Review: Action Comics #1098

Action Comics #1098 came out this week, another great chapter in this look back at the early career of Superboy. Given recent announcements about Action Comics #1100 we may be nearing the end of this mini-run which feels shortsighted by DC because this has been great. If DC announced a Superboy book by this creative team, I would be there.

Mark Waid has done a great job on this book, showcasingClark's early super-heroics and discovering his powers as they develop. Just as important though, he is showing the emotional side of these early adventures. The Kents' history. The Lana love triangle. The Pete Ross mystery. All great.

This issue shines a light on the earliest origin, the landing of the rocket and the Kent's adoption of Clark, leaning a little more to the classic origin and a bit away from Byrne. Waid uses a time-travel villain to make the exposition a plot component so it isn't forced. I have talked about how the Lana stuff has been very nostalgic for me, remembering my early loves in high school. The scene in this issue is fantastic.

The art is split between Skylar Patridge and Patricio Delpeche. Patridge is a cleaner style which works for the Smallville scenes, especially the Lana stuff. I was hoping that Delpeche would do only the flashback pages to keep a sort of thread to the art. But the artists are mixed throughout the issue. Both artists are great.

Onto the book.

Review: Supergirl #13 (V8)

Supergirl #13 came out this week, the next chapter in the 'Hero of Kandor' arc, a brutal story so far pushing Kara to her physical and emotional limits. This is a story filled with physical danger and emotional turmoil. But through it all, even when seemingly spiraling, this Supergirl remains a hero and an inspiration. 

Writer/artist Sophie Campbell has had Kara nearly die, been turned into a cyborg, and trying to quell the uprising of the Black Flame in Kandor AND chastise the Kandorian government for letting it happen. And she continues to do this despite a large portion of her body having been replaced by clunky robotics. It would be easy for her to give up but she doesn't.

Not that she is stolid or staid. She breaks down here and there. We see her lamenting her past. We see her screaming at Lesla Lar. She is still learning to be a hero, still dealing with the roils of her life, but moving past them. This isn't a Kara crying in a sun, living a life of pain. This is a Supergirl who knows she needs to help people in danger, who literally tells herself to 'get it together'. I'm not sure I 100% understand her loyalty and devotion to Lesla. 

As for Black Flame, she is both physically devastating, ready to kill those who stand in her way, and somehow a charismatic leader, bringing people under her sway. That is why Lesla followed her. And someone else might be joining the cause.

As for the art, Campbell has really kicked it up a notch in this arc. There are some wonderful little touches in the art that I think emphasize story points. I love her take on Superboy and his tactile TK power.

Add to that a killer cliffhanger and you get a fantastic issue. On to the book.

Kingdom Of Zod Crossover

The summer Superman crossover event, Kingdom of Zod, was recently announced and promoted on line. I wasn't expecting a Superman event but in comics this summer so it came as a bit of a surprise.

To read the whole promotional piece head here: https://aiptcomics.com/2026/05/07/kingdom-of-zod-crossover/

The main plot blurb is below:

The crossover kicks off August 12 in Supergirl #16, where a sudden military takeover throws the Kryptonite Kingdom of El Caldero into chaos. Kara responds by forming a strike team that includes Superboy-Prime, Conner Kent, Tomorrow Man, Steel, and others, only to discover the invading force has Kryptonian roots. That same day in Action Comics #1101, Superman returns to the present following the events of issue #1100 and is quickly pulled into the growing conflict.

 As the story unfolds, Zod’s return and his role in the invasion become clearer, setting up a major twist tied to Kryptonite that raises the stakes across the globe.

There is a lot to unpack in even this small blurb.

For one, I like that the story starts in Supergirl and that she is the 'field commander' bringing together the team to try and stop the Kryptonian invasion. That is how she has been written in the main super-books just prior to her solo series.

Second, interesting how El Caldero is a sort of lynchpin in the whole proceedings. I have always thought the the Absolute Legion made the inertron covered K-meteor that started Dan Slott's story. But they aren't around anymore. Could it have been Zod? Perhaps he sent it to soften up the Kryptonians on Earth before his arrival? Fascinating.

And the promo art above is packed. All the supers. Steel and Natasha. Who is the flannel shirt wearing guy holding a bearded Superman? A younger Smallville Clark meeting his future self?

That has to be Ursa in the crystal coffin!

I mean we haven't seen Zod since Kneel Before Zod (reviews up on this site). It was implied that Lois' Superwoman powers came from Zod.

Crazy. But there's more.

