Review: Action Comics #1081
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writers:Â Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki
Art:Â Clayton Henry and Skylar Patridge
Colors:Â Matt Herms and Marissa Louise
Letters:Â Dave Sharpe and Becca Carey
Reviewed by:Â Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
The Super-family must find a way to beat the Phantom Zone villains and the returned Xa-Du, the Phantom King!
Positives
Action Comics #1081 provides a satisfying ending to Mark Waid’s twelve part “Phantoms” storyline. There’s a big surprise in the conclusion that I won’t spoil. As a matter of fact, we’ll trying to avoid all spoilers for this review! Like in so many Silver Age stories, the Man of Steel relies on his brain as well as his brawn in this concluding chapter. The Super-family must wade in swinging, but it’s a clever ruse that brings down the Phantom Zone villains. Superman and Co. appear to be pushed to the brink and then some.
There’s also an interesting resolution for Mon-El who remains in position to be rescued by the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future. It’s not entirely clear how this fits into Mon-El’s future, but the character remains in play for classic Legion appearances. The bond between Superman and Mon-El is strong and Waid makes it important throughout the story arc. It’s good to see Superman have friends, Mon-El was an important one in the Silver and Bronze Ages.  Hopefully, Mon-El will get rescued from the Zone in the not too distant future in a new Legion book, maybe by Waid?
Skylar Patridge’s art finishes out Mariko Tamaki’s Supergirl story in the back of the issue and it looks great. If there’s an upside to the Supergirl story, it’s been Patridge’s art. The rest of it has been awkward at best, and incomprehensible at its worst.
Negatives
I think Mariko Tamaki tried something in “Supergirl: Universe End” story that just didn’t work. She was attempting a less straight forward approach, but didn’t have enough clues to drop about the goings on to really make it engaging. Chapter Twelve in Action Comics #1081 is the denouement and it brings a few aspects into focus, but there is still a distant feel to everything.
One of the strangest aspects of this story was the inclusion of Power Girl. Tamaki is taking the lead from the current status quo to shoehorn Power Girl into the main Earth Super-family, a place she’s never fit it. Tamaki is using this to create a psychic connection between the Kara’s. Not only has this never been an aspect of their interactions, it eschews the interesting way in which they did interact in the past. They were a little standoffish, careful and somewhat wary until they got to know each other. Because their depictions both physically and personality wise were so markedly different it was fun and compelling. No other parallel Earth doppelgangers have a psychic connection, so why would these two? As things went on after their last first meeting, Supergirl was able to look up to Power Girl for advice and direction since PG was significantly older and more experienced. That interesting dynamic has been ruined in current continuity.Â
Verdict
The Supergirl conclusion in Action Comics #1081 may not improve the overall story, but Mark Waid’s Superman tale concludes in grand fashion. It’s been great since the first chapter back in October and it’s an acceptable Christmas present as it concludes the week/ day of Christmas. It will be disappointing to see Waid leave Action Comics next issue.
