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Superman (2023-) #1: House of Brainiac Special
HOUSE OF BRAINIAC PART 2.5 An essential issue in the Action Comics/Superman crossover as Brainiac’s secret history with Lobo and Czarnia is revealed! How did Brainiac create a Bottled City of Czarnia?Who steps up to protect Metropolis after Brainiac’s army leaves it in ruins? Will Lois Lane confront Perry White about his own secrets as he runs for mayor of Metropolis? And how is Amanda Waller involved in all of this? All these questions are answered in this crucial issue that connects to DC’s Superman-Sized event! Meanwhile, Bibbo steps up! With the heroes gone and a city in need of some champions, our favorite bartender organizes the community to save their beloved home.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
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4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 22, 2024
*3.5/5
May 1, 2024
This issue is comprised of 3 mini-stories meant to provide insights on how the current Brainiac storyline is playing out across parts of the DC Universe we haven’t seen yet.
Superman scribe Joshua Williamson helms the 1st & 3rd stories & writes them as if they’re part of Brainiac’s mission log. The 1st story provides background on the villain’s past conquests on Krypton & Czarnia, giving readers some more explanation of why Lobo is involved. The 3rd story sheds more light on how Amanda Waller fits into Brainiac’s plans. It was easily my least favorite of the 3. Neither of these stories was groundbreaking or felt like they’ll have major payoffs later on, acting more as fillers for some event-specific world building.
Mark Russell joins the fray for the middle story & focuses on Perry White’s struggling mayoral campaign. This one gets an outsized amount of pages compared to Williamson’s, and it’s a not-so-subtle metaphor for the US’s current state of political discourse, using the anti-Supers fever spreading through Metropolis as a stand-in for the rise in hatred against almost any minority group over the past few years. This isn’t anything new for comics, though Russell executes it well here.
Even though the 3 stories weren’t home runs, the art teams nailed the visuals throughout the entire book. Artists Edwin Galmon, Steve Pugh, & Fico Ossio, & colorists Jordie Bellaire & Rex Lokus bring a level of life to all three stories that the scripts alone couldn’t achieve & deserve a lot of credit for making this book worthwhile.
Overall, this was a fine, if unspectacular addition to the House of Brainiac arc. The main story has been great enough so far that I’m not mad that this was a short distraction, but I can defnitely say I’m ready to get back into the main plot.
Superman scribe Joshua Williamson helms the 1st & 3rd stories & writes them as if they’re part of Brainiac’s mission log. The 1st story provides background on the villain’s past conquests on Krypton & Czarnia, giving readers some more explanation of why Lobo is involved. The 3rd story sheds more light on how Amanda Waller fits into Brainiac’s plans. It was easily my least favorite of the 3. Neither of these stories was groundbreaking or felt like they’ll have major payoffs later on, acting more as fillers for some event-specific world building.
Mark Russell joins the fray for the middle story & focuses on Perry White’s struggling mayoral campaign. This one gets an outsized amount of pages compared to Williamson’s, and it’s a not-so-subtle metaphor for the US’s current state of political discourse, using the anti-Supers fever spreading through Metropolis as a stand-in for the rise in hatred against almost any minority group over the past few years. This isn’t anything new for comics, though Russell executes it well here.
Even though the 3 stories weren’t home runs, the art teams nailed the visuals throughout the entire book. Artists Edwin Galmon, Steve Pugh, & Fico Ossio, & colorists Jordie Bellaire & Rex Lokus bring a level of life to all three stories that the scripts alone couldn’t achieve & deserve a lot of credit for making this book worthwhile.
Overall, this was a fine, if unspectacular addition to the House of Brainiac arc. The main story has been great enough so far that I’m not mad that this was a short distraction, but I can defnitely say I’m ready to get back into the main plot.
February 17, 2025
Ok, that actually wasn't bad. The bookend stories with Brainiac were a little too related to other comics I haven't read for them to have much of an impact on me, but I see how they hint of things to come, especially with Amanda Waller and the whole Absolute Power story that I'm afraid I won't care that much about, either.
It's the middle story of this issue, by Mark Russell, that actually makes this one stick out. At first it just seems like another lazy political commentary on how everything sucks and people are monsters now, but eventually it gets to the heart of what makes people hold on to some hope, and why we might still be able to change from the society we've become. I thought it was poignant and well done, and I'll probably remember it more than any of this actual event silliness that I've read so far.
Who would have ever thought Bibbo, the neighborhood drunk, or at least bar owner, would be the voice of reason? You see how he has been at the bar his whole life, watching the neighborhood change around him, and he sees that as a good thing. More change means more people able to express themselves. Nothing ever stayed the same and forced others who came later to change themselves to comform to it. He saw the families that came and went as miracles, and that's a beautiful thing. That's the kind of story I'd actually want to read comics for, though this is not the place I expected to find it. I have heard that Superman is a hopeful hero, and maybe that's part of the allure I've been missing all this time.
It's the middle story of this issue, by Mark Russell, that actually makes this one stick out. At first it just seems like another lazy political commentary on how everything sucks and people are monsters now, but eventually it gets to the heart of what makes people hold on to some hope, and why we might still be able to change from the society we've become. I thought it was poignant and well done, and I'll probably remember it more than any of this actual event silliness that I've read so far.
Who would have ever thought Bibbo, the neighborhood drunk, or at least bar owner, would be the voice of reason? You see how he has been at the bar his whole life, watching the neighborhood change around him, and he sees that as a good thing. More change means more people able to express themselves. Nothing ever stayed the same and forced others who came later to change themselves to comform to it. He saw the families that came and went as miracles, and that's a beautiful thing. That's the kind of story I'd actually want to read comics for, though this is not the place I expected to find it. I have heard that Superman is a hopeful hero, and maybe that's part of the allure I've been missing all this time.
July 7, 2024
It is ok, but the Brainiac parts of this issue do not bring anything that could not have fit within a few pages of Superman or Action Comics. And the main story is about Perry's campaign for mayor office and is very classic. Mostly just a way to sell an additional $6 book in the middle of the event.
May 4, 2024
I wish special or annual issues would accomplish more than they do. This is an excellent storyline but I think the breadth of this issue is wasted on back story information. Basically this is a setup issue and I think more could have been accomplished.
May 27, 2024
Superman is barely in this. But the three stories are great. The political messaging, which runs concurrent to our political situation, is well done. I even enjoyed Waller being helpful ish for a change.
May 1, 2024
I loved the insight into Brainiac. How he thinks and learn. It sets up the next step quite nicely. Screw Waller. I hope she falls.
August 13, 2024
Well this sucked. Boring as hell and unneeded for the event even if they said "MUST READ FOR EVENT" That is a fucking lie.
July 9, 2025
I really like the art.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews