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Bestselling Author Rainbow Rowell Makes Her DC Debut

Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey make news with Lois Lane this summer!

New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell makes her DC debut this July in Action Comics, delivering a story with artist Cian Tormey! Together they’ll take on the most powerful woman in Superman’s life…Lois Lane! Rowell and Tormey’s story will run in the pages of Action Comics #1067-1069, paired with a lead story by Gail Simone and Eddy Barrows.

“As a former newspaper reporter, I’ve always had a soft spot for Daily Planet stories,” shared Rowell. “I love that Clark Kent is Superman and also a working journalist—and that it isn’t just dusty backstory. It’s a real facet of his character. I love that Clark met Lois in the newsroom, and that they still work there together. (This is so realistic, I swear.) I really like it when comic book romances last…There’s a lot of story to tell after two people say yes to each other. So—even though I was a little nervous about diving into the DC Universe—I couldn’t resist the chance to write a love story that is also a newsroom story, and still a superhero story.”

“The story that Rainbow and I are telling is about Lois finding her strength, with Clark supporting her as she becomes stronger in her convictions,” added Tormey. “He sees her finding her courage in a new role, her sense of responsibility for everyone—a gentle reminder for Clark of how far he has come, and how far all of us who are not blessed with superpowers can go when faced with adversity.”

“I’ve just seen the first of Cian Tormey’s pages, and I think people are going to adore his take on Lois and Clark,” continued Rowell. “Cian’s work has a timeless quality that’s perfect for this relationship.”

Rainbow Rowell fell in love with superhero comics in junior high. She’s written two Eisner-nominated series, Runaways and She-Hulk, and the bestselling graphic novel Pumpkinheads, and is working on the manga adaptation of her novel Fangirl. She is best known for her prose novels, including #1 bestsellers Eleanor & Park and the Simon Snow Trilogy. This is Rainbow’s first work for DC.

Cian Tormey is an Irish illustrator and a graduate of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. He currently lives in Valencia, Spain, and has been the artist for DC’s Injustice: Year Zero, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, Nightwing, Batgirl, the GLAAD Media Award-nominated Superman: Son of Kal-El, Marvel’s Darkhold, and more.

The post Bestselling Author Rainbow Rowell Debuts New Lois Lane Story appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Leah Williams and Joanne Starer
Art: Marguerite Sauvage and Natacha Bustos
Colors: Marguerite Sauvage & Marissa Louise and Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Becca Carey and Ariana Maher

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s the showdown between Power Girl and Johnny Sorrow, as PG learns about herself.  Plus, Fire and Ice get up to some trouble in Baltimore with Guy Gardner and a visit from Superman!

Positives

This wrap up story of Power Girl vs. Johnny Sorrow that ran in Action Comics #1051-1053 wisely focuses on Power Girl’s character.  Power Girl since her first appearance back in All-Star Comics #58 (February 1976) has been a unique character with a unique personality that has made her a fan favorite.  The conclusion to “Head Like A Whole” allows Power Girl to move past a block in her mind/emotions as she finds her new place in the Super-family.  This only works on a macro level as the detail will be pointed out in the “Negatives” section below.

Marguerite Sauvage has a unique style that adds an ethereal quality to the look of the story.  This often works, especially in the scenes that are supposed to be in the mindscape.  The action is pretty good as PG and Omen overcome Johnny Sorrow.  Sorrow’s plan is interesting as it connects directly to Power Girl specifically.  

Positives Cont’d

It’s nice to see friendship in comics and that’s the basis of Fire and Ice in this issue.  Readers will instantly recognize their rapport from their Justice League International days.  The art style of Natacha Bustos is a nice change of pace as it suggests this may be more character focused and less of an action series.  There are a number of variant covers that feature a classic style Power Girl that are really nice.  Amanda Conner provides one that echoes her run on the character from the aughts.

Negatives

While focusing on Power Girl’s character is a great approach for a story, it’s unfortunate that it appears that DC Comics hasn’t decided who Power Girl currently is.  Or, if they know, they haven’t told Leah Williams and Geoff Johns.  This isn’t the only current appearance of Power Girl in the DC Universe, she’s also appearing in Justice Society of America written by Geoff Johns, and what we’ve seen in that series as well as The New Golden Age #1 seems to indicate that Power Girl doesn’t have the same history that the one we see in Power Girl Special #1 does.  The only thing that seems to match up is her new costume showing up in last week’s Justice Society of America #4.  This lack of congruence in troubling and also distracting because it takes away from the impact Williams attempts to bring to the character.  Not knowing makes it hard to understand exactly what PG is going through.

