Superboy #1

SPOILERS and reason for adding this under the cut


The Who: Superboy, a genetic experiment created out of the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor.

Why I chose this title: Well I was going to get Batwoman and Demon Knights but I couldn't get to my LCS. Then when I unexpectedly got a chance to (long boring story there) neither was left. I saw a few issues of Superboy and thought about it. I liked the early version of the character well enough but grew bored of him later on. I never liked him enough to follow him regularly. But I heard mostly positive things about this book and I like Scott Lobdell as a writer. When I was just getting into comic he was writing a lot of the X-Men related books I was getting at the time. He's known for his character writing as some of his better known issues have been the "quiet" ones. Since I'm getting his other two titles (Red Hood and the Outlaws and Teen Titans) I figured I might as well try all three of his books.

What I expect from the book: Not too much as much as I like Lobdell I have no expectations for the character.

Thoughts: I think I would have liked this better if I didn't spoil myself by looking at scans and reading summaries. I didn't expect to get this book otherwise I would have steered cleared. This issue mostly deals with Superboy (he's not called anything else) experiencing the environment around him as someone who sees the world with new eyes. I don't think anyone ever explored this side of him before which is sort of strange. It seems like the most obvious step to take. Lobdell also tries out a few other things I don't recall anyone doing. One of them is how Superboys' powers can sense things around him which clues him into what I assume would be a shocking discovery if I hadn't spoiled myself. That actually pretty smart and a step in the right direction in making him something besides a mini Superman.

The project that's testing Superboy also taps into the suppressed memories of the donors to learn more about him. It's a good look at both Superman and Lex Luthor (who isn't named as the human donor since no one really knows that.) Is he smarter now because he can use Luthors' smarts? It raises some good questions. "Red" is a doctor that's trying to help Superboy although she isn't given a name many have already guess she's a Wildstorm character. I'll take their word for it as I haven't read Wildstorm. Rose Wilson is also here and she seems about the same as she was before. Minus the costume and adding an extra eye. Which I approve of. I never did like that she stabbed herself in the eye to earn daddys' approval.

The art was alright although the school scenes made everyone seem too skinny. I did like that everyone wore uniforms as that is the norm for most schools around me. I do like Superboy having less mass than he did since Johns wrote him. Superboy was never bulky to me.

Did you notice?: Lady Flashpoint shows up right near the end when "Red" is talking to the big bad outside. I'm also amused at the shorter, rounder minion in the project. He sticks out and that makes a nice detail.

Verdict: No complaints but I didn't love it. Might have helped if I didn't already know the details but then again I'm not a huge Superboy fan. I could easily drop it, whether I do or not might have to do with whether I get my other picks.