An Update From New Krypton

We're now six chapters deep into the 10-part "New Krypton" crossover that's running between Action Comics, Supergirl and Superman (with a couple of specials thrown in, too, for good measure). I've been enthralled by this storyline since it started up, as well as more than a little disturbed by the implications. But first, the latest developments:

• 100,000 Kryptonians from the bottled city of Kandor were set loose on Earth by Superman (albeit up north near his Fortress of Solitude)
• All of them have gained the same powers as Kal-El and his cousin Kara (Supergirl), thanks to the energy from our yellow sun
• The rest of the world's population have been introduced to a delegation of Kandorians, although their highly-publicized meeting with the U.S. President was interrupted by Doomsday, who several of the immigrants ganged up on and killed
• Supergirl's parents, who survived Krypton's destruction along with their fellow citizens of Kandor, have figured out why Kara has acted so strangely since arriving on Earth: Kryptonite poisoning's to blame (or just really bad writing in most of her former appearances, including this one but not this one)
• A bunch of militant Kandorians, at the direction of Kara's parents, have grabbed up several Superman arch-villains (the Parasite, Bizarro, the Toyman and the Prankster) and deposited them in the Phantom Zone... but unfortunately killed a few policemen in the process!
• Lois Lane Kent's father, thought to be dead and buried, is actually alive and working covertly within the American government to devise a counter-measure to use against these potential threats from another planet

In other words, things have started to get messy!

I'm really enjoying "New Krypton" and want to believe that writers Geoff Johns, James Robinson and Sterling Gates are all up to the task of pulling off what is actually a very large and daring tale. What bothers me about the premise, though, is the very notion that Superman would decide, on his own, to place his adopted planet in such peril. Sure, he's had the use of his powers for much longer than any of them, but it's still fairly obvious that, were any group of Kandorians (numbering in the thousands, hundreds or even just dozens) to decide to either take over or simply lay waste to portions of the planet, there'd be very little that even the combined might of the Justice League, Teen Titans and Justice Society (a truly formidable collection of superheroes) could do about it. While he did it for the most altruistic of reasons, he's still taken an action that could lead - and in fact, now already has led - to the deaths of innocent Earth citizens. I'm not sure that those crafting this gripping melodrama have necessarily thought all of that through... to me, even just what's happened so far should be enough to drive Kal-El off his rocker with guilt! Not to mention how stupid and short-sighted it's made him appear.

So we'll see where "New Krypton" goes over the remaining 4 issues, but I've got my doubts about just how much sense it's going to make overall.