REVIEW: Action Comics #1084
Action Comics #1084 sees the third Superman Superstars story arc by John Ridley and Inaki Miranda end. While not the most explosive ending, the story opts to try to end on a make-you-think ending on the theme of reformation with all the action in the first act with even a few loose ends. The theme of “Can people change?” is a staple in modern superhero comics and Superman stories where he explores them and their real potential.
The inclusion of Aubrey Sparks’ Scorch is big for DC Comics with the character not having a major appearance since Infinite Crisis – let alone gracing a cover. While she’s not in her classic suit within the issue, Gleb Melnikov gives her demon-inspired costume and appearances as she and Superman square up against Bruno Mannheim, the one responsible for criminals reforming suddenly relapsing.
Jae Lee’s variant cover is a great one to pick up in anticipation of DC Studios’ Superman with Superman, Krypton, a giant monster, and the Arctic – just like in the trailer. With the broken city of Kandor and the miniature residents flying out, it looks like the Fortress of Solitude is under attack. Lee has always had one of the most unique art styles in comics. It’s one of those when you know it’s his by just looking at it.
It’s March Madness and DC Comics is celebrating with the Courtside Variant series. Action Comics gets it from Howard Porter with colors by Hi-Fi. It’s nothing short of sweet with Superman playing alien basketball. It could’ve had a sporty and grounded feel to it with a court on the moon with a dome around it, but instead, it’s full-on cosmic with planets in the background and the red comet of Superman as he speeds around the court. It could’ve been a normal ball, but it’s an orb surging with power.
Nicola Scott and Dani Strip also have done great Superman and Metropolis-centric variants this week.
As revealed in the last issue, Bruno Mannheim is behind villains like Major Disaster and Atomic Skull, who are suddenly coming out of rehabilitation. Mannheim has been harvesting their telomeres (DNA at the end of chromosomes that keep people young) in the form of what was thought to be harmless paid blood donations. Mannheim said one of the side effects is depression which often drives them back to crime with any hope of rehabilitation dashed. His buyers are revealed to be a group of aliens who call themselves the Forevers, which is pretty self-explanatory of what they want.
Superman battles them for robbing those who want to change their hope in order to live longer. Thanks to the transfusions, they get the powers of who the telomeres come from. John Ridley found a literal way to represent hope as something that can be taken away with Mannheim and the telomeres. This is for better or worse, but it’s the most that a three-issue story about reformation can be. The Forevers aren’t the most complex villains, but those who just want to live longer often aren’t. The Major Disaster closure we do get makes the quieter second act of the issue worth it. The line “it’s truth and justice, not truth or justice,” is one for the Superman history books. Letters are by Dave Sharpe.
Inaki Miranda and Eva De La Cruz’s art peaks here with his designs of the Forevers. They’re metaphors for people who literally consume other’s hope. Superman takes them all on in an eight-page extravaganza of big hits and power blasts. If I can describe Miranda’s Superman, it’s a more refined version of Ed McGuiness, who also happens to be one of the creators of Scorch.
(8/10) Action Comics #1084 wraps up a story about reformation and literal/metaphorical loss of hope that goes hand-in-hand with Superman. By this story’s logic, hope is in our DNA and that’s really uplifting and comforting –just make sure supervillains don’t steal it.
