Review: Action Comics #1071
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki
Art: Clayton Henry & Michael Shelfer and Skylar Patridge
Colors: Matt Herms and Marissa Louise
Letters: Dave Sharpe and Becca Carey
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
In the Phantom Zone, Superman overcomes some of the incarcerated that have become corporeal. He eventually comes face to face with the Phantom King!
Positives
Mark Waid follows up last issue with another exciting installment as he continues to develop the Silver Age elements effectively. The action is revved up and along the way he reacquaints readers with the history of the Phantom Zone. This includes, its discovery by Jor-El and its most notorious detainees. Waid also includes Mon-El of the Legion of Super-Heroes who first appeared in Superboy #89 (Feb. 1961). Superboy had to put Mon-El in the Phantom Zone to save him from lead poisoning. It wouldn’t be until a 1000 years later that Brainiac 5 of the Legion created a serum that allowed Mon-El to live outside the Phantom Zone. No spoilers on Mon-el’s role in this issue!
Waid also uses the more recent creation, Xa-Du the first criminal banished to the Phantom Zone. Better known as the Phantom King, Xa-Du is set up to be Superman’s biggest obstacle in the Phantom Zone.
Both Mon-El and the Legion are Silver Age creations that have strong ties to the Superman mythos of the Silver Age. Using Mon-El is a great call back to not only the Silver Age, but the classic Legion of Super-Heroes. They recently made a substantial appearance in Justice Society of America #11 and this connection to the classic fits with Waid’s use of Silver Age concepts in this story so far.
Positives Cont’d
Waid adds a few more wrinkles to Superman’s trip into the Phantom Zone. He has a clever solution to the normal situation of Superman losing his powers when he goes into the the Zone. It’s a nice touch that works and adds to the stakes that Waid laid out so effectively last issue.
Clayton Henry does a good job with the action in this story. He’s not over the top, but his staging and fight choreography make for a fun read. He also makes the exposition sequence interesting. Skylar Patridge turns in another outstanding art job on the Supergirl story in this issue. There’s a realistic quality to her faces that enhances the storytelling in a visceral manner.
Negatives
Like last issue, Action Comics #1071 has minor complaints, if any.
Verdict
Action Comics #1071 is, once again, a fun, exciting and entertaining comic book that you should be reading. There’s enough classic mixed with the current status quo to make this a Man of Steel that is accessible to all readers. Waid doesn’t leave anyone in the dust. It’s easy enough to jump in on both stories.
