All in all, a promising preview of things to come. Read Full Review

This Superman annual delivers plenty of action that has been missing in the regular series. With all the guest appearances and the set up of this story, it's almost as if Superman has entered a Wildstorm comic. Helspont has returned and makes up for his last appearance. He's seems more powerful and is definitely going to cause problems for Superman. There are plenty of other guest appearances that gives the impression this is just the beginning of a major crossover with a bunch of other titles. There might be a tiny bit of confusion if you're not familiar with the other characters but you'll get swept up in the action and be able to find your way. Some of Superman's dialogue and actions felt different from what we've been seeing in the New 52 but then again, we have almost had three different versions of him so far. If these events are leading into the regular series, SUPERMAN is going to be getting a lot more exciting. Read Full Review

So, once again Superman is depressed and defeated, lost and alone, and will probably head over to Diana's pad to cry on her shoulder. Such is the life of the New 52's Superman. How this makes him more appealing, I'll never know. Maybe I'm just finally outgrowing Superman...well, at least this version of him. Read Full Review

This issue accomplishes its purpose of initiating a massive crossover, but it's not a fun trip. Visually, the book is a mess, with awkward postures, inconsistent inking, and occasionally confusing visual flow. The script isn't totally smooth, either, as it teleports suddenly from scene to scene, vacillating between different voices and tones the whole while. There's no way this book is worth five of your hard-earned dollars, so feel free to pass over this one. Read Full Review

On top of the lackluster story, we're also given some art that just doesn't fit. It's not bad art. It's just gritty and harsh. It would fit well in a horror title like 'Swamp Thing' or maybe a Vertigo title, but it just doesn't click at all when it's laid over the Man of Steel. The only redeeming them about this issue that kept it from getting a total stinker score was the decent cover from Kenneth Rocafort. That highly stylized almost anime look goes well with Superman. The rest of what happened this issue… doesn't. Read Full Review

For an introduction to a new creative team, the annual isn't a good harbinger of what's to come. There's some quirky character moments here, and ones that could make for engaging stories, but they're buried under dense plotting, excessive dialogue, and poor visuals. The first year of the New 52 was not kind to Superman. Unfortunately, it looks like the second year is no better. Read Full Review