Synopsis: No one defies the will of Ra’s al Ghul. If Superman refuses to accept his place as the Son of the Demon, then the Lazarus Corp will unleash hell upon those dearest to him—the people of Smallville. Thus begins the Invasion of Kansas.
The Story
Kal-El returns to Smallville, scarred by his time under the control of Ra’s al Ghul and Brainiac. His AI companion, Sol, brings him home, believing it’s the only place he might find peace. As he walks familiar streets, memories blur between past and present — his mum’s fading recollections in a care home, his own struggles to fit in with humans, and the guilt of powers once misused. Flashbacks reveal Sol’s guiding presence through those lonely years, shaping Kal into something more than a weapon.
In town, Lois and Jimmy enter a Smallville diner, where even Lana Lang keeps a shotgun behind the bar. Yet beneath the grit of Smallville, the people still believe in the man who once saved them. In a quiet moment, Kal finally acknowledges Sol not as a machine, but as family — calling him Sol-El.
But peace is fleeting. From the shadows, Ra’s al Ghul and Talia prepare their next move, vowing to make Smallville suffer unless Superman accepts his destiny as the Son of the Demon. As the Lazarus Corp’s forces gather, the calm of Kansas trembles — her fields about to become the next battlefield in Superman’s war for his soul.
Artwork
Rafa Sandoval delivers some stunning artwork in this issue. The book opens with a powerful sequence of panels showing a flashback to a conversation between Kal-El and Sol, shortly after Kal saved the people of Smallville. Inside a Mayon volcano, Sol tells him that he can fit in on Earth — that he can learn, grow, and be the best version of himself. Sol reminds him that he has opportunities his parents never had because of Krypton’s rigid class system. The red sulphur and flames of the volcano are beautifully juxtaposed with young Kal-El’s anguish and frustration, creating a scene that feels both intimate and epic.
Overall
This issue builds beautifully on the larger story. I especially loved the sequence where Lois and Jimmy enter the diner and meet Lana Lang and the people of Smallville, who look ready to face one hell of a fight — with or without Superman’s help. Equally enjoyable is seeing more of the relationship between Kal-El and his AI companion, Sol. The moment where Kal tells Sol he sees him as family is genuinely touching and feels truly earned in the context of everything that has come before.
- Covers9.4
- Story9.7
- Artwork10
- Lettering9.4
- Colours10
