Action Comics #1071 is written by Mark Waid and published by DC. Art is by Clayton Henry and Michael Shelfer, colours by Matt Herms and letters by Dave Sharpe. This issue also features a backup story written by Mariko Tamaki with artwork by Skylar Patridge and colours by Marissa Louise. Main cover art (left) is by Clayton Henry and Tomeu Morey.
Action Comics #1071 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon ComiXology UK right here.
Synopsis
Trapped in the Phantom Zone! Investigating the ethereal prison created by his father, Superman finds himself helpless before the dreaded Phantom King. But what surprise reveal is in store for him? A clue lies in Superman’s teenage years! Plus, Supergirl finds herself on trial as she comes face-to-face with the judge of the United Planets’ highest court!
Review
The mystery behind the Phantom Zone continues, but Mark Waid begins to unravel a few things, painting a picture for us readers. He makes it so that people who aren’t familiar with the concept of the Phantom Zone can get a straightforward and quick understanding of it, making them ready for what’s to come next. The Phantom Zone has completely changed and isn’t what it used to be many years ago. There are creatures that have come from out of nowhere, not resembling anything of Kryptonian origin. Prisoners no longer have corporal forms, and that’s going to be a major issue for the Man of Steel.
Mark Waid can’t be praised enough when it comes down to keeping us engaged with this current storyline. It’s a necessity, not only because readers want good books, but Action Comics is currently weekly. We need something that can keep us on our toes each week, forcing us to come back the following week to see what happens next, and Waid is nailing exactly that.
In the middle of the book, Waid diverts from what Superman must deal with in the Phantom Zone and brings us back outside of it, in Metropolis. This was slightly worrying as they pulled us from one intense moment to a charity baseball game between Kon-El and Kenan Kong. It’s great to see that they’re doing their part for the city, but the tonal shift just felt extremely off and like such an odd placement. But trust in Mark Waid, as he doesn’t just divert for no exact reason; he brings our attention to another situation that’s taking place outside the Phantom Zone and uses the baseball game as a great way to subvert our expectations.
Returning back to the Phantom Zone, Superman is put in a tricky situation that forces him to try out a new power, one that has never been seen before in a Superman comic but one that many fans have questioned if he’s capable of. And luckily, those fans get the answer to that question in this issue, and it’s a very satisfying one, especially getting to see it in use.
The conclusion to this issue is one that might be expected by some readers, but like myself, there are for sure going to be a few people who see it as a complete shock. Waid throws clues at you throughout the issue leading up to the big reveal, and thankfully, there’s only a week to wait to see what this means for Superman.
Unlike the main story, which gives us a little bit more to nibble on, the backup story continues with Supergirl’s mission. A mission that was unknown to us in the last issue and is kind of still unknown. We’re provided with a little bit of information about why Supergirl is at the High Court of Thanagar, but it’s then revealed that Supergirl herself doesn’t seem to know the real reason why she has been sent on this mission.
Mariko Tamaki keeps the mystery on a tight leash compared to Mark Waid, who seems to slowly be revealing what’s going on in the Phantom Zone. A quick action scene takes place that Skylar Patridge is able to convey with just how quickly Kara’s enemy is moving. As a reader, we’re able to understand what’s roughly going on thanks to the writing, but what Patridge does with her art is rather clever, not leaving us any room to ask ourselves, “What the hell just happened?” and forcing us to try to gather our thoughts once the issue comes to an end.
Tamaki understands Supergirl; this much is known about her as a writer, but what’s noticeable from this back-up story is that she fully understands the type of stories that Supergirl flourishes in. Tom King showed us that she does really well in a sci-fi setting, and yet we had never returned to that. Take Supergirl out of the story, and it still feels like a true sci-fi story, one that she fits into effortlessly.
Verdict
With Action Comics currently being a weekly release, it must be captivating each week, and Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki nail that with #1071. Waid reveals more about what’s really taking place in the Phantom Zone with an insane reveal, and Tamaki shows that she understands what makes a great Supergirl story.
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