Action Comics #1074 review

Tossed down a time tunnel by the demon Aethyr, Superman finds himself in his own past, on the planet Krypton. Without his powers under the Red Sun, his biggest hope of escape is to have the artificial power wristbands he’s been wearing powered up. Luckily, Superman knows of a scientist who may be able to help.

Readers of a certain age will feel a lovely nostalgia at this issue, which nods to such classics as ‘Superman’s Return to Krypton’, in which a time travel accident similarly sends our hero to his homeworld. There he spends time as Jor-El’s lab assistant, his opening gambit being to show his father a gadget he’s invented. This week, we get this.

That’s a bit of a white lie on Kal-El’s part, as the bands were designed by solar expert (and part-time supervillain) Bruce Gordon. Still, Superman has to get back to 2024 and into the Phantom Zone, where his old friend Mon-El is having terrible problems with the aforementioned Aethyr.

‘Meanwhile’, back in the past, Superman gets to know his father a little better.

The Phantom Zone projector! Could that get Superman back not just to where he needs to be, but when? Or will he be on Krypton when the end comes? He’s already felt the ‘ground quakes’. As Jor-El is telling the man he knows as Klar-Ken – a name winking at the Silver Age ‘Superman of 2965’ series – about his invention, the pair are very rudely interrupted…

… but we’ll get to that next week. For now I’d like to say how delightful I found this story – after the horrible Jor-El Brian Bendis gave us a few years ago it’s wonderful to see a more classic take. OK, the clothes Jor and Lara are wearing are pretty much the same as we saw in those issues, but not once does Superman think about having met his father previously, post-Krypton’s doom and basically demented. And if master of continuity Mark Waid, who’s writing the 12-part ‘Phantoms’ story in Action Comics, doesn’t mention it, we can all pretend those stories never appeared.

One thing I would like to have had addressed, though, is the fact Superman meets himself as a (very cute) babe-in-arms. Previous time trips to Krypton have been prior to his own birth, or as a phantom, the rule being that a person can’t be in two places physically at once; maybe that’s been dumped, but it always made sense to me.

That 1960 Superman story was dripping in melancholy – heck, it introduced lost love Lyla Lerrol – and Waid gives us a lovely dose of the bittersweet here.

That bit about the Kent farm, especially, is lovely writing, deepening Superman’s feelings about his birth world.

The only aspect of this story I don’t like is the subplot involving the Super-Man of China and Superboy being trapped in a space museum. It centres on an unsubtle, simplistic dig at the British Museum.

The best thing about it is that Khunds enter the fray.

Kharlax, eh? That’s just one letter away from the warrior Kharlak, a Khund who showed up in Legion of Super-Heroes #287 pre-Crisis. Nods to the classic, classy Legion can’t help but make me happy.

The art in that sequence is by Michael Shelfer and Super-Man’s Mike Doonsbury nose apart, it’s pretty good. The rest of the book is drawn by Clayton Henry, who has everyone looking clean and classic. I like a lot the story-mandated draping of Superman’s cape around his body, giving the yellow belt a chance to actually do something belt-ish rather than serve as mere decoration. Facial acting and body language is on point – I defy you not to ‘awwww’ at a couple of baby Kal moments – and Krypton looks the place of wonders it should, the opening spread is a quiet masterpiece.

And all of it is beautifully coloured by Matt Herms and elegantly lettered by Dave Sharpe.

‘Phantoms’ continues to build towards being a classic Superman Family story. The back-up, which features Supergirl, does not. ‘Features’ is the word, as it certainly doesn’t ‘star’ the Girl of Steel. If you’re new to things, Supergirl is in space trying to connect with a prisoner, we don’t know why – well, it’s only Part Five. Now she’s in energy binds herself, and trying to break free.

‘How do I get out of here?’ With the help of a friendly robot because writer Mariko Tamaki apparently doesn’t think Kara capable of anything much on her own. Certainly not of carrying a story, as once again several of the ten pages go to the unknown prisoner who narrated part of last issue’s chapter, and a second mystery voice who wants to connect with said prisoner.

To be honest, I’m not sure if I’m summarising things correctly, Tamaki seems to be trying an experiment and all I’m getting is the smell.

Skylar Patridge’s art is a lot better than the script deserves, hopefully this showcase will lead to better jobs. The artist does well with the various aliens we see at a space auction, and the prisoner has an interesting design. Colourist Marissa Louise and letterer Becca Carey continue to do what they can, they’re good – ‘Again and Again’ looks like it’s worth reading. It isn’t.

I just love Clayton Henry and colour artist Tomeu Morey’s cover, it’s a marvellously Silver Agey piece, right down to the dialogue.

So, another issue with a lot more good than bad. Is anyone enjoying the Supergirl strip? I’d love to know what I’m missing.