After the disastrous near-ripoff story last issue, we’re into a new story arc this issue and, hopefully, it’ll be something new and fresh for the Man of Steel.

As the issue opens, Superman is deep beneath the sea in the Bering Strait, saving a sinking Russian submarine. Inside the submarine, the Russian officers are freaking out and wondering whether Superman will merely save them or whether he’ll take a look at the sub to check for damage. They fear that, if he investigates, he’ll discover some “top secret” cargo that they definitely don’t want the alien hero to find.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, a man named Victor Barnes is attempting to sell some highly valuable information to Lois Lane for her newscast. What sort of information? Barnes claims that he’s discovered that Superman has been keeping himself disguised as a human being… and he knows Superman’s real identity! Lois tells Barnes that his “news” is based on speculation and turns him down. Not one to be discouraged, Barnes heads off to sell the info to one of Lois’ competitors.

Elsewhere in Metropolis, a new villain by the name of Anguish is robbing the Metropolis National Bank. Instead of the usual in-it-for-the-cash robbery, Anguish is after a safety deposit box that appears to belong to her father.

Upon his return to Metropolis, Superman clashes with Anguish only to discover that her powers make his physical powers almost useless. And just in the middle of his battle with Anguish, a news report comes over Metropolis revealing the secret human identity of Superman!

After this misstep of last issue, it seems that writers Keith Giffen and Dan Jurgens are back in classic form with a great action-packed story that is wrapped in several mysteries. As good as this issue is, I’ll chalk last issue up to DC trying to shoe-horn some of the Wildstorm characters that were folded into the New DCU with the New 52 relaunch. Hopefully, the new story arc will continue this trend and not fall back old old tropes like the previous one.

Plus Anguish looks like a cool villain that can go toe-to-toe with Superman without resorting to the old fall-backs of Kryptonite or magic.

Verdict: Buy

SUPERMAN #9
Written by Keith Giffen & Dan Jurgens
Layouts by Dan Jurgens
Finished by Jesús Merino
Colored by Oclair Albert
Cover by Ivan Reis & Rod Reis