Review: Action Comics #1072 Superman Story

Action Comics #1072 came out last week, continuing the 'Phantoms' arc by writer Mark Waid. 

Waid has been really firing on all cylinders with this arc so far and this chapter is no different. He had me at 'Superman battling Aethyr in the Phantom Zone'. But throw in Professor Xa-Du, Mon-El, and a crackling fun subplot with Kenan and Conner, and this book just sizzles.

This is a new Phantom Zone with pockets of solidity, crazy monsters, and new tortures present. He is giving us a Mon-El with a bit of an edge. So Waid is giving us something new. But, per usual, he is also leaning into DC history. Aethyr alone is a deep pull. But when I saw a quick retelling of Mon-El's origin and it is close to classic, I was thrilled. It is that perfect tightrope walk of old and new.  

And the story, of a benevolent Aethyr turned by the vileness of the prisoners, is also interesting.

Clayton Henry is on art for the bulk of the story. His smooth style somehow works given the chaotic environment of the Zone. There is a very organic sort of fullness to everyone. But I am really taken by Michael Shelfer's work on the Kenan/Conner subplot. There is a dynamism therw.

On to the book.

We start out with that retelling of the classic Mon-El origin. 

I really like that last panel with a crestfallen Superboy bemoaning not saving Mon-El from the lead poisoning he was suffering from.

Based on this arc, I wonder if Superman is going to regret this even more. Mon has been trapped there for at least a decade if not more. We see Superman actually say that he is sorry he hasn't checked in on things in the Zone. After all, our hero hasn't been aware of anything that has happened in there recently.

Last issue ended with the potentially ominous reveal that 'Professor Xa-Du' was actually Mon-El.

Thankfully, it isn't that the future Legionnaire has turned evil. Mon has captured Xa-Du and basically taken his name over, his ship over, and his crew.

As for the attack on Superman last year by Xa-Du/Mon's crew last issue, it seems like it was a ruse by Mon to get his men to bring Superman to him. After all, he knew Superman would survive the attack. This was the weakest plot point in the story. Why go through the chicanery?

Last issue, Kenan and Conner rushed to the Fortress when an alarm went off.

On arrival, they find the place stripped clean. But then wandering about, the fall through some portal to find that everything has been moved into a sort of Museum.

Did thieves loot the Fortress to set up a lucrative Superman museum? That is a crazy idea. But I love the memorobilia. The old Legion HQ! The Supermobile! A Triangle Era Kryptonian BattleSuit.  All so cool!

Real fun, electric art by Shelfer here.

Meanwhile, Mon gives us some exposition.

Aethyr arrived in the Zone and initially took pity on the prisoners. He started to create some physicality. And then he witnessed the criminal nature of those there. Given solid structure, he saw some of the prisoners attack and even kill each other. 

Suddenly Aethyr's feelings changed. These people weren't worth giving comfort to. 

Instead he became a punishing jailer.

It was Aethyr who brought in the marauding animals. It was Aethyr who picked the most sociopathic criminal, Xa-Du, to act as jailer. And it was Aethyr who used his power to torture the criminals.

Now we know who melded those three Kryptonians into one in chapter one.

I have to say it is an interesting turn. Aethyr from savior to sadist. I hope we learn more. Who is Aethyr? How great are his powers? Why did he stay here and not simply move on his cosmic path?

Thankfully Mon-El was there to capture Xa-Du and take away that threat to the prisoners there.

But then this dark turn.

It seems that Mon has had to harden a bit in this dark place. It sounds like he had to kill some of Xa-Du's flunkies. 

I wonder how old school Mon-El fans will take this new wrinkle. 
But I also hope we see how Superman responds. Will he be upset at Mon? Or at himself for not finding a way to get out of the Zone. Will Superman feel guilty?

Xa-Du's ship leaves the area of solid state and suddenly everyone is ghost-like again. That means Xa-Du can slip out of his chains and escape.

He runs back to Aethyr and says that Kal is a threat to the status quo. He seems to goad Aethyr into believing he should attack our hero. That's a nice twist by Xa-Du.  And nice visuals by Henry, Aethry maiming and mutilating other prisoners in his hand. 

This was a great middle chapter for an arc. The plot was moved forward. There was character moments and progression.  This was true progress, something that doesn't always happen in a middle chapter in modern comics. 

But that hardening of Mon! Perhaps the most interesting wrinkle!

Overall grade: A-