Giving Power Girl these identity insecurities and an inability to fit don’t really work if one understands what the character has already been through.  Not only has Power Girl already dealt with this sort of thing before (JSA: Classified #1-4), she’s always been characterized as a brash, confident and not looking approval from anyone- certainly not the main Earth Super-family.  To get this wrong in PG’s portrayal demonstrates a real lack of understanding of what makes the character unique as well as a fan-favorite.

It’s important to get the character right.  Kara’s (not calling her Paige) lack of familiarity with common idioms as seen in Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1 demonstrates that Williams doesn’t really know the character’s history.  It doesn’t make sense.  She also called Omen her best friend…um, that’s Helena Wayne…in every version of the character!  This history mystery bleeds over into this issue when Johnny Sorrow tells her the two of them are the last survivors of their world.  But, Kara is one of two survivors from Earth-Two- we already saw the Psycho-Pirate referenced in Lazarus Planet: Assault on Krypton #1.   So is this supposed to be the Earth-2 iteration of Power Girl?   Overall, the lack of consistency in PG’s history and characterization makes it difficult to enjoy the issue or trust anything that Williams tries to tell the reader about the character.

Negatives Cont’d 

While Sauvage has an interesting and unique style that works well for Omen and the mindscape setting, her depiction of Superman is, well, kind of creepy.  Really creepy actually.  The older version which Power Girl sees in her mind’s eye is aged as one would expect, but he also appears emaciated.  When PG runs into main-continuity Clark, it’s not much better.  It’s an unsettling depiction of the Man of Steel.  Additionally, Sauvage’s style is too delicate for Power Girl.  This is part of the problem with the way Superman looks as well.  There should definitely be a weightier quality to PG and Supes.

The Fire and Ice story doesn’t have as many notable problems as the lead story in Power Girl Special #1, but there are a few things that should be mentioned.  Firstly, this story could have taken place at any point in the run of Justice League International.  Nothing distinguishes it as being new except for the note that it takes place before Green Lantern #1.  (That’s the #1 by Jeremy Adams and Xermanico that JUST came out, not the one from 1960 by John Broome and Gil Kane or the one in 1990 by Gerard Jones and Pat Broderick).  There’s no new concept here, everything feels like it’s always felt with these characters, including the Ice and Guy Gardner relationship.  Robert Venditti did a great job of rounding out Guy Gardner in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps.  Venditti was able to make Guy feel more rounded and complete.  Guy in this issue is just the same old annoying, bad boyfriend, conceited male chauvinist. 

The lack of depth in this story is  disappointing.  The last appearance of Fire, Ice and Guy was in Tom King’s wildly out of continuity Human Target.  I’m not advocating for a series set in that continuity, but seeing a Fire and Ice who were a little more fleshed out and with some nuance would’ve been nice.  This is not much more than a teaser, and I’m not quite sure what’s being teased- a series in which Bea has to protect Tora from Guy and it annoys Tora, or a Thelma and Louise style road trip revolving around their friendship?   

Verdict

DC is trying to hard to reinvent Power Girl.  Power Girl Special #1 tries to get the reader to connect with the character, but that’s the problem, it tries too hard.  Inconsistencies are a huge cause of concern.  The underlying feeling that we aren’t really sure who this Power Girl is supposed to be makes it difficult to grasp who DC wants her to be because there is no explanation, there is no continuity.  Furthermore, there is no established history for any version of the character since 2016 that one can reference.  Unfortunately, it seems like once again DC hasn’t bothered to lock down continuity for a character.  Maybe they think it hinders new readers?  What it actually does is disenfranchise longtime readers who know the continuities and are trying to make sense of new and sometimes multiple versions of characters.  I get that things are going to change, but at least make it clear what’s happened and what hasn’t.  For Power Girl, this reads as if Williams took the basics of the character and cherry picked certain events from her Wikipedia page without any knowledge of continuity or that Geoff Johns was crafting his own version of the character in Justice Society of America, a version that relies heavily on  Power Girl’s pre-New 52 history.  Power Girl’s basics aren’t basic.  She’s more complex.  She’s had a lot of development and it’s not easy to boil her down to essentials like one can with Batman or Superman.  If you’re going to rebrand Power Girl with psychic powers and call her Paige, just create a new character, because that’s essentially what’s happening here.  I wouldn’t recommend this issue or the announced series for fans of Power Girl.  Power Girl fans should turn to Justice Society of America.

Fire and Ice is so short and unfocused it’s really hard to gauge what’s coming next for the duo.  Based on this tease, I’m not sure what readers could be looking forward to in a series.  However, there’s a chance that the forthcoming Fire and Ice series could be good, since there’s not a lot to go on in Power Girl Special #1.  Both stories have something going for them in the art department, but it doesn’t always work.  

The post Review: Power Girl Special #1 appeared first on DC Comics News.

