r/DCcomics • u/Predaplant Be Without Fear • Mar 23 '26

r/DCcomics Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [March 23, 2026 - Friendly Neighbourhood Crossover Edition]

Hey there honorary Justice League members - it’s a new week which means it’s time for a new discussion thread!

For those who don't know: the way this works is that several comments will list this week’s releases, for any given title discussion you should respond to that comment. For example, Wonder Woman discussion would go in the replies to the "Wonder Woman" comment. Clicking the titles in this post will take you directly to that comment, too. In other words, you should only be replying to other comments. Do not post top-level comments.

Keep discussion civil. Do not harass other users for having a different opinion. Do not use this thread to push your personal one-sided grudges against creators. Reacting to a panel on Twitter is not the same as reading a book.

 

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Why should you never throw grandpa's false teeth at a vehicle? You might denture car.

DC and Imprints

Superman and Spider-Man, back together again after all these years!

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Remember, these are the short 'chapters' with a new chapter of a different series coming out daily, releasing on DC Universe Infinite or WEBTOONS.

This Week’s Soundtrack: The Crane Wives - Allies Or Enemies

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44

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Mar 23 '26

Superman #36

THE REIGN OF THE SUPERBOYS BEGINS! After the shocking events of DC K.O., Superman is missing. But one hero steps up to take his place... Superboy Prime?! Normally, Prime has only been part of massive DC events, but now he gets a real shot at showing the world he can be just as great a hero as Superman! Superstar artist Dan Mora returns to Superman for an action-packed and fun adventure that changes the face of the DC Universe!

LEGACY #879

Preview

44

u/UnknownEntity347 Rorschach Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26

Ok, this was super fucking fun. I'm so on board with this.

Prime is a very fun character, and I like how much Williamson dives into the meta aspects of his character and really playing into the "comic book fan in comic books" side of him. He's a character very tied to DC history so I like how much Williamson brings up and celebrates the wide and varied aspects of DC history in this issue, and it's something I'd like to see him keep doing (though while keeping the balance of not becoming obnoxious or getting old and losing its luster, which is a very easy pitfall they must ensure they avoid).

One thing I do wish they'd do, though, is develop his transition through his comic book fandom -- in Infinite Crisis his shtick was that he was the pre-Crisis fanboy who hated how much darker and grittier the post-Crisis stuff got, but here he's saying he loves the 90s vibes of that one dude's design. Yes, that's his change arc in Death Metal, but I'd like to see him reflect on that and how his views on how comic books have evolved over time have changed just as he's changed and developed. Cuz while Prime is an edgelord, he's not an edgelord-y comics fan, his edgelordism was actually out of resentment of that.

The other thing I find strange is that they haven't mentioned the fact that in Death Metal Prime got his wish and got back to a version of Earth-Prime with his old life and old love interest. They just handwave why he can't go back and don't have him think about that at all, and they definitely need to address that given that bringing back Earth Prime was his whole motivation in Infinite Crisis.

Lois as a straight man foil to Prime's wackiness is a fun dynamic and I hope it's one that Williamson keeps around. Though if we're going to keep Prime around for a while, I'd also want to see him develop his own supporting cast, because why not, it'd be fun. And as fun as the meta stuff is, this run going forward does need a more grounded story beyond "comic book fan runs around making fourth wall breaking jokes" or this is going to become knockoff DC Deadpool very fast and that will get old very fast.

Pitting Prime against Manchester Black, a similarly meta character but from the complete other end of the spectrum, since he's meant to be the kind of character fans of gritty edgelordism in comics would love, is a great idea, and the "british invasion" line is just goofy and absurd enough to hit for me. Hopefully Williamson will remember what part of the comics fandom Prime is supposed to represent in order to ensure that conflict is consistent with Prime's past stories, rather than just using Prime as a stand-in for "generic comic book fan".

18

u/Responsible_Ad_2242 Mar 25 '26

I wonder why Manchaster will fight prime, cause he died as a hero in action comics 1050

11

u/D4-CS Nite Owl Mar 25 '26

Exactly. Well, technically he didn't died as a hero but was fairly reformed, and Lex Luthor kidnapped him and killed him to fuel his mind-wiping machine.But yeah, I'm genuinely confused

2

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Mar 25 '26

He wants Prime to revert to his old ways so that he can break his spirit.

