Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review

 

Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Pencillers: Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica

Inkers: Eber Ferreira & Júlio Ferreira

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Lucas Meyer & Giuliano Peratelli

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey; Marcio Takara; Christian Ward

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

After traveling through time to repair the damage Darkseid did to the future, Superman returned to find Earth drastically changed. Saving the Earth necessitated further changes. His son, Jon, now calls himself Tomorrow Man. Clark Kent's childhood friend, Lana Lang, no longer wields superpowers. As for Presidente Eduardo Castilho, his beloved kingdom of El Caldero is no longer an economic powerhouse.

 

Although he doesn't realize it, Superman's troubles are far from over. A younger version of Dru-Zod is traveling to Earth. He holds Superman's cousin and his younger self hostage. And this Zod is more ambitious and armed with Ursa's knowledge of the future. Can Kal-El and Kara Zor-El's Super Force defend Earth against Zod and Ursa? And, with the aid of Booster Gold's Time Bubble, can Superman find a way to preserve his homeworld? Let’s leap into Superman #42 and see what happens!

 

Story

Good news travels fast. While heroes in orbit realize that Zod’s weaponized Green-K has lost its sting, superheroes in El Caldero discover they can turn the tables on their oppressors. Amid the celebrations, those imprisoned or separated during the fighting enjoy reunions. Yet Martian Manhunter confirms Jon Kent’s assertion that young Clark and Kara are no longer in El Caldero.

 

Superman may not be the world's greatest detective. Still, Clark Kent must piece together what happened to Supergirl, his younger self, and General Zod in Superman #42. Lena Luthor's inventions failed to protect the Super Force as she had hoped. So, she's anxious to help. But while Superman investigates, Presidente Eduardo Castilho struggles to come to grips with his failure. He believed he had the stranglehold on the most valuable resource on Earth. Instead, Zod used his gift from the stars to attack the rest of the world. Then the man who gave Eduardo the means to protect El Caldero took it away.

 

As everyone adapts to the new normal, they must decide how to resume their lives in Joshua Williamson's story. But once again, the question of Krypton looms. While Dru-Zod uplifted El Caldero to transform Earth into a new Krypton, Booster Gold's Time Bubble gave Ursa and Zod the potential to save Krypton. No one wants Krypton to die. But Zod and Ursa are perfectly willing to destroy everything and everyone in their way to get what they want in Superman #42.

 

Art

While Red Tornado watches events on monitors in the Justice League Watchtower, the inert El Calderan Green-K continues to aerosolize. Rectangular panels portray the captives locked in their cells in the Kryptonite Castle. Yet when Princess Shark barrels through the translucent barrier, the panels resemble shards. A splash page of Superman confirms the prisoners' suspicions. But nothing heralds the return of normality like superheroes filling the skies above El Caldero.

 

As Eddy Barrows, Eduardo Pansica, Eber Ferreira, and Júlio Ferreira showcase Superman’s search for young Clark, Supergirl, and Zod, Ulises Arreola fills Superman #42 with a vibrant and nuanced palette. Green dominates backgrounds and tinges scenes as Zod's Green-K continues to lose color. The gold surrounding Superman's attempt to free the imprisoned evokes the streaks of light that filled the skies across the globe.

 

While the Krypto-Knights' armor foretells the violet and indigo of the time stream, Princess Shark’s attire remains violet as she frees captives, protects civilians, and assists with the cleanup. Conner Kent and Superboy-Prime have struggled to get along. Yet, their red, gold, and dark blue costumes underline their evolving relationship. Still, as Presidente Eduardo Castilho confronts the future dressed in red and yellow, his former source of wealth echoes Lois Lane’s blue slacks and white shirt.

 

White letters with blue outlines identify locations, while black and colored uppercase words fill white balloons. Uppercase letters in colored narrative boxes convey offscreen dialogue. Princess Shark and Zod speak forcefully with dark letters in white balloons outlined in red. Giant dialogue accompanies a cry for help. Still, sound effects enhance the fight to free the imprisoned, an arrival that forces Superman to make difficult choices, and a battle to save billions. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Ursa has seen too many failures. Young Zod is ambitious and unused to failure. Superman wants everyone to be healthy and happy. Still, he must decide if he's willing to compromise for the good of all in Superman #42.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see Superman #42 Preview. 

 

For more in the Kingdom Of Zod storyline:

For General Zod's rise to power, see Action Comics #1100: End Of Reign Review. 