Review: Adventures Of Superman Book Of El #8

Adventures of Superman Book of El #8 came out this last week, meaning we are two thirds of the way through this sweeping mythological future story touching on the Book of El and the Superman descendants. It also touches on the Warworld saga from a few years ago.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson does great with stories like this. Whether it is The Last God or Warworld or even his current Hulk run, there is always a deep sense of lore. Sometimes it can be almost too much to comprehend. Here I am trying to follow both the Aspects of Olgrun, the mission of Kryl-Ux, and all the Superman descendants. I will be honest, at times I have been lost. At times I have to dig out my own reviews to remind me which descendant it is.

All that said, it is a tapestry worth diving into. I suppose it is no different than Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Rowling's Harry Potter. You just need to immerse yourself.

Art this issue is done by Cian Tormey, giving Scotty Godlewski a break. Tormey is well-acquainted with the Superman family and his work here is wonderful, moving from interstellar battles to medieval parlays to fisticuffs.

I don't know if I get all of what is happening here. But I am enjoying the ride. And Johnson does a good job of answering a question that has been bothering me.

On to the book. 

Review: Absolute Superman #19

Absolute Superman #19 came out this week, continuing a new arc introducing 'King Shazam' and Absolute Steel into the universe. It is a high octane brawl of an issue showcasing our title character's emerging heroism and some new mysteries to contemplate. Add in the 'origin' of Steel and you have a solid issue.

Jason Aaron is continuing to grow this universe now that we are in the sort of second act of the book. With Ra's Al Ghul's plot to turn Superman done, it is time to broaden the view to the world. In fact, the Ra's story is truly ended here with an exclamation point. The biggest hook for me here is the mystery of King Shazam. Last issue we saw he was a slave in ancient Egypt given power by Brainiacs with a Father Box. Why were Brainiacs on Earth then? With a Father Box no less? Now we see how Shazam's powers seem to mimic Superman's down to the crystal cape? How are those echoes possible? Didn't Lara create Sol with sun crystals? Alas, these are just mysteries to contemplate now.

Rafa Sandavol continues to shine on art. There are action panels where you don't truly see the blows, hidden in energy and swirling sands. But the character moments are well rendered. And his take on the Steel origin is brutal and gorgeous. 

This book continues to intrigue as we peel back the layers. On to the book.

Free Comic Book Day 2026

If I can be honest up front, my non-blogging life has been in a bit of a tizzy recently.

I was on vacation in the middle of April. Came back to a full work schedule as I covered for many off work while their young kids were on school vacation here. And then, I just closed on a new house and have been moving things on my own as well as setting up a new life there.

Whew!

So a side effect of all that was Free Comic Book Day 2026 sneaking up on me. I usually am more prepared for this and plan a whole day of hitting various stores to soak in the celebration. This year ... not so much. Just a quick visit to my store.

I was thrilled to walk into the store about an hour after it opened to see the place filled with people not only perusing the free stuff but walking around the store looking at other stuff.

I grabbed the DC Next Level book mostly because I haven't planned on reading any of the three books highlighted here - Batwoman, Lobo, and Deathstroke. So why not use the free book as it was intended, allowing me to sample the titles before committing to buying the title.

With 'Next Level' being the big push of new books, I am not surprised that DC focused on this effort rather than promoting any of the bigger, more classic titles. It also is worth noting that Superman Day is just 2 weeks before FCBD and had all sorts of free Super-books.

I don't know if I will be getting any of the titles here but I would recommend Firestorm!

DC Comics July 2026 Solicits

The July DC Comics solicits have come out and the Summer of Supergirl continues with a number of books on the rack. Throw in some super-mini-series and a anniversary issue of Action Comics and you have a busy month. 

If you want to see the whole slate you can head here:
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comicss-july-2026-full-solicits-and-solicitations-have-dropped/

On to the super-books.

SUPERGIRL #15
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by KRIS ANKA, RAHZZAH, and KARL KERSCHL

As Supergirl starts to gain the upper hand, Black Flame spots an opportunity to escape Kandor and bring the fight to Earth. Powered by the yellow sun, this Kandorian rebel could be unstoppable. It’s now up to Supergirl to rein her in before the entire planet ends up in danger!

Somehow Supergirl is whole again. I am wondering if Lesla's 'super-stuff' is going to be some sort of protomatter similar to Matrix Supergirl, a way to roll that idea into current continuity. And it seems like Lesla and Kara are back to being friends again. I am wondering if this whole thing ends with Lesla being the hero of Kandor, relieving Supergirl of that duty.

Glad to see Campbell on words and art.