Convergence: Superboy #1 (DC)

writer: Fabian Nicieza

artist: Karl Moline

For me, it will always be tough to beat DC in the '90s as the best era in superhero comics, and to further categorize me I admit Superboy as one of the defining elements from that time.  Exactly the Superboy depicted in Convergence: Superboy.

I mean, the recap at the back of the issue even references Knockout.  And Sidearm!!!

And it's good to see Dubbilex, the so-called DNAlien assigned to Superboy by the scientists of Cadmus (just like in the pages of Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax, the later Geoff Johns elements are overlooked, so you won't find any reference to Lex Luthor here).  Granted, he doesn't look as good in the issue as when he was depicted by Tom Grummett, but you can't have everything.  Although the inclusion of Serling Roquette is a nod to the later Karl Kesel/Grummett era that is otherwise not technically represented.

Superboy's costume is usually referred to as one of the most comically-dated elements of any superhero from that time, but I don't know, I always liked it, and I was sad when it went away.  The New 52 Superboy gets a nod-of-sorts in the opening pages, too, although so too does Superboy's Jack Kirby connection.

Otherwise this is a story featuring Superboy in all his brashness and need to justify himself, a version of the character that hasn't existed since the end of "Reign of the Supermen," when he learned how to be humble at the expense of a close brush with death.  So this is a particular snapshot of an era that was technically never truly given a chance to shine, the character as originally conceived but almost instantly replaced with a horndog who obsessed over Supergirl and then later Tana Moon, Knockout, and having a good time with the Ravers (*sign* I will always wish Superboy and the Ravers could receive half the love from other readers that I heap on it).

And it's written by Fabian Nicieza, whom I last enjoyed in the pages of Robin, and was sufficiently far enough in the past that until now he was yet another favorite creator had nonetheless not been featured at Comics Reader.  So it's good to finally include his work.