CREDITS: Written by Mark Millar; art by Aluir Amancio and Terry Austin.
REVIEW: Once the Parasite tricks Superman into getting into arm's reach by simulating a failed parachute jump, I don't think this story has anything new to say about the villain. Once again, he drains Superman of power. Once again, he raves about knowing all his secrets but does nothing with them (what IS that bit about the glasses? - below - is that a story Millar's working on?). And we've seen the creepy misguided stalker love trope before too. Bizarro also "gave his life" to save an unrequited love as a building collapsed around him (and on TV to boot).
The use of Rainsong, the Wiccan mystic from "The Hand of Fate" is a nice call-back, though it's highly fortuitous that she was in the Parasite's third grade class, and that he's had a crush on her ever since. AND that she's currently making ends meet by using crystal healing on the likes of Perry White. It makes Metropolis seem absurdly small. So I'm glad to see her, but it all seems so forced.
That's not to say the issue is a bust. It's got a terrific opening. Amancio's art is, as usual, quite strong (whether it's the moody thunderstorm or Superman in front of the American flag). The hits are painful. The angles dynamic. There's a cool sequence that uses the Superman catch phrases in Parasite's context. It's just that I feel like I've read most of this before.
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