Bizarro: Year None #3
Written by Eric Carrasco and Kevin Smith
Art by Nick Pitarra
Colors by Michael Garland
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Bizarro: Year None has been a bit of a mixed bag so far during its now three issue run. I’ve liked some of what I saw within the first two issues but it hasn’t hit as hard for me as it has for others. This third issue is easily the best so far and finally gives us a look at the big mystery of this strange version of Bizarro and the planet he calls home. The art gives off just the right amount of uncomfortableness in an issue that this series very much needed. Let’s get into it. Spoiler Warning Now in Effect for Bizarro: Year None #3!
Why Bizarroworld is so… Bizarre
After a quick flashback scene between Bizarro and Bizarro-world Lois Lane in happier days, we join Jimmy Olsen and Bizarro in the skies above this very strange version of Metropolis. Bizarro has done all he could to look as much like Superman as he could, from the makeup to the shoddy knitted costume, but he still questions how to act exactly like the Man of Steel. A fire breaking out only serves to push this point forward, as Bizarro has to ask Jimmy what Superman would do in their current situation. Superman, the real one we all know and love, would never have to question what to do when someone was in danger.
Bizarro ends up listening to Jimmy’s advice and saves a group of folks from the burning building, but instead of running as far as they can and thanking their good graces that they survived, they all run back into the flames screaming that they want to die. Whoa. Ok… so what’s going on here? Well, as it turns out, this version of Bizarroworld is even more screwed up than we all thought.
Not only is everything slightly off, strange, off-putting, and backwards, but now, just as Jimmy figures it out himself, we learn that the same day keeps repeating over and over again. The day that the same newspaper was dated that fell into Bizarro World that kickstarted this entire adventure. So not only is this Bizarro even crazier than normal, but the world keeps repeating the same day over and over again, AND the world's stability relies on his mood and health. As far as takes on the character go, this is one of the more interesting ones I’ve read in a while. Things are about to go from bad to worse for the people on Bizarroworld.
We catch up with Perry after his kidnapping, and Bizarro Lois begins to explain that she and a resistance force have been coming up with a plan to stop Bizarro. It’s revealed that slowly but surely every person on Bizarroworld is losing their minds, and they need to do something to end the torment that they’re all living in. Day after day it’s the same nonsense, so what's the solution? We’ll catch up with that in a minute.
What Makes a Superman and What Doesn’t
Now for possibly my favorite portion of this issue. After Bizarro lets an entire family die during a car chase gone wrong, Jimmy finally puts it together that he doesn’t have a single clue what it truly means to be Superman. Superman isn’t who he is because he beats down the bad guys or because he has strong villains. Superman is who he is because of his ability to uplift and inspire and make anyone feel on any given day that THEY matter. Superman is who he is because he has the power to destroy the Earth but saves cats from trees. He is good incarnate, and Bizarro can’t grasp that aspect. It’s why he will never be Superman, no matter how hard he tries.
This scene with Jimmy and Bizarro was great because it really underscores why Bizarro, no matter what he chooses to copy or what he chooses to dress like, will never be like the Man of Steel. He sees punishing bad guys and beating down the opposition as the only things that make Superman super, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. The very core of this Bizarroworld is rotten because Bizarro himself can’t understand what inherently makes Superman so beloved, and it’s all been building toward a possibly disastrous result.
Jimmy meets back up with Perry, and they have a heart-to-heart on the roof of the Bizarro-Daily Planet. It’s another great moment in this issue, and the two seem to finally come to an understanding and begin to form a genuine bond. Between the heartfelt scene with Jimmy and Perry and the Bizarro and Jimmy scene I mentioned above, it’s some of the finest writing in these three issues so far; Carrasco and Smith nailed these moments. It was always going to be an interesting choice to make Jimmy and Perry the main stars of this book, but as it’s gone on, I can really vibe with the decision. I think those two make an excellent pairing, and Perry comes out almost like a father figure to Jimmy. Moving on, though, it’s time for Lois’ plan to be revealed!
Bizarro finally realizes something is up, but he’s too late to stop Lois’ ultimate plan: she’s going to destroy the newspaper that he found that kickstarted this entire nightmare. Now I don’t want to spoil too much here after this part, especially the ending, but just know the series finally lives up to its title. The ending section of this issue is fantastic because long-time fans of Superman can absolutely see it building, and when it hits the crescendo, it's a fantastic payoff. Carrasco and Smith delivered the best narrative of the miniseries so far, and it’s not even close.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Carrasco and Smith’s narrative is equally matched by the art of Nick Pitarra and Michael Garland’s colors. This book has had really cool art from the jump, and I’ve mentioned this in earlier reviews, but it’s amazing how they’ve pulled off just the right amount of off-putting. The bright colors and overall bright tone of the art somehow manage to give almost a disturbed feeling, almost as if what you’re seeing is from some twisted storybook. The dichotomy of the underlying creepiness of the story and the art style is something that really works for me.
Bizarro: Year None #3 was my favorite issue of the limited series so far. With the mysteries of Bizarroworld now laid bare and the titular character having the moment that’s been teased since issue #1, we are in for a very interesting finale. Featuring the off-putting art styles of Nick Pitarra and Michael Garland, this issue is a home run from a series that was just hitting singles.