There can be only one.
Note: because it's difficult to discuss the contents of this issue without spoiling the big twist, we've elected to include spoilers for Superman #52 below.
As flawed as the execution has been, "The Final Days of Superman" has been a boon for a franchise that's so often struggled in the New 52. Superman's improved characterization has generally been enough to make up for the odd pacing and haphazard story focus. Unfortunately, that's not the case in the finale, which doesn't make great use of its page space and fails to achieve the full emotional impact needed.
It goes without saying that a story involving the death of Superman needs to feature a foe worthy of the achievement. Denny Swan, the ordinary man-turned-raging Superman impostor, is not that foe. The villain simply isn't very compelling, more plot device than tragic figure. As such, this issue devotes entirely too much room to chronicling the final battle with Denny at the expense of what follows.
Pete Tomasi's characterization still shines in these aftermath scenes, as Clark breathes his last and bids farewell to his friends. As has been the case since the first chapter of this crossover, Tomasi's Clark recalls the fundamental decency and hopefulness that once defined Superman (and hopefully will again). The problem is that his death scene feels very rushed, especially considering that this is the final chapter of an eight-part crossover. Why couldn't the buildup have been paced in such a way as to allow more room for the emotional linchpin of the entire story?
Brief though it is, the death scene would have been more powerful if the art was better suited to bringing in it to life. There's a very stiff, otherworldly quality to the visuals that stems from the heavy reliance on CG elements. Normally that digitally augmented approach isn't a problem with Mikel Janin's work, but in this case there's a certain texture and vitality missing from his pages. The colors are more to blame than anything, lending a smooth, artificial sheen to both the characters and their environments.
The Verdict
At best, "The Final Days of Superman" was always a flawed crossover. Sadly, the story's flaws overwhelm its strengths in the final chapter. Too much room is devoted to the battle with the underwhelming villain and too little to Superman's rushed (but still emotional) death scene. Mikel Janin's art is also uncharacteristically weak. This isn't exactly the sendoff the New 52 Superman deserved, but at least the stage is set for a new status quo for the franchise.
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