For the mission to El Caldero, see Supergirl #16: Kingdom Of Zod Part 1 Review. 

For the battle in El Caldero, see Action Comics #1101: Kingdom of Zod Part 2 Review. 

For how Superman takes the fight to Zod, see Superman Unlimited #16 Review.

For Zod's revival of Ursa see Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review 

For Ursa, Kara, and young Clark's arrival on Krypton, see Supergirl #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 5 Preview 

For what happens when Ursa, Kara, and young Clark meet Zod on Krypton, see Action Comics #1102: Kingdom Of Zod Part 6 Preview. 

For how Superman saves the world, but perhaps made more enemies, see Superman Unlimited #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 7 Review.  

 

Justice League Unlimited #23 Review

 

Justice League Unlimited #23 Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Dan Mora

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Dan Mora

Variant Cover Artists: Bruno Redondo, Nathan Szerdy, Cathy Kwan & Jessica Luna

Hispanic Heritage Month Variant Cover Artist: José Landrönn

Lanterns Variant Cover Artist: Dave Wilkins

Editors: Marquis Draper & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

If you can't adapt to new situations, you risk falling out of touch with reality. When threats arise, the old ways of addressing problems may prove insufficient to defend what you hold dear. Yet there are some things you can count on. And one is that Bruce Wayne can never stop being Batman until criminals no longer threaten Gotham. Yet he works alongside criminals on the Justice League Watchtower. Bruce shares visions with them and accompanies them on missions.

 

Has Batman changed too much to defend the Justice League’s ideals? And how can Bruce Wayne continue working alongside Lex Luthor after he tried to kill Air Wave to ensure Brainiac Queen’s destruction? Let’s leap into Justice League Unlimited #23 and see!

 

Story

Mr Terrific, Guy Gardner, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl raced across and beneath the surface of the planet Dronnda to prevent Despero from obtaining the Power Bank. When Mr Terrific retrieved it, he channeled his fellow superheroes’ abilities to defeat Despero. Then Kanjar Ro appeared, leading a squad of Scavengers to steal the Power Bank from the weakened and battle-weary Justice League teammates. Yet Guy Gardner, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl's biggest worry is how the Justice League members' stored powers are affecting Mr Terrific.

 

As Justice League Unlimited #23 follows the battle for the Power Bank on the planet Dronnda, it also follows the battle for equality among the league’s membership. Blue Beetle has assured his fellow superheroes that they have installed safeguards to ensure ethical behavior that preserves life. Yet, like Mr Terrific’s teammates, Atom worries about how the villains are affecting his fellow heroes. As he assembles a team to investigate his suspicions that Darkseid sent visions to the Omega Tournament competitors, Giganta holds her own meeting. Like Batman, Giganta suspects that all these visions deserve further study. Yet, it’s difficult to be open with people who don’t trust you.

 

Amid all the action on two planets, Mark Waid's story addresses the difficulty of rebuilding trust once it has been fractured. The Justice League has struggled to accept repentant villains. But the new members aren't trying to clean their slates. They’ll still opt to kill their opponents if they judge it the smart option. Some look for opportunities to start fights with their teammates and wouldn’t shed a tear if someone died. And while Batman feels this most keenly of all the Justice League heroes, Atom cannot forget that members of the Quantum Quorum helped the villains escape the Phantom Zone to enter the Omega Tournament. Nor can Atom forget that Darkseid fooled everyone by possessing one of the Quantum Quorum in Justice League Unlimited #23.

 

Art

After the Scavengers capture a splash page, Dan Mora employs irregularly shaped panels amid the fighting. As Guy Gardner, Mr Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho trade blows with their adversaries, panels compete for page space, jamming against each other or overlaying their fellows. Hawkgirl's tortured features rise to the forefront on one page. Guy Gardner's ferocity opens another page, while the Dominator's determined expression grounds it. Yet on Earth, an alligator beckons readers toward a dome in a swamp. Inside, Giganta towers above her teammates. Yet as she gazes down at them, her expression communicates openness and concern.

 

As Tamra Bonvillain’s bright colors energize the action on the planet Dronnda, green links Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl with a Durlan and a Dominator. Guy’s hard light constructs also link with Metamorpho’s attack. Yet yellow and orange dominate the fighting as Hawkgirl confronts a fellow Thanagarian, and Mr Terrific wields the power to destroy his adversaries. While the Scavengers opened Justice League Unlimited #23, Mr Terrific dominates another page, with an inset panel showing the red energy trying to explode from his eyes. Yet as the Atom and his fellow heroes observe Giganta’s meeting, violet and indigo surround the villains who want full membership in the league.

