ACTION COMICS #31 (Doomed, Part 1)
Superman is his worst enemy.
That trope is used throughout Man of Steel stories time and again: Red Kryptonite, that arc in the mid 90s where Superman begins to absorb too much solar energy too fast after Eradicator sacrifices himself to save Superman from Cyborg Superman, and Superman III.
Doomed is one of those stories.
More often than not the my-own-worst-enemy stories lack any sort of quality. It’s hard to say they are ever done right, but some are better than others. Doomed may shape up to be the best of them.
Superman’s burgeoning rage is first a vision of snapping Luthor to bits once Lex, commissioned by Sen. Sam Lane, announces that he will be quarantining Superman after his encounter with Doomsday. The visions of rage become action as Supers tears apart a helicopter filled with hunters taking pot shots at wolves in Alaska.
It quickly becomes apparent that Superman is becoming Doomsday. The Fortress of Solitude’s security won’t let him pass. His knuckles have begun to protrude from his skin.
But Superman takes the back seat in this story, and this is why the Doomed arc is working, so well. In addition to more than capable art from Aaron Kuder (Green Lantern: New Guardians) and Rafa Sandoval (Incredible Hercules), the supporting cast of characters is really shining through.
Early on the perspective of Greg Pak (Turok, Eternal Warrior), his story switched briefly to Lana Lang. She and Lois just witnessed Superman rip Doomsday apart. In the final iconic pages of Superman 75, Lois Lane is with him as he dies. Here, Lois and Lana watch from afar. Lana is about to run out to the boy she once loved when Diana, Wonder Woman, scoops up the Man of Steel and spirits him away.
“That’s Wonder Woman,” Lois says to Lana.
“I know, Lois.”
“Pretty impressive, isn’t she? They’re dating, you know.
“Got it. Thanks.”
John Henry Irons, introduced at the beginning of the New 52, comes into play here too. He made an appearance in Doomed #1. Whatever has infected Superman has likely affected him. He bathes himself in organic steel as Sen. Lane tries to recruit him to his cause. He wants Superman imprisoned.
(Flip the page for DOOMED, Part 2 and a bonus review!)