At New York Comic Con 2022, DC unveiled the cover to the upcoming Action Comics #1051, the first post-Dark Crisis issue of the title. What’s most striking about this cover is not just the entire Superman Family, but their brand-new looks.

While Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman retains his classic, iconic costume, staple characters like his cousin Kara and son Jonathan have shed their capes for practical bodysuits. Clark’s recently adopted twins from Warworld wear his crest, but on jackets. The jacket trend is shared by the Super-Man of China and Connor Kent, the latter sporting a spike-free jacket. Finally, Natasha Irons/Steel in the background has now added a hood to her suit of armor.

Superman Family Approach, According to Johnson and Co.

At the panel, Action Comics writer Philip Kennedy Johnson confirmed a collaboration with Dark Crisis writer Josh Williamson and Superman: Son of Kal-El‘s Tom Taylor. This think-tank has so much planned for the Super-Family, as Johnson explains:

My one-word mission statement for Action Comics in 2023 is [‘Super-Family’. We’re] giving everyone in the House of El their own role and personal journey while still keeping Superman at the forefront, and tying all the Super-titles together in a way that’s reminiscent of the Triangle Era. I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this new era of Action Comics, and doing it alongside such a consummate artist as Rafa Sandoval and comics titan Dan Jurgens truly makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Johnson credits the 100-page Pre-Crisis Superman Family series as his inspiration.

The involvement of Jurgens carries much weight, as he was part of the creative team on The Death of Superman story from 1992, for which DC plans a special celebratory issue for its 30th anniversary.

The format of the books will also change under Johnson’s run. Starting with #1051, Action Comics will have three separate stories as opposed to only one. The family will be squaring off against Metallo in their first outing in the main tale, which will be penned by Johnson.

Action Comics #1051 will hit the shelves on January 24, 2023.

Official Source – DC’s Superman Family Gets Dramatic New Costumes (cbr.com)

The post Superman Family Grows Larger, Adds New Costumes appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Shawn Aldridge
Art: Riccardo Federici and Adriana Melo
Colors: Lee Loughridge and Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

John Carter, er… Superman takes a stand in the arena and sets in motion a retaliation by Mongul.  It doesn’t get any easier for the Man of Steel.

Positives

You may recall the variant cover for Action Comics #1039 which I christened, “Clark Kent, Warlord of Mars.”    With Action Comics #1040, the story inside has gone full on John Carter of Mars.  Superman is a captive fighting in the Warworld arena and he is a symbol of hope to those imprisoned with him including Phaelosians whom he has come to free.  However, not all of them seem to want his help, but after an impassioned speech some of them seem to be coming around.  For anyone’s who’s read any of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars books, this should be very familiar.  One can only assume that Phillip Kennedy Johnson knows exactly what he’s doing.  It’s a fair statement that John Carter was an inspiration to Siegel and Shuster when they created Superman.  A quick look at Superman’s original power set is essentially that of John Carter in Burroughs’ novels.

You may recall that Superman in his earliest appearances, Superman cannot fly- he can ‘leap an 1/8th of a mile.  John Carter travels similarly as the lesser gravity on Mars allows his Earthborn muscles to carry him much farther than the natives.  It also gives him increased strength.  If one changed the names “to protect the innocent” in Action Comics #1040, you’d have a John Carter story.  And the Warzoons of Warworld just look like a typo that should’ve been, “Warhoon,” one of the tribes of Green Martians in the John Carter stories.  They are a particularly nasty lot that has no feelings whatsoever and has no patience of any kind of weakness- sound familiar?  Interestingly, the more it feels like a John Carter story the better it gets.  From the standpoint of hopefulness, nothing was ever more present in John Carter than his catchphrase, “I still live.”  He never gave up as long as there was a breath of life in him, no matter what the odds.  Sounds like a Big Blue Boyscout we know, doesn’t it?

Positives Cont’d

Get your Google search engine ready for the Marian Manhunter second feature.  We’ve already seen an updated Zook in this series so far, and in Action Comics #1040 Shawn Aldridge touches on even more past history of J’onn J’onzz.  Anyone remember Vulture and Marco Xavier?  Bronze Wraith anyone?  Well, Aldridge does, or at least he’s done his homework.  As this story progresses it really feels like a tale designed to reintroduce and reacquaint readers with the Marian Manhunter.  His profile has certainly been lowered since he lost his founding member status of the Justice League at the beginning of “The New 52.”  Usually the perennial standard bearer for the League, J’onn hasn’t had the presence he did before Flashpoint.  

Once again Riccardo Federici is the artist on the main feature and his work is absolutely exquisite.  The painted appearance is gorgeous.  It’s also worth mentioning that Julian Totino Tedesco again has a brilliant variant cover.  While it doesn’t echo any of the content in the issue, it’s a “story” I’d like to read.

