Batman’s definitive artist Neal Adams picks up where Superman’s definitive artist, Curt Swan left off stylistically in Superman: The Coming of the Supermen. In this six-issue miniseries penned by Adams and Tony Bedard and colored by Alex Sinclair the Supermen are three supposed Kyrptonians with the powers of the Man of Steel but none of his finesse.
The three superpowered beings landed in Iowa looking for the Superman, reaching out for his help but only before being connected with him are confronted by Parademons and Kalibak who have invaded earth and Lois Lane is playing color commentator for WGBS as the events unfold.
All-the-while, Superman is in a Middle Eastern war zone, saving innocents from becoming collateral damage. Superman rescues an orphan Muslim boy named Rafi and his dog Isa but is also met by a Jinn who directs him to the past and the connection between Earth and Apokolips. The story ends on that cliffhanger questioning who these other Supermen are and what the connection is between the two worlds including the ancient past.
For as fun of a throwback to a 1970s style story that Coming of the Supermen is, there are a couple of issues with the story and the art. In regards to the little Muslim orphan boy and his dog. Rafi is a Christian name, not a Muslim one and no one would ever name their dog Isa either. Isa is another name for Jesus in formal Arabic that is used by both Christians and Muslims in the Middle East. His name is featured quite a bit in the Quran and it would be a great insult to Islam to name a dog after such a prominent religious figure.
As for the art, Adams is still one of the best in the business but whenever an artist inks their own work, it takes away from what could be enhanced by a second set of eyes. What made Adams’ work pop before was the inking of Dick Giordano. Those final strokes are what made Batman come to life, and an added touch like that would have made this Superman book just that much better.
Superman: The Coming of the Supermen is out today online and at your local comic shop.