Review: Action Comics #1032

Action Comics #1032 came out this week and was another interesting character in this storyline bringing possible Kryptonian refugee survivors into Superman's world.

This arc is connected to Mongul  and seems to be leading directly into Superman leaving Earth to fulfill his role as rebel leader on Warworld in the Future State books. I don't specifically know if I am keen on Superman leaving Earth for a long time so I entered this run with some trepidation. But this chapter at least gives me a good reason for that eventuality to happen.

Moreover, Kennedy does a good job here of including all of the immediate super-family in the proceedings. Lois, Jon, and even Kara have some role to play in this mystery. Is Thao-La a Kryptonian proper? Or some offshoot? Or something else all together? How does she know Kryptonian historical figures and dialects? And is she working with Mongul or against the villain? 

Throw in the Source Wall chunk that was on Thao-La's ship as an enigmatic plot point and you have a couple of decent puzzles for our heroes to figure out.

I'll say I am enjoying this title more than the Superman book and part of that has to do with the more Earth-bound nature of the adventures and the inclusion of the key supporting characters.

I'd be remiss not to mention Daniel Sampere's detailed and lush art work here. Once more, he gives the quieter scenes some gravitas. But the big win is the kaiju fight in a rainstorm at the back end. You will see that those pages just sizzle.

On to the particulars.

Last issue ended with the young girl Thao-La awakening in the Fortress, smashing Kelex, and facing off against Superman.

We get a bit of exposition to open the book. Supergirl and Lois have been trying to unravel the mystery of who this young girl could be. Last issue it was Kara who gave a bit of an info dump. Here is it Lois who bring up the Phaelosians, a group of Kryptonian scientists who fled the planet long before it blew up. 

I find that the more beings that survived Krypton are inserted into a story, the harder it is for the story to end well. Supergirl surviving? Fine. Zod and his family? Okay. Dozens of criminals in the Phantom Zone. I guess. The Kandorians shrunken? I guess if they are confined there. But when you start to bring in more, you end up with something like the New Krypton story from 10 years ago. How do you deal with so many immensely powerful beings? So in the end, I am hoping these are Kryptonian-like beings, perhaps taught Kryptonian culture by the Phaelosians wherever they landed.

But I do love Lois and Supergirl chumming around and investigating together. Surely this Kara wouldn't flee the planet feeling unloved on her birthday? Would she?

Turning the corner, Lois and Kara run into Superman talking to Thao-La. She talks about bearing his mark (so that wasn't placed by Mongul but was there before). She seems to imply that he is some holy figure or hero legend who she expected to come and save her from 'Mongul-Who-Is'. But no matter how she prayed, Superman never came and rescued her or her family from Warworld.

She wears the chains because she is still afraid that Mongul is watching and will see her remove them. And when Superman comes to close, she unleashes blue lasers from her eyes.

Blue vision beams don't sound Kryptonian. So perhaps she isn't native to the planet.

 

It is clear that Thao-La is traumatized. She immediately cries at lashing out at what seems to be her hero or savior.

I love how it is Lois who is somehow able to get in close and hug her and calm her down. 

Perhaps the S-shield is too sacred or too unnerving for Thao-La to let her guard down.

This is a nice Lois moment.

And Sampere brings such emotion to this. You feel Thao melt into Lois' arms.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, in Atlantis, some Atlantean scientist has been analyzing the Source Wall chunk. It's power is incredible. It has already given off enough energy to keep Poseidonis lit for years.

But there is more.

This thing has been whispering to this man, telling it the dreams of a sleeping god. It then mutates the man into some giant monster. Some nice Cronenberg-ian art here by Sampere bringing the horror.

But the Source chunk is interesting. Is this the spirit of one of the Promethean Giants living within this? Some type of Elder God trapped in there? And how did it end up in Mongul's possession or on that refugee ship? Is there even a Source Wall anymore or was that eradicated in the Metal story?

Hmmm ...

 

Back in the Fortress, the Supers are coming up empty in their study.

Here Supergirl tries to repair Kelex to get it up and running again. 

Translation:

Kara: Run tertiary encoder diagnostic sequence twelve

Kelex: Running diagnostic sequence. Unit unresponsive.

Kara: Bypass frontal cortex and repear sequence.

Kelex: Running diagnostic sequence.

I know I am grasping here but I like seeing Kara as the science whiz in this room. She is trying to fix Kelex, not Kal.

Moreover, when Superman says he worries about Thao trusting him Supergirl says 'All she knows is violence and abuse, Kal. She doesn't understand kindness yet. She'll come around. She just needs time.'

That is a wonderful sentiment by Kara. Perhaps it is because she herself has been witness to trauma and has come through it. Certainly someone like that wouldn't be sullen and flee the planet to be alone and away from her family, would she?

I guess I should just say that I am thankful for these moments Johnson is giving us of Supergirl.

 

If anything, it is Jon who is the cranky one. He has been dealing with the knowledge that Superman disappears around this time in the history books. Of course the appearance of Thao has to be a trap sent by Mongul.

I love Superman's response. Even if it is a trap, he can't let these Phaelosians suffer more. So it doesn't matter if it is a trap.

And that is a perfect Superman response. He is a hero. He can't let it lay. He has to help. He rises above.

 

Realizing he can't storm Warworld alone, Superman tries to convince Batman to mobilize the League. While Thao's cells aren't Kryptonian, they are Kryptonian-like. They need to be saved. But Batman wants no part of it.

Before the discussion can continue, Aquaman sends Superman a distress call. Giant kaiju have risen and are encroaching on Florida. 

Is this that scientist mutated? Or is this a monster from below who has been maddened by the dreams emanating from the Source chunk. 

This is a great fight. It is like Superman meets Pacific Rim! Great action panels!

When punching doesn't get him anywhere, Superman heads down the beast's gullet. He finds a city like structure dotted with glyphs calling itself The Necropolis.

And then the thing talks to him, It seems to give some sort of prophecy of Superman going somewhere and impacting the god dreaming within the source's life dramatically. Then Superman will enter Necropolis.

Now this is a mystery. My guess is we have never heard of whatever god this is before. It will be a new villain. But how did this city manifest here (it turns out it is an illusion)? And how does it know all this?

I'll admit it. I read these lines a bunch of times and can admit I am a bit lost. But also, I'm intrigued!

In the end, Superman freezes this thing from the inside stopping its rampage.

Superman asks to take possession of the Source chunk given this threat and this news of psychic emanations effecting things. But the Atlanteans aren't keen on turning it over. When Steve Trevor arrives to try and claim it for America, things get even muddier. Who will blink first?

I love Aquaman's dismissal of the words 'U.S. waters'. Perfect.

So this was a very solid issue. We have two interesting plots running side by side here. I assume at some point Thao's life and the Source chunk will cross paths. We have great character moments from the Super family. I love how they interact with each other. 

The Source plot is also interesting. Could Mongul know that this rock would impact life this way and so sent it to make things insane? Or did Thao have this? Steal it to power the refugee ship? But then again, Mongul sent her here to kill Superman.

Riddles wrapped in puzzles. And thrilling art too!

Great stuff all around.

Overall grade: B+