Negatives

If there’s a negative, it’s got to be the fact that its distance from the feel of a Superman story and the lack of connective tissue to the overall storyline is what elevates it.  Previous issues have devoted more page space to connect it all to the big picture.  Take that how you will, but for me, it points out that some of the aspects of the larger story just aren’t working, whereas when it’s boiled down to the John Carter riffing, it’s fantastic.  It makes you want to read a John Carter comic.

Verdict

The “Warworld Saga,” has been a rollercoaster, with more valleys than peaks, but Action Comics #1040, which almost feels like a one-off issue is a remarkable homage to John Carter of Mars.  Indeed much of the “Warworld Saga” owes something to John Carter, but this issue, in particular, evokes nostalgia while also doubling down on those aspects that are common to both the Warlord of Mars and the Man of Steel.

The post Review: Action Comics #1040 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Shawn Aldridge
Art: Riccardo Federici and Adriana Melo
Colors: Lee Loughridge and Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman fights in the arena on Warworld and finally realizes he’s got to adapt to his new normal, and J’onn J’onzz gets the first glimpse of the Court of Vultures?

Positives

While the Superman books under Phillip Kennedy Johnson have ebbed and flowed in interesting content, there’s no doubt about the fact that he has Superman’s voice down pat and genuinely seems to understand the character.  This comes through overwhelmingly in this issue.  Johnson gives that clear and untainted sense of hope and indefatigable determination.  This alone elevates this issue over Action Comics #1038.  

This issue also leans into a bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs inspiration which we’ve seen before.  Superman is very much like John Carter of Mars as he fights in the arena, befriends other captives and generally tries to raise everyone’s spirits by sharing his own story and belief in hope.  As John Carter always says in similar situation, “I still live.”  It’s the ultimate expression of hope.  For while he is still alive, there is still the hope that he will find a way to save himself and see his family again.  Interestingly, while these themes are common to both Superman and John Carter, the incidentals of this story arc are much more inclined toward the latter’s tales instead of those of the Last Son of Krypton.  It’s both like and also very unlike a Superman story.  

Positives Cont’d

So far in this run we’ve seen great art from both Daniel Sampere and Miguel Mendonça.  In Action Comics #1039 Riccardo Federici delivers an exceptional issue, as well.  Despite his style being completely different from Sampere and Mendonça, Federici’s work is beautiful and epic.  Lee Loughridge adds his colors to give Warworld that Martian look that completes the John Carter of Mars vibe.  Visually, the issue is stunning in everyway.  Loughridge’s approach to Apollo’s radiating inner light is genius.  The art team gets “A”‘s all around and that goes for the covers as well.  Daniel Sampere delivers a movie poster-inspired main cover while Julian Totino Tedesco creates another poster worthy image.  Finally, Federici depicts a “Clark Kent, Warlord of Mars” image that fits the issue’s story perfectly.

The Martian Manhunter feature takes an interesting turn, but not before working one of the signature themes associated with the character.  J’onn has always struggled to fit in, and in this issue he demonstrates how human he is to his biggest fan, Zook as well as the little boy he saves from some very bad men.  It’s a couple of really nice moments that are depicted equally well by Adriana Melo as she allows some of the inner conflict and insecurity to come through the faces of J’onn, Zook, and the little boy.

The end of this chapter is a bit of a surprise as J’onn gets his first look at the organization that may be behind what he’s been investigating.  It appears to be modeled on Batman’s foes, the Court of Owls.  In this issue, they are a Circling of Vultures.  They’ve got some telepathic technology that proves shocking to J’onn and it’s clear they are out for him.

Negatives

Mongul and Warworld are about as interesting as a box of dirt.  It’s the main struggle with this storyline.  Thankfully, this issue doesn’t rely much on these topics instead of focusing on Superman’s character and the escape plot.  This issue also doesn’t bring up the tedious “Superman is dying” idea which also drags down this era of the Man of Steel.

Despite the pleasure that the similarities to John Carter bring in this long-time Edgar Rice Burroughs fan, at times this issue doesn’t feel at all like a Superman story.  There are instances when it pulls one out of the moment, and beg the question- “why not just write a John Carter story?”

Verdict

Character is the strongest element of the Superman story in Action Comics #1039.  Johnson nails this page after page, even if Superman’s not quite fitting into a John Carter of Mars story as one might expect he would.  The Martian Manhunter story continues to build up with an interesting reveal.  The art across the issue is at a high level, Melo is great on J’onn J’onn, but Federici is exceptional on the Superman tale.  All in all, this is a step up from the last issue.

The post Review: Action Comics #1039 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Shawn Aldridge
Art: Miguel Mendonça and Adriana Melo
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman and his allies suffer at the hands of Mongul, and the Martian Manhunter meets a new/old friend as he follows up a lead.