 

White letters with blue outlines introduce characters and locations. Black uppercase letters fill white dialogue balloons, while offscreen dialogue appears in colored narrative boxes. Letters grow bold with intonation, and enlarge with pain, anger, and a love for chaos. Ariana Maher’s sound effects accompany battles, shock arrivals, and Mr Terrific’s growing familiarity with his new powers. Yet a yellow glow surrounds dialogue balloons as a smart man contemplates wielding absolute power. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

It's hard to work with others if you don't trust them. The Justice League heroes are predisposed to distrust the villains. But the villains remember how the heroes tried to shut them out of the battle for reality. As distrust creates a toxic atmosphere, heroes who risk their lives in the search for truth begin to lose interest in the facts in Justice League Unlimited #23.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see Justice League Unlimited #23 Preview.

 

For Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Mr Terrific's battle with Despero, see Justice League Unlimited #22 Preview. 

For Batman & Lex Luthor's mission to Slaughter Swamp, see Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 Review. 

For Batman & Lex Luthor's shared vision, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #21. 

For Brainiac Queen's return, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #20. 

For how the Justice League's gets a surprising new spokesperson, see my review of Justice League Unlimited #19. 

For Mary Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and Booster Gold's mission into the timestream, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #18.

 

For how Justice League opened its doors to villains, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #17. 

 

Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5 Review

 

Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5 Review

Writer: Mariko Tamaki

Artist: Amancay Nahuelpan

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Karl Kerschl

Variant Cover Artists: Rafael Albuquerque & Marcelo Maiolo; Nimit Malavia; Hayden Sherman

Editors: James Reid & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 9, 2026

 

Barbara Gordon has made a new friend in Supermax. And unlike Sparrow, Myrna Shelton doesn't try to keep her doped. Yet despite their pact to protect their fellow inmates, screams echo through the prison cells at night. Barbara and the former GCPD officer wonder if they can convince a guard to work with them. Yet, like the TUCOs who arrest any police officer who steps out of line, the guards seem loyal to Police Commissioner Vandal Savage.

 

Who keeps killing inmates and staging them as suicides in Vandal Savage's private prison? And who can Barbara Gordon trust amid this twisted game of murder and revenge? Let’s leap into Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5 and see!

 

Story

After someone attacked Barbara on her first night in Supermax, Sparrow looked after her. The nurse assisted her back to her cell and gave her medication to help her deal with her injuries. But instead, the drugs gave Barbara hallucinations. And they didn't do anything to ease the headaches from her concussion. Now, Sparrow occupies a bed in the infirmary. Someone beat her mercilessly. Realizing she may not survive, the doctor calls to let someone know Sparrow's fate.

 

In Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5, Myrna Shelton looks after Barbara. The GCPD officer kicked Barbara against an electrified fence to banish Sparrow’s drugs from Barbara’s system. After Jim Gordon tells Nightwing he sent someone into Supermax to look out for his daughter, Myrna tells Barbara that she is loyal to her father. Still, after Sparrow tried to keep Barbara safe, Myrna couldn't protect Sparrow.

 

As Mariko Tamaki's story follows Barbara Gordon and Myrna Shelton's efforts to find who is killing inmates in Supermax, the story also provides a glimpse of Vandal Savage. Everyone believes that the Gotham City Police Commissioner is calling the shots. That was one reason Barbara let the TUCOs arrest her. But the Torus put Vandal Savage in a position to help them.

 

As more deaths rock life in Supermax, everyone begins to feel a little like Anarky. He thought he was striking a blow for the little guy in Gotham. Instead, one crime family used him to ignite a war between their rivals. And inside Supermax or outside, no leader like the Minotaur seems capable of uniting the warring factions in Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5.

 

Art

Hands pass a folded piece of paper along until Barbara opens it. A view through the bars of an infirmary window lends the note greater context. While the doctor speaks into a cellphone, the callee uses a rotary-dial landline. As she slips into the infirmary, Myrna shields her features behind a stack of freshly laundered towels. But when she pulls away Sparrow's oxygen mask, Myrna's features betray no softness.

