Superman: Doomed #1 Review

Written by: Scott Lobdell, Greg Pak and Charles Soule
Art by: Ken Lashley
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 14, 2014

Going Through the Motions

This isn't your Granddaddy's Doomsday.  Nope, the beast that once killed Superman has evolved into a behemoth of death.  He has been wreaking havoc across the Super Titles for a month, but now it's time for the main event.  Superman vs Doomsday.  It's finally here, but is it any good?

Doomsday is busy ripping apart Honeymoon Island and Superman shows up...late.  Three Thousand two hundred and twenty people are already dead.  We know this because Superman has done the math.  This sums up what I don't like about this issue.  Telling not showing.



Next, Superman consults Dr. Veritas on Doomsday.  Again, more telling. The good doctor tells us how much more powerful this Doomsday is. Then tells Superman what he needs to do even while she understands how he feels.  It's a little heavy handed and a bit confusing.

I felt like a little kid on a trip because by now I was thinking, "when are we going to see them fight, already?" Well, first we join up with Lana and Lois in Smallville which is cool and Steel in Botswana which is okay if not a bit out of leftfield...then Doomsday shows up.  Lois reminds us she has Brainiac powers and Doomsday kicks Steel's ass.  Wonder Woman to the rescue.  She shows up and taunts Doomsday, but before a fight erupts, Superman shows up and Doomsday disappears for the second time.

Back in Washington, DC the Justice League have gathered to figure out what to do next.  Everyone is there, including the JL leader, Lex Luthor.  Yea, a bit of before it's time Forever Evil spoiling.  Lex and Superman decide the best plan is for Superman to leave Earth and hopefully draw Doomsday away with him.  Lex is right and the fight is on.

The reason most people will buy the book finally happens.  Superman and Doomsday throw down in a two part battle royale.  It's crazy and pretty good, if not confusing.  Then it ends in a way I never would have guessed.

There are a couple things that bothered me about this issue.  I already mentioned the heavy handed overuse of dialogue.  My main issue, though, is with Doomsday. Scott Lobdell was given the chance to rewrite history and leave the Superman book with a huge bang.  Done right, he could have given fans the definitve version of the character. Instead,  Doomday is presented as a bigger version of Parasite with no character and little clear motivation.  Furthermore, Superman seems to be just there for the ride.  Maybe it was just how I read it, but he doesn't come off as too concerned about what's going on and fights Doomsday because that's what he's supposed to do. Maybe he's just waiting for Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. To take over the book.  I know I am.

I liked Ken Lashley art at points, but the fight scene between Superman and Doomsday seemed overcrowded and confusing.  It's a shame because that's exactly what most will buy this book to see.


Bits and Pieces:

I have been looking forward to the Doomed event, but I came away from this issue disappointed.  Doomsday is a characterless brute and Superman is just going through the motions.  Ken Lashley's art is unnecesarily confusing, but at least the book ends in an interesting cliffhanger.  I can't recommend this to anyone not already ready all the books involved.  If you aren't, just pass on these issues and wait until Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. start on the book next month.

6.5/10