Positives

The Martian Manhunter second feature in Action Comics #1038 is a fun chapter that tips its hat very deeply to the Silver Age and the origins of the character.  It’s not entirely clear when this story takes place, but J’onn references moments in his past that he’s being reminded of.  Someone has put out a hit on MM and it leads J’onn to think about things in his past.  On the last page, he runs into a character with a name that should be familiar to longtime comic readers. Everyone remembers J’onn’s former partner, Zook? Uh…right?

This version of Zook doesn’t look exactly like the refugee from a parallel world that first appeared in Detective Comics #311, but she is clearly inspired by the original. This appears to be a bit of an update similar to what Gail Simone and Adriana Melo did with Plastic Man and Woozy Winks in the Plastic Man mini-series from 2018. The new character Pado Swakatoon seemed to take Woozy’s traditional role whilst also wearing green-hued duds. Melo (yes, she’s drawing this MM story as well) and writer Shawn Aldridge build just enough mystery and channel the right amount of Silver Age nostalgia in chapter 2 that maintains reader interest. It’s not always easy with a shorter page count in a story behind the main tale.

Positives Cont’d 

Superman is of course the star of Action Comics #1038, but unfortunately, the tongue-wagging of Mongul in the lead story is no more interesting than this chapter is inspiring. There are a couple of things that stand out, however.  Miguel Mendonca draws a great issue!  I mean, wow!  His shot of Mongul’s lackey on page two is just incredible. It’s that way for the rest of the issue, as well.

When Superman cradles Lia’s lifeless form in his arms and soliloquizes over the nature of life after death, it comes across as a bit of a meta-moment as if he’s trying to reassure her (still lifeless) that she will live on in future stories when some other writer “resurrects” her.   It could also be a reference to her light powers. However, he’s looking right at the reader in the last panel of his speech.

Julian Totino Tedesco delivers another amazing variant cover to this issue.  Like the two previous ones, it needs a story.  This one reminds me of an actual issue from the ’80’s – Superman #417.  I’m calling this one “Clark Kent, Warlord of Mars.”

Negatives

Superman certainly seems to have blundered onto Warworld subsequently causing the death of one (or two?) of his teammates and Midnighter rightly calls him on it. His response about hope is certainly in keeping with Superman’s mindset, but the issue doesn’t feel hopeful. The reader doesn’t really get what some of the Phaelosians perhaps get out of it.  

The Phaelosians, one of the most interesting aspects of Johnson’s run on Superman are still relegated to the background.  This story doesn’t really make a tangible connection between Superman and these characters. We could’ve done with a lot less Mongul and a lot more of Superman interacting with the Phaelosians in a meaningful way instead of mumbling and bleeding on the floor.  It’s almost as if Johnson’s got Superman’s heart right, but his mind is all wrong. Although, it was nice to hear him reference his son as a 12-year-old.  If only it were believable that this would lead to a story getting Jon back to his proper age. DC has too much invested in Jon as a burgeoning adult, even if the idea of Lois and Clark raising their biological child is far more interesting with more potential than the aged-up Jon will ever have. At least Superman seems to know the TRUTH!

Verdict

Buy this one for Tedesco’s variant cover and the Marian Manhunter second feature. Action Comics #1038 isn’t without merit, it’s just probably not the merit you were banking on. It’s still a difficult time for Superman, but it’s nice that there’s more to this title than the lead Superman story.

The post Review: Action Comics #1038 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This DEFINITELY contains spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Shawn Aldridge
Art: Miguel Mendonca and Adriana Melo
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman goes head to head with Mongul and it doesn’t go particularly well for the Man of Steel.  Nor the rest of his team for that matter.

Positives

Johnson has some interesting ideas at play in Action Comics #1037.  The idea that the United Planets is not willing to assist Superman in his campaign is interesting.  And, we know from last issue that there’s some intrigue afoot with Thaaros.  This mystery, while not involving Superman directly, like the still simmering mystery of the Phaelosians holds the reader’s interest.  This debate deserves more exploration.  Whatever is going on in the background is more profound despite being a subplot than the main storyline of Superman vs. Mongul.

Amidst the fight we get a few exciting moments with Manchester Black and Enchantress as they lend their special abilities to the cause.  Miguel Mendonca does a great job on art this issue taking over from Daniel Sampere.  Mendonca wows us with some really nice double page spreads that are dynamic and perfectly capture the flow of the action.  The story brings Superman to a point of losing his temper and Mendoca depicts an angry yelling Man of Steel masterfully.