 

As Amancay Nahuelpan portrays life in Supermax and Gotham, orange and green battle for dominance. Red links Vandal Savage with his aide, while ripples in the sky above the exercise yard evoke the visual distortion Barbara noticed after Sparrow doped her. Red also invades the prison yard as people unleash their anger. Yet in a realm filled with green, Tamra Bonvillain fills panels with yellow as inmates lash out against each other in Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5.

 

Ariana Maher fills white balloons with black uppercase dialogue, while Barbara's black lowercase thoughts in green paper scraps evoke handwritten notes. The dialogue shrinks when people lower their voices to avoid being overheard. Yet enlarged uneven black uppercase dialogue links Vandal Savage with an inmate in his private prison. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Barbara Gordon used to watch over Gotham from her office high above the city. When she learned that inmates were dying in Vandal Savage's private prison, Barbara gave up her perch to investigate among the crowd. But as people fight and die around her, Barbara lacks her former perspective. Unable to access electronic communications and digital information, Barbara must reassess not only the players but also their objectives in Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see Barbara Gordon: Breakout #5. 

 

For what happened last time, see Barbara Gordon: Breakout #4 Preview. 

For what happened last time, see Barbara Gordon: Breakout #3 Preview. 

For what happened before that, see my preview of Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2.

For how this series started, see my preview of Barbara Gordon: Breakout #1.

For how Vandal Savage's TUCO squad caught Barbara Gordon, see my preview of Batman #9. 

 

Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review

 

Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Penciller: Eddy Barrows

Inker: Eber Ferreira

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Guillem March

Variant Cover Artists: Mike Choi, Vincenzo Riccardi & Christian Ward

Foil Variant Cover Artist: Mark Spears

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: August 26, 2026

 

When Superman disappeared after the Omega Tournament, Superboy-Prime stood up and did the right thing. At least, he tried. Still, C.K. knows he's no replacement for Superman.

 

C.K. loves the DC Comics Prime Universe more than "the real world" because it has a Superman. Yet, along with villains like Manchester Black, the DC Comics Prime Universe also has General Zod. So, when Supergirl comes calling, Superboy-Prime and the Super Force travel to El Caldero to prevent Zod from destroying Superman's world.

 

Can C.K.'s heritage in "the real world" help him withstand Zod's weaponized Kryptonite? And after the trip through time that drained him, can Superman summon the strength to battle one of his greatest enemies? Let’s leap into Superman #41 and see!

 

Story

On the Watchtower, Red Tornado and the Atom watch as El Calderan Kryptonite spreads its deadly effects across the Earth. While they wonder how Zod has weaponized the Kryptonite to attack Humanity, a Kryptonian leads the Justice League's efforts to contain it. Still, Red Tornado and the Atom realize that if Steel's scientific team cannot produce an antidote, their best hope is for Kara's team to force Zod to defuse his biochemical weapon. But since both teams arrived in El Caldero, the Watchtower has been unable to observe events in Zod's kingdom.

 

Even though they don't realize that Superman is in El Caldero, Red Tornado and the Atom recognize the validity of a two-pronged approach to resolving the Green-K disaster. Yet as he battles Superman, Zod insists these two approaches to problem-solving will always conflict. As he traveled toward Earth aboard the prison frigate, weakened after the destruction of New Kandor, Zod imagined Jor-El taunting him. The scientist insisted that the General’s insatiable need to conquer his enemies had left him with nothing once again. So while battling Jor-El’s son and pursuing his plans for Earth, Zod insists on seeing anyone who opposes him as his enemy.

 

Joshua Williamson's story contrasts the characters' desire to conquer and rebuild with working to preserve what they have. Just as Red Tornado takes comfort in his belief that Superman isn't in El Caldero, love and caring play a role. Yet while Zod attempts to have everything his way, Superman's act of kindness to Young Clark could prove equally destructive to Earth in Superman #41.

 

Art

As Zod recovers, he imagines himself confronting Jor-El. While the scientist addresses him with his hands behind his back, Zod hurls off his cloak, extends his arms, and leaps toward Jor-El. When Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira show Zod fighting Kal-El in El Caldero surrounded by Kryptonite crystals, smoke plumes rise amid the towers that his Green-K has funded. As the two men in armor fight, Kal-El's face shows through his visor, while the lights glowing on Zod's mask evoke another being responsible for Krypton's destruction. Yet when Zod and Kal-El remove their facial coverings, their dark hair and beards emphasize their shared heritage.

