Yeah, everything is in fact going sideways for Derek, but I wouldn't say in the best way either for us. Sideways #9 tried, and it only really succeeds in holding our attention when it comes to circling back to the world that is still turning on Earth. A world without Derek stirs the pot a bit and gets everyone asking the same questions about the fate of Mrs. Flynn. Read Full Review

Overall, I'm excited about seeing how this story ends. Both on Earth and in the Dark Multiverse Read Full Review

Issue #9 continues to build on the lore of Sideways while piquing interest towards what comes next. Read Full Review

I honestly forgot New 52 Superman existed and thought he merged into the main thing. But now that hes back, Im super curious what hell do and where hell go. Otherwise, its a pretty standard issue. Read Full Review

This is a very odd comic, sure, but it's lost the coherent storytelling and character focus that made the original arc stand out. Read Full Review

DiDio has a long road ahead of him with this issue and the series itself. Veering the character off into the Dark Multiverse is interesting and intriguing, but there are elements of the character that should still be evolving to the point where this sidetrack makes more sense. Read Full Review

What has made Sideways such a great series over the course of its run is its focus on a genuinely relatable, likable lead. Unfortunately, this issue puts so much more focus on the strange world around him, making Sideways the the B-story of the book, despite all of the intriguing things happening in his life. Read Full Review

While the story represents a bit of a setback for me, the fantastic characterization supported by solid art really helps drive the story forward. Read Full Review

This book is just so dead. The characters aren't interesting anymore and the story is focusing on the totally wrong things. Raynor's bright and fun artwork isn't enough to save this issue, unfortunately. Read Full Review

Dammit DC, It appears that I reviewed this series in the incorrect order. I reviewed #8, Annual #1 and #9 and I was supposed to read it as #8, #9 and then Annual #9. I totally blame editorial for this mistake. The covers don't even give any indication that we're in the middle of a story arc and honestly I didn't feel like I missed anything.

Sideways #9 is the second part of the crossover with the 7 Soldiers of Victory. In the last issue, Zatanna sent Derek away and he ended up with an assorted group of distorted Superman characters. 

The characters are all apparently surviving by allowing themselves to be leached of their lifeforce by a creature known as Perrus. 

Sideways steps in and tell's Perrus to stop this which leads to his being overpowered, knocked unconscious and discarded in the catacombs below. 

One of the characters avoids detections and manages to give Sideways back his powers. The book ends with the lead into the annual and reappearance of New 52 Superman.

In the last few issues of Sideways, we seem to have turned a corner. The stories have been a lot more consistent and interesting. The comic is ultimately a filler issue but even the minor plot details are a lot more interesting. There aren't any real standout moments in this issue but there aren't any bad ones either. 

Max Raynor's art is serviceable. I'm not a huge fan of the pencils here but the colors balance things out. Its an average issue in plot and art direction. The annual builds on this story and gives the arc a satisfying conclusion despite this issue being meh. 
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I liked the funeral scene, didn't care for the second half and I don't understand the cliffhanger.

While the art, like always, loved. Like seriously I want an art work of just Sideways on a t shirt. But the story itself, both A and B plot were eh. Could be last issues fault because had to stop reading this issue and reread last issue.
So the team Derek came there with, does he even remember them?! And his new team could care less about them. There wasn’t any need for Superman to show up in the funeral with Lois. Just reminded me “hey the annual that is coming out in couple of weeks is featuring New 52 Superman” by doing that, the cliffhanger at the end, was predictable. Though am curious to if he’s the real deal and how he got there.
Unfortunately the art can’t save this issue from what should keep me warm when the cold kicks in and I should build a fire more

This dialogue is really bad. I still don't care about any of the characters and I don't think I'm really supposed to, since this group will most likely be forgotten like the Seven Soldiers were.

Worst writing I have read for this comic.
Story-Very lacking
Characters-Worst than before
Art-Still poorly drawn but well drawn to be poorly
Cover-Foil to be a foil

I don’t care about any of these soon-to-be-dead characters.