Writer Geoff Johns' love for these characters is apparent and it is good to see the Daily Planet staff back in action. The scenes with these characters are enjoyable, introducing us to these characters without feeling over-expository. Johns is famous for his gift for dialogue - and there is some good comedy here - but the most effective sequences in this issue may be the ones that are free of text.
There are a number of scenes in this issue where the story is told purely through the pictures. We learn more about Ulysses as a person watching him examine Clark Kent's apartment than we do in any of the dialogue. There is also an effective silent sequence in which we see Clark putting his investigative skills to the test.
Superman #33 is fairly light on action. And yet, it is one of the best Superman comics I've read in recent memory. This book remembers that what makes Superman super is his infinite capacity for wanting to help other people and that doesn't always mean punching a bad guy. If you like Superman, you'll love this book. And if you don't like Superman, well, maybe this book will take you a step closer to doing so.