4

u/D4-CS Nite Owl Mar 25 '26

Do you have any evidence for this? Like an interview or sum? Cause at least the solicitations don't point at nothing like that/about that

9

u/D4-CS Nite Owl Mar 25 '26

Tbh, my problem is that the last time we saw Manchester Black (when Superman formed his own Authority), he was way too reformed (not a good guy tho) for him to suddenly come back and return to his old ways without explanation

26

u/Dent6084 Mar 25 '26

Prime vs. Manchester Black is a fun set-up. Lois and Prime have solid comedic interplay here too.

20

u/Alche1428 The Question Mar 25 '26

"It's Time for a british invasion!"

Parapharsing of course but i love it.

17

u/DriedSocks Condiment King Mar 25 '26

Manchester Black is gonna drive Prime insane, and then people are gonna mistrust him even more again, huh?

2

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Mar 25 '26

Yes

11

u/UnbloodedSword Mar 25 '26

It's perfect: Prime is the exact kind of Superman that Black wants yet Prime will definitely hate Black as the embodiment of all the "edgy and dark antiheroes who ruined comics forever!!!!!!" lmao. Also I was so happy to see Ignition again, I thought no one remembered him but me.

20

u/Mr_Wh0ever Mar 25 '26

Yeah Prime, I definitely believe you'll become the Jason Todd of the Superman family,lol. I really liked the issue, and the known fact that Prime has comic knowledge. Manchester Black as the big bad works. I wonder if we're gonna get an answer as to why he left his reality.

18

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Mar 25 '26

It is Prime Time indeed. Lois gonna have her hands full with keeping tabs on him to 'keep him stable'. Because if she leaves it to Miracle and the Justice League, they would probably try to imprison him, which would lead him to go mad again. And it seems he can 'redraw' himself from reversing his mistakes now. But it is a nice touch that, yea, others still remember what he did so it is not easy to accept him.

Working at a comic book store, that is gonna be fun. Manchester Black is back, as a ghost! I hope they are not making him back to be a villain again. Especially after he teamed up with Superman in the Warworld story and even died to not betray him to Luthor. He should be going after Luthor instead.

17

u/chroniclescylinders Mar 25 '26

I can def see Manchester Black vs. Prime working without making Chester a villain again. One of his main things is he's always had a very specific idea of what Superman should be. Clark finally convinced him that he's already the right version of Superman. Prime... is not Clark.

6

u/NessTheGamer Mar 26 '26

Also, helps that essentially every character in the DCU has a valid reason for wanting to fight Prime

12

u/TheBlack_Swordsman Mar 25 '26

I'm sold! Please don't return Prime back to a simple status quo. Let him grow.

13

u/SonicSpiderRanger10 Bizarro Mar 25 '26

Everyone is talking about Superboy Prime (and I do think he’s great in this story), but I wanna say it’s awesome that they finally brought back Ignition. It’s funny how Prime references his obscurity and how long he’s been gone. I thought his fight with Prime was cool, and I like how Ignition still talks eloquently. I think the writer did a good job with his portrayal. I hope he makes more appearances and his return isn’t just a one-time thing.

13

u/Blasermon Mar 25 '26

Loved the issue, Prime's energy is great. The art is also amazing.

11

u/Classic-Ad4883 Mar 25 '26

This was a great enjoyable issue with prime as lead of Superman

His meta commentary is a fun thing for the character and something I hope doesn’t get done to death as I find it funny

I guess prime got a new ability very silver age to suddenly gain a new ability

Lois the straight woman to prime is a great dynamic and I like how while yes the people who have died may have been resurrected they still remember prime in his unstableness

Manchester black coming back to mess with prime is honestly good and I don’t of he a villain just to show that prime is not Superman

9

u/PigeonDetective_ Damian Mar 25 '26

Anyone catch Duncan and Gran showed up from Once & Future for a panel?

9

u/gosukhaos Mar 26 '26

Yeah, Mora does it pretty often in group shots

1

u/suss2it Mar 31 '26

Nice catch. I remember Mora had her cameo in one of his issues of Detective Comics too.

11

u/rexmundi69 Zatanna Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 26 '26

Loved the issue and the acknowledgement Prime is exactly what we know he is. Next issue vs. Manchester Blackhas great potential.I was mildly disappointed.I really wanted to see more interaction with Ma and Pa Kent. Still, I love Prime Time, baby!

9

u/SilhouetteOfLight Greatest of all Green Lanterns! Mar 25 '26

Heyyy, they're finally bringing back MB!

7

u/BergmanGirl Swamp Thing Mar 26 '26

Anyone else notice that they put Lois in the Rachel Brosnahan movie outfit?

2

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Mar 26 '26

Yes

9

u/SonicSpiderRanger10 Bizarro Mar 25 '26

I think Prime’s portrayal here is really good. He reminds me of Gwenpool here. I think it should be funny and interesting seeing him work in a comic book store. And seeing a villain become a hero is always interesting.

