The current story in Super Dinosaur is less about the title character and more about the Exile and his plan for his people. It’s been a fun ride so far, as each issue explain’s the Exile’s plan. Originally we thought he was some evil alien, but as the plot unfolded, we learned that there was something deeper going on. It takes good writing to make a villain in an all-ages comic not some one-dimensional “I want to invade your world cause I can!” type. The latest installment in this arc is an important one as we explore deeper into the Exile’s home.

Here’s the official description from Image:

“ESCAPE FROM INNER-EARTH,” Part Three

Derek Dynamo learns the terrible secret of Inner-Earth, something even his father, Doctor Dynamo never discovered. Meanwhile Super Dinosaur and his friends are learning just how dangerous Inner-Earth can be!

I say this every review, but man, the Exile is a really good character. I’m not quite sure how Derek and SD will hold the book without him. Robert Kirkman’s writing is pretty strong for the most part, with the occasional obvious ‘all-ages’ dialogue. The most interesting aspect is when the Exile shows Derek ‘the Beneath,’ the more under part of his home. There’s an atmosphere of sadness to it as he explains that the poor and forgotten live there. The Exile’s brother’s disbelief was very generic and almost cringe-worthy. It would have been more unique to have him say something like “You know what? You’re right.” His response to it is just kinda sad.

Jason Howard’s art is pretty good and consistent. The highlight is definitely ‘The Beneath.’ You know that somber atmosphere I was talking about earlier? The grey and dimness really gives the area a poor look. There’s plenty of action throughout, including some fun dinosaur action for all you Jurassic Park fans out there. Sadly the dialogue with SD and friends is sub-par at best. It’s practically filler when the story cuts to them as they search for Derek. In ‘The Beneath’ we are introduced to a new character that’s close to the Exile, which was good to see. He had everything all planned out beforehand, it’s good to see there’s a history within the story.

Overall, a pretty important issue in this arc. We get to see the full extent of the Exile’s plan as he explains pretty much everything. We get to see more of his home, which was pretty interesting. Dialogue ranges from good to sub-par, but for the most part, we have another solid issue of Super Dinosaur. By the end, you’re left eagerly awaiting the next installment.