The Best Superman Writer of the 2020s Returns: My (Biased) Thoughts on The Book of El

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Full disclosure: This might be the most biased review I've ever written.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run on Action Comics is what got me back into reading comics in the first place. You can expect more on his epic time with Superman in an upcoming article.

I've been lucky enough to meet Phillip a few times at signings, and before his Action Comics run ended, he told me he would be returning with another Superman story. I've been waiting with bated breath ever since. To me, Phillip is the Superman writer of the 2020s. His voice for Clark is perfect and incredibly mature—it almost reminds me of the Clark from Superman & Lois, a show that's very dear to my heart.

Now, almost two years after his incredible finale in the Action Comics 2023 Annual, Phillip is finally back to writing our favorite hero from the stars.

I was immediately excited when the first issue dove back into the world of Warzoon and Olgrun. We even see Kryl-Ux for the first time since the end of the "Warworld Saga," this time on the hunt for another piece of Olgrun.

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I have to take a moment to highlight Scott Godlewski's art. You may remember his work from the House of El Future State issue and the Action Comics 2021 Annual. While his art was already good, it has improved immensely, and the visuals we get here are a real treat.

When the story flashes back to the Kents on the farm, the writing and character voices feel just as familiar as they did in Phillip's previous run. I loved seeing Osul and Otho again—the two adopted immigrants from Warworld are a great addition to the Super family.

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In hindsight, it just makes sense for Clark to be a dad. Superman always had that proud dad energy, and with Jon Kent (before he was aged up), we got to see a lot of that. Now, through Otho and Osul, we get to experience that wonderful father/young child relationship again.

When the action picks up and Clark is met with the Warzoons, it feels like no time has passed. The art is incredible and perfectly captures the tension and fast-moving action. I couldn't help but grin when Clark was referred to as "The Unbloodied Sword" again.

The issue concludes with the return of Ronan Kent, whom we previously saw in Future State: The House of El. He's in a bleak future that desperately needs a hand from our favorite Kryptonian. I've always liked Ronan, so I'm excited to see his interactions with Superman and how the theme of legacy will affect them both.

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This is barely a review—I just loved this book. The art is fantastic, the writing and characterization are spot-on, and the story sets up some really cool adventures for Superman.

Even if you haven't read Phillip's run before, you've gotta pick this up at your local comic book store. You won't regret it.