REVIEW: Action Comics #1088

Action Comics #1088 continues Mark Waid’s re-introduction of Clark Kent’s Superboy! Last issue was a blast from the past and I really loved getting to re-explore this time in Superman’s life, but now the story arc continues with its second issue.

The main cover is by Ryan Sook and it features an iconic Superman pose with the added touch of being related to the story inside… can’t ask much more than that! I really love Sook’s art style and the way that the flames are caught in the reflection of the glasses is a nice touch, not to mention the way that the heat is literally radiating off the page, it’s a really cool effect.

Leonardo Romero’s cover is great, it’s awesome to see Krypto, especially after he’s getting so much love from the film’s release. I also really love the hope instilled in Superboy’s face, the details in the background are stunning too, it has a realistic touch to it which is just beautiful.

Karl Kerschl is a favorite of mine, so I’m definitely biased, but this is also a really nice cover, and the hidden S in the clouds is a great touch! The use of purple’s really give this cover a galactic feel to it as we see Superboy regenerating just outside Earth’s orbit.

The variant by Skye Patridge is also a great contender and captures pretty much everything in terms of imagery I can think of in terms of Superboy. It’s a beautiful cover and seeing him float so effortlessly above the Kent farm is truly beautiful.

Action Comics #1088 is very well paced, and deals with the fallout of the previous issue flawlessly. Even though it’s Action Comics, this feels like a brand-new Superboy series, and I mean that in a good way. We rarely get a deep dive into the teenage years of Clark, and Waid does here what he does best; simple, enjoyable storytelling that doesn’t require a degree in comic book history. It’s fresh, modern, and feels like “Archie meets Superman” in a really nice way (and since Waid wrote Archie for a bit, it wouldn’t surprise me if he pulled from that experience). Waid even takes care of the glasses issue right away, helping smooth out the later transition of Superboy/Superman.

Skye Partridge and Ivan Plascencia continue to shine with art that feels both modern and classic, and there’s not any one panel or moment that distracts or feels out of place. The art really brings this story to life and really plants you in the atmosphere of Smallville which really transports you to this time in Superman’s life.

(8/10) Action Comics #1088 is a great second issue which really leading to a good setup for the story. It has been a blast getting to see Superman reminisce about his time as Superboy, it’s a poignant part of Superman’s history and one that I have missed getting to explore.