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Qwewq is similar in name to the character of Qfwfq from Calvino's Cosmicomics, a collection of odd fables about the before-time when the laws of physics were still flexible. GM previously referenced Qfwfq in his 5th Dimensional JLA storyline.
I was also momentarily convinced that Kandor was to be fired into Qwewq, but I'm fairly happy with how things resolved.
Loved the layouts in this issue. The big panels really explode by contrast.
Clark's scene with Lois is so beautiful; she's finally allowed to see him at his weakest, most fearful, and sad-- he can't face her, of course, because he's dying and he doesn't know how to make things end well with her. They've lost so much time through lies, deceit, and shenanigans...Kal is losing his faith in that scene, but only Lois gets to see. They'll never make this work. "There's always a way." Role reversal, with Lois Lane as the voice of faith.
Re: Third time's the charm...prior to Superman, Siegel and Shuster had created a musketeer hero called Henri Duvall and Doctor Occult. I seem to remember that Slam Bradley was around the same time, but maybe he came after Superman.
The Kandorians move off to avoid contaminating Earth culture (in contrast to Bar-El and Lilo) but Superman ensures there will be some heroes left in his wake; the Kandorian Emergency Corps super-doctors are a new kind of super-hero. It's an interesting contradiction (avoid Earth but solve their health problems) that reflects back on the essential conflict in Superman's approach (cross-ref with Bar-El and the "soft wee scientist's son" remark).
The Superman Dynasty is both vast and multi-tiered. I wonder if the Superman Squad of the future includes any Kandorian Micro-Supers. Makes me think of Nanoman and Minimiss, obviously. But also the M'onelves from the Legion One Million books.
Love the inclusion of Byrne-era Kryptonian clothes in the council scene in Kandor. And, of course, the benevolent super-eyes watching over Vann-Zee and Sylva.
I'm still trying to get a hold of the actual time sequence in the story.
There's something interesting going on at the end, with the article "bequeathed" to Clark Kent. Kal is losing track of who he is, or he's finally admitting that at some point Clark Kent grew up to be Superman but Superman kept the shell of Clark around? Something's going on there besides the need to preserve his secret identity from beyond the grave.
This comic was totally uplifting and I feel really positive, oddly, even though it actually made me doubt Clark's survival in the end. |
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