The Psi-War epic begins! Psi-War erupts as Hector Hammond tries to take control of H.I.V.E. from its queen, but there are other forces in play as well, as a new Psycho Pirate emerges, and Superman is caught in the middle, unable to protect those closest to him.
This read very much like a Lobdell book so Johnson kept the feel of the story unruffled. And I actually think that Merino can channel Barrows enough to keep the book looking slick. I have enjoyed this Psi-War arc making the imminent Krypton Returns that much more scary in my mind. The lingering questions I have involve these members of The Twenty staving off death and mutation as well as Superman's mental blocks no longer working. Read Full Review
The Psi War is on. Superman #23 may lack a lot of Superman, but it makes up for it with great action and art. Mike Johnson and Jesus Merino make a splash in what I hope is a continuing partnership on the Superman in the future. Read Full Review
While the plot certainly is well executed, it doesn't feature Superman prominently. Strange, to say the least. A good chunk of the issue is dedicated to the H.I.V.E. Queen's battle against Hector Hammond, which is where Jesus Merino shines. The Queen shows off some visually impressive moves that make her a formidable foe, while Hammond mind controls some civilians, giving them huge heads just like his. Merino makes it a striking visual because it's hilarious to see those angry giant heads running about, but also deeply unsettling because, well, look at their heads! Read Full Review
Indeed, beginning a crossover the week before the much lauded “Villain's month” seems largely counter-intuitive. As none of the issues are set to feature the psionic-based villains, it'll be a full 5 weeks until the story is followed up in “Action Comics” #24. Still, the story marks an interesting change of pace from what Lobdell's run has been up to this point, and offers a genuine trial for Superman to face. Read Full Review
Although there are a number of positives with the birth of the Psionic War storyline, the uneven pacing of the artwork leaves the reader questioning the overall creative management of the Superman series. There are enough surprises to keep the reader engaged and interested in the continuation of the arc, but the artwork has to live up to the hype the story is currently pushing forward. Read Full Review
The reveal of Psycho Pirate at the end is a good one, and definitely makes me curious for his interaction with Superman next issue. Unfortunately, Superman #23 doesn't give enough of a taste of what that conversation may be like, and uses Psycho Pirate's narration only to assist the basic storytelling. Read Full Review
In Superman #23, Mike Johnson writes a good Superman but the story isn't anything special. Jesus Merino does a fine job with pencils, but some paneling can hurt how the story flows. Read Full Review
Psi-War gets off to a bit of a slow start, which is fine, because tons of stories have set up issues. We do get a surprise cameo at the end of the book which should lead into an interesting second part. Heres to hoping expectations will be met. Read Full Review
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