Action Comics has been through some surprising paradigm shifts in the past few years. First, Phillip Kennedy Johnson took Superman to Warworld and upended his family dynamic. Then, last year brought the “Superman Superstars” initiative, where different creators got to tell tales from various eras in Superman history. Now, Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge are flashing back to the Man of Steel’s teenage years with Action Comics #1087.
Back when he was 15, Clark Kent was still figuring out his powers, and like any teenager, he was itching to get out and explore the world. That chance comes on his birthday, when his adoptive parents Martha and Jonathan take him to Metropolis’ Expo of Tomorrow. But a mysterious figure attacks, forcing him to become Superboy to protect the innocent.
Waid’s no stranger to writing early Superman tales; his last Action Comics epic, “Phantoms”, had ties to Clark Kent’s youth, and he wrote arguably the best Superman origin with Superman: Birthright. With Action Comics #1087, Waid takes a new approach by depicting life for Clark as a teenager. Back then, he didn’t have as strong of a handle on his powers – his telescopic vision meant he thought that he was seeing things coming at him when they were really far away, and his hearing gets overwhelmed with a cacophony of voices. He manages with the help of his parents, which leads to some of Action Comics #1087’s best moments.
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Chief among them are the moments between Clark and Jonathan, as Jonathan acts like a grounding presence for his adoptive son. I also love that Jonathan gives Clark “pop quizzes” on DC heroes of yesteryear, as it helps shape him into the (Super)man he’s meant to be – and also hints at what Waid plans to bring to the table with his other DC projects, including New History of the DC Universe. Waid also slips in a few nods to Superman’s future that make me even more excited for upcoming issues of Action Comics.
Patridge proved himself to be a great talent when he illustrated the Supergirl backups in Action Comics, and given the chance to do a full story, he goes all out. Patridge’s version of Clark actually looks like a teenager, all gangly limbs and tousled hair. It carries over to his Superboy presence; instead of a pair of bright red boots, he has untied sneakers and his build isn’t as impressive as it will be. There’s also moments in Clark’s body language that remind you that he’s just a kid.
Action Comics #1087 also pops thanks to Ivan Plascensia’s color art. Plascensia brings bright, vibrant hues to Patridge’s work, including Superboy’s signature red and blue outfit. But the real standout is Metropolis. Even in the past, it’s all shining silver skyscrapers. When Clark has to battle a supervillain who claims to be from the future, there are blasts of reddish orange flame and swirls of dust, adding a touch of the apocalyptic to this superhero battle.
Action Comics #1087 turns the page back to Superman’s youth, delivering a standalone tale that’s fun and engaging. The “Summer of Superman” is definitely living up to its name, showcasing all of the different parts of the Man of Steel’s mythos, and I trust Waid and Patridge to deliver when it comes to this new arc.
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