Reign of the Supermen #458: Valiant

Source: Edison Rex #1 (2012)
Type: Analog

One thing that came across in Chris Roberson's takeover of the pre-Flushpoint Superman when JMS dropped the ball, is that he really got the appeal of the character and knew how to use the best elements of the Silver and Modern ages of the Superman mythos to write fun and aspirational stories. As we know, DC went another way with that, but Roberson still had a few Superman stories to tell. Or rather, LEX LUTHOR stories. That's what Edison Rex is, in a nutshell. What if Lex Luthor won? What if he finally killed Superman? With his grudge match behind him, would he use his genius to help his fellow man? And if he does, will any of us believe him? Though it starts with Superman analog's final story and defeat, this isn't a dark story. Dennis Culver's art is fun and charming, and Roberson fills the book with imaginative twists on various tropes from the Superman universe, like the ValiantBOTS, Valiant's "Bizarro" Defiant (is that a Deep Space Nine reference?), and other riffs on mad Silver Age concepts. From the second issue, the book includes encyclopedia pages in the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe style, written in Edison Rex's own voice. It's great, great stuff.

And easily available at the low, low cost of 99¢ an issue, all digital, from Roberson's own MonkeyBrain Comics. If you're not reading this, you're missing out on a real treat.