Have you have ever paid $2.99 to get kicked in the nuts? If you purchase this issue of Superman you may as well because that’s about how enjoyable it is. This issue starts a new three part story titled “Insect Queen.” The story is actually paying homage to a classic figure that originally appeared in Superboy back in 1965. While most of the other titles in the DC universe are following or tying into the Countdown story Superman is unfortunately off in its own world.

The story starts out with Lana Lang being kidnapped by a mutant humanoid insect late at work one night. Supes finds out about this after making an appearance at a baseball game and decides its time to investigate. Some violence and insect gore follows as the story plunges forward into a full issue worth of disappointment. Superman finds that this race of insects has it out for humanity and their queen has hatched as a copy of Lana. Oh No! What will we do? Well I’ll tell you one thing I won’t do and that’s give a crap.

This issue also touches back on Christopher Kent, the adopted Kryptonian son of Lois and Clark. In a previous issue Chris was given a special red sun watch made by Batman to nullify his powers. This was done in an effort to let him function normally in school. His powers still seem to be working though as a burst of flame erupts from his eyes when Lois leaves the room. It looks like the Dark Knight’s watchmaking skills are about as reliable as my DSL connection. The series may be able to salvage something from Chris’s problems, however. I would be willing to read a comic about an adolescent Kryptonian losing control of his powers in downtown Metropolis.

The writing and story telling are honestly quite under par for Kurt Busiek. This is the same writer who worked on brilliant titles like Superman: Secret Identity and Dark Horse Comics’ Conan. The art done by Vale and Merino, while not particularly breath taking, is still more than you would expect for an average monthly title. So, when a man with a Lex Luthor tattoo tells you that a Superman story arc is off to a very bad start then it says a lot.

Rating: