the opening scenes and demonstrating in a very subtle fashion how well she knows and loves him and how much he really depends on her. He also has a good handle on writing police and military stories, which is definitely the road this title is going down. I can understand that isn’t what everyone will come to a Superman title hoping to read, but it’s well-done and entertaining nonetheless.
The big problem I have in this issue comes in the characterization of Lt. Leocadio. I became a big fan of the character in the first two issues, a tough gal who can step up and take command of a police department and really own the room. She’s the sort of strong female character that comic books need more of… until about halfway through the issue where Rucka jumps into the cliché of turning her sexuality up to eleven. Not to say that a strong woman can’t also be sexual, but she comes on so strong in this issue that she starts to seem like a stereotype. The storyline he’s starting with her could go in several different directions, and I’m a big enough fan of Rucka’s to wait it out and see where it goes.
Guedes steps up to handle the art chores in this issue, and he does a great job. He gets into some great, detailed scenes, both with the military and with the S.C.U., and he does a good Superman as well. His portrayal of Leocadio is also fantastic, making her strong and sensual at the same time - she is, in fact, the sort of woman that can be very appealing if she doesn’t beat you up first.
I enjoy a lot of things about this title, but I’m very concerned about the things I don’t like as much. There are a lot of places Rucka could go with this storyline, and we’re basically going to have to wait and see where it all winds up going.
Rating: 6/10
Quick Rating: Fair
Title: Battery Part Three
The son of Replikon causes problems for the Metropolis S.C.U., and Lt. Leocadio goes after what she wants.
Writer: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Renato Guedes
Inks: Eddie Wagner
Colors: Tanya & Richard Horie
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: Doug Mahnke & Tom Nguyen
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: While I still like Greg Rucka’s characterization of Superman the best out of the three new writers that were ushered in a few months ago, I had a few problems with this issue that it’s hard to wrap my head around. The plot itself is pretty straightforward - Lois Lane gets a new assignment while embedded with the military in the Middle, East, and Clark throws down with the son of Replikon, a surprisingly powerful villain he’s faced off with earlier in this story arc, while trying to fine-tune his relationship with the new head of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit.
Rucka has a great handle on the Lois/Clark relationship, proving that in the e-mail she sends him in the opening scenes and demonstrating in a very subtle fashion how well she knows and loves him and how much he really depends on her. He also has a good handle on writing police and military stories, which is definitely the road this title is going down. I can understand that isn’t what everyone will come to a Superman title hoping to read, but it’s well-done and entertaining nonetheless.
The big problem I have in this issue comes in the characterization of Lt. Leocadio. I became a big fan of the character in the first two issues, a tough gal who can step up and take command of a police department and really own the room. She’s the sort of strong female character that comic books need more of… until about halfway through the issue where Rucka jumps into the cliché of turning her sexuality up to eleven. Not to say that a strong woman can’t also be sexual, but she comes on so strong in this issue that she starts to seem like a stereotype. The storyline he’s starting with her could go in several different directions, and I’m a big enough fan of Rucka’s to wait it out and see where it goes.
Guedes steps up to handle the art chores in this issue, and he does a great job. He gets into some great, detailed scenes, both with the military and with the S.C.U., and he does a good Superman as well. His portrayal of Leocadio is also fantastic, making her strong and sensual at the same time - she is, in fact, the sort of woman that can be very appealing if she doesn’t beat you up first.
I enjoy a lot of things about this title, but I’m very concerned about the things I don’t like as much. There are a lot of places Rucka could go with this storyline, and we’re basically going to have to wait and see where it all winds up going.
Rating: 6/10