ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: BOOK OF EL #1 Review

• Written by: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

• Art by: Scott Godlewski

• Colors by: Alex Guimaraes

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Scott Godlewski, Alex Guimaraes (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: September 3, 2025

Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1, by DC Comics on 9/3/25, begins a sequel(ish) to Phillip Kennedy Johnson's House of El story when Kryl-Ux leads an invasion of Earth.

First Impressions 

This comic feels like a lot of noise with very little signal. The narrative jumps around in a way that left me more confused than intrigued. I found myself flipping back pages to try and figure out what was happening.

Plot Analysis 

The story begins with a flashback to the destruction of New Phaelosia by Mongul of Warworld. A grieving father, Kry-Ux, searches for the "Spark of Olgruan" a powerful weapon. Then, the story abruptly cuts to the present, with Clark Kent and his family at the Kent farm. They are interrupted by an attack from harpoons made of "Wailing Iron" from Warworld.

Superman quickly changes into his suit and engages the attackers, only to find they are not his main concern. The real threat is Kry-Ux, a grizzled Kryptonian who is now a god-like being due to the Spark of Olgruan. Superman fights to save Jon Ken, whom Kryl_Ux claims he needs for his future plans. The story jumps to the far future, where the legend of Superman is being recorded.

The comic then jumps to the future again, where a character is trying to find "the Lightborn." Then, the story abruptly cuts back to the fight between Superman and Kry-Ux, which is happening in Smallville. The fight is brief, and Kry-Ux teleports away. The issue ends with a text page, presented as a diary entry from Kara Zor-El, who talks about the chaotic state of the world after the "Warworld wars."

The next text page, a chronicle entry from the "House of El," describes the new world order. It names some characters like Rowan and Ronan Kent, and Brandon Kent. The final page teases "The Second Coming of Superman." The plot is a series of disconnected events, leaving the reader with more questions than answers.

Writing

The script is a jumbled mess of flashbacks, flash-forwards, and present-day chaos. The transitions between scenes are nonexistent, making the plot convoluted and hard to follow. Dialogue is functional at best, with a lot of exposition delivered in a heavy-handed, narrative tone that feels like a lecture. The comic tries to tell a big, epic story but fails to ground it with a clear, linear narrative.

Art

Scott Godlewski's art is competent, but it does little to alleviate the narrative confusion. The lines are clean, and the action is dynamic enough, but the art itself doesn't enhance the storytelling. The color palette by Alex Guimarães is vibrant and engaging. The art works on its own, but it doesn't effectively carry the plot's emotional or narrative weight.

Characters

The characters are not fleshed out at all. We are introduced to Kry-Ux, but his motivations and history are so poorly explained he’s a generic villain. Superman is barely a character in his own book, acting as a pawn in a larger, incomprehensible story. The family dynamics at the beginning feel forced and unnatural.

Positives 

The art is the standout element of this comic. The vibrant colors and clean lines make the pages pop, especially during the action sequences. Scott Godlewski and Alex Guimaraes do their best to make a confusing plot look good. The cosmic-level stakes are visually impressive, and the scenes of Superman in action are compelling to look at.

Negatives 

The most glaring weakness of this comic is the muddled, unfocused plot. The story jumps between a dystopian future, a past tragedy, and a present-day invasion with no clear connection. It’s hard to care about the characters or the stakes when you can’t figure out what’s happening. The lack of a clear, coherent narrative makes the comic a chore to read.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts 

Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1 is a perfect example of trying to do too much at once. It’s a frantic, dizzying rush of ideas that never cohere into a compelling story. It’s got a lot of flash, but beneath the glossy exterior is a hollow, incomprehensible mess.

4/10

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