Superman #26

Superman comes face to face with Synmar in Superman #26, by writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist Ivan Reis, inker Danny Miki, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Dave Sharpe. This a classic Bendis issue- starts out in media res, does some character stuff, and then presents threat.

At some point in the future, Superman is fighting Synmar, trying to communicate with it. In flashback, Superman talks to Lois about his recent conversation with Doctor Fate and why he thinks he revealed his secret identity before telling Lois that she's his rock. Kelex calls him about an incoming threat, and he zooms off to the Fortress Of Solitude. Kelex tells him that A UFO is approaching the Fortress. Superman grabs Jimmy, who he's been letting stay there, and takes him back to the Daily Planet. He apologizes to Steve Lombardi about the whole, revealing his identity thing and lying to him for years, and Lombardi counters that his being Superman makes them all unsafe. Superman reveals that he and the League have fortified the building, and he recently added even more countermeasures, just in case. Kelex calls again and tells him the UFO has shifted its course and is headed toward the Planet building. Superman flies into space to confront the ship and is attacked by Synmar, who blasts him, then grabs him, and flies him at the Daily Planet building. Before they can get there, they are shifted to the Phantom Zone, part of Superman's safety protocols for the building, and the fight begins again.

Bendis's writing style isn't always for everyone, but it's easy to see he loves writing Superman. Superman and Lois's entire conversation is just a nice little moment between two characters that love each other with all of their hearts, and Bendis writes it perfectly. He gets Superman in a way he's gotten few other characters he's written over the years. Another example of this is the conversation with Steve Lombardi. Superman apologizes to him because he thinks they are friends, but Steve has never seen it that way. That's Superman in a nutshell- he thinks everyone is his friend until proven otherwise. Steve and he have had a bit of an antagonistic relationship over the years but not to the point where Superman wouldn't think they are friends.

A further example of this is the confrontation with Synmar. At first, he flies at his ship, ready to fight because that's what Superman's life has been like lately. However, as he gets closer, he realizes he knows nothing about that alien and that this might not be an attack. He approaches it like a first contact, trying to communicate until Synmar attacks him, and even after that, he continues to try and communicate. Again, this is the most Superman thing ever, and it just proves how well Bendis can do with Superman.

Ivan Reis's art is outstanding in this issue. There are a few places in the background where the detail suffers, but this chapter shows how good Reis art can be. He does a great job with everything Bendis's script asks of him, capturing the character moments and the action stuff with equal aplomb.

Bendis tropes can be a bit annoying depending on how they're used, but they aren't in Superman #26. It all works because it's a showcase of who Superman is- he gets through the day because of his love for Lois, he thinks everyone is his friend, and he goes ready to fight to ready to communicate in a second. Bendis captures him wonderfully in this issue. Reis's art is great as well, doing everything the script needs it to. While his run hasn't been entirely perfect, installments like this prove that Bendis is a good Superman writer and will be missed when he moves on in a few issues.
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Grade: A-