After almost three years at the writing helm of Action Comics, Phillip Kennedy Johnson wraps up his Warworld sequence with a battle royal played out across two worlds. Warworld orphan Othol-Ra, taken into the Kent-Lane household and given a new start, has been targeted by Janan al-Ghul, sole survivor of the ruling family of the Empire of Shadows on an alternate Earth.
Now calling herself Sister Shadow, Janan has kidnapped Otho, knowing her potential as a warrior. The villain wants to corrupt Otho, merge with her and lead the assault on Earth 0.
Of course, Superman is going to track Otho down, and knowing he’s facing dark magic he brings in specialists – from the pits of Hell, Bloodwynd and the Demon, Etrigan.
And when the Empire of Shadows does crack open the barrier between worlds, the rest of the Super Family is waiting…
Talk about sticking the landing. The story of Otho and younger brother Osul has been a thread in Action Comics since the start of Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run, and here we see their potential as heroes begin to be fulfilled. Unconditional love and mentoring from the Super Family has given the ‘Super Twins’ a chance to become the next generation of heroes, worthy inheritors of the House of El crest.
Which isn’t to say Superman wants them to forget their birth family, and here legends he and Supergirl have told them about their homeworld, Phaelosia, inspire them to help foil Sister Shadow’s mad plans.
This is a terrific comics story. Yes, it pays off a long run of Superman adventures but I think any comics fan could dive in and pick up enough along the way to relish this ambitious, double-length tale. Johnson’s plotting, pacing and characterisation are masterful, with a fully realised cast moving around a world of wonder. I especially love that Supergirl and Superman II Jon Kent are as impressive, as inspiring, as Superman. We see this, for example, when Kara gives the Blue Earthers – Metropolis citizens manipulated to hate extraterrestrials and given power by Sister Shadow – a chance to start redeeming themselves.
Supergirl and Superboy have been cast members in Action Comics for the past year, so it’s unsurprising they have a part to play in Johnson’s finale. But who expected the Demon and Bloodwynd?
Big points for splendid Demon-verse scansion, while Bloodwynd shows he could be a real player in the DC firmament of heroes.
A big part of the excellent impression Bloodwynd makes is the art of Max Raynor, who drew his solo debut in the recent Doomsday Special. A sharp storyteller able to excel in a variety of styles, Raynor deserves this big showcase issue to show more people what he can do. I love, for example, how we see Supergirl use a different fighting style to the usual ‘fly in and blast’ model.
That has to be Klurkor, aka Kryptonian karate direct from the Silver Age of Comics!
Then there’s the determination of Osul as he speeds to help his sister.
Raynor has the talent and craft to get what’s in his imagination onto the page. I hope we see more of him on the Superman books.
Partnering Raynor is colour artist Matt Herms, adding an extra layer of power and emotion to proceedings. Environments are beautifully shaded, people glow with life – it’s great work. And the variety of fonts employed by letterer Dave Sharpe keep things clear while looking stylish.
The cover, by regular Action Comics artist Rafa Sandoval, is a clever, eye-catching composition nicely coloured by Herms.
The story ends with Johnson’s final words on what it means to live in Metropolis. Well, finally so far as this run goes – I’d be very surprised and disappointed were Action Comics editors Jillian Grant and Paul Kaminski not making plans for more from Johnson, given how brilliantly he balances Superman’s power and humanity.
Johnson’s Superman is a hero, a father, a friend, and we need to see him again.
For now, we can look back on one of the most accomplished, enjoyable Superman runs ever and say, look, this is how great mainstream superhero comics can be.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
I’ve only been following Action Comics regularly since issue #1050 but I’ve certainly enjoyed the writing by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and his characterization of Clark Kent / Superman. The artwork has also been high quality. I feel the Superman Family cast did get a little too crowded at times, but on the whole I enjoyed the last year. This felt like a very solid, exciting wrap-up.
I’m now a bit annoyed at myself for skipping the Doomsday special from earlier this year, since it seems like it sets up Bloodwynd and maybe some other stuff that happens in this Annual. I guess there’s always back issues.
The disappointing aspect of this title for me has been the anthology format. I liked the Lois & Clark serial by Jurgens & Weeks, although the final chapter was rushed, it really needed at least one more installment. But the writing on all of the other back-ups has been underwhelming. So, on the whole it feels like a mostly unsuccessful experiment.
Is Action Comics going back to just featuring one story per issue in 2024?
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Do you have DC Infinite, Ben, the Doomsday Special will be on there. I was thrilled at how much I enjoyed it.
I agree the anthology aspect didn’t work overall. I think it’s back to regular-sized issues now… but will the price go back down?
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Good review as always. I’m going to have to read this again, but I do think it’s a good ending to the three years given from Kennedy.
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Thanks. The fact that the Super-Twins didn’t die, get banished to the Phantom Zone or sent to New Krypton has me hoping PKJ has some more Superman plans cooking.
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I agree — I was so relieved that the twins, who are really endearing, survived the run. I do wonder what happens to the larger super-family going forward. Williamson has been underplaying them in Superman, and Action is about to become a “superstar” playground of different creative teams, so the kind of family continuity Johnson provided isn’t likely to continue.
But I do hope Johnson will return to Superman, and that other creators will use Osul and Otho, and will give Kara the kind of grit, valor and leadership mettle we saw here and throughout Johnson’s stellar run.
— bpm
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PKJ’s Action Comics run is definitely a fine one, even though I feel he’s being shuffled out the door a bit too soon. The highlight of this issue for me wasn’t the action — though I loved Supergirl’s exhortation to Blue Earth to defend against the alien invasion they unwittingly made possible. But for me, the epilogue, in which Superman’s reformed criminal friend talks to his son, was my favorite part. When Superman first had the lunchtime conversation with him on the skyscraper girder, I thought, “man, this is a great character.” So I’m so glad to see him again, and I hope at some time another writer thinks to use him.
I’ll miss the backup stories in Action — despite not being crazy about too many of them. I’m glad DC’s keeping them in other books, like Green Lantern and Wonder Woman*. In an age when the titles are increasingly focused on top sellers, backup stories are a good way to introduce new characters and check in on old faves. Sure, the quality varies… but it pretty much always did.
*The “Trinity” stories in Wonder Woman are pretty much Super-Sons stories in disguise, with Jon and Damian looking after Trinity at various points in her life. The most recent one I read, a Black Mercy story in issue 4, really made me laugh.
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I’m with you, I don’t think going was Brian’s choice. We’ve seen this previously, DC have a good thing going then someone shiny comes over from Marvel and it’s ’see ya’. That’s why we don’t have the Super Sons as an ongoing proposition anymore.
Talking of which, I shall have a look at the WW back-ups, but unless Trinity is suddenly a lot more palatable I don’t hold out much hope! Still, you know my tastes pretty well…
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