Review by Ian Keogh

In 1998 Dan Jurgens was the primary creator behind the Tangent series, which re-imagined DC’s characters, retaining their names, but completely reworking the concepts. To coincide with the release of three collections of the original material a decade later, Jurgens revisited that universe with ten years having passed for the characters.

Although explanations are provided as the story progresses, primarily via back-up strips from Ron Marz and Fernando Pasarin, it’s readers who enjoyed the original Tangent Comics who’re going to derive the most from Superman’s Reign. The Superman is Harvey Dent, once an ordinary police officer, but now the planet’s greatest intellect who since the Tangent world was last seen has set himself up as ultimate arbiter of what’s wrong and right. It’s a very narrow definition of societal norms, but no-one’s powerful enough to stand against him. However, due to circumstances detailed over the first chapter the better known Flash and Green Lantern are transported to the Earth of the Tangent cast.

Although not all down to Jurgens, much of the original spotlight on the Tangent creations disappointed, yet this is an improvement. There’s a definite thread from beginning to end, although that doesn’t come until Volume 2, irritating loose ends from the previous comics are addressed, and there’s a greater sense of cohesion by having the characters interact rather than on solo missions.

Matthew Clark draws the opening chapter, but it’s Jamal Igle’s skill bringing the remainder to life. He manages to involve multiple superheroes in the same panels without those panels ever seeming overcrowded, and draws full figures whenever possible, adding to the spectacle. The colouring is primitive by today’s standards and set too bright, but the action conveys.

Marz and Pasarin’s short chapters spotlight a very uncharacteristic Guy Gardner’s assessment of who the heroes of the Tangent world are and what’s become of them over the previous ten years. The chapters also connect, and there’s obviously more to come.

Everything is nicely poised by the conclusion here, the halfway point. Batman has discovered the truth, providing certainty about with whom to align himself, while the Superman has also discovered a truth he considers a considerable threat.