Cameron has unleashed something dangerous and only he can stop it, but a little help from Superman couldn’t hurt.  Your Major Spoilers review of City Boy #3 from DC Comics, awaits!

CITY BOY #3

Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Minkyu Jung
Colorist: Sunny Gho
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Editor: Jessica Chen
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 1st, 2023

Previously in City Boy: Intergang has come for Cameron and his ability to communicate with the consciousness of Metropolis, in their struggle Cameron has unleashed a metal dragon on the city.

DO YOUR BEST

City Boy #3 opens with Superman arriving on the scene just as the giant metal dragon begins to unleash its fury on the city.  He’s able to protect some people from imminent danger, but the city is beginning to spread, absorbing the land around it.  Superman tries to speak to the dragon but is unable to subdue it.  He realizes that only Cameron can stop it and goes to give him a little pep talk.  Cameron is then forced to revisit his childhood trauma as he wrestles with the idea of him being a monster or someone who can try his best to do good.  He is eventually able to control the dragon, but is still unsure about how he can do any good in the city, but tries anyway to follow the example set by the big blue boy scout.

A BETTER SUPERMAN COMIC

City Boy #3 is a relatively tame comic with little in the way of action or big fights.  Instead, the issue is primarily an extended conversation between Superman and Cameron, with the former doing most of the talking.  Their interaction is heartfelt and manages to avoid being too cheesy, but it feels as if Cameron takes a backseat here.  This issue truly feels like one of those Superman issues where Clark encounters a troubled teen about to do something terrible and it’s up to the inspiring words of Supes to stop them from going through with it.  Not to say that there’s anything wrong with that, in a Superman title,  but it has the unfortunate side effect of diminishing the role of the main character here in their own comic in this case.  Thankfully though, throughout this issue, a plot thread emerges that leads to an interesting conclusion, with a main character who is more complex than when the issue started, and promise for the future of this series.

STILL SOME PROBLEMS WITH TRANSLATION

The art in City Boy #3 still has the same problems that have been plaguing this series and that is its inability to properly demonstrate Cameron’s abilities in a clear way.  Most of the time his powers appear as a series of panels showing the results of his actions, with the implication that Cameron had a role in the events.

BOTTOM LINE: AN OKAY CONCLUSION, A BETTER JUMPING OFF POINT

City Boy #3 appears to be the conclusion of this initial story arc, which makes it questionable why they would make Cameron take a backseat through most of it.  By the end though, enough is done to set up something more interesting.  But ultimately it does feel as if they have squandered an opportunity to utilize an interesting new character in an effective way.  3 out of 5 stars.

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City Boy #3

60%

60%

Share the stage, Superman!

City Boy #3 does a better job in creating intrigue for upcoming issues than it does in being an interesting chapter in its main character's current story.

• Writing

  6
• Art

  6
• Coloring

  6
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0