In January of this year, the last issue of Adventure Comics featuring writer Geoff Johns and artist Francis Manupal hit stores. They only worked together on that book for four issues, but it was a hell of a run while it lasted. It featured Superboy back in Smallville. This is Superboy's new title. Unfortunately it has a new writer and a new artist. The upside is the artist, Pier Gallo, is terrific, and the writer, Jeff Lemire, currently has one of the best books out there (Sweet Tooth). For some reason or other, this book just feels limp. Johns and Manupal's run was exciting and beautiful and fun. This series feels more kid-friendly and simple minded. The villain in this issue is Poison Ivy. She shows up in Smallville to steal a mysterious machine that's hooked up to a dying farmer. The machine has spawned vines and plants that have taken over the town and it's up to Superboy and his high school science nerd sidekick to save the day. They do save the day...but the two strangers that built the machine seem destined to destroy Superboy once and for all. It's simplistic, gee-whiz fun, right? It should be, but it ends up just being dull. The saddest thing in all of this is that Johns and Manupal left to work on the new Flash series which isn't even half as good as their Superboy storyline. You really fucked up D.C. Congratulations. *
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