In this review of Superman Unlimited #8, Lois blasts off into space, but when aliens attack the ship she’s in, Superman gets some help to save her.
SUPERMAN UNLIMITED #8
Written by DAN SLOTT
Art by LUCAS MEYER
Main Cover: DAVE JOHNSON
Variant Covers: GUILLEM MARCH, NATHAN SZERDY, ARIEL OLIVETTI, GERARDO ZAFFINO
Page Count: 32 pages
ON SALE: 12/17/25
This review contains spoilers
Superman Unlimited #8 starts out with Lois getting ready to launch into space on the world’s first commercial faster-than-light ship, the Stagg Starliner, built by Sebastian Stagg and powered by a kryptonite engine of Toyman’s design. Clark is nervous that Lois is spreading herself too thin with everything she does, but she reassures him that things are under control. They even come up with a special code word for her to use as a signal if she needs help – xylophone.
With Clark staying behind to cover the launch for the Daily Planet, Guy Gardner is called upon to escort the ship through the solar system. He’s not thrilled with “babysitting” duty, but goes along with it.
Clark’s concern about Lois and deep space travel turns out to be justified, as a group of shapeshifting aliens, the Durlans, have managed to get aboard the ship with help from Stagg. They’re also monitoring the launch from space and attack the ship as it leaves the solar system. While at launch control, Clark hears the news of the incoming attack and flies across space to save the ship. When he arrives, he finds Guy Gardner taking care of the aliens and lends a hand to finish them off.
Superman gets the crew’s escape pod to Earth and talks to Lois to make sure she’s okay. When she doesn’t respond to their code word, he realizes that something’s wrong. The Durlans are soon discovered to have taken the forms of the crew and are detained, along with Stagg. Guy brings the actual astronauts back in cryo tubes, safe and sound. Lois realizes that maybe she is doing too much and the story closes.
Analysis
With the plot by Dan Slott and dialogue from both him and Jeremy Adams, we have another quick tale that focuses more on Lois and Clark’s relationship. The earlier run of this title told a bigger story over multiple issues, whereas Superman Unlimited #8 and the previous one have been more self-contained. While the stories are interesting and fun to read, they aren’t building to anything and don’t feel as connected. There’s nothing wrong with this, but my expectations coming into this title were that it would be a larger overall story. It does look like we’ll be getting back to another arc in upcoming issues, though.
I did find it curious that Slott and Adams made the conscious choice to not have Superman use his gold powers when the kryptonite engines were about to be blown up, instead opting for more of a team up by having Toyman install a failsafe to prevent their explosion. I suppose him using them in outer space wouldn’t be a good idea since Superman would be left powerless in the void.
Lucas Meyer’s illustrations in Superman Unlimited #8 are fantastic, full of details and effects that energize the story. The action sequence featuring Green Lantern and Superman in space is a highlight, with easy-to-follow details and fun Green Lantern constructs. The consistently impressive colors by Marcelo Maiolo and Jao Canola beautifully complement Meyer’s artwork, making the green Lantern effects particularly awesome.
Final Thoughts
Superman Unlimited #8 is on par with the previous issue in terms of rating. It’s more of a standalone story that doesn’t focus heavily on Superman. Fans of Guy Gardner will want to check this one out, as he’s his usual crabby self. Have fun, comic lovers!
