Superman #35

Writer: Patrick Gleason and Pete Thomasi
Artist:Travis Moore, Stephen Segovia, and Art Thibert

Before Reading:

This series is doing an excellent job showing the Superman family coming together to solve porblems. This specific arc finds the family apart from one another on Apokolips but it has allowed each character moments to shine. Issue 33 Was not the greatest start to the arc, but the Lois-heavy last issue really made up for that and got this series on track. We pick up this issue  with Superman wanting to know what Lex has gotten him into this time.

During Reading:

After learning of the intent of the residents of Apocalypse, and why they were brought to the hellish type planet, Superman and Lex find themselves in a struggle. You see, Superman is to be the new ruler of Apokolips according to the prophecy and not Lex (a nice callback to the Darkseid war). Superman doesn't take well to this, and we get some good back and forth banter between he and Lex. It is obvious that Lex enjoys passing this burden off to Superman.

The tables are turned when Kalibak and Granny Goodness and her Furies arrive to fight for the throne. The focus is less on Superman now and more on battling it our to become new ruler of Darkseid's disappearance and suppsosed death. The issue rumbles on and there is a big moment here with Kalibak that (seemingly) changes the landscape of Apokolips. Meanwhile Jon is locked in his own battle with guards and their Hunger Dogs as he is trying to find his parents.

After Reading:

Superman #35 is an action packed issue. It does a nice job of getting its characters where they need to be for the final chapter of this arc. I really loved the look on Superman's face when he first sees Lois dressed in her bad ass armor that she earned with the Furies. This is a very huge moment for both of the characters I felt. Clark looks at Lois with amazement when she arrives with the Furies and Lois looks incredibly cool and powerful with her new crew.

The art is handled here by three different artists. I believe one of them is the inker and the other two split drawing duties. However, their art is not drastically different and didn't take away from my enjoyment of the issue.

This issue sets us up for the final chapter of this arc in a creative way. The fact that both Superman and Lois have found themselves caught in the middle of this battle for the throne on Apokolips and Jon kind of becomes the key factor in saving them makes for a decent read. The story still feels quite rushed but I am curious to see how this one will end.

7/10

I love the decision to go from Lois' eyes directly to Superman's reaction. It's like Lois saying "Yeah Clark, I am the baddest."