Superman #670

"Superman" issue #670 brings to a conclusion the three-part "The Third Kryptonian" story line. The entire Superman family is present including new additions Chris Kent and Karsta Wor-Ul - the third Kryptonian in question. This is an action packed issue reminiscent of the old "Superman Family" adventures during the Silver Age. In the middle of the battle Karsta flies away leaving Superman, Supergirl, Powergirl, Krypto, and Batman left to fight her battle. Her return to the battle is inevitable and aptly timed as well. Writer Kurt Busiek does a fine job of moving the action forward and concluding this three part story. Busiek continues to weave his perception of Superman's post Crisis reality showing that Red Sun doesn't strip Superman's powers it just blocks his ability to access them. Artificial Kryptonite is also introduced. Now, I'm not a continuity nut but can Kryptonians breath in space? Post COIE Superman needed a breathing appartus. In the most recent Supergirl we get the 2-hour limit. In this issue Karsta flies off into space unaided....what's the deal? I also found the whole Kandor explanation a bit hard to swallow and look forward to Busiek or Johns pulling on this thread.

Rick Leonardi and Dan Green's art captures the action well and provides one of the better representations of Supergirl and Powergirl. I also liked Jesus Merino's cover and wouldn't mind getting a poster size version of it.

All in all, the three parter was a fun read and I would recommend it.

Superman #668 & #669

Superman #668 kicks off "The Third Kryptonian" story line and writer Kurt Busiek is going very SciFi. Superman is on a search for the third Kryptonian on Earth that he found out about when the Auctioneer came calling. He has ruled out Power Girl and, with the help of Batman, is going X-Files searching for the truth. Busiek provides a brief interlude to futher flesh out the Chris Kent character. Chris' interactions with both Batman and Robin are nicely done. Along the way we get to meet the protagonist of the story, Amalak, who has an interest in all things Kryptonian. The art by penciller Rick Leaonardi and inker Dan Green good with capturing both the youth of Chris and Robin and the maturity of Superman and Batman.

Issue # 669 introduces Kristen Wells as the third Kryptonian and she packs quite a wallop. Busiek takes the reader on a tour of post-Infinite Crisis Kryptonian history and I think he does a fine job of melding the John Bryne Utopian version with the Geoff Johns/Richard Donner military versus science of the Zod era. Busiek really cuts loose with the SciFi in this issue and weaves a very interesting tale of how Kristen Wells ended up on Earth. She does not have the morale center of Superman or the innocence of Supergirl and provides a stark contrast to Superman's ethical code. The issue ends with Amalak finding both Superman and Kristen and threatening the end of all Kryptonians. I'm looking forward to the next issue and seeing where this all goes.