Smallville: Continuity #10 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcelo Di Chiara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 31, 2014

The End or the Beginning? 

Here we are at the antepenultimate issue of the Smallville series.  I really wanted to use "antepenultimate" in a review, I just wish it wasn't for this book.  Recent issues aside, Smallville has been so good and a fixture for me every Friday night.  Well, it's Sunday and I'm just getting around to reviewing this issue.  Why?  Well, it's partly because I don't want it to end and in the back of my mind if I don't review it it won't.  I know that's crazy, but I never claimed to be sane.  The other reason is a bit more plausible.  I just haven't enjoyed the Continuity story.  This issue changes things up...kind of and I have to say I'm a bit confused, but I liked it. Let me tell you why.



The issue opens in the Fortress of Solitude where Superman and and an all-star cast of Heroes are deciding the fate of a Monitor. While the Monitor begs for Oblivion, Kal-El has a different idea.  Maybe it's that he doesn't kill or a reaction to what he himself experienced in Oblivion, but he gets over the decision pretty quickly.

As everyone says their goodbyes, the focus goes on Batman and Nightwing.  If you haven't read last week's issue, Barbara is now a Blue Lantern and Bruce tries to put on a brave face as she is about to leave Earth and bring hope to the Universe. he should have tried harder because it's obvious it is breaking his heart to see her leave.  This is one of those "out-of-character" moments that are so good. I still think it's an odd decision to make Barbara a Blue Lantern, especially at this juncture, but what comes next is a really odd.  Really odd and really awesome.  Why does this series have to end now?

The issue ends with Lex eating crow as he admits that the World does need Superheroes and unveiling a pretty kick-ass statue.  It's a ceremony that spans time itself and ends in a way that I thought the series might end.  We still have two more issues which makes me wonder what Bryan Q. Miller has up his sleeve.  Maybe a little more of that odd and awesome thing that I talked about above?  I can only hope.

This is an odd issue to rate for me.  If you sit down and analyze things, not much really happens.  It feels like a finale, but there is also some setup, presumably for the last two issues.

I was not thrilled with Marcelo Di Chiara's art this week.  I didn't like his character work especially Superman, Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor.

Bits and Pieces:

Smallville: Continuity #10 was a good, but weird issue.  It felt like a finale yet setup some interesting things for the last two issues. I'm not sure what Bryan Q. Miller's plans are, but he has my interest.

7.0/10