Action Comics #1077 is, in a way, the end of the “second act” of the weekly “Phantoms” storyline. But it’s a hell of an ending: Superman rockets back to the Phantom Zone upon learning that its new ruler Aethyr has been summoning mass from a sun to create new matter in the sun. This will eventually cause the unlucky sun to implode upon itself, causing immense death and damage…and to make matters worse, the sun powering Aethyr is the one Earth orbits!
That’s a pretty tall order, but Mark Waid and Clayton Henry are up to the challenge. Henry’s art is packed full of action, from the first page of Superman soaring across the Phantom Zone to save those in harm’s way to his battle with Aethyr. Both Supes and Aethyr give as good as they get, since the former is one of the most powerful superheroes who ever lived while the other can bend matter on a whim. This leads to a splash page that’s more than worth the cover price. When all is said and done, Henry will have turned in some iconic Superman images.
Waid also continues to find new ways to test Superman’s limits, especially with the threat Aethyr poses. It’s not just the Earth that’s suffering – the Zone is growing far too chaotic for its inhabitants and threatens to kill them. But even though his family, his friends, and his adoptive world is at stake, Superman refuses to leave the Zone’s inhabitants to destruction. It’s a testament to Waid’s skills that he never loses sight of what makes Superman such a great character.
DC
I’m also thankful that this issue finally sees an end to the subplot involving Conner Kent, Kong Kenan and the missing items from the Fortress of Solitude. I’ve expressed my issues with that plot thread in previous reviews, so I won’t re-litigate it here, but I do hope that Michael Helfer comes back to illustrate a arc of Action Comics; his line work is bursting with energy.
The Supergirl backup by Mariko Tamaki and Meghan Hetrick also continues to unfurl with clockwork precision. Tamaki winds up drawing a surprising parallel between Supergirl and the prisoner she’s meant to shepard, eventually ending with a shocking request. Hetrick brings the story to life with severely stunning imagery, including a few shoutouts to Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – it only cements my previous belief that this is meant to serve as a sequel to Woman of Tomorrow and I love it.
Action Comics #1077 is packed full of intense action sequences, but also carries a story that’s true to the core of Superman. Now as he races back to Earth, Superman has another Herculean task ahead of him. I have faith Waid and Henry will guide the Man of Steel through it.
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