Review: Action Comics #1073

Review: Action Comics #1073
[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

Superman and Mon-El go further into the Phantom Zone and must face both Xa-Du and Aethyr. Superman makes a valiant attempt with startling consequences!

Positives

Mark Waid continues to give his take on Silver Age Superman themes as he weaves them into his Phantom Zone story.  Waid keeps things grounded with the friendship and history between Superman and Mon-El.  Waid’s not revealing everything yet, but he seems to be teasing especially for those readers that have a long history.  For new readers, hopefully these are landing as interesting elements in the overall story arc.

The story ends on a tried and true Superman trope that has roots in the Silver Age.  I believe Waid will do it justice in the next issue.  Clayton Henry tells the story in an exciting manner.  He maintains the excitement in layouts and keeps the tension when necessary.  He also communicates a lot of subtlety in the friendship between Superman and Mon-El.  Skylar Patridge continues to be a treat on the Supergirl back up story.  Patridge does a lot with a script that is already difficult to decipher at times.

A lot of Action Comics #1073 is just plain fun.  It’s a well told tale that hangs it hat on classic Superman elements.  This fits with what we finally learn about Connor and Kong, as well.  Waid brings back another Silver Age element from DC Comics, the Space Museum.  Up to now this subplot has been a bit confounding, but this teases enough to make it interesting.

Negatives

Like last issue, Mariko Tamaki continues to hold her cards too close to the vest.  The reader needs a little something more to go on.  Non-traditional storytelling works at times and we saw Tamaki do it on her Detective Comics in the Arkham Tower storyline.  However, in this Supergirl tale, we just aren’t getting enough.

Verdict

Sometimes less is more and that’s what Waid is doing so well with Action Comics.  While he incorporates a number of Silver Age elements the emphasis is on telling a fun story.  The reader doesn’t have to know all the references.  Waid provides enough as needed information for the story to be enjoyed.  For the reader in the know, it adds an additional element.