“Out of the Volcano”
Creative Staff:
Story: Tom Taylor
Art: Clayton Henry
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Wes Abbot
What They Say:
Kal-Els across the Multiverse are being murdered…and the culprit is the man who stole Jon Kent’s childhood! Jon is joined by Earth-2’s Superman, Val-Zod, and a surprise third hero to try to stop Ultraman’s killing spree. But when Jon comes face-to-face with the man who tortured him and kept him imprisoned, he discovers an even greater threat!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As I mentioned with the first issue, I haven’t read much of mainstream DC books for quite a while, preferring to hang around the disconnected continuity books and standalone stuff. But when you show me a book from Tom Taylor, quite possibly my favorite DC writer of the modern era, tackling the character he knows best? Yes, I’ll be interested. Add in Clayton Henry on the artwork? I’ve long enjoyed a lot of their work and getting them to deal with a multiversal opening storyline bringing in different Superman types? Yes, please. And cap that off with the talented Jordie Bellaire on the color design? Bellaire definitely caught my attention many years ago and is someone that when I see their name in the credits I know it’ll be done right.
With a lot of the heavy lifting done in the opening issue that introduced us to not just the characters and their dynamic but also Ultraman traipsing across the multiverse to kill Superman, the second issue is able to get into things quickly. What I like is that Taylor is able to tie back things well for Jon in how the big things in his life have affected him, such as the time spent trapped by Ultraman previously in the volcano and how he’s threatened with that again here. But also the impact of these fights he has to deal with on those close to him, watching as his mother tries to provide advice for Jay about watching Jon go off. It’s a good piece and shows just what stage their relationship is as well. Jon’s still young and we even get that nod about how upset his dad will be that he broke a neutron star lock to get the phantom zone projector.
The trip to where Ultraman is now comes at a cost which is certainly grim and we see very quickly that he’s not taking any chances with people as when they arrive Ultraman basically breaks Red Tornado in half and sends both her and Val to the Phantom Zone while Jon is knocked away. It’s brutal but it reinforces just how powerful he is and how he operates when unlocked. But that’s something that we get a taste of as well from Jon as when he starts to fight back, there’s more power in him than he knows of and how to control, a kind of rage, but it’s wrapped in his disgust over how Ultraman has all this power and near-invulnerability and uses it as he does. It’s an intense fight that comes with a surprising and interesting toward the end that leaves you wondering if Jon is in even deeper trouble now having met the Superman of this universe.
In Summary:
The first issue got me pretty interested in this even though it goes big quickly and that’s usually not my jam unless it’s a limited project. This one has some solid character material and fun action stuff with a cost to it but I love the little nods, such as Val mentioning there aren’t many universes with Jon this age and one of them that he saw was the DCeased timeline. Small stuff like that just delights. But the larger work here is strong and I’m really curious to see where Taylor goes with it next. Henry’s artwork is fantastic and the sense of power that comes from the fight in just a few panels is beautifully done, especially with the color design applied. I’m excited to see more.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: DC Comics
Release Date: April th, 2023
MSRP: $3.99
