Supreme

• Title: Supreme #65
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Erik Larsen
• Artists: Erik Larsen, Cory Hamscher

The fallout from the death of the army of Darius Daxes and the release of Mean Supreme continues as the remainder of the Supremacy finds itself marooned on Earth without any powers, except for Suprema.

I’m glad to see several of the more colorful Silver Age versions of the character (including the lion-headed Supreme and the Mighty Mouse version of Supreme) are sticking around even as the comic embraces the original 90’s tone. Not surprisingly, one version of Darius Dax survives, but I’ve got to give writer/artist Erik Larsen credit for the choice of which version of the character is alive and after revenge.

The first issue following up Alan Moore‘s long-delayed final Supreme story had to do quite a bit of work to set the comic on a new path but I’m pleasantly surprised that even though the more vicious version of the character takes center stage here (as evidenced by him nearly beating Superpatriot to death) several of the more whimsical elements might still be allowed to flourish as well. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

• Title: Supreme #64
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Erik Larsen
• Artists: Erik Larsen, Cory Hamscher

Erik Larsen does double-duty following up Alan Moore’s final Supreme story by also returning the original Extreme version of Supreme from the comic’s launch. Issue #64 is very much a transitional issue as Larsen wraps up Moore’s cliffhanger, and all it’s Silver Age trappings, to get back to the more menacing Mean Supreme.

The story picks up right where Moore’s left off with Citadel under attack by an army of Darius Daxes. Opening the portal to the Supremecy only brings more bloodshed until Supreme and Original Supreme have no choice but to release Mean Supreme. The most violent Supreme of them all decimates the villains and uses Silver Superium to strip the other versions of himself of their power.

I’ll give Larsen credit for trying to do an amazing amount of work in terms of a tonal shift in only a single issue. In places he struggles, and his art is a little rougher than the more polished version we got in last month’s issue that went so well with Moore’s story. I liked the original character enough to stick around at least a couple of issues to see where Larsen plans to take him from here. Worth a look.

[Image, $2.99]

• Title: Supreme #63
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Alan Moore
• Artist: Erik Larsen

Of all of Image Comics early to mid-1990’s titles my favorite, by far, was Supreme. Almost two decades before Mark Waid‘s Irredeemable, Supreme was created by Rob Liefeld around the idea of Superman without the patriotism and strong moralistic foundation of a certain Man of Steel.

After appearances in Youngblood, Supereme’s own title begins much like Superman Returns, with the character returning to Earth after years in space to a far more advanced world than that which he left, filled with new super-human heroes and villains, and old enemies.

The character’s origins and were tweaked by several writers over the years including Keith Giffen and Alan Moore. Moore’s take on the character abandoned much of the character’s history and rebooted him as Silver Age Superman for the modern world in tales featuring multiple realities, numerous versions of the character, time paradoxes, the Supergirl-ish Suprema, and even a Supreme version of Hoppy the Marvel Bunny called Oscar the Omnibunny.

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