Previously: Doomsday, an alien teenager seeking nothing but destruction after being sent to Earth for time-out, killed a bird, a deer, and a truck. Because the Justice League clearly had nothing else going on in the world at the time, they decide to check it out. Doomsday, fan-girling, accidentally injures all of them and nearly kills Blue Beetle. Superman arrives and the two start violently slapping each other, until Doomsday gets inspired by the ol' television to become a pro-wrestler in Metropolis.
Just short of a year ago, I reviewed Superman: Man of Steel #18, knowing full-well that I would segment the review of this storyline over a little while. To be quiet honest, it's been the most fun comic I've gotten to review. Has it been the best? No (that'd be Blackest Night). While Age of Ultron may have been the most in-depth miniseries review I did, this series of reviews has got me excited for each and every chapter to take a look at. As we've been winding down, the reviews have gotten shorter as the content has been slowly substituting itself for more fighting, which was expected.
I was initially thinking of combining this issue with the next, and final, one but decided against it simply because I think the next one should stand on its own, and let this serve its purpose as a set-up issue. In many respects, this is the point of no return for Superman and Doomsday. It's also where we get to see Metropolis rise up in its own defense against Doomsday before the big hero and big villain have their ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny. This is, essentially, the "battle for Metropolis" issue where we see several Superman supporting characters hoist weapons and try to stop Doomsday alongside the Man of Steel.
Yet while this issue does have a lot of action in it, there are some moments of heart and continuing story that we've seen in previous issues. Characters like Jonathan and Martha Kent finally arrive, we get to see Lex Jr. and Matrix-Supergirl, and Lois Lane provides a voiceover as a news anchor, live at the scene. While before it felt like "Superman and the Justice League," this time the books feel like it's Superman in his own world fighting his own villain. Doomsday is a personal villain for Superman despite, prior to this comic anyway, not even existing. This is the one villain that Superman's punches just can't do anything against. This is the one villain who can make Superman bleed, and this is the villain that makes Superman legitimately wonder, "Am I going to die?"
Ah, well, him and Darkseid, but Doomsday just feels a little more personal for me, as he goes straight for Superman's heart and Metropolis. Anyway, enough lollygagging, let's dive right into this story's penultimate chapter!
The cover is kind of boring. Superman is bleeding his odd black blood while Doomsday screams in his face. It's not as threatening as the others and it almost looks as if Superman is some old man squinting really hard to see if Doomsday is really there. Or, perhaps, that they're having some sort of psychic standoff the way the explosion of yellow light is happening in the background.
We open with Doomsday doing his thing and hanging out around the construction site with a couple of the dudes when Superman comes flying in and has enough of that while Lois Lane reports.
Superman, wisely, takes to the skies and flies with him into space. Clever girl. Lois and Jimmy watch on as the events transpire. Though, I feel like I have to touch on this: I've always thought it weird when an artist draws Superman with such an aged face. I know he is pretty old, but he looks very old in some images of him from the 80s/90s. It's nothing against the book, it's just the look that sort of puts me off. Also, Doomsday's hair. How...when...why...?
See, though, the problem Superman has here is that he's kind of fighting Doomsday, who has a tendency to be very heavy and probably kick you in the chest...
So Doomsday promptly kicks him in the chest. Superman clearly forgot that Doomsday is a defiant teenager. He will always rebel against authority.
Guardian and Dubbilex, a creature like him, ponder if Doomsday was a creation of CADMUS, where they were created, but both drop it and just like that are out of the story. I guess they really just felt like he wasn't important anymore. He's never mentioned again, but to be fair there is much mentioning of other characters simply because there isn't much talking or thinking outside of, "Ah man this guy is strong" or "Superman has to win!" or "We'll help you Superman!" or, of course, "AOAAUGOBGUBG" when Doomsday punches someone. It's a natural reaction type thing.
We get a quick glimpse of Ma and Pa Kent that, while brief, is actually quite jarring. A parent will always be fearful of when their child faces a threat, sure. Ma and Pa Kent want nothing but for Clark to be safe, as well as the people. But they, above anyone else in the world, know Clark's limits and what he can break through. For Ma and Pa Kent to realize, along with Superman, that this is something brand new and that he might not live through, is quite the scary thought. They're hopeful, sure, but boy are they afraid.
Doomsday loses Superman and we're suddenly thrust into the realm of the Underworlders again. Yeah! Remember them, from way back last year in Superman: The Man of Steel #18? Yeah, turns out Superman just sort of left them around and here they are again, seeing Doomsday as a savior of sorts. Well, I mean, come on guys he's just a teenager, he's just trying to find himself. He can't be a savior until he's at least 18.
Superman, though, manages to find him and now Doomsday's dreams are coming true. Superman puts him in a hold and Doomsday knows what time it is.
Yeah, not really. Instead, a gas main explodes and Superman has to shield several people from the blast while Doomsday slips away to continue his wrestling dreams in Metropolis. Superman is not pleased, as teenagers should not be involved in such vile acts as professional wrestling. That'd be preposterous!
The explosion nearly levels a chunk of Metropolis, and at a news conference, Supergirl tells Lex that he can just hang out there while she goes to fight Doomsday. Alright, now it's really fight time! Supergirl and Superman versus Doomsday! Oh boy! Sure, Supergirl isn't really a Kryptonian but she's still got that super strength we all know and love and Superman is just raring up for the fight.
Let's g--!
Well. Uh...Yeah, that happened.
So anyway, a few more gas mains explode as Doomsday continues to just rampage through Metropolis, looking for where the pro-wrestling center is located. Others take up arms against him but it's in a pretty vain effort, as he just plows through them. Superman re-engages Doomsday for the final time in the issue.
And so, with bolts of manufactured lightning raining down on them, a city on the brink of destruction, its people hanging onto hope by a mere thread, Superman and Doomsday square off in Metropolis, with Superman proclaiming that it ends here, in Metropolis, the City of Tomorrow.
Oh boy. That wraps up this issue in the battle against Doomsday, and it did a pretty good job of leveling the playing field to leave just Superman and Doomsday. I mean, did you see what it did to Supergirl? Yikes. Yet, this does also set up a very exciting finale between the two foes. The book handles its ominous moments very well, and sets up a suspenseful tone regarding the fate of Superman by the end of the battle.
It's just another solid chapter in this story. The action is intense, growing as it has been throughout the series. It's clear that Superman is growing more and more desperate to stop Doomsday, and Doomsday is just not letting up in the slightest bit. It just is not clear who will come out on top by the end of the next issue.
But, next week we won't be looking at that issue (no, you'll have to wait until the end of March for that, sorry). Next week, we switch gears, moving from intense, visceral, extreme action...to a ninja with all the gadgets in the world, looking to eliminate all of his targets in Ninjak #6.
See you then.
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