 

While Zod wore a red cloak in his nightmare, Jor-El wore a green tunic. As Ulises Arreola colors their battle in the overwhelmingly green El Caldero, Superman wears indigo mech armor, while Zod protects himself in black and violet. Still, when Kal-El makes Zod as mad as Jor-El did, the two opponents appear as red silhouettes in a black panel. Orange accompanies Zod's desire to obtain more than he has, while Young Clark and Kara's blue costumes symbolize hope for the world.

 

The characters’ black uppercase dialogue appears in white balloons and colored narrative boxes. Despite losing her ability to recharge beneath a yellow sun, Lois Lane’s off-camera dialogue appears in a yellow box adorned with the Superwoman symbol. Eradicator retells history with white uppercase dialogue in black boxes, while Eradicatrix addresses the current situation with white letters in black balloons. Ariana Maher’s sound effects enhance the battles and drama in the vibrantly colored Superman #41. Yet shrunken letters in cloudlike balloons with wavering arrows suggest that some people confuse caring for others with weakness. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Eduardo Castilho hailed Superman as a friend when he gave El Caldero the ability to become an economic powerhouse. Yet he labeled Superman an enemy when Superman wanted the Sun Crystal. But after Castilho cast out his greatest protector, Zod emerged to claim El Caldero for himself.

 

Now, as General Zod uses what Castilho built to reshape the Earth to his liking, someone else sees what Zod has achieved and senses an opportunity for an even greater prize in Superman #41.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Preview. 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Superman #40. 

For what happened before that, see my review of Superman #39. 

For what happened even before that, see my preview of Superman #38. 

For what happened even more before that, see my preview of Superman #37.

For how C.K.'s redemption arc began, see my preview of Superman #36. 

 

For General Zod's rise to power, see Action Comics #1100: End Of Reign Review. 

For the mission to El Caldero, see Supergirl #16: Kingdom Of Zod Part 1 Review. 

For the battle in El Caldero, see Action Comics #1101: Kingdom of Zod Part 2 Review. 

For how Superman takes the fight to Zod, see Superman Unlimited #16 Review.

 

 

Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 Review

 

Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Eddy Barrows & Yasmine Putri

Colorist: Adriano Lucas & Yasmine Putri

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Eddy Barrows & Alejandro Sánchez

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; Ariel Olivetti; Mario Foccillo & Pressy; Alex Eckman-Lawn

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: July 29, 2026

 

Superman's friends miss him. His Justice League teammates scour the timestream for him. Yet no one misses Clark Kent as much as Lois Lane. She misses her husband, co-worker, and confidant.

 

As the dangers to Earth multiply, so do the threats to her family. Lois Lane is a hardworking reporter. She oversees a global news outlet. But how does Clark Kent's absence affect his wife? And when Clark returns, how will wielding divine powers and his journey through time have altered him? Let's leap into Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 and see what happens!

 

The Return of Superman: Story

While apart, Lois dreams they are together. Arising from their bed, she finds him on the couch, pouring his thoughts onto his laptop. Like her, Clark expresses who he is through his writing. Yet despite their dedication to spending their lives together, Clark envisions a different future than Lois.

 

Unlike his adversary Lex Luthor, or even his friend Batman, Superman never sought to transform his reality. Forging a perfect future where his Kryptonian family still lives is anathema to him. Instead, Superman seeks to heal the damage Darkseid had wreaked on reality. After correcting the damage to the past and present, Superman sensed further damage in the future. So, he sets off to correct those wounds.

 

In Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Clark has an investment in the future. After Time Trapper's revelation, he should protect the timestream to safeguard himself. Instead, Superman risks imprisonment and amnesia. Like people in his present, even his adversaries in the future deserve a second chance.

 

The Return of Superman: Art

When Lois Lane rises from bed, she finds Clark sitting on the couch. As they talk, a robed figure surrounded by chains and fire burns in Clark’s mind. Eddy Barrows replays Superman's memories of the Omega tournament across the top of a double-page spread, while Superman’s efforts to repair reality line the bottom. More glimpses from his odyssey spill around him as he flies onward. Superman discovers a vessel navigating the timestream that differs greatly from Booster Gold's. Yet as Superman remembers all he has lost, lightning crackles through the air, emanating from a giant white silhouette.

 

As Adriano Lucas lavishes luminous colors on Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Lois Lane rises from a dark bedroom bathed in indigo and violet. She finds Clark in a lighter room surrounded by shades of orange, violet, and red. But as he travels through time, yellow and orange dominate Superman's appearance. The blue of his costume fades as the red S symbol on his chest glows yellow and orange. His cape turns yellow, as does the headdress denoting the power he wields. Yet as Superman forms a streak of yellow and orange across a sea of red, blue, and yellow, he encounters a region surrounded by an entire spectrum of colors, with white at its center.

