Review: Action Comics #1085

Action Comics #1085 came out last week, the first part of a brief story by G. Willow Wilson and Gavin Guidry. 

It's funny how a small little thing can upend my take on a story. I have viewed these 'Superman Superstars' stories as existing somewhere in continuity. Yes, the Mark Waid Phantom Zone story seemed to be solidly set in near-present time based on costumes alone. But the Ridley story? The Aaron story? Those could be set anywhere in Superman's timeline. 

And so we have this story which feels like it should be 'early' in Superman's history. Clark is considered a sort of novice reporter. Perry doesn't want Clark on a big story. And if it was set 'years ago', I would have been fine with it. 

The problem is there is an editor box that says this takes place before Absolute Power (explaining Lois' lack of powers, etc). Now 'years ago' is 'before Absolute Power' but that box makes this feel much more current. But the characterization doesn't feel that way. So the whole thing just felt awkward as I read it.

The plot is simple. A lab in the Arctic is hoping to curb global warming is being sabotaged. Clark is sent to investigate. A villain emerges.

I liked Gavin Guidry's art in Superman '78 and he continues to impress here. It is clean style with solid linework. I like his Superman a lot. And his Lois seems full of moxie. Hope to continue to see his art around.

On to the book.

There's that editor's box.

I would have been fine with 'one summer morning years ago'.

Is it a big deal? Am I making too much of it?

Lois is supposed to go to the Arctic to get a story on a lab but Perry wants her close. So she recommends Clark.

We are talking Clark Kent, intrepid reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, an accomplished writer. 

Perry should not be acting this way in a story set near current time. He has too much respect for Clark.

See how this seems out of place?

Even this interaction between Lois and Clark seems weird with Lois calling the Fortress of Solitude a man cave. Shouldn't Clark know what she means ... unless the Fortress is new?

It all felt like early Clark. And I would be fine if it was delineated as early Clark.

Maybe I am letting this small thing bother me too much. 

Clark arrives at the lab. The two person team is trying to deflect the solar rays melting the polar caps. But their computers are shorting out. They might lose all their data. And they are low on supplies to help repair.

They assume it is just bad luck but Clark wonders if it is sabotage. 

At least here Clark seems competent.

The investigation is disturbed by 2 larger polar bears with tech upgrades crashing in. Luckily Superman, dressed in an arctic white suit, comes in and brings the animals out.

That is ... until the bears disappear. Weird.

I like the white suit as a sort of polar camouflaged uniform.  

Back at the lab, Clark goes all Bronze Age saying he ran into the other room and passed out when Superman arrived. The scientists buy it.

Superman (as Superman) heads out in his nifty suit to search the land for this saboteur. 

Despite using all his senses he can't find any. Then a giant robot comes out from under the snow. How could it be there, dodging all the super-senses?? A mystery! And a decent one.

And I love the sort of retro-futuristic robot that Superman easily dispatches.

Love this panel. Pretty solid action shot by Guidry, accentuated by the white suit.

Then the reveal.

Kilg%re.

I haven't read much of him since WAAAAAYYY back in the Mike Baron Flash run. (Yes, I'm old.)

I don't know why Kilg%re wants to sabotage this lab. I don't know how he did that to the polar bears. Unless there is another villain in the wings. 

This was an okay issue. It felt a little light in story for a whole issue. The whole timing of when this is sort of stuck with me throughout. I suppose we'll need the next issue to understand why Kilg%re is doing what they are doing. 

Guidry brings a nice style to the proceedings. For some reason I am really like the white suit!

Overall grade: C