Superman #40 — Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora Unleash Meta-Madness With Manchester Black

There is a specific kind of chaos that happens when the fourth wall doesn’t just crack—it shatters. Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora are currently steering the Man of Steel through one of those moments, and issue #40 feels like the calm before a very loud storm. Williamson has a knack for taking the cosmic stakes of the Superman mythos and grounding them in personal, almost existential dread.

The setup here is wonderfully tangled. Manchester Black, a villain with more attitude than usual, isn't just looking to win a battle. He wants out. He believes Superboy-Prime holds the code to resurrecting him and, more dangerously, escaping the page to step into our world. It’s a meta-fictional nightmare wrapped in a superhero premise. If Prime refuses, or if he fails, the fallout won't stay contained in Metropolis. It’s going to stir up the entire Super-Family, and not everyone is thrilled about Prime wearing the cape.

What makes this issue a must-pick is the visual language Mora brings to a story that is literally about the medium of comics. Seeing Mora draw the tension between these two powerhouses gives weight to a concept that could easily feel like a gag. The art sells the threat of Manchester Black’s desire to leave the story behind, and the dynamic between him and Prime creates a magnetic tension. You can feel the friction in every panel.

This issue is the precursor to what Williamson is calling the blockbuster summer story, so picking it up now means you’re in on the ground floor of something big. The interactions between the various members of the Superman family add layers of political and personal drama to the central conflict. It’s not just good versus evil; it’s about who gets to define what Superman means in a world that’s changing around them.

Keep an eye on the variant options if you can. Mora’s covers are consistently strong, but this one captures the specific energy of a villain who knows he’s in a book. It’s the kind of issue that rewards a re-read, especially once the summer arc kicks off next month. If you love when DC leans into the weirdness of its own universe, this is the place to be.