Sideways Annual #1 Review

Writer: Dan Didio, Will Conrad, Cliff Richards, & Grant Morrison / Artist: Max Raynor / DC Comics While most annual issues usually feature a one-shot kind of story, Sideways Annual #1 keeps the ball rolling as we reach the conclusion to our Dark Multiverse story arc. With his powers restored and having freed what looks to be the New 52 era Superman – blue jeans, short-sleeve T, cape and all – Derek kills several birds with one stone. Little explanation is provided behind where exactly New 52 Superman came from. But honestly, with the Dark Multiverse in play, let’s just chalk it up to dying multiverse shenanigans. Can’t say I really miss the New 52 Superman though. I don’t remember him being this gung-ho to fight and beat everything into submission. It feels like the writing team wrote him so aggressively to really drive home the difference between the Superman that we have now and the early New 52 era Superman.

The good thing is, despite not actually being the current Superman, this one provides plenty of inspiration and hope for young Derek. I guess any Superman is enough to push people to be their better self. Immediately, you begin to see what kind of influence this Superman has on Derek as Sideways, and it’s good to see the kid motivated to fight. He pushes on with his goal to free the Unseen and save the Seven Soldiers. I actually found the endings to both the Perrus and the Seven Soldiers’ conflict pretty funny. I’m not going to spoil anything thing but it doesn’t …