In this review of Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7, we get a race to the death between Otho-Ra and the Black Racer. Who will come out on top?
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN: BOOK OF EL #7
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art and Main Cover: SCOTT GODLEWSKI
Variant Covers: LUCIO PARRILLO, STEPHANIE HANS
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 4/1/26
This review contains spoilers
Adventures of Superman: The Book of El #6 wrapped up with Otho squaring off against the Black Racer in an effort to save Superman. Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7 picks up with the race starting, as the Valkyries assist Otho so that she can stand a chance of beating this speed god. Otho snatches the Racer’s belt, which is the vessel for Olgrun’s wrath, and must fly to five different suns to charge it, all while staying ahead of the Black Racer.
The Valkyries try to hold the Racer back with chains, but it does little to slow him down. He gains on Otho as she makes her way through the third sun. After a close call where the Racer grabs her ankle, Otho is able to reach the fifth sun and fully charge the belt. The Racer is just about to reach her again when Khan-El smashes into him, saving Otho.
With the Racer defeated, his powers are transferred to Otho. She quickly returns to Superman, re-charging him with the energy she carries in the belt.
Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7 then turns to Osul-Ra, who is imprisoned in a red energy cage as a mysterious figure speaks to him. The final-page reveal shows this mystery man claiming that Osul can’t be who he says he is because there is only one son of Superman – the mystery man himself!
Analysis
Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7 was a fun, yet predictable, issue. We knew going into it that Otho would beat the Racer, but it was a matter of how it would go down. Philip Kennedy Johnson makes the main idea straightforward in that we all need help at times. Otho needs help from the Valkyries to win the race and Superman needs help from Otho to re-charge.
Without assistance from the Valkyries, there’s no way Otho would have been able to beat the Black Racer. She almost didn’t manage it with their help. It just goes to show that even when we’re bound and determined to do things on our own, we sometimes need to rely on others for a little boost. It’s a good message that more people need to hear.
I like the setup for Osul at the end. It seems that PKJ is shifting the spotlight to him for the next issue. I’m guessing that this man claiming to be the son of Superman may be Osul of the future, as he mentions knowing Otho and that Osul has been gone for a thousand years. Hard to say just yet if he’s friend or foe, but he’s wearing the crest of the House of El, so we might assume he’s friendly.
The art team of Scott Godlewski (illustrations) and Alex Guimaraes and Matt Herms (colors) remains a good one. If you’ve liked the artwork in previous issues, there’s more of the same in Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7. The panels and pages are filled with action shots. There’s plenty of bright colors and energy throughout as Otho races between stars. The splash page where Otho transforms into the Black Racer is eye-catching, as she gets a black and gray costume makeover. The stylized El crest on the mystery man at the end is an interesting take on the design and I like the black and gold colors used.
Final Thoughts
Adventures of Superman: The Book of El #7 is a fun, fast-paced entry that highlights Otho’s love for her adoptive father. She faces death to save Superman and succeeds. I’m looking forward to Osul’s part in this story, coming up next. Have fun, comic lovers!