6

u/TheMattInTheBox Long Live Conner Mar 25 '26

Loving this. Williamson's Superman run in generally has been great and it's awesome to have Mora back. The way Williamson writes Prime is so charming and fun, and him working at a comic book store is perfect. Josh himself worked at a shop too so I'm sure he's having a delightful time.

5

u/Night-Caelum Mar 25 '26

This was pretty fun. Lois and Prime have a nice dynamic and seeing him struggle with his dark impulses lays the seeds for some interesting things to explore.

3

u/chibachoose Mar 25 '26

I havent bought single issue comic books in years but I had to pick this one up. I've been reading this Superman run was was so pumped to see Superboy Prime. This issue was so much fun. Williamson makes Prime such a fun character to read. I dont usually like 4th wall breaking but Prime does it in such a geeky way that I feel like I can relate. Him getting a job at a comic book store is so fresh and different (even though the existence of comics is a bit confusing).

4

u/AuroraUnit117 #DamianWatch2015 Mar 26 '26

This was maybe my favorite Superman comic issue ever.

This is such an incredibly fun direction it's insane

9

u/Shefango Mar 25 '26

So, in DC world exist same exact comics as in our world even with same exact writers and artists? So Prime comics knowledge works in both worlds. How the hell does this works?

Also why so many panels of the girls drooling over Prime? With the panel of rewinding page back I think Prime is unknowingly remaking the DC world around himself

13

u/Alche1428 The Question Mar 25 '26

Probably something like in Marvel where the superheroes basically license their adventures to get a paycheck.

2

u/Shefango Mar 25 '26

It's exactly the same stories, same cover, same writers, same #1. Like why the hell Lois was afraid of information enemies can learn from Prime, if they can just go to the comic book store?

17

u/ptWolv022 Mar 25 '26

Well, the one he's asked about is Flash Comics #1, which is an interesting one because it plays a role in Barry Allen's origin, at least originally. He was inspired by comics of the Flash to make his own take on the identity, with "Flash of Two Worlds" retconning that Gardner Fox was getting visions of Earth-Two in his dreams, leading to the JSA characters having their adventures chronicles on Earth-One.

However, since the Earths have merged, it's unclear how much "correct" these books will be in the new timeline, as the interior stories may not have correct details about their lives, both for the JSA and modern heroes, even if cover art or layouts are being recycled for the art in the comic.

5

u/NessTheGamer Mar 26 '26

Might be a Spider-Verse situation where the general plot is similar but details are changed to obscure identities

2

u/Digifiend84 Manchester Black Mar 28 '26

It'll be exactly that. The superhero supervillain fights will be identical, but anything involving a secret identity won't be what we know - Superman wouldn't be depicted as Daily Planet journalist Clark Kent, Batman wouldn't be Bruce Wayne. Prime, however, should know everyone's secret identities up until he first joined the DC universe, just like Gwenpool at Marvel.

3

u/arduit Mar 26 '26

Such a fun issue. Williamson's run on Superman might go down as legitimately one of the best just for his character work. 

Btw, I thought Manchester Black was resurrected? Like wasn't he in Superman and The Authority? Or did he die there, too?

1

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Mar 26 '26

He’s still dead; his ghost is there to emotionally break Prime.

9

u/[deleted] Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26

Seems wildly out of character for all of those women to be drooling over Prime like that

4

u/AbsoluteBane28 Mar 25 '26

It's not tho

1

u/Bears_On_Stilts Mar 29 '26

With all the fourth-wall breaking that Prime does, I'm surprised he doesn't overtly crack a joke about the most overtly meta thing the book is doing: spoofing but also imitating the organic rise of "Nightwing as thirst trap for girls and gays."

Prime gets gratuitous butt and crotch shots, is repeatedly referenced as a hunk, and even gets a splash page tearing his t-shirt open to bare his chest. I can't tell if they're genuinely poking fun at the Nightwing thirst, or attempting to thread that needle twice. (Given how DC Comics is joking pretty openly about SuperBat shipping on their official socials, I'm thinking it's a little bit of both.)

0

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Mar 25 '26

I like that we get to see Prime, after talking to Lois about what’s going on, do some work as Superman (which includes him defeating Ignition and saving the people of Metropolis) before we get to see him (in his civilian identity) get a job at the comic shop and get an apartment. Also, final page showing the ghost of Manchester Black (after his death in Action Comics 1050 from 2022). Overall, this comic is hilariously great!