Superman #668-670
	Story Title: ‘The Third Kryptonian’ (1-The Hunt, 2-The Escape, 3-The Stand) Writer: Kurt Busiek Penciller: Rick Leonardi Inker: Dan Green Colorist: Pete Pantazis Letterer: Comicraft Asso. Editor: Nachie Castro Editor: Matt Idelson SUPERMAN created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

EXCLAMATION: “Kurt Busiek for Superman-Batman (the series’) writer!”

EXPLANATION: Ever since his run with the Auctioneer, Superman has been searching for the elusive third Kryptonian. At the end of the first part he finally finds…him? her? (Well, as seen in the second part, it’s a her) However, not all is hunky dory in the meeting, and that too without the band of fanatical maniacal aliens. It seems that Ms. New Discovery isn’t all that thrilled at being, well, discovered. The second part of the story devotes a lot of time to her back story. As for the third issue, as expected it is the most actiony part of the story, right up the aww-shucks boy-scout style ‘goodness/repentance of the heart’ ending. Batman and (to a lesser extent) Robin have appreciable parts/appearances.

EXAMINATION (Story): Spanning three issues ‘The Third Kryptonian’ storyline has been months in the coming. Maybe it is because of my having read all three parts in a single sitting (all in part of my endeavor to cover my 170+ issues of backlog) but barring a couple of weak points I for one enjoyed it, even more so when compared to the dragged out to death and utterly sleep inducing ‘Camelot Falls’.

As for the aforementioned weak points, primary among them is the big-bad of the story. I mean come on, doesn’t earth have more than an enough supply of one-dimensional (solely) anger driven maniacs that DC is now outsourcing the job/position. If not for the dialogues by the good guys (especially Supes and Bats) I was sorely tempted to just skip the entire fight scenes.

On the subject of good guys, in this case a still suspect (for her status as a good guy) Supergirl, even though I understand DC’s efforts to move her away from, well, who or whatever she was supposed to be earlier, how about giving the chick her own voice instead of ‘remixing’ the ones of the previous Supergirl (Linda Danvers) and Power Girl. Not a reader of her own series I first came across this ‘new’ new Supergirl in the Teen Titans and Blue Beetle series and now here. Come on people, as it is the girl faces an (almost) insurmountable task of getting past the ‘Superman’s chick version’ label, giving her an instantly recognizable voice isn’t all that helpful for her individuality factor. Then again, seeing as how they screwed up the previous ‘fresh take’ with this character I guess I should take whatever respite/improvement is available.

Moving onto the next member of the Super family…it was great to see Krypto back in action. Nah, as much as the mutt was entertaining it is Supes’s foster son that both impressed and disheartened me. Why is that it is Superman who gets a younger version of himself (or even a younger not-orphaned-yet Bruce Wayne) and Batman has to make do with the proverbial love child of Zod and Ra’s Al Ghul. Shouldn’t there be at least some (permanent?) negative lasting effects of the purported abuse that the Zods showered upon the fruit of their loins? Still, seeing as it is still fairly early in the character’s life I am holding out hope, if by/under Busiek not by Johns/Donner. On the positive side, the interaction between Chris and Robin much appreciated, (once again) more so in light of the similar scene from a few years ago (DC time) between the first Robin (i.e. Nightwing) and Supes himself.

Lastly, for my opening exclamation Busiek’s Superman and Batman have a great dynamic between themselves, both in their friendship as in the (always present) undercurrent of competition between them.

EXAMINATION (Art): I have always enjoyed Rick Leonardi’s work and even though I am going to miss Pacheco on Superman having Leonardi take up the art baton from him is more than acceptable. Ditto for the inking and colors with Green and Pantazis replacing Merino and Sinclair.

PROCLAMATION: Overall a good read, but for a mediocre villain and a yet another (current-day-DC’s trademark) non-ending ending.

RATING: 3.5/5 (Almost 4)