In this review of Superman #38, Superboy Prime and Witchfire take on demons from hell. Fans of fourth wall-breaking have plenty to like in this one.
SUPERMAN #38
Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art and Main Cover: DAN MORA
Variant Covers: W. SCOTT FORBES, CIAN TORMEY, DAVIDE PARATORE, TIRSO, JOHN GIANG, DANIELE DI NICUOLO
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 5/27/26
This review contains spoilers
As Superman #38 opens, Rebecca Carstairs, A.K.A. Witchfire, lures Prime into a magical trap, but when she realizes magic doesn’t work on him and he’s a superhero, she releases him. Someone in Metropolis is using dark magic and Witchfire needs to find them.
The two go “undercover” at a club where the dark magic is strongest. They meet up with two members of Rebecca’s coven in tunnels under the club and discover the magic is coming from Lady Blaze, Lord Satanus, and an army of demons.
Prime is happy to take on the demons while Witchfire and the coven take on Blaze and Satanus. In short order, they’re able to defeat the demons, sending them back to hell.
Upon returning home, Prime and Witchfire are about to kiss when he starts talking gibberish and gets ripped through the page of the comic. In a trippy sequence, he gets pulled through an ad page for Superman: Father of Tomorrow before landing on an artist’s draft page.
It’s there he encounters the spectral form of Manchester Black, last seen in Superman #36. Black has been manipulating Prime with the nightmare visions. Manchester wants Prime to punch this reality in order to get his old life back. When Prime refuses, Black sends him back to his “Infinite Crisis” days to face off with a gang of familiar faces.
Analysis
Superman #38, the third part of the “Prime Time” arc, is another great entry from Joshua Williamson. Out of all the titles covering the “Reign of the Superboys,” Superman is probably tops for me. As I’ve said before, if Williamson doesn’t find a way for Prime to stay once Clark comes back, I’m going to be upset. This character is too much fun to be tossed aside.
I really enjoyed the page in Superman #38 where the panels get turned upside down, as well as the crazy ending where Prime is ripped through pages. It’s an entertaining way to tell the story and makes good use of the character’s fourth wall-breaking ability.
I’m glad that we finally get details on Manchester Black and his manipulation of Prime. The upcoming issue where CK has to face his Infinite Crisis past looks like it will be intense. He’s trying to be a better person and, even though it may be all in his mind, having to relive those events might cause him to regress. I don’t think that’s where Williamson is actually taking this, but it will be interesting to read, nonetheless.
The artwork in Superman #38 by Dan Mora and colors by Alejandro Sanchez keep making this title look fantastic. The spread revealing Blaze and Satanus is filled with demons of all shapes, colors, and designs and is one of my favorite parts of the story. Another terrific splash page comes when Witchfire casts the Wings of Wonder spell.
Final Thoughts
Superman #38 continues to be one that you should be reading. Superboy Prime is a flawed, but fun, character and Joshua Williamson is taking full advantage of Prime’s abilities to deliver an interesting story. Have fun, comic lovers!
