Review: Action Comics #1079 Superman Story

Action Comics #1079 continued the rapid fire story by Mark Waid with his updating the Phantom Zone and Mon-El. This has been a weekly release comic and Waid has mirrored the rapid fire distribution. The story has bounced from the Phantom Zone to the past to a threatened Earth with villains as large as Aethyr and Kryptonian criminals but as small as Science Council bureaucrats. I have loved every pulse-pounding step as it careens its way to the finale.

Last issue ended with the Phantom Zone villains escaping into the sun via Aethyr's matter manipulator. This issue shows us what a planet overrun with Superman-level beings would be like. All in one issue. As usual, kudos to Mark Waid for keeping this zipping along and fun while also injecting some heartfelt moments and some DC lore. Waid just gets Supergirl and we see that in this issue. (We have seen him understand Kara every issue of this story.) We end with another cliffhanger, building on the story told here. 

Michael Shelfer is on art the entire issue which allows him some space to give us high action and brawls. I like his manga-esque style especially in an issue like this with an anime level of action. We also see is take on a lot of DC heroes given the threat level and they all look sharp. It would be great to see him on a young hero title and bring this energy there. 

Get ready to rumble!

The issue starts with Superman recovering in a lead-lined mine. He had been battered by numbers when the villains flew out of the Zone and confronted him. 

With Superman off the board, the Kryptonians have been running amok on Earth, destroying and overthrowing anywhere they can while the heroes do their best to fight back.

This is a super-family book so good to see Jon and Conner trying to take up the mantle. And love that Conner is still in his khund cape.

Who saved Superman? Mon-El!

In one of those 'comic book science' moments, we learn that Mon-El was able to convert some of Aethyr's tech into a ghost sort phasing device. He is able to both exist on this plane but also out of this plane so he won't die from lead poisoning. (Interesting to see him with Superman in a lead mine!)

Is he that good an engineer? When did he have the time to do it? 

Just roll with it Anj. 

Much like his World's Finest book, Waid doesn't shy away from guest stars.

Kryptonians are overrunning Earth. So all the heroes are involved. 

I really liked this panel showing that they have some strategy. Lean into magic heroes. Hope Firestorm can figure out how to make Kryptonite. 

Firestorm! Yes!

But I also like the villains' strategy as well. We see how they destroy every Phantom Zone projector there is. 

As I said, I love that Waid showcases the Super-family here. This is a Krypton problem. They should be the ones dealing with it.

While Shelfer's Supergirl last issue was akin to a Kewpie Doll, here she is more straight up here. And somehow this jacket outfit is growing on me.

Finally healed, our titular hero gets up. This is a job for Superman.

Love this panel. Maybe a bit corny. But totally iconic.

First thing Superman does is swoop in to 'save' Supergirl.

What I like is that she immediately and playfully says that she had it all along. And Superman knows not to doubt her.

There is such a great camaraderie between the two when Waid writes them. She is her own hero, capable and resourceful. And they are so close that they can rib and tease each other a bit. 

I don't think she is fibbing. I think she did have things under control. Which is such a stark difference from Mariko Tamaki's take where Kara has been ineffective and constantly needing help.

The tides finally turn when Firestorm 'cracks the code' to make Green K. Nice little intra-issue turn. And I love how Shelfer had the K-gauntlets with hero-specific designs. Great artistic flourish! And we even get to see his Donna Troy!

The Kryptonians are able to be gathered up into the Fortress where Dr. Light is emitting red sun energy leaving them powerless.

I am very intrigued to see what Waid does with the prisoners. Will he throw them back in the Zone? Knowing how Superman thinks it might be cruel and unusual, will he send them to a red sun world? I mean, these beings haven't exactly been benevolent upon their release.

But all the criminals we saw were sort of nameless. What about the big guns?

Well, they are off-world taking over other planets in the DCU. 

This is a job for the super-family. Fantastic cliffhanger. It makes sense that a prisoner would want to get as far away from Superman as possible. How will our heroes put these genies back in the bottle.

Fun issue, almost like a flashback to the War of the Superman arc! Love the energy of the artwork here too.

Overall grade: A