Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Diego Barreto
Published by Boom! Studios
When last we saw our favorite mass murdering anti hero “The Plutonian” he was kind of being raped by his Lex Luther Darius Dax like archfoe Modeus. How? Well, as I’m sure you’ll explain to a small child that you would allow to read this, turns out that Modeus hijacked the body of a woman The Plutonian loved, heightened her powers by way of science and a heavy cocktail of drugs (Modeus must watch Fringe…) and then sort of had her (his?) way with him. What we weren’t sure of is did this go beyond forced kissing or those “sexual relations” we keep hearing about. Turns out that Modeus, in the body of Bette Noir, got to home base. Here’s the sick scene:
Now, I’ve been accused of getting this kind of thing wrong before. So, here’s the evidence above in the first page of this issue. Double click it if you would like a bigger look. First, look at the fact that everyone’s beloved Bad Superman isn’t wearing any pants in the scene. That’s what you call a hint. Then our lead villain lady pretty much tells you with the dialogue. She/he says “Well. That was absolutely worth waiting for.” On panel two, upper left hand side, it looks like she’s throwing his pants at him, which I would call clue number two. Clue number three: She even references the problems that one would have in having sex with a Superman. Mark Waid, who might be the world’s smartest comics writer, has also read the famous Larry Niven article on that very subject it would appear. I think the Modeus she/he uses the phrase “Take this as a compliment darling. That would have destroyed a mortal woman. Blown her head clean off.” And that’s a wrap.
You know you’re not supposed to feel sorry for a guy who kills millions and gets his kicks by throwing people into the sun. But I kind of felt sorry for him.
But it turns out that things get better for the Plutonian as he’s rescued by Qubit (again) the other smartest man on Earth. We’re still not sure who’s smarter Qubit or Modeus but the Big Q seems to have the edge here. Here’s yet another scene:
You see it was all a clever ploy so that the bad man will try to take over my mind. But the bad man doesn’t know that I’m laying in wait with my little trap within my own mind. This is exactly how it happens in my own life.
Meanwhile, I keep on saying “Gawd let it stop” and it turns out that this is the next to the last issue. This is about as good, again not quite at the level of Moore/Ellis, as superhero comics get. You just find yourself thinking that someone as powerful as Superman would be very dangerous to have around. There’s another Bad Superman book called “The Mighty” that makes it look terrifying even when the hero’s body count is just in the low dozens. I suppose its not unlike being targeted by drone strikes.
4.5 out of 5 stars. Just an enthralling read. The art has never been better and nice judicious use of the Kirby Crackle. Can’t wait for this rumored motion comic. It would make for a fantastically dark anti superhero movie as well. What’s Darren Aronofsky doing?
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