This summer, DC Comics is celebrating everything Superman with an abundance of exciting content to tie in with the latest Superman release! In the midst of this, “Superman Unlimited” has become a cornerstone of a new era – the Emerald Era, marked by Kryptonite’s widespread presence. The latest installment, “Superman Unlimited” #3, continues this thrilling Superman saga and is especially designed for fans who have a soft spot for Krypto, our favorite canine companion. This issue not only features Krypto but also introduces a fresh take on an iconic Superman villain and leaves readers with tantalizing hints about the direction of the Emerald Era. Although it’s not without its flaws, it promises to be an enjoyable read!
In this issue, Dan Slott’s interpretation of Superman continues to embody the classic essence of the character effectively. The debut of “Superman Unlimited” #1 marked a daring new phase, but it thrives due to its faithful portrayal of the iconic Superman persona. This story begins with a flashback in Smallville, primarily to introduce a more unruly version of Krypto. This character transformation is inspired by the movies, and Slott skillfully justifies the necessity of this wilder Krypto – can you envision an animal with canine instincts imbued with divine power? While I can’t claim originality for that concept, Slott does use those precise words to explain Krypto’s transformation. Sometimes, changes made for movie audiences are met with skepticism, but in this case, the cinematic influence works seamlessly. Slott manages to make the change logical through a single sentence, and Krypto’s antics in this issue are quite amusing.
In essence, the storyline revolves around Clark Kent attending a science fair where a colossal robot, designed by a modernized version of Superman’s arch-nemesis Toyman, appears to launch an attack. Unlike previous iterations, this robot isn’t controlled by Winslow Schott; instead, it has its own AI and is working with El Caldero. This attack might be a ruse, suggesting that El Caldero could be more sinister than he appears. The ‘Emerald Era’ has introduced changes to Superman, and writer Slott is gradually developing the narrative. This new Toyman seems to play a significant role in these changes, hinting at a complex character backstory. Krypto serves as the catalyst for the story, which could indicate a misunderstanding, but there are signs that not everything is above board. However, the pace of the storyline feels leisurely compared to other Superman titles, which could potentially overshadow ‘Superman Unlimited’ if events don’t pick up soon. Yet, this issue isn’t poor by any means.
In this comic issue, Rafael Albuquerque’s artwork continues to be a standout feature, as it has been since the beginning. However, there is one panel on page 4 that falls short – it depicts a young Clark Kent with eyes appearing out of alignment. This misstep in art quality is rather conspicuous and seems to be the only flaw in the book’s visuals.
On the bright side, Albuquerque excels in drawing Krypto. This Krypto embodies the movie version, both in temperament and appearance, and Albuquerque captures the unruly energy of the film’s Krypto brilliantly. The dog always comes across as wild and untamed, and Albuquerque’s portrayal truly immerses us into the mind of the canine character.
In a unique and chilling interpretation, Albuquerque’s depiction of Toyman’s colossal robot embodies the timeless eerie charm that has been a signature of Toyman’s creations. This new robot avatar maintains this essence but with an ominous twist, reminiscent of Bob’s Big Boy figures but imbued with sinister undertones. A striking, full-page illustration showcases Superman using his heat vision to attack the robot, a testament to Albuquerque’s artistic skill. Excluding a single panel featuring young Clark Kent, this issue’s artwork is flawless. It successfully encapsulates the classic Superman ambiance that Slott is introducing in this series, while subtly incorporating a contemporary touch, another characteristic of Slott’s writing thus far.
In the third installment of “Superman Unlimited,” while the execution is commendable, it’s not without its flaws. The story seems heavily centered around Krypto, reminiscent of his role in the movie version. However, I felt that there could have been more depth to the issue beyond this focus.
The comic does offer tantalizing hints about the new Toyman’s role in the Emerald Era and a fresh take on a Superman-Toyman battle, making it an enjoyable read. It appears that writer Slott is eager to demonstrate his capabilities in handling classic Superman tales rather than advancing the book’s main plot.
I wished for a stronger foundation of the overall narrative, but the comic still manages to be a satisfying read.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Superman Unlimited #3 is on sale now.
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2025-07-16 15:09