Review Superwoman #1

By Jerry Montgomery

Superwoman #1

“Who is Superwoman?”

Writer & Pencils: Phil Jimenez

Inks: Matt Santorelli

Superman is dead. His power is not. Heroes have risen to fill the void left by the last son of Krypton. Heroes such as John Steel and Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor?!! Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, its…Superwoman?!! Yes!!

The story flips back and forth from flashback to the present to build the story up from an uneasy alliance between the two most important women in the life of Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane and Lana Lang, to a true friendship and bond with one another. It is revealed that, upon the death of Superman, both Lois and Lana absorbed Clark’s powers as his body went super-nova and was no more. Lois has taken up the cape since her powers are akin to Clark’s… and then some. Lana has been less public with her powers, which are completely different: harnessing the irradiated solar energy and transforming it into electricity. Together, the two women have become well known within the city of Metropolis through the power of social media. The arrival of yet another Superman, Lex Luthor, who also wears the iconic “S” across the chest of his suit of armor, only complicates the situation when he unveils a super warship he has built to battle evildoers. Of course, all goes awry and a mysterious danger arises from which Lois may not survive as a helpless Lana looks on. Can a character die in her first issue? Hmm… the title is ”Superwoman,” not “Superwomen.”

Verdict: As part of DC Comics Rebirth relaunch, Superwoman #1 is a chance to get on board to a comic from its inception rather than jumping in mid-series to an already long-published title. Writer and artist Phil Jiminez pens intimately human characters, who face some of the same doubts and fears and possess some of the same confidence and courage we all do in our lives. For me, his artwork brings to mind another great artist, Neal Adams, famed for his work on Green Lantern and Batman.  Those stories also often examined the human frailties within our heroes, just as Jiminez’s does. If you could only read one title this month, this one should be it!