Review by Karl Verhoven

The saga of New Krypton has become very politicised. A hundred thousand Ktyptonians were restored to health on Earth, yet were unable to live within the limitations set on them by human laws. They decamped to their newly created planet orbiting the sun, but never in sight of Earth. However, some on both planets remain obsessed with starting war between them. New Krypton Volume Three ended with a situation that could bring about that result, leaving Superman in a very awkward position.

Although a fair bit has occurred in graphic novels associated with the ‘New Krypton’ story since Volume Three, there’s actually very little impact on what happens here, and this can be read without reference to Codename Patriot, Mon-El or Nightwing and Flamebird.

Despite the opening heightening tensions between New Krypton and Earth, this volume actually deals more with the wider universe, calling on Pete Woods to supply the spectacle of battles in space. This is both with or without spacecraft and Woods defines everything astonishingly well. He’s a proper all-rounder, as scenes of conversation are equally well drawn, the viewpoints varied and the backgrounds filled. However, the sheer volume of pages Woods has been drawing over the series means help is now needed from Ron Randall, who from a third of the way in illustrates half of each chapter. His people aren’t quite as well defined, but it’s still very good art, matching the emotional and action needs.

Co-writers James Robinson and Greg Rucka vary the mood, ranging from aggressive threats to a murder mystery. That actually continues for far longer than may be anticipated, and complications arising from it show New Krypton as no more united than Earth. “You blunder about this system as if you own it” is an accusation justifiably levelled against the Kryptonians, and war is only averted through a rare piece of sloppy plotting recalibrating an old character into someone more aggressive.

A lot happens in a story never quite hitting the heights of the better moments of the New Krypton saga. There are some very nice scenes, though, not least the grudging respect Superman comes to have for General Zod and the position he holds, and the appearance of Adam Strange. The schisms in Kryptonian society are resolved by the end, just in time for an out of left field ending leading into Last Stand of New Krypton.