Review: Action Comics #1079
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki
Art: Michael Shelfer and Skylar Patridge
Colors: Matt Herms and Marissa Louise
Letters: Dave Sharp and Becca Carey
Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
The Phantom Zone escapees are attacking the Earth, but where is Superman? Mon-El pulls off the rescue to get the Man of Steel back in the Action!
Positives
With Action Comics #1079, “Phantoms” turns from a major Superman story to an epic battle for the fate of world. It’s completely understandable that the rogue Kryptonians would present the incredible danger that Mark Waid gives us in this issue. While this story was already great with the stakes it has already presented, this ratchets things up a few notches. Fighting the Phantom Zone villains in the Zone is one thing, but ALL of them escaping is something else altogether. Superman gets the entire Super-family as well as members of the not-quite-reformed Justice League involved and Waid uses them all to great effect. Kryptonians are vulnerable to magic and at least one Justice Leaguer can change matter into other elements. Great use of the new membership of the reforming League.
There are some great moments between Superman and Mon-El as Waid reinforces their friendship and Superman’s insistence that Mon-El is his “brother.” It says a lot about Superman and how important his friendship with Mon-El was when they were younger. It utilizes the classic Silver Age status quo for the two, and reminds the readers that it may not have always been easy for Clark growing up. Hopefully, Waid will get to explore this more. It’s a perfect set up for a new Legion of Super-Heroes series. We saw the classic Legion in Justice Society of America recently and it feels like there’s momentum for the team as one of the Legion’s greatest adversaries, the Time Trapper (in his newest incarnation) is the big bad in current issues of Superman.
Positives Cont’d
Waid balances things nicely between the big moments and the smaller moments and details like the use of Superman’s med-suit to heal him from the villains attack at the end of last issue. It’s a nice touch, as is the dialogue between Superman and Jimmy that demonstrates they are actually friends. Waid captures multiple eras of the Man of Steel and it goes a long way in presenting a Grand Unified Approach that can encompass nearly all of the significant versions of Superman’s continuity over the years. Though some of it is subtle, it’s all outstanding character work.
Skylar Patridge remains the bright spot in the Supergirl story in Action Comics #1079. She does what she can to bring Tamaki’s script to life, even when it seems like there’s nothing there to really work with. Tamaki creates a little bit of movement in the story, but it’s just not quite enough.
Negatives
It’s hard to find a negative in the Superman story, but Mariko Tamaki’s Supergirl tale continues to confound. There’s a confrontation in this issue, but why Supergirl is there, and why this particular being had to be transported by Kara is impenetrable. If Tamaki could have built it up as the story progressed and slowly revealed not just the who, but the why and wherefore it could’ve been interesting. And…did Power Girl just show up out of nowhere? Or, is this just more of that psychic link nonsense from last issue. Power Girl and Supergirl have never had a psychic link. DC wants to reinvent Power Girl and the fans/ readers aren’t buying it. It’s an uphill battle. There is no audience for this new Power Girl. She’s too well established and this version will continue to struggle until it is abandoned. Just bring the real PG back already!
Verdict
As has been the case with this series since issue #1070, Action Comics #1079 has a great Superman story and a disappointing Supergirl story. Waid continues to give us a wonderful Superman story full of action, excitement and engaging personal moments that incorporate many eras of the Man of Steel. One should ding the issue for the lackluster Supergirl story, but the lead story is so good, it just doesn’t feel right.
