TITLE: Superwoman Rebirth Issue #4
YEAR: January 2017
COMPANY: DC Comics
Script: Phil Jimenez
Penciler: Emanuela Lupacchino
Inker: Ray McCarthy
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Back in the 1940’s, in order to prevent people from using the name “Super Woman”, Detective Comics, Inc. trademarked the name “Superwoman”.
And sure enough, DC Comics would feature Lois Lane as Super Woman in “Action Comics” issue #60. Sure, it was only a dream but DC Comics would use the name throughout the years, especially as it was used as the name for the evil version of Wonder Woman in the alternate universe as a member of the Crime Syndicate.
But for “Rebirth”, when Clark 52 died, his energy was released and Lana Lang and Lois Lane (both of the “new 52”) developed superhuman abilities.
This was no doubt a nod to the Superman Red and Superman Blue 1998 storyline in which Superman was split into two beings. Granted, DC Comics has sort of changed things around with his continuity but nevertheless, the red and blue energy would be showcased in “Superwoman” as Lana Lang gained the power to convert solar radiation into electromagnetic energy, while Lois Lane had powers similar to Superman.
[PLEASE DON’T READ FURTHER BECAUSE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, I HAVE TO SPOIL THE PREVIOUS ISSUES]
But something tragic happened in the first issue of “Superwoman” and with two humans harboring so much power, needless to say, their bodies are enough not to contain this immense power and Lana Lang is dying from it and Lois Lane, she blows up and dies.
With issue #4, Lana Lang is shocked when the ghost of Lois Lane is visiting her. She thinks she’s going crazy but they are having conversations and when ghost Lois Lane reveals that she knows about Lana Lang’s personal details, she realizes that this ghost is the real deal.
Meanwhile, Lex Luthor is stuck and hidden in an underground sub-basement courtesy of Kryptonite Man.
As Lana is getting tested by John Henry (STEEL) to see confirm that her body is dying from her powers, the results show that she is dying and it’s a matter of time, something that is quite tough for her to accept, as she doesn’t want to die.
Meanwhile, out of nowhere, Traci 13 comes out of a portal to warn the two that Metropolis is going to die….courtesy of Lena Luthor.
Overall, an entertaining storyline as Lana Lang is resigned to the fact that she is dying and feels tortured that the ghost of Lois Lane has arrived. Why is this happening? Is it real or is it all in her mind?
I guess we’ll find out in future issues of “Superwoman Rebirth”.