Julz`s Superboy (The New 52) Issue 25 Review

By Julius Cantara aka Julzchan

This month`s issue of Superboy comes off a very disjointed and cluttered while it takes part in the “Krypton returns” arch.

Despite Justin Jordan`s adequate writing, it is not enough to counter balance the cluttered writing of Scott Lobdell. While having all three kryptonians, the disappointing thing is that they don`t interact. And considering how the previous superboy issues have been able to fit in an adequate side story for Connor whenever something was happening with Superman or the Teen Titans, it makes this issue all the more disappointing.

The issue is cut into threes, isn`t exactly cohesive, not even moving the plot that far. So rather than give an interesting Superboy side story, this issue tries to shove in three that aren`t that interesting and don`t give fans that much to hang onto or engaged. Making this issue nothing beyond just a bunch of fight scenes. 

And while Lobdell can keep the story on target, somewhat, however dosen`t really explain as to what is going on in this issue and comes off as incomprehensible at this point.

And while this book provides referral text boxes to events happening in the other super-books, it dosen`t really provide an issue sourcing as to how Superboy regained his powers after the events with Physico Pirate. So those only reading form Superboy are going to be very confused.

However despite the flaws there were a few things positive in all this, however very few. One of them being, no huge amounts of displaced, cluttered, or unnecessary text boxes. For those following the Teen Titans books or the earlier Superboy books that was Scott Lobdell`s constant tendency. Where he would put great deals of text boxes even if narration wasen`t needed and even if it came off a distracting. And it is always good to see Justin Jordan continue to write Superboy himself as a clever young hero able to think on his feet.

The artist Ed Benes is a good a consistent it is almost enough to take our mind off of this chopped up mess. However while the art is pleasing, the use of splash pages is a bad choice in terms of sequential storytelling, trying to glorify the fight scenes, and an making the comic shorter than usual.

They alone cannot excuse the fact that this issue really forces an appearance of three kryptonians and could even make it interesting and making it look a tad contrived.