SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL #13 / Script by NICOLE MAINES & TOM TAYLOR/ Art by CLAYTON HENRY/ Colors by MARCELO MAIOLO & MATT HERMS/ Letters by DAVE SHARPE/ Cover by TRAVIS MOORE & TAMRA BONVILLAIN/ Variant Cover by A.L. KAPLAN, CLAYTON HENRY & MARCELO MAIOLO/ Published by DC COMICS

The results are usually interesting when an actor becomes a writer and pens fiction based around their character. Often times it is interesting because the results are terrible, resulting in self-serving works barely distinguishable from self-insert fan-fiction. Sometimes, however, the work explores the character from new angles and allows them to shine alongside established heroes without being a Mary Sue.

I’m happy to report that Superman: Son of Kal-El #13, is a rare example of the latter.

Co-written by Supergirl star Nicole Maines, this issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El introduces the character of Dreamer, who was created for the Arrowverse, into the mainstream DC Comics universe. Maines previously wrote a Dreamer story for the 2021 DC Pride #1 special, but that was set in the continuity of the Supergirl series. Most of this issue is devoted to a dream sequence, in which Dreamer describes the vision of the future she had in which most of the Justice League were killed by the supervillain tyrant currently tormenting Jonathan Kent.

It’s hard to say how much co-writer Tom Taylor contributed to this issue. It seems equally likely that he finished the frame around Maines’ introduction of Dreamer or that he wrote the sequence in which multiple superheroes die horribly. (Lest we forget, Taylor first became famous for writing the spin-off comic of Injustice: Gods Among Us and killing all your favorite characters.) In any case, the story is an engaging one and the various subplots blend together well, regardless of who wrote what. You’d never know this book had two writers had Maines’ authorship not been so highly promoted.

The artwork by Clayton Henry is of similar high quality. Backed by the colors of Marecelo Maiolo and Matt Herms and the lettering of Dave Sharpe, this is one book that looks as good as it reads. The colors are vibrant and the action intense throughout, even though we know it is all just a dream… for now.

If you haven’t given Superman: Son of Kal-El a try yet, this is a great issue to start with. And it goes without saying that you should pick this issue up if you’re a Dreamer fan who wants to see more of the character now that Supergirl has come to a close. Hopefully we’ll see more from Nicole Maines and Nia Nul in the future outside of the realm of dreams.