The Man of Steel #3 Review and **SPOILERS**

Extinction Level Event

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis 

Artists: Ryan Sook & Jason Fabok, Wade Von Grawbadger 

Colors: Alex Sinclair 

Letters: Josh Reed 

Cover: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Sinclair 

Associate Editor: Jessica Chen 

Editor: Michael Cotton 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: June 13, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

In issue one we met the antagonist, in issue two we learned what he did to make him so antagonistic, so logically the third issue should be…the antagonist making waffles? I’m sorry, I didn’t pay attention during Creative Writing class. Please do pay attention to my review of The Man of Steel #3, right here!

Explain It!

I find that, when traveling to a new location, it’s best to get the stuff done first that you really want to do, and save the ancillary, more typical stuff for later in the trip. For one thing, you don’t want to dally around and miss a terrific eatery or museum that you’ve had your eye on after careful Internet research. For another thing, if you really enjoy it, then you may want to go back—particularly in the case of a terrific eatery! So when Rogol Zaar lands on Earth, he doesn’t take in the Great Wall of China because some guidebook told him to. No, he lands right on top of the Fortress of Solitude and proceeds to tear it apart—even smashing the Bottle City of Kandor, which I didn’t even know was still part of continuity. He breaks Kelex apart, which actually bothered me more.

You don’t go smashing Kandor apart without raising Superman’s ire, and he hears the subsonic “in emergency, break glass” signal coming from the Fortress while examining the remains of the last Metropolis apartment fire with that firefighter Madison and Batman. There’s some cute back-and-forth between Batman and Superman, and a little commentary by Batman after Superman flees the scene, but really it felt like a walk-on guest star, meant to stir the crowd and little more. Of more import, I thought, was the fact that Supergirl shows up at the Fortress when Superman arrives. These characters have had surprisingly little crossover since the New 52 (when they couldn’t stop crossing over, for cripes sakes) so it’s something to know that she will potentially be hanging out with her Kryptonian cousin going forward.

So after crying over spilled Kandor, and a quick flashback to whatever happened to Lois and Jon that reveals a little more of what that bright light at the end of the first issue was about, Clark and Kara set to figuring out who could want to break apart Superman’s pad so badly. It’s a good scene that lingers just long enough to remain welcome. Then Superman heads back to Metropolis, has some inner dialogue and does some peeping with his X-ray vision, when he’s hit with a blast! Rogol Zaar is here! And awesomely, Supergirl shows up at the same time!

I’ve read all of the misgivings people have about this series, and while I don’t know if I could prove it empirically—I’m really enjoying it! Batman’s brief appearance was a little silly, but fun. Some of Superman’s inner monologue ran a little long in the captions. But overall, I really enjoy this take on the character, and I loved seeing Supergirl working with him because she needs some help, y’all. I will say that this story is moving at a snail’s pace, likely to fill out a trade—pretty much the only real developments in this issue are the destruction of Kandor and Rogol Zaar revealing himself to Supers –man and –girl—but along the way, I like what I’m reading. The variety in art styles presented throughout the issue are more noticeable in this one than in the last, but it doesn’t hurt the storytelling—indeed, if these guys are all plotting themselves, I’m impressed that the issue is so cohesive. We can evaluate this series’ worth when all is done and said, but at the halfway point, I think it’s a good read.

Bits and Pieces:

Only two obvious plot developments to speak of, but the inclusion of some other DC characters, as well as the tone being set for Superman, makes for a good read. Whether or not it is worth the money can be assessed when the final issue is out.

8/10