“Tech Alive”, written by Philip Kennedy Johnson with art by Rafa Sandoval, is yet another enjoyable entry in Johnson’s run on Action Comics, despite reaffirming some concerns I had from the previous issue. In addition, the backup stories still leave something to be desired as far as engaging content.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Action Comics #1055!
The issue opens with a scene that immediately addresses one of my concerns from the previous three to four issues: inconsistent exposure for the various members of the Superman family. Readers are treated to seeing Super-Man (Kenan), Superman (Jon), Superboy, and Steel (Natasha) in action against the legion of mechanized corpses under Cyborg Superman’s command. It’s a treat to see them working together fluidly, and all the better that their enemies are not alive, that they can banter freely and bash heads without fear of seriously harming anyone.
Following a brief flashback to the events of Reign of the Supermen, we see the reintroduction of another key player from that time period: The Eradicator! By positing that Henshaw’s composite body of Kryptonian flesh and technology is an affront to the “purity” of true Kryptonian heritage, Superman puts Eradictor to task on helping him locate Henshaw and Metallo’s sister before it’s too late. With Steel (John Henry), Superboy, the twins, and Metallo in tow, Superman and the Eradicator track Henshaw to an abandoned airport, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion (hopefully).
I say “hopefully” because, similar to the previous issue, this installment of Johnson’s run is giving me the feeling that Johnson is going to try to cram a non-trivial amount of plot developments into the final installment of this arc. I could be worrying needlessly, but I would hate for this run to be repeatedly undone by poor pacing.
On the positive side, though, Johnson’s voices for each of the principal characters is accurate and effective, from Clark’s composed reassurance to Henshaw’s malicious contempt. In addition, Metallo gets some pathos, providing development for both himself and his sister.
Moving on to the backups, “Home Again, Part Five” by Dan Jurgens is, yet again, a non-starter for me. Though the art from Lee Weeks is a welcome return to form after last issue’s fill-in, nothing about this story is interesting to me. It’s not even objectively bad, it’s just boring and rote, which is arguably worse. If you’re hurting for some young Jon Kent content, then maybe you can glean some enjoyment from this. Otherwise, it’s a hard skip.
As for the second backup, “Steel: Engineer of Tomorrow, Part Two” is an improvement over the previous installment, though imperfections remain. Written by Dorado Quick, the story sees John Henry Irons make the case for Steelworks’ efficacy to a room of prospective investors. On paper, it seems just as boring as the Jurgens backup, yet I found that my interest was maintained throughout Irons’ explanation of his technology due to it quickly being demonstrated to have a net positive effect for preserving the lives (and livelihoods) of Metropolis’ citizens.
The art from Yasmín Flores Montañez, while not jaw-dropping, is perfectly serviceable as well. The only things really holding this story back from being great are the instances of dialogue that completely pull me out of the story, limited as they are. Writers attempting to inject modern slang into cape comics does not often read well, and this is no exception. Still, I am curious to see how Mr. Terrific’s appearance at the end of this chapter will play out in the next installment.
Overall, while I enjoyed the principal story for this issue, I am ready for this arc to wrap up so Johnson can move on to whatever is next in his run. I also hope that the next issue can conclude this portion of Johnson’s run in a satisfying way without feeling rushed; time will tell whether or not such a thing is in the cards for Action Comics.
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