Action Comics #1098 is written by Mark Waid and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Skylar Patridge and Patricio Delpeche, colours by Ivan Plascencia and Patricio Delpeche, with letters by Steve Wands. Main cover art (left) is by Ryan Sook.
Action Comics #1098 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
AT WAR WITH THE WEAPONS MASTER! The Weapons Master has homed in on the most scientifically advanced tech on Earth, which happens to be hiding on the Kent Farm… Clark’s rocket ship. Now the Justice League and Superboy must defend his legacy and save the town of Smallville from Xotar and his cache of malevolent munitions!
Review
Hold up. Something doesn’t quite add up…
If you read Action Comics #1098 expecting Xotar, the Weapon Master, to appear, you’ll end up scratching your head. He shows up in the synopsis, but reader beware—he does not appear in this issue. So, why does it credit him with stealing Clark’s ship? Last I checked, once Superboy rescues J’onn, Booster Gold, and Mary Marvel from the time stream, they’re battling Epoch, the Lord of Time, who stole Clark’s ship in the previous issue, #1097.
This stands out as a pretty big blunder. It makes me wonder if the Weapon Master was meant to be the villain all along, but was swapped out for Epoch at the last minute. Possibly. When you consider that Epoch steals Clark’s Kryptonian ship and repurposes it into a weapon, that actually makes more sense. Still, it’s confusing.
The synopsis isn’t the only problem, though.
Listen, I regularly praise Mark Waid’s writing in Action Comics, but this issue feels like a misfire. The stolen ship sets up classic Super-drama, but the story quickly undercuts the drama to take a long stroll down memory lane.
Martian Manhunter asks the Kents a simple question: tell him about the ship. What should be a straightforward answer turns into a laborious, superfluous retelling of how the Kents discover and eventually adopt Clark, only for Superboy to chime in and say the crystal from the ship, which can help them locate the stolen vessel, is in his sock drawer. Further, the fact that Manhunter also reveals that Clark is from Krypton and reassures the Kents that the Kryptonians won’t come claim him is another odd moment, given the sensitivity of time travel in this narrative.
Don’t get me wrong. The Kents’ finding baby Clark in the wreckage, a gift from the stars, is iconic stuff we all love. I take no issue exploring new angles on it, as long as it feels relevant. That’s the problem here; it adds nothing new and serves no real purpose. Instead, it stalls the tension. I get no strong sense that Clark is eager to locate his ship.
Which leads me to the next problem: the Mary Marvel/Lana Lang of it all.
Previously, there was some strong flirtation between Mary Marvel and young Clark as the two sat together under the stars on the roof. Someone at DC clearly did not like it, as this issue goes out of its way to establish that she is not flirting and positions herself as a “big sister.”
Insert “Sure, Jan” meme here!
While Booster Gold uses the crystal to track the missing ship, Mary Marvel and Clark head to Smallville High. It felt like DC editorial said, “Get a high school scene in here.” This quick scene exists solely to make Lana jealous by having Mary hang all over Clark. On its own, it’s a cute, playful moment. But it feels out of place given the stakes. Frankly, a scenario where Mary Marvel is flirting, and Lana witnesses and reacts to it, would have felt more natural. The fleeting melodrama did not land, I’m afraid.
I can’t shake the feeling that the creative team was rushed. Maybe that explains two artists for one issue? I’m not sure. But even the art, which is usually solid, doesn’t land as strongly as expected. It’s loose, quick, and melty in places and nowhere near as detailed or vivid as readers are used to.
I get it, producing monthly stories is no easy feat. Quality always dips on occasion. It’s just disappointing when you know how high a particular team and soar. And Waid and co usually crush it.
This issue isn’t a write-off. The story still delivers several engaging moments. Superboy’s confrontation with Epoch works well, even if Epoch’s overall plan feels unclear, and the issue gives our young hero a genuine moment of growth as he fights to save the day. Yes, some panels look loose, but others, towards the end, feel more dynamic.
If you come in expecting a high-stakes story based on the previous issue, you’ll walk away disappointed. If you’re just killing time, this reads as an easy, breezy issue.
Verdict
Action Comic #1098 has moments of genuine charm, but flashbacks and high school melodrama derail the urgency you might expect in a story hinged on locating Clark’s stolen ship, and stopping a time lord determined to kill Superboy.
⭐⭐⭐
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