After the cliffhanger of Action Comics #1056 and the events of Power Girl Special #1, Leah Williams, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Vasco Gerogiev, and Mico Suayan enter Knight Terrors with Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1, showing readers the darkest parts of Power Girl’s mind and the childhood fears of a cybernetic astronaut.
Minor spoilers for Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1!
The book opens with Williams and Gerogiev’s story “She’s Got No Strings, Part One” which shows us a nightmare Paige, the Kryptonian formerly named Karen Starr, can’t wake up from. Leah’s work on Paige has thus far been a striking and impressive reestablishment of one of the most beloved Earth-2 characters in DC canon. With the announcement of Supergirl Special #1 with Mariko Tamaki and Skylar Patridge, the two writers are crafting an emotional journey with the two Karas, and Knight Terrors continues that brilliantly.
DC Comics
Leah’s writing in “She’s Got No Strings, Part One” introduces the fears of loving yourself and trying to love others. Paige is scared of being abandoned, cast aside when she wants to find love and be loved by those around her. The opening sequence expresses this strikingly as we see Paige’s life on Krypton falling apart as her boyfriend tries to keep her and her parents leave her behind. Her imposter syndrome, her lack of ego, and the things that scare her are finally catching up to her. To some, this is a walk away from classic Power Girl, but mental health and the struggles that come with it are as unpredictable to us as it is the heroes we read about on page.
Thankfully, the page happens to be drawn by Vasco Gerogiev and complemented by the beautiful colors of Alex Guimarães. The horror and the emotions Paige feels throughout the story comes to life with these two and it makes the story feel much more impactful and emotional as it morphs into a dark story with soon-to-be startling revelations for Power Girl and co. On the other side of the coin, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Mico Suayan enter the world of Knight Terrors with a story focusing on Super-Twin Osul-Ra and his fear of Cyborg Superman.
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Following the events of Action Comics #1056, the family decides to watch scary movies together until Osul-Ra admits that he’s scared of the movie and what has happened to the family in the last few weeks. Natasha, Connor, and Kenan decide to stay overnight to make Osul and his sister feel better but as they fall asleep, their nightmares get the better of them. Or in better terms, the evolution of technology catches up to them. Johnson paces the story brilliantly – the entire story feels like one big slasher as Cyborg Superman, in Connor Kent’s body, chases after the family and tries to off them one by one.
Mico’s art adds to the intensity of the story and shows just how alone the family is due to the disappearance of Superman and Supergirl in Knight Terrors: Superman #1. The coloring by Romulo Fajardo Jr. shows us how scary a super-family story can be. He uses dark reds and oranges, traditional colors to slasher movie posters, to make the world around the family feel like one big horror movie. The entire story is a nightmare by a dream team of creators. Much like its counterpart Knight Terrors: Superman, the World of Metropolis sets up the future of Superman, his family, and continues the mental dissection of the Super-Family through their worst fears. Alas, we have to wait and see what happens to Power Girl and the family in the next installment of Knight Terrors: Action Comics.
Continuing off the heels of horror and intrigue introduced by Superman and Supergirl’s adventures in Knight Terrors: Superman #1, this was a strong set of horror stories from two writers who aim to push the Heroes of Tomorrow into new and impressive heights.
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