Action Comics #1076 is one of the Superman stories that’s rare, but I love: the story that shows Superman is more than his powers. It’s easy to whittle down Clark Kent to the sum of his powers, but good Superman writers know how to give him challenges that put his mind to the test. The seventh part of “Phantoms” finds Clark at a crossroads; he’s just learned that Aethyr’s manipulation of the Phantom Zone is causing a sun to die out (what he doesn’t know is that it’s Earth‘s sun) and without the solar bands that are fueling his powers, he has no way to get back to the Zone. Throw in the increasing earthquakes that will one day tear Krypton apart, and Clark is faced with a dilemma unlike any other.
This lets Mark Waid tap into some surprisingly emotional reserves, which only heightens the tension. Clark can’t say too much or he’ll alter the entire timeline…but on the other hand, he’ll be dooming his parents, his uncle Zor-El and countless others to Krypton’s eventual fate. Waid’s script puts this internal monologue on display, letting readers soak in the guilt and the desperation Superman is feeling. It says something that when Waid flips over to a moment where Superboy becomes the new ruler of the Khund Empire that I feel relief (and viewers know that it hasn’t been my personal favorite.)
Waid’s script gets brought to life by Clayton Henry and Michael Shelfer; Shelfer draws a brief, if intriguing fight scene between Kong Kenan and a horde of Khunds. It’s Henry who continues to be the MVP, though. His line work is crisp, clean, and adds plenty of emotions. Panels focus on Superman’s hands, twisting behind his back in agony; his eyes, welling up with tears; or a moment where, powerless, he stands in front of an armed opponent and uses his words to win.
DC Comics
The final two pages are the best moments; Superman is shown flying toward the Phantom Zone, wiping away tears. As if that wasn’t powerful enough, his Kryptonian robes shed away, revealing his trademark costume – followed by Waid putting a new spin on the classic “Up, Up, and Away” mantra. It’s a simple, yet powerful image that screams ‘Superman’, and is worthy of the ‘Superman Superstars’ initiative Action Comics has been boasting this year. The fact that Matt Herms continues to play with strong red and blues when it comes to Superman doesn’t hurt; whether he’s sneaking around or flying high, the Man of Steel stands out.
The emotional angle doesn’t just stop at the main story. It also extends to the Supergirl backup story, as Mariko Tamaki finally reveals what happened to the prisoner Kara was sent to guard. Most of this is done with little dialogue, letting new artist Meghan Hetrick paint a picture via her artwork. The standout image features a split between Kara and the prisoner; the latter’s face is expressionless due to its shining golden helmet, but the latter is teary upon learning about her companion’s history.
Action Comics #1076 will hit readers in the emotions when they least expect it, but that’s a good thing. Sometimes a good superhero story isn’t a slugfest or a genre-defining epic. Sometimes, it’ll hit you in the heart.
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