The second feature is the fist chapter of a Martian Manhunter tale.  While it’s hard to see how this fits with what we may already know about  J’onn, the story plays out like it’s setting up his police officer secret identity.  The first few pages demonstrate how J’onn seems to use different identities with no real grounding.  It’s a storyline with potential, it just seems odd that we are introduced to a police officer in the story that bears a strong resemblance to John Jones, his classic Silver Age/Bronze Age ID.  In a nod to J’onn’s original artist this police detective is named Certa- Joe Certa was the original artist on the Martian Manhunter back in the 1950’s.

Negatives

While DC should get a pat on the back for not soliciting this issue as “The Death of Superman,” the story never really feels like it’s the end of Big Blue despite the prophesy in the beginning of Johnson’s run.  It’s been the weakest aspect all along and it continues to be so.  It started out like a pointless side story and it still does- something to endure in order to get to the interesting ideas Johnson does have. 

Verdict

Action Comics #1037 is a mixed bag.  The best parts don’t get the focus, and the Martian Manhunter second feature has a clearer direction even if everything isn’t obvious at the start.  However, Miguel Mendonca and Adriana Melo combine for a strong artistic outing across both stories.  Once again Julian Totino Tedesco provides an exceptional variant cover- what a story that would be!  Perhaps, once we get past this second “death of Superman” Johnson can explore the interesting concepts he’s introduced.

The post Review: Action Comics #1037 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Sean Lewis
Art: Daniel Sampere and Sami Basri
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Hi-Fi
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman and his allies arrive on Warworld and are greeted with unspeakable horrors.  And, there’s a deep secret surrounding the Phaelosians.

Positives

The mystery of the Phaelosians has been the strongest aspect of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Superman run.  It shouldn’t be surprising that there’s a deeper secret to their existence that’s yet to be revealed.  The opening scene in Action Comics #1036 deals with this as we see the Durlan leader, Thaaros abdicate in order to lead the United Planets.  However, the mention of the Phaelosians and Superman’s mission to Warworld sends him into a rage.  This intrigue stands out as the high point of the issue.

Daniel Sampere continues to do a brilliant job on the art chores.  Aided and abetted by colorist Adriano Lucas they give a bright and hopeful depiction of the Man of Steel that retains a classic look.  Sampere communicates a great deal of humanity in all his characters conveying the emotions in the story masterfully.  

Variant covers don’t usually get the mention, but the World War II-era depiction of Superman by Julian Totino Tedesco should be a poster.  It evokes that “simpler” era perfectly, and Superman lifting a Nazi tank is thrilling.  It’s one of those covers that begs for a story.  

Negatives

The shadow of Brian Michael Bendis hangs heavy over this issue of Action Comics.  It even infiltrates the best aspect of Johnson’s story.  It’s hard to be invested in a story when you aren’t invested in the events leading up to the story.  While the Phaelosian plot has been brilliant, the connections we see to Bendis’s additions to the Superman mythos detract from it.  It just serves as a reminder of the awful two and a half years that Superman and his family suffered under Bendis.  What’s worse is that DC has unwisely decided to maintain that status quo instead of jettisoning it into space like so much rotten trash.

It feels like Thaaros is going to have a “secrets and lies” moment like Jor-El did under Bendis and that the origin of the Phaelosians will be connected to that somehow.  While it is technically an interesting development, it goes in the wrong direction.  Having to go back and be reminded of Bendis’s Superman run is detrimental to pushing the character and his mythos forward.  It’s unfortunate at best and alienating at worst.

Negatives Cont’d 

The whole notion that Superman is somehow weakening is also tedious.  It wasn’t a strong element when first introduced back in Action Comics #1029 and Superman #29.  and it hasn’t improved here.  It’s either a ploy to put Superman on more even physical footing with Mongul, or it’s an idea that had to be used somehow because it fit into the previous plans for Superman under the discarded 5G initiative.  From the standpoint of execution, the plotline needs to be concluded, it’s just not a very inspiring plotline.

The “Tales of Metropolis” feature that rounds out the issue is disappointing as well.  It feels rushed, and nearly completely missing on character because we still don’t know which version of the Guardian this is. This is the second of a two-part story that could’ve been so much more.  The basic idea was great and last issue’s part one seemed like it was going to be the start of something bigger.  This could be due to editorial and not the creative team, but nonetheless, it was lacking.

Verdict

Action Comics #1036 is very uneven.  Daniel Sampere and Adriano Lucas’ art are the most consistent aspects of the issue.  The story doesn’t spend enough time on the best part and most interesting aspect- the Phaelosians.  We don’t expect Superman to die, so the stakes don’t feel that high for his impending encounter with Mongul.  And, in the end, the Phealosions’ backstory is far more interesting than a bait and switch on Superman’s “death.”

