Review: Action Comics #1074 Superman Story

Action Comics #1074 came out last week. We are approaching the mid-point of this Mark Waid story of Superman exploring the Phantom Zone and now heading back to Krypton. 

I have been a comic reader for many years. I have seen Superman visit Krypton. I have seen stories of Jor-El and Lara. I have seen a variety of different takes. Some have been good. Some crazy. Some bad. 

Maybe, I am old-fashioned. But I think the continuity in this main DCU that Krypton should be a place of science and progress. I think Jor-El should be a good man who tried to save everyone. And Mark Waid gives us these back. 

I don't need Jor-El to be Mr. Oz.

But as he is able to often do, Mark Waid not only gives us a classic take but throws in a modern wrinkle. Not an upheaval. Not a rejection of the classic continuity. A modernizing. 

So we see that while Krypton is advanced and progressive, it has it's authoritarian side. Jor-El is a good man, a man of science, but also creative and a little weird. He isn't some ramrod, stodgy good guy. He has a temper. Still smart ... still good ... but more human. 

We also get some progress on the Zone story and the sidebar Conner/Kenan story. So this was a very fun issue.

Clayton Henry does a good job guiding us through Krypton and the Zone. He has this very smooth, organic style that I have always found slick. Michael Shelfer again gives us a great chapter with the Superboy/New Super-Man.

So overall another fun chapter. On to the details.

Last issue, Superman pulled his way out of Aethyr's time tunnel and landed on Krypton. 

Waid starts out with a nice inner monologue from Superman talking about how he knows of Krypton from his trips to Kandor and knows it to be a paradise of science and progress. 

He also sees some drones fall from the sky and in Superman manner, despite his lack of powers, he saves someone from the crashing tech. He suffers an injury from it.

But before he can talk to much, a groundquake happens. We all know what that means. Krypton's end is near.

So a solid little opening, re-establishing Krypton as this science-based society which is pretty close to paradise.

Back in the Zone, Aethyr explains to Mon-El that he is upset that despite his magnanimous work, the Zone criminals are criminals. The Zone is a 'failed experiment' and therefore will be re-purposed.

This is interesting. The whole time I have been wondering why Aethyr has remained in the Zone. So what is he planning? 

I have been hoping that somehow this will roll into a 'aspect of Aethyr's mind' so it will align with the famous Gerber/Colan mini-series.

And then a super moment in the Conner/Kenan subplot. 

The Space Museum has not only stolen Kal's stuff from the Fortress, they have stolen Khundian relics. And some Khunds are here to not only take what's theirs but everything else. 

Kenan isn't going to let the Khunds take the weaponry they have seen in there. While he can't defend the Royal Museum, he can't allow them to get armaments.

I love that last panel. Kenan is usually so smiley and silly. So to see that look of sheer determination on his face when he says the Khunds have to deal with them. Kudos to Shelfer.

This is a complete sideplot and would have been a great back-up. But I am really digging it.

Kal is brought to a medical facility for his wounds. 

Krypton has great health care. He is patched up and given clothes ... free of charge. 

Is this Waid's way of showing how advanced Krypton is as opposed to the US?

Kal knows his only hope of getting home is to recharge his solar battery gauntlets. And the only scientist he knows by name on Krypton is Jor-El. So he heads to his old home. I love that he calls himself Klar-Ken. Funny.

Jor-El arrives and is pretty ticked off. Ro-Zan of the Science Council has again refused to believe Jor-El. 

I like the idea that Jor has a bit of a temper. After all, he is talking about saving the world and no one is listening. Henry conveys it great with Jor's body language. The folded arms, the squinty eyes, the scowl.

And I like that he also is a tinkerer with a lab filled with crazy experiments.

Jor-El as Willy Wonka! That is awesome.

But then we see that not everything is rosy.

Ro-Zan shows up. He is angry at Jor and his experiments. He is going to impound the lot, including the prototype PZ projector and Kal's solar batteries.

Things don't look good.

This was a fun issue. A classic feeling but modernized Krypton. Kal meeting his family. This new depth to Jor-El. That he is still a good man but has an edge. That he has some quirks.  Kenan stepping up. 

The art holds up its end with two different styles working well. 

This weekly run has been a nice bright spot in my weekly comic run!

Overall grade: B+