 

Legion Found: Story

As Superman navigated the future, he encountered some moments in time that were fixed, while others were more malleable. Yet when he discovered people who had turned their backs on villainy, Superman realized that he could break down the barriers to protect them and give others a similar chance to turn their lives around. But after he uses his power to help them and vanishes into the timestream, Superman creates an absence.

 

Everyone realizes that Darkseid is returning. In Legion Found, heroes and villains scramble to gain a foothold before the war for reality resumes. Joshua Williamson’s story evokes how Lois Lane sought to emulate her husband during her brief tenure as Superwoman, and why she prefers to report the news rather than make it.

 

Legion Found: Art

Two children in a playpen bring a smile to a man’s face. As he picks them up and carries them outside, his wife lingers in the doorway. Hovering among the broken buildings and ruined towers, someone watches the happy family who live in the shack surrounded by sandbags. Then a sudden arrival, trailing yellow and orange, casts smoke into the air, creating more rubble for the survivors to clear away.

 

As Yasmine Putri adorns her artwork with vibrant colors in Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, red-and-brown roofs cover gray shacks. The blue, red, and yellow visitor watches as lightly colored people and colorful bubbles surround the family. At first sight, the object at the crash site seems little different from the dark gray ruins of the nearby city. Yet when silver appears, green represents the opposite of willpower.

 

Lettering

Ariana Maher fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters. Clark's white uppercase thoughts fill blue boxes, while in his transformed state, Clark's blue thoughts fill white boxes. Other characters' offscreen dialogue appears in colored boxes. Color-coded balloon borders further identify speakers. As sound effects accompany the dangers threatening the timestream, Superman's blue dialogue swells as he seeks to correct the imbalance. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Everyone wishes they had the power to improve the world around them. But when Superman's already formidable powers get upgraded, he risks his life to preserve everyone's ability to make their own choices. Still, villains lurk everywhere, evoking Batman's unhappiness over Superman's decision to divest himself of godhood in Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1. As Joshua Williamson's stories look back at Action Comics #1100, they also pave the way toward the Kingdom of Zod crossover and the Legion of Super-Heroes series.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Mission Failure.

 

For what happened after that, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Superman Meets Superboy.

 

For how Superman obtained divine powers, see my review of DC K.O. #5.

 

For how Lois helped her husband during DC K.O., see my review of Superman #35. 

 

 

Zatanna #3 Review

 

Zatanna #3 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Carla Cohen, David Talaski & Chrissie Zullo-Uminga

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

Like any other territory, the magical realm needs people to safeguard it. So, while Wonder Woman initiates an overhaul of the Justice League, and Emperor Aquaman extends Atlantis' influence to distant stars, Zatanna vows to strengthen the magical realm before Darkseid's return. Instead, she finds an enraged plague spirit ravaging the musical community. And as she attempts to protect people from its predations, Zatanna prevents government agents from capturing the maddened spirit.

 

Director Bones of the Department of Extranormal Operations has opened a new Occult Office. With Agents Di Manes and Rhodes at his disposal, he intends to police the magical realm. And Director Bones isn't interested in sharing power with Zatanna. Will the Occult Office's agents capture the murderous plague spirit? And after Di Manes and Rhodes interrupt her ceremony, can Zatanna recover from their attack? Let's grab our spell books, leap into Zatanna #3, and see!

 

Story

Like the Blue, the Magical Realm unites distant places and worlds. So when Elodie sang to awaken the memories of a plague spirit, Agent Di Manes hijacked her healing ceremony. After the plague spirit attacked Elodie, Zatanna knew she had to act fast. But in the process, the magic backfired. And amid the explosion, Zatanna fell.

 

When Papa Midnite hastily initiates a Voodoo ceremony, Zatanna's spirit visits Guede Nibo. While helping Zatanna recover her memory and her spirit form, the Loa offers suggestions on what she should do next. But in magic, everything has a cost, and Zatanna knows she must pay the price for his assistance.

 

In Zatanna #3, Papa Midnite's condemnation comes back to haunt the self-appointed Prime Magus. His Voodoo ceremonies protect the host. Zatanna may not be as reckless as the magicians at the Serpentes Shrine. Yet, confident in her abilities, Zatanna improvised a bespoke spell that endangered Elodie and damaged the club where her spirit resides.

