REVIEW: Action Comics #1035

Action Comics #1035 is finally here and writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson is really knocking this title out of the park. This series has absolutely everything that a reader and Superman fan would want. Those who are skipping this title because they don’t like the idea of Kal-El taking a step back as Superman, you are seriously missing out.

But before we get into the issue itself, let’s take a look at the covers. The standard cover is by Daniel Sampere and it is emotional yet gorgeous. Seeing Lois hold her son tightly whilst his father zooms away just strikes a cord with me. Those emotions are heightened thanks to the beautifully detailed artwork and realistic yet optimistic colours by Alejandro Sanchez.

The variant cover is by Julian Totino Tedesco and it is gorgeous, this man can really do no wrong when it comes to artwork and variant covers. This cover has a real valentines and romantic feel to it and I love that Lois has to get onto tiptoes to get close to Superman. The detail is excellent and I love that it is contrasted with a cartoonistic background filled with blush pink love hearts.

Action Comics #1035 picks up right where we left off in the previous issue as Jon goes toe-to-toe with Thao-Lar. After getting through to her, Superman makes her the ultimate promise, that he’d help her and go to Warworld to save her people, despite the insurmountable odds and warnings against it.

Thao-Lar is clearly a worthy opponent as it takes both Supergirl and Jon to apprehend her. Once again it’s Lois Lane who is the real hero in this situation, where Superman and the rest of The House Of El don’t really know what has gone on, it’s Lois who pleads Thao-Lar’s case despite the fact that she attacked her. She clearly knows she is true at heart and has been placed in an extremely difficult situation.

I will say this issue was rather confusing at first as Superman arrives on Warworld with the help of Thao-Lar and comes face to face with Mongul. As soon as that scene is introduced we are thrust two days into the future where we see Superman paying his respects to the Phaelosians and promising that he’ll make Thao-Lar well again. Of course we don’t yet know what happened to her, but I have a lot of trust in Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s writing and I’m sure that will be explored in the near future.

We then see some members of the Justice League explain to Superman that he is no longer part of the League and that they cannot help him yet, unless he waits. Of course he refuses, he now knows the seriousness of this situation and how urgent it is, this is something that cannot wait regardless of it being a potential trap. I love how Superman acts with urgency here despite not having the backup he originally wanted, this is a man who is not going to go back on his promise.

It is here that we get the first hint that Superman & The Authority and this series is of the same continuity after Batman refers to another team that Superman has put together to go to Warworld. Not only that but this plants the seeds as to why Superman leaves Earth in that series, but also in Superman: Son Of Kal-El. This issue has really gone a long way to establish a continuity between those storylines. I love that and the way that they all feed into each other feels like a real pay off.

There are so many incredible moments in terms of artwork from Superman stopping Thao-Lar’s threatening blow, to her breaking out of her chains. This series has been full of great artwork by Daniel Sampere and Adriano Lucas and this issue is no exception. The artwork feels very real yet optimistic and it’s something that instantly instills hope. These two are a real dream team when it comes to comic art for me.

Action Comics #1035 is another excellent issue that really progresses the story and also the stakes in this series and also the other Superman titles, expertly bringing them together in continuity.

Haven’t picked up Action Comics #1035 yet? You can get the standard cover by Daniel Sampere here (UK), or here (US).

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