The best thing about Action Comics shifting to a weekly storyline for its latest storyline means that as a Superman fan, the wait time is drastically reduced and I can easily follow along. As a critic, it means that I have something to look forward to each week – especially with the creative team of Mark Waid and Clayton Henry on board. Action Comics #1072 doesn’t waste any time, immediately jumping into the revelation that Mon-El has taken on the mantle of the Phantom King. He also knows the mysterious figure that has been ruling over the Phantom Zone’s residents, and takes Superman to fight him. Meanwhile, Conner Kent and Kong Kenan learn exactly who broke into the Fortress of Solitude in Superman’s absence.
I’ll be honest: the Conner and Kenan plot is failing to entice me. As I noted in my review of Action Comics #1071, this feels like it should have been a backup story, and even then the ongoing Supergirl backup by Mariko Tamaki and Skylar Partridge feels far more compelling in how it’s setting Kara Zor-El on a journey across the stars, while also dealing with an unfolding mystery. Granted, Waid has shown a talent for building on seemingly disseperate threads, so maybe I’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.
The main story in the Phantom Zone remains compelling, especially with how it puts a new spin on Superman and Mon-El’s relationship. Mon-El was more or less the one innocent person who was sent to the Zone, and that was only because Clark Kent wanted to save his life. Now that the two are reunited, Waid gets to dig into how things have changed between them; while Mon-El is still a fundamentally good person, he’s had to make some hard choices to stay alive in the Zone – and he still does, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Superman.
DC Comics
Henry’s illustrations highlight that change, particularly in the opening pages. Flashbacks recount Mon-El’s first meeting with Clark, before shifting to the present day; the very first page takes advantage of this due to Matt Herms’ coloring, which gives off a ghostly tone meant to resemble a flashback. The rest of the issue alternates between the blood red skies of the Phantom Zone, and the snowy white of the Fortress of Solitude, which is rendered in intricate detail by Michael Shelfer.
Action Comics #1072 ends with a major revelation that shows just how much the Phantom Zone has changed in Superman’s absence – and will make you wish that a week goes by so you can pick up the next issue.
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