 

After Zatanna's meeting with Guede Nibo, Jamal Campbell's story follows her quest to discover what transformed a grieving muse into a plague spirit. Papa Midnite may frown on Zatanna's decision to become Prime Magus. Yet others applaud her determination to safeguard the Magical Realms in Zatanna #3. As she seeks to recapture and aid the plague spirit, Zatanna learns more about the Department of Extranormal Operations’ new Occult Office and how Director Bones intends to police the Magical Realms.

 

Art

Paint adorns Papa Midnight’s face and body as he initiates his ceremony in Zatanna #3. After Elodie ministers to Zatanna, her attendants carry the magician before hurling her into a fabric-draped realm. Zatanna hovers like Alice amid pillar-like candles and ceremonial objects as she beholds a giant. Then the Loa picks her up. As he holds her in his hand, his features fade as he reveals where she must travel for the answers she seeks.

 

Jamal Campbell adorns his detailed art with bright colors in Zatanna #3. Yet blue defines Elodie’s musical realm. As he sits before a red-framed window, Zatanna hovers in an indigo room. While her red arm evokes a hero in another universe, Guede Nibo smiles as new skin wraps around her arm like a compression bandage.

 

After leaving the gray-and-brown club, Zatanna visits another blue realm, where she transforms into her iridescent glorified form. Red accompanies Agent Di Manes’ efforts to secure power over the magical realm and shows how the plague spirit affects its victims. Yet just as violet flowers blossom from the troubled muse, violet fills the air as Zatanna combats the Occult Office agent. 

 

As Zatanna addresses the reader, she explains how she created the compass adorning the orange location banners. Ariana Maher's black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. Elodie’s speech fills blue balloons, and Guede Nibo’s off-camera dialogue inhabits orange boxes. Zatanna's spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Laughter follows the reverberating sounds of a Voodoo ceremony, while white music notes swoop through a deadly confrontation. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Papa Midnite accuses Zatanna of wanting to rule the Magical Realms. While Zatanna asserts the purity of her desire to serve as the Prime Magus, others’ motives are less so. And as Zatanna gains insight into the dangers threatening the Magical Realm, she navigates a path between gods and monsters in Zatanna #3.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Zatanna #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Zatanna #2. 

For how this series began, see my review of Zatanna #1. 

For Zatanna's fight against Harley Quinn, see my preview of DC K.O.: Zatanna Vs Harley Quinn #1: All Fight Month Round Five Preview  

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

 

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

Writers: Sophie Campbell, Gail Simone & Mark Waid

Artists: Belén Ortega & Cian Tormey

Penciller: Emma Kubert

Inker: Sandra Hope

Colorists: Tríona Farrell, Trish Mulvihill & Alex Guimarāes

Letterers: Becca Carey, Ariana Maher & Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Belén Ortega

Variant Cover Artists: Pablo Villalobos & Tula Lotay

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar with Mike Spicer

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (cardstock)

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

When the weather turned cold amid the holidays, Kara Zor-El started to feel down. How could Kara enjoy time with her new family and friends when all the people she knew in Argo City are dead? Yet, life has its rhythms. And even though Kara has taken a few beatings, when trouble shook the miniaturized Kryptonian city of Kandor, she arrived to save the day.

 

After Lesla-Lar offered Kara a means of regaining what she lost in Kandor, Kara also discovered something that could give her more power than before. But when she interrupts Lobo during his first job following his self-imposed isolation on Azzplaque Major, Supergirl's fate seems to intertwine with the newly reinstated bounty hunter. Will they frag each other into extinction? Or will Supergirl, Lobo, Krypto, and Dawg team up for an extraordinary mission together? Let’s leap into Summer of Supergirl Special #1 and see!

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Story

After sitting in a jail cell, Lobo, Kara, Krypto, and Dawg attend a hearing. As they face the judge, Lobo pleads innocence, while Kara Zor-El contends they are both guilty.

 

When fate separates them, Dawg returns to Midvale with Kara and Krypto in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. Lobo’s best friend even helps as Kara uses her powers to aid others. But Dawg misses his master. And unlike Lobo, he doesn’t understand the reasons for their separation.

 

As Sophie Campbell examines the bond between a pet and its owner, she also illustrates how Kara’s attitude influences the people around her. Lobo remains the petulant child who didn't want to conform to rules on Czarnia. Yet a little love can go a long way in encouraging good behavior, turning enemies into friends, and helping make the world a better place.

