Superman #9

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Joe Prado, Ivan Reis Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: March 13, 2019 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 22 User Reviews: 43
7.2Critic Rating
5.2User Rating

The secrets of the house of El are revealed as the Unity Saga continues! Traveling through space, young Jon Kent has faced everything the universe could throw at him, but after an accident sends him and his grandfather Jor-El across dimensions, the new Superboy comes face to face with a terrifyingly evil version of his own father: Ultraman and his horrible version of the Justice League, the Crime Syndicate! Find out what happened to Superman's father and how Jon made it back home from this strange and crime-ridden alternate world.

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford Mar 13, 2019

    With this book stopping on another cliffhanger, which I'm sure will put poor Jon through even more trouble, I am eagerly anticipating the next issue. What's more, my enthusiasm is equally pulled by my desire to find out what lies beyond the "at the moment" struggles Jon is dealing with, to the greater threat that has been hinted at. And here lies the only danger this book has going forward. While I'm excited for now, I do hope Bendis doesn't overplay his hand or get too bogged down with side adventures, but this concern remains to be seen. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Black Nerd Problems - Brandon Lawrence Mar 13, 2019

    There is beautiful terror in the visuals. The team does an uncanny job of being able to tell such a dialogue/monologue heavy story but seamlessly weave in stunning art. There is a panel with Ultraman grabbing Jon's head and screaming at him where the fury and terror radiates off the page. This recap only does this book so much justice. It's definitely a book you should read and read slow. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comicsverse - Maite Molina Mar 13, 2019

    SUPERMAN #9 is exactly what this series needed as Bendis presents an astonishing tale depicting Superboy's will and grit. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck Mar 16, 2019

    I've had doubts about the wisdom of injecting a super-son into the Man of Steel equation, but so far it's been a very entertaining turn. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Mar 13, 2019

    The art by Ivan Reis and Brandon Peterson is amazing. There is definitely more action and visual drama in this issue than others and both artists deliver some beautiful visuals throughout. Read Full Review

  • 8.4
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Mar 15, 2019

    Hopefully he picks up the pace a bit. He works with some really amazing artists but it can be better. Right now I'm losing a bit of interest. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comic Book Corps - Tom Zimm Mar 13, 2019

    Even though I'm not interested in The Crime Syndicate as a concept, I trust the story in the hands of the writer Brian Michael Bendis. The foreshadowing of a possible unified moment for the Justice League, the larger DC Universe, including The Zod Family is an interesting tidbit and piques my interest. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    DC Comics News - Derek McNeil Mar 14, 2019

    I really want to hate Bendis' Superman, but he's making it so difficult by writing engaging stories that are fun to read, despite my apprehension about his overall direction. I don't know what Bendis' endgame is, or whether I'll like the status quo that results for the Kent family, but I am enjoying the ride so far. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Fandom Post - Chris Beveridge Apr 2, 2020

    Though Superman himself is a small part of the book we do get a good look at the Crime Syndicate version of him and there's definitely a lot of psychological issues at play there that Jon's exposed to. It's a pretty solid issue in showing part of Jon's journey on that alternate Earth and all that it entailed with some good seriousness and creativity on his part. Bendis works the overall concept well and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next part is like as I've always enjoyed the Crime Syndicate. Reis and Peterson continue to delight me with how the book looks as we get Clark but not quite through Ultraman and the differences in expressiveness covers a lot of important ground in doing this. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    AIPT - Ritesh Babu Mar 13, 2019

    Superman soars as an emotional family drama built around the theme of unity and the struggles that come with that. It's exactly what Superman's always been about. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Infinite Earths - J.D. Jr. Mar 13, 2019

    Grim and dark with a brimming beam of light at its center in the always loveable Jonathan Kent. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicBook.com - Christian Hoffer Mar 13, 2019

    Like other Bendis stories, this issue feels a bit decompressed, but it's still the best Superman we've read in years. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comic Watch - Brian Arbizo Mar 17, 2019

    Jon continues to tell Superman and Lois his epic return to Earth. Bendis is hitting the story out of the ballpark, keeping readers intrigued. Read Full Review

  • 7.3
    Sequential Planet - Ethan Maddux Mar 13, 2019

    Bendis has a strong handle on these characters, and the art team is constantly upping their game. If you've liked this run so far, then there is plenty for you to enjoy here. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    On Comics Ground - Melissa Privette Mar 13, 2019

    Jon is held captive in Ultraman's volcano on Earth-3, and escapes to the Hall of Justice, only to be accosted by another blast from the past. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Comic Crusaders - Jeffrey Bracey Mar 19, 2019

    The art however is a thing of beauty in this comic. Each story segment is handled by different artists given each a distinctive feel and look. Both sets do a grand job from pencils to inks to colors I have no complaints. In particular I love the way Reis draws capes. If you are gonna do Superman comics you gotta draw some awesome capes. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Comic Book Bin - Philip Schweier Mar 13, 2019

    Granted, I'm the kind of comic book reader that would probably complain that an ongoing series had detoured into a miniseries, crying foul as a ploy to sell more books. But in this case, there just seem to be a lot of superfluous breaks, jumping back to Superman and Lois for no obvious reason. Here's hoping it will all be explained at the end. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Mar 19, 2019

    So after an issue of emotional torture by his 'father', my guess is we will have an issue of physical torture from Jon's 'mother'. And I don't know if I want to read that any more than I wanted to read this. I guess I have to wait this one out. I hope, somehow, that Jon is still that happy-go-lucky kid who was a foil to Damian. But I can't imagine that is true. Who'd think that I would miss Rogol Zaar? Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Mar 13, 2019

