Through the events of DC K.O., the world is rapidly approaching its dramatic transformation into New Apokolips. As our heroes fight on in the tournament set up by the Heart of Apokolips, it’s up to Superboy Prime, Lois Lane, and a Robot replica of Supes to hold it together. Superman #34 by Joshua Williamson with art by Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira picks up what’s happening outside of the bracket as our heroes prepare for Darkseid’s arrival.
The Trio’s Mission to the Watchtower
Picking up from the events of the last issue where Lois regained some of her Kryptonian powers, the trio are en route to the Watchtower. Their goal is to pass critical information about the Heart to the Time Trapper. With the Omega Legion hot on their trail, Superboy Prime struggles to keep the robot Superman on track as he ventures off to try and answer the various cries for help emanating from a transforming Earth.
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Superboy Prime vs. The Legacy of Clark Kent
It’s faced with this nearly perfect replica of Superman that Superboy Prime is faced yet again with his own failings as someone with power. Though he assumes everyone hates him, including Superman, the robot has all of Clark’s memories and tells Prime that he’s not mad, just disappointed.
The robot is disappointed that Prime doesn’t try more—that he’s so limited by his fear. The trio eventually make it back to the Watchtower to deliver the information on the robot Supe’s hard drive, only to find that things are far worse than they imagined.
Joshua Williamson Connects the DC K.O. Event Threads
Joshua Williamson does not have an easy job with Superman #34. On top of being an event tie-in, this issue also connects to both Justice League Unlimited and the one-shot DC K.O.: The Kids Are All Fight Special.
It acts as the connective tissue between all of these pieces. While it does make some elements feel disjointed, the core arc of Superboy Prime acts as a strong enough throughline that keeps it from being just a series of disconnected scenes.
His battle between his previous actions, his attempts to do better, and trying to live up to the example Superman sets makes for a compelling story even in the midst of an event. It’s also delightful to see how Williamson plays with the fourth-wall breaks. It doesn’t feel like Deadpool, but rather someone trying to imitate it. He will crack meta jokes and give the facade of not really caring, but Williamson always writes it as a mask for someone wanting to do better underneath.
Artistic Direction: Barrows and Ferreira Step In
Continuing the trend of unenviable jobs, Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira have been the go-to fill-in artists since Dan Mora joined the book back in issue #19. While those are some heavy shoes to fill, the duo of Barrows and Ferreira do a solid job.
It’s a stark shift from Mora’s bold lines and flat colors, but the work still feels at home with the Super-family, especially alongside the work of Rafael Albuquerque on Superman Unlimited. Alejandro Sanchez on colors does a good job of playing to the strengths of the style, leaning into the dramatic shading and crosshatching. While the combo doesn’t always work, it shines where it needs to, like the final panel of the issue. Ariana Maher on letters does a solid job as well, always complementing the art and never getting in the way of it.
Final Verdict: A Strong Superboy Prime Character Study
Superman #34 is about as good as it gets with tie-ins. While it’s not going to be new-reader-friendly with too much going on at any given time, it still manages to stay focused on Superboy Prime and his emotional journey. This more singular focus is enough to elevate this story to more than just another addition to an already huge event.
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‘Superman #34’ | Superboy Prime Takes Center Stage in DC K.O.
Superman #34 is about as good as it gets with tie-ins. While it’s not going to be new-reader-friendly with too much going on at any given time, it still manages to stay focused on Superboy Prime and his emotional journey. This more singular focus is enough to elevate this story to more than just another addition to an already huge event.
