Review: Action Comics #1077
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki
Art: Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer and Meghan Hetrick
Colors: Matt Herms and Marissa Louise
Letters: Dave Sharpe and Becca Carey
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Superman and Mon-El learn that Earth’s sun is being consumed in order to create solid objects in the Phantom Zone. Can Superman defeat Aethyr in time?
Positives
Clayton Henry gives us some really great Super-action as the Man of Steel faces off against Aethyr. It feel pretty classic with a little edginess thrown in due to Superman’s intensity level resulting in a Superman hitting VERY hard. It’s fun and Henry sells it as a true “job for Superman.” This isn’t saving a cat from a tree. Meghan Hetrick remains solid in the Supergirl chapter.
Waid drops a detail about the lead poisoning in Mon-El’s blood which connects things to Mon-El’s history. Is this just a further tease or a real indication that we’ll get more of the Legion of Super-Heroes as the All In initiative continues to roll out over the coming months? Hopefully, they won’t be relegated to the Absolute Universe as the Legion that was shown in the DC All In Special.
Positives Cont’d
Plot wise, Waid has done a great job of building up things to the final act in the “Phantoms” story arc. While he’s relied on a lot of Silver Age references and overall approach to the story, it doesn’t diminish the excitement that leads into the next issue. Superman has to figure out a way to save the sun, luckily the Justice League has some ideas back on Earth. Waid packs a lot into Action Comics #1077 and it feels substantial.
Mariko Tamaki gets a little closer to the point. It’s been played too close to the vest though. We know that Supergirl was transporting this prisoner and we learn the prisoner has her own agenda and believes that Supergirl is the one to help her fulfill her death wish. But, why? Well…
Negatives
Tamaki shows the prisoner viewing some events from Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Apparently, this has led to prisoner to believe that Supergirl is capable of killing her. While readers know Supergirl is not a killer, the prisoner clearly does not. Perhaps, this is Tamaki’s way of saying “if all you know of Supergirl is Woman of Tomorrow, then you really don’t know Supergirl.” However, I really think she’s just connecting to it as a “clever” continuity connection. All Tom King stories are divisive, so it’s not surprising that some Supergirl fans don’t like it. A quick look back at the review for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #8 shows that I in fact did praise this series quite highly. Still, a reread is probably a good idea. It’s just a difficult task to reread King, usually. And, I’ve been on such a roll finding flaws in his stories!
Unfortunately, Tamaki still hasn’t given us an inkling as to why Supergirl had to complete this particular mission. It may be too little to late to save this story and right now it feel like it may be trying to hard and not be able to land the conclusion effectively- too much big idea and “cleverness” and not enough actual story. The first 7 parts could easily have been condensed to one single chapter.
Verdict
Action Comics #1077 delivers on so much in the Superman story and it’s worth it solely for that alone- story, art, action, character beats. It would be nice if the Supergirl story was hitting on all cylinders and the Conner/ Kong story had any relevance whatsoever, but Superman has carried this book for over 85 years, so it’s not surprising.