    The Crime Syndicate is back!........... and that's as far as we get of an explanation to how that's possible.  The art is amazing here, but someone really needs to inform Brian Michael Bendis on what's been going on in the DC Universe over the past couple of years.  Even with my continuity concerns put to the side for a second, there really wasn't much to this issue at all. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Mar 13, 2019

    I really think DC needed to just give Bendis one of the Superman books. He does a great job on Action Comics, but his Superman is so disjointed and dull that it's hard to justify being interested in the next string of issues. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Mar 13, 2019

    The previous two issues won me over because Jon still seemed mostly the same. This issue casts a dark pall over that in a way that will be hard to fix. Read Full Review

  • 3.0
    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth Mar 13, 2019

    Superman #9 is a Bendis book through and through, and that's it's the biggest problem. Visual storytelling is about showing, not telling, and Bendis has always ignored that lesson completely. This issue wastes a lot of pages talking about Ultraman visiting Jon, a plot point that seemingly goes nowhere, that could have been better used showing Jon's journey through Earth-3. Ivan Reis art is hit or miss, but Peterson is shining right now. There's a glimmer of some good characterization for Jon in this one, but Bendis wastes it. That glimmer and Peterson's art are the high points of the book, but they aren't enough to save it. This issue had potential, but Bendis squandered it by indulging his base tendencies as a writer. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Dorival Mar 13, 2019

    I like the Crime Syndicate of America by Bendis.

  • 7.5
    rayonymous Aug 24, 2019

    I like the Crime Syndicate and this isn't a bad portrayal in my honest opinion. What I found average is that how Jon was able to overcome great odds, I don't know it may be the will to get back home or something but it should have been more detailed.

  • 7.5
    Andrea D’Alò Mar 13, 2019

    Bendis is a good writer, he’s so good, and he has a lot of plans for Superman and his cast, he is doing very well on Action Comics because I think he founds more easy to write an urban story instead a “Multiversal one” (if you know what I mean), but with the leading title of Supes he is alterning good issues to “Meh” ones, this is one of the second category.
    Bendis has a lot of plans but if his plans are too big?
    The story is wide ,and that’s a good thing, but sometimes you can loose the “control” of your characters.
    I don’t know, I see it like this.
    Bad away the issue is good and entertaining, Reis does a great work in the present scenes, Peterson is not in his best form but still keeps the attention more

    + LikeComments (1)
  • 7.0
    egonnn244 Mar 13, 2019

    "You have any kryptonite on you?"

    This is the second time that we see in this series a Kryptonian survivor having some vision/dream of an idyllic, peaceful future. I wonder where this will lead to. And if Bendis wants to give Superman and Lois a little baby girl in the future, I'm on board.
    The rest of the issue shows us how Jon was enjoying Ultraman's hospitality. It wasn't bad. Superboy had a warm bed, enjoyed meals rich with meat and got to spar with the host. Not bad, although it seems that Ultraman is one foul-mouthed fellow.

    This issue was better than the last one. Silly/cringy dialogue from the previous issue is mostly gone, we get to see Jon use his smarts and wits to escape and I got used to his "adult" v more

    + LikeComments (13)
  • 6.5
    DGalek12 Mar 29, 2019

    Apart from the great looking cover and pencil work by Reis, this issue was a poor continuation from previous. I really want to care about what happens next, but these issues are becoming boring really fast. It feels as though Bendis is trying to tell us a story but, he's stretching it out. He needs to get to the point fast.
    The only thing that keeps me coming back to this series, is Reis and hopes that Bendis will turn this around.

  • 6.0
    waltgator93 Mar 13, 2019

    This story how Grandpa is “crazy” seems to be getting out of hand. Unfortunately any respect you had for Ultraman is going out the window as you read this issue. Artwork is about 7/10.

    + LikeComments (1)
  • 4.5
    Darkblazy Mar 13, 2019

    Me molesta mucho ver a Jon en este estado tan lamentable.

    Parece que Bendis solo quiere lastimarlo

  • 4.0
    Psycamorean Mar 16, 2019

    That full page of Ultraman with Jon's dialogue over the bulk of the page is so Bendis, it's unreal. I don't like Bendis anymore.

  • 3.5
    InsanePeasant Mar 13, 2019

    Maybe they'll explain later but really poor use of continuity in this series. How is Earth 3 still a thing? Probably the same reason why Superman trusted his unhinged father after the Oz Effect. "because bendis."

  • 2.5
    Spacey Medicine Apr 5, 2019

    Nope. No thanks. No.

  • 2.0
    RBL Mar 13, 2019

    I sure made a good call to expect nothing from the appearance of the Crime Syndicate last issue, because that’s what was delivered!
    This issue was pointless, had little substance, as much filler as the “Knightmares” arc happening on Batman.
    Do not purchase this issue, in fact I daresay don’t even read it, it’s not worth the time:

    The best part of the issue is Superman’s dream/hallucination of a Kryptonian future. This occurs with no rhyme or reason, a “tease” of an upcoming storyline which fails to generate any interest due to the sheer senselessness of it all; Jon apparently takes quite some damage in this future losing an arm and an eye, that sure is a happy future. Cue first facepalm. Presumably the L more

  • 1.0
    PeteRick Mar 13, 2019

    Anyone still thinking this is a masterpiece?

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  • 1.0
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  • 1.0
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  • 1.0
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