The post Review: Action Comics #1036 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Sean Lewis
Art: Daniel Sampere and Sami Basri
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Ulises Arreola
Letters: Dave Sharp

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman must come make his goodbyes as he leaves for Warworld to free the lost Kryptonians and Jimmy Olsen summons the Guardian to take on a virtual demon from a digital Ouija board!

Positives

Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s lost Kryptonian storyline comes to a head in Action Comics #1035 as Superman must make the decision to go to Warworld and free them from captivity.  It’s been an intriguing storyline all along and this is the logical conclusion to head into the next act.  And, it’s exactly the thing Superman would do.  Additionally, there’s a bit of a Moses parallel to this moment as well.

Superman’s origin has always had a bit of Moses in it.  Put in a basket (rocket ship) and floated down the river (space) to escape death.  It’s not hard to see the parallels.  With this storyline, Superman is going to a hostile planet (Egypt) ruled by a merciless Mongul (pharaoh) to free his people.  He certainly sounds like he will be welcomed as the deliverer.  Johnson has even used his “S” insignia as a way of recognizing these other Kryptonians much like Moses was identified by the cloth identifying him as a Levite that his mother put in his basket before floating him down the river.  This is all very interesting and adds an extra level of enjoyment to this plot line.

Positives Cont’d

As mentioned above, Johnson’s handling of the Man of Steel’s character is spot on.  And, it’s probably the single best aspect of the issue and Johnson’s run.  It’s not just how he acts, but the way he speaks and the thought process he uses to put into his decision making.  Last issue, we saw him take a chance because he thought it was the right thing to do to end the immediate conflict.  It’s a sign of the times and the nature of the world today that Superman may not always be a straight law and order guy.  This does reflect the earliest days of Superman when he was a social crusader.  Working it in naturally may work better than Grant Morrison’s attempt at the same thing when Superman was relaunched in The New 52.  

Daniel Sampere delivers another dynamite performance as he depicts the depth and breadth of Superman’s emotions in every panel.  Sampere has a classic style that fits Superman extremely well while also being able to transmit the subtleties of emotion in such a storyline.  It’s not just the Man of Steel, though.  Lois has a roller coaster ride of emotions in Action Comics #1035 and he handles this superbly as well.  It’s clear that this isn’t the first time that Superman has left Earth for an extended space mission, but it’s also clear that it’s never easy- Lois comes from a military background, but it doesn’t make deployment any easier.

More Positives!

This type of real world family dynamic was very strong in the first half of the Rebirth era under Dan Jurgens and Peter Tomasi/Patrick Gleason.  It’s nice to see it feeling real again.  These are elements that are relatable to anyone.  You don’t have to have superpowers or live an “extraordinary” life to get it.  There’s a sweet spot of real emotion that is communicated by both Johnson and Sampere.

The second feature, “Tales of Metroplis” stars Jimmy Olsen.  He calls the Guardian in to help on what appears to be a virtual/technological demon summoned through a digital Ouija board.  The basic concept is a solid updating of a traditional trope.  It fits well in our modern online/virtual world.  Seeing the Guardian again is a treat as well.  Although, I’m unsure which Guardian this is- it’s not the one introduced in Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldier’s of Victory– Jake Jordan.  He appears to be the Project Cadmus clone of the original Golden Age Guardian, Jim Harper created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

It’s a good introductory chapter and the concept has potential.  As the story features kids as the ones in trouble, I can’t help but hope these youngsters form a new version of the Newsboy Legion with the Guardian.

Negatives

Unfortunately, the biggest negative in Action Comics #1035 is once again Jon Kent.  As likable and enjoyable as he was in the Rebirth era under Jurgens and the Tomasi/Gleason team and in Adventures of the Super Sons with Damian Wayne, he’s just out of place and awkward here.  He’s actually become unlikable.  He seems whiny, a bit immature and too uneven.  It’s always been a bad idea to have aged him up off panel and taken away the potential for truly unique and different Superman stories of Lois and Clark raising  their own biological child together.  Doubling down on it and maintaining the charade by pushing him as Superman in Clark’s absence, no matter how well written isn’t the answer.

It was easy to drop the Superman books under Bendis because Jon was simply one of many problems.  With the ship righted essentially, Jon remains the lone troubling aspect.  As long a he’s kept in the background he can’t hurt the title much.   Bendis is an albatross that continues to weigh down the Superman franchise and indeed every corner of the DC Universe he has touched. 

While Bendis’s god-awful Justice League makes a truly unneeded appearance, flipping it around with Batman’s usual “disappear quietly while no one’s looking” bit made me laugh out loud.

Verdict

Johnson and Sampere deliver a heartfelt issue that continues to build on the Lost Kryptonians storyline.  The character work is outstanding and is truly making Action Comics a great title.  It’s not hard to relate to Lois and Clark’s situation, even if the particulars are otherworldly, plus the Moses analog adds another dimension to Superman’s story.  While Jon holds things back a bit, he’s not in the way to drag things down too much.  Coupled with the potential in the second feature, Action Comics #1035 is another great issue.

