Superwoman #3 Review – Ticking Time Bomb
I’m going to have to accept it. As much as I don’t want to, I have to accept it. Lois Lane is dead. The original Superwoman is dead, and this is not one of those times where she will magically come back. The other Lois Lane is here, married to the other Clark Kent/Superman, and they have a kid together, Superboy. There is no room for more than one Clark or more than one Lois, apparently. That said, I’m really wondering if there will be no Superwomen at all soon.
Before Lois Lane turned to literal dust, she was experiencing heavy nosebleeds whenever she pushed herself using her new powers. Now we have no idea if the two incidents are correlated at all, but it is a crazy coincidence that suddenly Lana Lang is getting similar nosebleeds. It’s also curious why, at the moment of Lois’ death, she called out Clark’s name and said she understood. Part of me wonders if that means she’s not dead (the hopeful part), but another part thinks that she’s saying she understands what happened to him. It’s very possible that she said his name in realization she would join him.
I mention all this, because if the nosebleeds are connected to Lois’ powers burning her out, then one of two things will happen to the Superwoman series:
- Lana Lang will also die, ending the series; or
- Lois Lane will return like a Phoenix, which suggests that Superman might also return.
Both are crazy theories, and they’re just that–theories. Only time will tell if either pans out. There could be a third possibility that Lana figures out how to keep it all under control and she lives on. I kind of hope for that theory, but I really want Lois to return.
I want Lois Lane to come back. Seriously, something is wrong with me.
But the nosebleeds are only a small portion of what happens in this comic issue. This one focuses a lot on Lex and Lena Luthor as she explains how she is still alive, how she saved herself (I still don’t really understand how), and why she blames him for everything. I have to wonder how much of what she is saying is true as well as how much of what Lex is saying is true. He claims everything he has done was to help her because he loves her. She claims everything he did was for his own benefit.
But now she is even more super intelligent than she was before, has created her own Bizarro army of Superwomen, and has recreated herself as Ultrawoman.
I really feel like I have missed a lot of vital info from Final Days of Superman, Action Comics, and past Superman comic series. Maybe then I’d understand why Lena is able to create Bizzaro Superwomen. Maybe I’d understand what Lex was doing. Or maybe I wouldn’t at all. Maybe I’m supposed to smile and nod and wait for the next issue to explain more.
I do know one thing, and it’s that this panel is funny.
Atomic Skull broke out of prison thanks to a blackout created by Lena Luthor. He came to Superwoman and Man of Steel begging for help in regards to the torture going on at the LexCorp-run facility. Lana was surprisingly uncaring about the treatment at the prison, which I’m sure will come back to mean something major in upcoming issues.
I also have to add that I’ve really enjoyed the pin-up alternate covers for this series. I’m normally not a pin-up girl fan, but these have all been done very nicely.
Title: Superwoman #3
Author – Phil Jimenez
Artists – Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Phil Jimenez, Jeromy Cox
Publisher – DC Comics
Publish Date – 10/12/16
Acquired via purchase