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Art

As a judge sits beneath an enormous seal, Lobo raises his chain-wrapped forearm. Beside him, Kara smiles at Lobo’s antics. As Kara’s counsel hovers before the judge, his dispassionate discourse infuriates Lobo. Yet as Krypto, Dawg, and Leegra follow Kara’s lead, Lobo’s counsel slumps and supports his head on the table.

 

As Tríona Farrell adorns Belén Ortega’s cheery art with a bright palette, blue creeps into the green courtroom as Kara makes her case. Red tinges Lobo’s retelling of events, and the evening sky on Plinko Astra. Yet as Crush’s red attire seems linked with her father’s antics, stars twinkle in the violet air when she meets Leegra in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Becca Carey fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters, while Kara’s thoughts fill white clouds. White offscreen dialogue appears in colored boxes. Sound effects accompany more property damage than the night of Clarissa Giltedge’s No Beer New Year party, while enlarged yellow letters help Kara appeal to Lobo’s deeply buried good side.

 

Lost Girls: Story

Taking an exercise break is a great way to relieve stress. But when Brad uses the company mascot to make a statement, Supergirl worries that it will hurt others. Yet instead of getting a good workout, Kara discovers she may have bitten off more than she can chew. When another hero arrives to help, Supergirl still wants to blow off steam. But by sharing her struggles with a like-minded person, Kara’s tension lessens, helping her reconcile with her painful past and look toward the future in Gail Simone’s story.

 

Lost Girls: Art

When a futuristic female robot tears through a concrete wall and a chicken-wire fence, guards brace to fire, while a fireman warns people of danger. As they gaze through a window, Brad’s coworkers look concerned and aghast, while his expression makes an unintended comparison with a supervillain. After Supergirl’s face reflects off the robot’s smooth metal face, Emma Kubert and Sandra Hope combine a tilted silhouette scene with a close-up of the robot’s attack.

 

When the gold robot induces fear, the guards respond with yellow-and-orange gunfire. While the red in her costume links Supergirl with the emergency responders, her gold belt suggests empathy for the robot’s plight. As Trish Mulvihill adorns this ten-page story in vibrant colors, Supergirl shares two colors of her costume with the hero who comes to her aid.

 

As Ariana Maher fills white balloons with black uppercase letters, the robot speaks in a machine font. Small black letters in a yellow banner locate the reader in time and space. Kara begins her tale by sharing her white thoughts in blue boxes. But her narration gradually disappears as Kara interacts with the similarly minded hero.

 

Who Is Supergirl: Story

Having regained a physical form, Red Tornado’s consciousness no longer inhabits the Justice League Watchtower’s computer systems. So, when he needs to recheck the data in the personnel files, Red Tornado asks Conner Kent to review the Super-Family archives. In Mark Waid’s story, Jon Kent finds Steel helping Conner with his assignment. Yet while both belong to the Super-Family, they are puzzled by contrasting entries. Jon may enjoy teasing Conner about living in the past. Yet as he recognizes Conner and Steel's concerns, Jon realizes he can help them understand Kara's place in the Super-Family.

 

Who is Supergirl: Art

As Jon enters the immense room, Kara's numerous costume changes fill a wall monitor in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. A white-and-indigo hologram showcases her origins, while a color photo displays Kara's arrival on Earth. Alex Guimarāes adorns Kara’s early choices with yellow, orange, and brown. But as Kara takes on more color, Cian Tormey’s blue line drawing of all the people who helped Kara appears behind her. 

 

Steve Wands introduces characters and the location with black uppercase letters in yellow boxes. Black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons as they debate Kara’s position in the Super-Family. Offscreen dialogue in white and colored boxes helps the trio realize the breadth and depth of Kara’s contributions to the people around her. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Kara Zor-El may always feel like an outsider. Yet her vibrant spirit and positivity help her make friends wherever she goes. Lesla-Lar’s memory lingers as Kara protects Midvale while advocating criminal reform. And as friends bond over similar interests, histories, and food, Superman's son helps encapsulate Kara's rich history in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

For how Lesla-Lar offers to help Supergirl power-up, see my review of Supergirl #14.

For Supergirl's encounter with Lobo, see my preview of Lobo #4. 

For Clarissa's No Beer New Year party, see my review of Supergirl #9. 

For the latest entry in DC's Elseworlds Universe, see my review of Supergirl: Survive #1.