REVIEW: Action Comics #1101

There is literally no time for Superman to take a breather as he finally returns home in Action Comics #1101. Little does he know he’s heading right into another DC Comics event: “Kingdom of Zod: Part 2.”

While Clark was on his sabbatical through time (see Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1: “The Return of Superman”), his wife Lois, son Jonathan, cousin Kara Zor-El and former ally-turned-enemy Superboy-Prime went through the “Reign of the Superboys.” Just when I thought we were about to get a joyous reunion, Clark is thrown right into the thick of things as writer Mark Waid, artist Montos, colorist Ivan Plascencia and letterer Steve Wands take us into Round 2 of General Dru-Zod’s revenge saga.

Along for the ride with Clark are Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold and Mary Marvel, who traveled through time to retrieve him. Instead, they found a teenage Clark Kent, who eventually helped them locate and save his future self. Wanting to be generous, Clark decided to give the young superhero a sneak peek of the future. But what they arrive to find is very far from the super future the Boy of Steel pictured.

There’s so much to get into, but let’s check out this issue’s great comic book covers first. The main cover is the second connecting cover by Guillem March. It features Superboy-Prime in a squatted fighting stance as a Krypto Knight and giant Krypto Mechsuit power up their weapons. Ursa’s body sits in a Kryptonian funeral pyre while a large portrait of General Zod shows him yelling and firing heat vision from his right eye. It’s a cover that says the war is officially on.

Ariel Olivetti’s variant cover shows a young Clark Kent (Superboy) looking concerned for a bearded, wounded Superman. Superman, with a bloody scar across his left cheek, appears unconscious, and his costume is torn in several places. There’s no visible sign of what caused his injuries.

Mike Choi’s variant seems to pick up where Olivetti’s stopped. Young Clark carries his unconscious future self through outer space and toward the sun as light begins to glow across their bodies. Superman’s torn costume suggests he was in one heck of a battle that depleted his solar cells and left him in his current condition.

Together, these covers make one thing clear: the battle against Zod will not be easy, and even Superman may not walk away unscathed. While Superman is strong and never gives up, it’s good that he has Superboys who will have his back and fight by his side. There is also a variant cover available by Mark Spears.

This issue kept Montos, Plascencia and Wands very busy as they gave us the visuals for Round 2 of the Kingdom of Zod. This battle began in Supergirl #16 and showed just how serious Zod is and how angry he is that his powers were transferred to the wife of his greatest enemy. He is determined to get them back and make Earth as hostile and dangerous as possible for Superman and his family. The art team does a great job showcasing the dire straits Zod is putting Earth in and just how sadistic he really is. They also show how vulnerable—and how strong—the Super-Family can be as they work together to stop him. Zod’s attack isn’t just focused on El Caldero, the Kryptonite Kingdom; this is a global assault.

We also get prelude pages that include material from “Kneel Before Zod,” written by Joe Casey, with art by Dan McDaid, colors by David Baron and letters by Troy Peteri. These pages, which also appeared in this week’s Supergirl as part of “Kingdom of Zod: Part 1,” add a cinematic touch while helping explain what Zod has endured and why he is targeting Earth and the Super-Family. When Waid is the writer, I have no worries that the dialogue will be on point, the characters’ personalities will shine through and the story will be powerful and emotional. I got exactly what I expected: battles, monologues, confrontations, and, most importantly, Superman’s return to Earth and his own time.

We also learn where the Kryptonite meteor came from that created the Kryptonite Kingdom and granted Superman his golden protective state for a time, adding another important piece to this massive story. Most of all, we got peril, battles, family, revelations and Lois Lane being her smart, strong and fierce reporter/editor self as she stood up to Zod. Action Comics #1101 feels big, dangerous and personal while reminding readers that defeating Zod will require the Super-Family—and maybe a few unexpected allies—to stand together.

(10/10) Part 2 of “Kingdom of Zod” in Action Comics #1101 ends on an exciting note as two characters who understandably don’t get along bury the hatchet and prepare to take on Zod. It’s the kind of ending that immediately makes you want to pick up the next chapter.