The post Review: Action Comics #1035 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Jonson and Becky Cloonan & Michael W. Conrad
Art: Christian Duce and Michael Avon Oeming
Colors: Adriano Lucas and Taki Soma
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Superman makes a daring and unexpected play in the standoff between the Americans and Atlanteans and Midnighter and Mister Miracle pull together for a final stand against…?

Positives

It’s not often one word can sum up an issue, especially considering there are two distinct features in Action Comics #1034, and yet “intensity” seems to describe both the Superman and Midnighter stories.  Phillip Kennedy Johnson has been developing an interesting storyline with the Warworld refugees and their ancient Kryptonian heritage.  In this issue, however, Superman makes a bold move that suggests some even larger consequences.  These are consequences that haven’t really been explored in a long time.  A couple of seminal tales come to mind, the much derided film, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and the classic comic book story, “Must There Be A Superman” from Superman #247 (1972). 

In Action Comics #1034 as American Naval vessels are in a standoff with Atlantean warships, Superman makes a decision worthy of the wisdom of Solomon.  Unable to broker an agreement between the two or get one to back down, he simply removes the object of conflict.  In doing this he stops the immediate conflict, but in doing so he perhaps creates a larger issue.  Superman essentially steps in and becomes a third party in the conflict instead of a peacemaker.  This is the same question that is raised in the aforementioned stories.  In Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Superman removes all of the United States and Soviet Union’s nuclear arms.  On the surface it seems like a good idea, but he just extends the Cold War to include himself as a third side.

“Must There Be A Superman” seems to address the underlying questions that these stories present.  What is Superman’s role in world politics and global issues?  Can the world rely on Superman to solve them?  Or, as the story presents, can Superman lead people and countries to an answer.  In that story Superman says, 

” Let’s get something straight! Sure– I rebuilt your homes, but that’s because an earthquake is something you can’t handle– Something you can’t safeguard yourselves against– But you must not count on a Superman to patch up your lives every time you have a crisis– or disaster– Young Manuel here– has the right idea! When the rest of you backed down to Harley, Manuel refused to knuckle under… You don’t need a Superman! What you really need is a super-will to be guardians of your own destiny! “

Writer Elliot S! Maggin understood this aspect of the character, Superman can’t solve all the world’s problems and Superman himself also knows this.  In Action Comics #1034, it certainly seems like Superman isn’t sure of this in the moment.  Kara (Supergirl) warns him of his actions, but Superman seems confident it’s the only way to cease the hostilities between the American Navy and Atlanteans.

Positives Cont’d

This is one of the big concept ideas that’s hung around Superman for years.  It’s not explored often because it can be so problematic.  Brian Michael Bendis attempted to address this rather ham-fistedly in his run when he had Superman appear to speak for Earth as its representative to the newly formed United Planets.  The storyline didn’t go anywhere really.  Here’s to hoping Johnson makes a deeper and more substantial exploration of the theme.

The intensity ramps up in the Midnighter second feature as well.  Mister Miracle comes to realize that even though he doesn’t approve of Midnighter’s methods, he can understand why he’s doing what he’s doing and is grateful that Midnighter has saved his life.  It’s an effective example of “war making strange bedfellows” (no not like that!)….  One of the most effective moments comes when Midnighter vows to get out of the loop this time.  You really believe him, too.  You can feel his passion and determination rising.  Again, great character work that draws the reader in even if you’ve never been a Midnighter fan (me) you will be with this storyline (me).  That last panel is quite a surprise, no spoilers, but, WHOA!  Something big has bee teased surreptitiously, and this is it!  Quite a finale to come- see you in the Midnighter 2021 Annual!

It’s a fairly subtle thing, but it has to be said that Michael Avon Oeming’s art and Taki Soma’s colors on this Midnighter feature have done an excellent job of suggesting Jack Kirby’s work and his Fourth World concepts in particular.  It’s in no way a rip off or swipe, but a great homage to one of THE greats, The King!  It brings a sense of comfort and familiarity and at the same time suggests connections that build a particular feel in the story that comes from the visuals.

Negatives

Yeah, some comics have negatives, that true…

Verdict

The build up of intensity in the two stories in Action Comics #1034 promises to spill over…soon!  Superman’s bold move suggests so much more than discussed above.  This feels like a truly important moment in the life of the Man of Steel and his relationship with the people of Earth and his friends in the Justice League (Aquaman was not happy at all!)  It’s a great theme that should be exciting to see explored.  Midnighter’s got his hands full as well as this second feature proves to be just as interesting as the Superman lead.

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