Strong issue, and not just because he's the Boy of Steel
In this issue, Superboy comes into contact with the unstoppable force known as Doomsday. It's an honest homage to the "Death of Superman" storyline, but it doesn't end as tragic as you'd think.
The Good
While I missed the whole "Reign of the Supermen!" storyline, I was always a little fascinated by Kon El; not quite as boyscoutish as Superman, but still willing to serve the greater good. It really shows through in this issue, and that's because of Jeff Lemire's writing. Kon has some moral struggles to go through, and his talk with Tim Drake at the beginning of the issue and his thought bubbles during the fight, we get a really good look into his head and what he's thinking.
This parallels a lot to Superman during his fight with Doomsday; since it was just him versus a largely silent character, there was enough room for the character to think and actually express feeling. I really started to respect Superboy as a person in this issue; I know that might be weird to say, but I would have no problem buying him a beer (if he wasn't stuck at 16 for life.)
The Bad
Not many complaints about this issue; the only thing I don't like is the setup to the inevitable "Superboy gets stronger and then comes back to own Doomsday" story arc. I don't like how little goes on in this issue: aside from the first few pages, it's pretty much a big fight. There's little explanation for Doomsday's arrival, or why he has a problem with Conner. I guess we're going to have to wait for next issue.
The Verdict
I love Jeff Lemire's work, so this book gets a big ol' recommendation from me. It's a good jumping off point if you're a bit late to the series, and really, you're not too far off from the beginning. Lemire's work only gets better as stories go on; if you've never really liked Superboy, give this title a shot.
