REVIEW: Action Comics #1076
Action Comics #1076, “Phantoms: Part Seven” wraps up Clark’s visit to Krypton of the past only to find his present worse off than he left it. Then in Supergirl’s featurette, “Every World…”, Kara discovers an unsettling truth that has her questioning her involvement in the mission. Both stories feel like the stakes just got higher as Action Comics marches on.
The standard cover is by Clayton Henry and Tomeu Morey. A fascinating take on the construction of the diamond window for the Phantom Zone puts Jor-El front and center. Although the advertised blurbs don’t really match up with what’s inside, it still adds a fun element to the piece.
Sebastian Fiumara’s variant puts a spin on the Superman ’78 Phantom Zone imagery as Clark attempts to bust free. The classically shaped diamond from those movies is replaced with a diamond of The House of El to add more symbolism to the story inside.
The incentive variant is by A. L. Kaplan. Playing with the notion of looking up in the sky, the blues of Superman’s outfit blends seamlessly with his background. It’s a pretty cool effect capturing how at home Clark feels while flying.
Be on the lookout for Meghan Hetrick’s variant, a Creature Commandos promotional variant by Leirix Li, and a McFarlane Toys variant.
Clayton Henry and Michael Shelfer, along with Colorist Matt Herms, gives us a glimpse at the pre-destroyed Krypton’s family dynamic of The House of El. It’s been fairly common knowledge that Jor and Zor didn’t see eye-to-eye on many things, but to see some of that play out was interesting.
Meghan Hetrick and Colorist Marissa Louise ramp up the visuals for Supergirl’s story. Using reflective surfaces and split panel imagery adds to that sci-fi element they’ve been creating. It also keeps the expositional nature of this installment from feeling boring.
Mark Waid, lettered by Dave Sharpe, brings this little side trip to Krypton’s past to an abrupt end in Action Comics #1076. Time seems to be of the essence for Clark to return to the present day Phantom Zone and so we’re treated to a heist that would make Batman proud to recharge his solar batteries. Not able to linger for last minute goodbyes, Superman rushes back to find The Phantom Zone situation worsening. Interluded with some great action sequences of Kenan as he feels Conner got in way over his head in dealing with The Khunds, only to have that situation comically, yet predictably, resolve itself.
Mariko Tamaki, lettered by Becca Carey, deepens the mystery of Kara’s prison escort with the incomprehensible amount of charges against them. Still trying to piece it all together, the prisoner gives Kara a plea that weighs deeply on her conscience.
(7/10) Both stories feel like they’ve hit a turning point that puts them back on track of the main premise each presented in Action #1070. This could have been a very emotional issue but I feel Conner and Kenan’s interlude detracted from the impact with its more comical flair. Still, I’m very interested where everything is going but also glad we’re approaching an end to the weekly release of the title.
