Superman issue #18 (aka Reborn part 1) (spoilers)

[Superlad93]

Whoa........

So like, even though I literally knew what was going to happen due to the bombardment of previews.....dat emotional gut punch, though.

First off, the voice for Superman in this issue is great. You feel the building dread and desperation in his voice being masked with man of action "don't worry we'll pull through" clam and reason. Clark not being able to solve the situation with either physicality or brains leaves him in a state of helplessness that we hardly ever see him in. And the worst part (for him. For me, it's amazing to watch) is that one of the most important beings in the universe to him is on the line.

The ending image of Superman and Lois looking like "when we find that dude, it's his @$$" is the actual best. These two are straight up doers, and heaven help to unlucky fool who gets in their way.

But with all that said, I think my favorite part is the image of the Smith house being "burned" down as they sit outside. That image is pretty striking for how comparatively small it is.

Super pumped for Action next week!

[Dolores - The Worst Poster Ever]

So what was going on with the picture book at the end, with the pictures having vanished?

[Superlad93]

As far as I can tell, it's an indication that Superman's life is in flux. Remember how Jon notes that he's not in any of the pictures? Well, I'm assuming that by the end of this arc he will be in quite a few of them, and Clark's classic suit will (unfortunately) be replaced by the hybrid suit seen on the Action Comics cover post Reborn.

Basically, it'll likely be used to bookend the arc.

[Dolores - The Worst Poster Ever]

As far as I can tell, it's an indication that Superman's life is in flux. Remember how Jon notes that he's not in any of the pictures? Well, I'm assuming that by the end of this arc he will be in quite a few of them, and Clark's classic suit will (unfortunately) be replaced by the hybrid suit seen on the Action Comics cover post Reborn.

Basically, it'll likely be used to bookend the arc.

That makes sense.

Continuity rewrites galore.

[Miles To Go]

I enjoyed the issue, though sometimes the art felt a little choppy and kind of peaked after the scenes with Oz and the prison.

Aside from that, it was capitivating stuff. Jon asking where he is in the pictures makes sense seeing he'd be barely aware of the circumstnaces of his birth and his parent's previous lives before Convergence (looks like Oz or somebody may have that talk with him about the hows and whys of his existence)

The desperation of Superman is great to see, a real vulnerability as he does everything to protect Jon against something that ultimatley claims him, but I also enjoyed looking at the determined and vengeful looks on Lois and Clark's faces...they're united no matter what and they're going to get to the heart of the matter like good parents/journalists do, Clark knows there is hope yet to find Jon.

A modestly good start, though I think too much was given away in the last week leading up to it via previews, but what can you do?

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

As far as I can tell, it's an indication that Superman's life is in flux. Remember how Jon notes that he's not in any of the pictures? Well, I'm assuming that by the end of this arc he will be in quite a few of them, and Clark's classic suit will (unfortunately) be replaced by the hybrid suit seen on the Action Comics cover post Reborn.

Basically, it'll likely be used to bookend the arc.

So, the whole point is to say that Superman's continuity is the exact same as it was before Flashpoint, but that he's now always been sans-trunks? Is that literally the only reason for all this?

[Superlad93]

So, the whole point is to say that Superman's continuity is the exact same as it was before Flashpoint, but that he's now always been sans-trunks? Is that literally the only reason for all this?

Well, no. The point is to add Jon and the current family into continuity as if it'd always been the norm. Taking the trunks away is an am unfortunate byproduct of the instance on keeping vague shards of the New 52.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

Well, no. The point is to add Jon and the current family into continuity as if it'd always been the norm. Taking the trunks away is an am unfortunate byproduct of the instance on keeping vague shards of the New 52.

No, I mean, all that stuff in the scrapbook is decidedly from before Jon was even born and its also decidedly a reflection of Superman's Pre-Flashpoint life. My question is, is basically all that stuff, as in all those experiences, going to be recanonized but they're just going to say that Supes never wore the red trunks? And as for Jon, are they going to do the same thing for all stories past a certain point (maybe all stories after 2005) and simply say that they happened the same way, but that Lois and Clark had Jon and he was just chilling out in the background?

Think sort of like a reverse OMD. Marvel said that everything that happened to Peter and MJ during those 20 years of marriage still happened, but that they simply weren't married. So, could DC be doing the same with Superman and Lois, saying that everything told before Flashpoint with them happened, but that they also had Jon?

[Miles To Go]

So, the whole point is to say that Superman's continuity is the exact same as it was before Flashpoint, but that he's now always been sans-trunks? Is that literally the only reason for all this?

"Mr. Kent, why aren't you wearing any pants?"

The big questions coming out of Reborn people

[Last Son of Krypton]

Wow, they spoiled pretty much everything about the issue.

What can I add? I'm sure SuperCrab will love the ending.

[RedWhiteAndBlueSupes]

So, the whole point is to say that Superman's continuity is the exact same as it was before Flashpoint, but that he's now always been sans-trunks? Is that literally the only reason for all this?

His trunks will still be in continuity after. DC editorial wouldn't plop a big helping of post crisis going back to Kent's mini series etc. To just screw that up two issues later.

Well, no. The point is to add Jon and the current family into continuity as if it'd always been the norm. Taking the trunks away is an am unfortunate byproduct of the instance on keeping vague shards of the New 52.

I doubt it, DC is showing us everything from Barry's classic Flash suit to Wondey's golden eagle armor, the trunks will stay in continuity. It's too early to bring back classic costumes. Whatever happens we know its the same Superman that comes out the other end...So by this thought process Superman would remember raising a family and also remember being another person the whole time? Uh no. Or yeah, he could be retconned to be "the norm" but that would erase the New 52 Supes from existence as a separate character, doesn't look like that's happening. Every other character still remembers New 52 supes and they don't look like they're primed to forget about him anytime soon. Jon is 10, the new 52 DCU is what? maybe 7 at most, that doesn't even make sense. So while DC is busy reinstating pre-flashpoint history to every other character they're going to pull a 180 with Superman and retcon his history that was only reintroduced (to great acclaim) less than a year ago? Methinks not

[Miles To Go]

he could be retconned to be "the norm" but that would erase the New 52 Supes from existence as a separate character, doesn't look like that's happening. Every other character still remembers New 52 supes and they don't look like they're primed to forget about him anytime soon.

I would'nt be too sure about that. They remember him right now, but those stories all take place before Reborn. We know from Wonder Woman's annual a new version of the Trinity's initial meeting will take place, as I've mentioned before in this thread.