Writer: Mark Russell
Art: Michael “Spike” Allred
Colors: Laura Allred
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $9.99
Release Date: February 21st, 2023
Superman: Space Age #3 concludes the epic mini-series which, like Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman mini-series and Alan Moore’s “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?”, combines the wonder and joy of Silver and Bronze age Superman comics with modern sensibilities. It wrestles with issues of mortality and fate in a lovely and sometimes heart-breaking way.
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The Story
Superman: Space Age has focused on two versions of Superman: the Superman of Earth 832654-Z (who’s the last surviving being on Earth after all the humans were killed) and Earth 203495-B (where everyone is still alive, but Pariah has warned Superman that in the near future, Earth will be destroyed and there’s nothing he can do about it).
The mini-series alternated between the two Supermen, with Earth 832654-Z Superman dealing with a Kang-like parliament of Braniacs, who are trying to recruit him for their own plans, and the Earth 203495-B Superman, who fights crime and protects humanity through the years of the 1960’s to the 1980’s.
Superman: Space Age #3 mostly focuses on the Earth 203495-B Superman and that Earth as it heads closer to their apocalypse. I love this version of Superman, who’s eternally hopeful and optimistic, very much the Superman from those great old 1970’s Curt Swan comics, fighting on and trying to think of some plan to save his Earth from the Crisis event that’s coming. What’s even more fascinating are the other characters in the book. Lex Luthor is more like a mafia boss here than the super-villain he’s been in the past, which makes him even more sinister. He’s manipulative, brutal and craves power and money above all else, which brings him into conflict with Bruce Wayne again throughout this issue. Lex covets Bruce’s wealth and corporation and he’ll do any dirty thing to get it. On this Earth, Lex is far more obsessed with Bruce Wayne than Superman.
Bruce seems to prefer handling most problems as Bruce Wayne rather than throwing on the Bat costume. Batman seems more like a hobby to him than an obsession. He’s more dark and brooding as Bruce than he is as Batman, which is a fun switch from the Earth-Prime Batman. It makes me want to see a spin-off series starring this Earth’s Bruce Wayne, battling Lex Luthor and his own rogue’s gallery through James Bond-style espionage. This Earth’s Joker also makes an appearance, and has a tragic backstory much different from the Earth-Prime Joker. This issue, we get a stunning final confrontation between Bruce Wayne (yes, Bruce Wayne, not Batman) and the Joker and you’ll never be able to predict how it ends.
What I love most about this issue (and the mini-series) is how it handles the transition of time. Where the first issue is bright and goofy in the 60’s, then to the more grounded but fun decade of the 70’s, here (in the 1980’s), there’s an impending feeling of doom and everything just seems more grim. Reading this mini-series, it reminded me of how I felt back in the 1980’s when the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” mini-series was first announced, and I feared the characters I loved would never be the same after that. Through it all, we get some great family moments with Superman, Lois and their son, Ma and Pa Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. Jor-El (in holographic form) also factors heavily in the story, as Superman works with him in a desperate attempt to formulate a solution to the impending “Crisis” and save the Earth. All these moments made this Earth feel like a living breathing world, none of the characters ever feel two-dimensional or cheap knockoffs of Earth-Prime characters.
The Art
Mike and Laura Allred’s art on Superman: Space Age #3 is a perfect fit for this Silver Age-style story. It’s beautiful pop-art that instantly makes the reader feel nostalgic.
I love how several of the heroes are drawn, especially Batman, who looks like his costume doesn’t quite fit right. It’s a bit baggy and looks like something that was knitted on the spot by a young guy trying to self-fashion a costume. Wonder Woman looks like she leaped right out of an old All-Star Comics issue, looking mythic and lovely as ever.
All the scenes with Bruce Wayne/Batman are subtly darker and more atmospheric. All the Superman scenes are bright and colorful, providing a great contrast between the two characters.
The Fortress of Solitude, which is the background for many scenes this issue, is a beautiful ice palace, very much like how it was portrayed in the 70’s and 80’s Superman films. As Superman works on a way to avert the Crisis, he has holograms of DNA strains and flickering computer monitors everywhere, lending nice swaths of color and contrast to the icy surroundings.
Final Thoughts
Superman: Space Age #3 is a fantastic finale that’s filled with humor, heart-breaking moments and grand adventure. This is the best Superman story I’ve read in a long time, a beautiful tribute to the classic stories of years gone by, and I’ll be re-reading and visiting this Earth many more times to come. Highly recommended.