24 Hour Comics Reviewing Day, Hour Twenty-Three: Superman #656

SUPERMAN #656: This comic is fun. Strong action and characterization (plus a well-written flashback to young Clark Kent) highlight this story of a misunderstood superalien forced to battle Superman. The general plot itself is slightly clichéd; what isn't a cliché is that Kurt Busiek can, as he often does, turn this into a distinctive and vibrant story in which our sympathy is often as much on the side of big Russian brawler Subjekt as well as it is with the guy wearin' the big red "S". It's got one of the elements I like best in superhero comics: it feels like a done-in-one but there's definitely more "to be continued." I'm not terribly fond of prissy fop Arion, who pops (literally) into the last page, but the mystery of Subjekt and the promise of more trademark Busiek back-to-basics Superman action that doesn't overshadow the personalities and character conflicts, makes next issue (#657) a no-brainer to pick up. See ya next month, Big Blue!