Action Comics #1089 review

Posted on by martingray1

A knock on the farmhouse door brings a surprise for Jonathan, Martha and Clark Kent. Clark’s history teacher Mr Blake declares he knows he’s been facing Superboy in class, but has no intention of revealing his secret to the world ‘tonight’. Because he’s a hero too.

Taking the family out to look at the stars, Captain Comet shares cautionary tales of superheroes he’s met in his travels who didn’t meet his high standards.

But answers there are none, causing Clark to wake up the next day in a frustrated, grumpy mood.

After mild rows with his parents, it’s off to school, where a lesson on ancient Egypt with Mr Blake has Clark wanting to punch a mountain to pieces. Captain Comet catches up to him and points out a more useful use of super powers.

Clark passes the test, but doesn’t seem to become teacher’s pet, as we soon see Captain Comet conspiring with shady military man Sam Lane.

I’m calling it, Captain Comet isn’t betraying Superboy, he’s learned the Military is investigating the newly public hero, and is playing Lane. He’ll put him off the scent while teaching Clark how better to keep his secrets.

Mind, for all his experience – as mystery man and teacher – Captain Comet is pants at getting his lessons across efficiently, haughtily lecturing Clark about his failings, and leaving vital questions hanging. I mean, does anyone doubt he set up the insect attack?

It’s no wonder Clark gets a little rattled. He’ll get over it, though – it’s those speedily de-egged chickens I feel for.

Talking of pace, writer Mark Waid gives us a swifter than usual read, but it’s still a satisfying chapter in the current Superboy serial. I’m as keen for Captain Comet’s intentions and motives to be revealed as I am for Clark to show him he’s not going to cause the apocalypse by blinking in the wrong direction.

I enjoyed the little nods to the Legion of Super-Heroes in terms of named worlds; the unfortunate heroes also made me think of the many Silver Age suitors of Lois Lane who would make her forget Superman for eight pages, propose marriage, then have a fatal reaction to the girl reporter’s lipstick – how ironic (choke).

I’d have liked a little more anger from the Kents at how Captain Comet is treating the family, but it seems the star factor is giving him a pass. Perhaps next issue… bring on parent-teacher night!

Skylar Patridge’s subtle artwork continues to suit Waid’s script, catching the nuances of Clark’s emotions, showing how his inner feelings explode into action. A favourite panel shows Adam Blake transforming into Captain Comet, with animated swirls, beautifully coloured by Ivan Plascencia. And well done to Steve Wands for a fine job of lettering, with the inclusion of Captain Comet’s classic logo making me smile – I do love a logo in a word balloon.

Ryan Sook’s cover is fine, it’s the kind of hyped-up thematic image we’d get regularly in the Silver and Bronze Age – but it’s not melodramatic enough. At least give us a mushroom cloud!

I’d love to know what you thought of this issue – is Captain Comet on Clark’s side, or is he a government stooge?

14 thoughts on “Action Comics #1089 review”

  1. Jury’s out on this one. The idea of Superboy needing someone to train him is a hard sell for me. Pre-Crisis, he trained himself. He was the first hero then, so there really wasn’t anyone around to do it, but he made out just fine. Now? Well, at least it isn’t Batman doing it. I expected more from Waid, but I’ll give it the storyline to say “Aye” or “Nay”. I find it interesting, also, that modern perspectives make it impossible for a kid to have any autonomy, even as a superhero. Adult supervision is always required.

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    1. I agree, Superboy should be his own trainer, with input from the Kents and advanced notes from the Legion. So it does make sense to reserve judgment to see where Waid goes with this – I don’t mind Captain Comet sharing tips, but Clark isn’t clueless.

      Ever see the story in, I think, New Adventures of Superboy, in which the Superboy of Earth One found himself training his Earth Two counterpart? How I miss Earth Two!

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      1. I miss Earth Two for this story but mostly because its lack is why I can’t have the Captain Comet I loved during SSoSV. That eries can’t exist without Earth Two and that’s the only series we got that iteration. I think though he’ll try to teach Sam Lane a lesson too and fail. There’s no good besides Lois and Lucy that ever came from that man

        I was on the fence on the sneaker outfit but on her Patreon, Colleen Doran shared a future variant cover for Action and she’s made me fall in love with the proto-Superboy get up. Will we get Martha making it out of the baby blankets or will the tactile power that makes what Clark wears invulnerable too make an unwelcome return?

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  2. I initially wasn’t going to get this title, but came for the “Captain Comet” guest appearances and may stick around after he’s gone because I’m enjoying the writing and art. And if the Captain is a regular supporting character all the better!

    When I got into DC about 30 years ago I fell in love with all of the history. Yes Marvel has history too in the form of Captain American, Namor, the Original Human Torch. But there is just something about the breadth and depth of DC’s. I’m a sucker for Anthro, the Golden Gladiator, Silent Knight, Tomahawk, the various western characters, and World War 2 heroes (powered and non-powered), and those that emerged as the Golden Age was giving way to the Silver, like the Challengers of the Unknown, Martian Manhunter … and Captain Comet. Comet in particular has been a favorite. I think it’s the lovely Murphy Anderson art on most of his tales (though I believe Carmine Infantino penciled his first appearance) coupled with how representative they are of 50s sci-fi – all of that creativity/optimism tinged with fear of atomic war/alien invasions. And Captain Comet in his secret identity is – get ready for it – a librarian!!! A noble calling during any decade for sure but a creative choice made during a more “innocent” time in America.

    I really like how Mark Waid is using Comet. I think it’s a great choice. I get how some fans might prefer to have Superboy learn the ropes on his own. And that maybe worked in real time when Superman was in fact “the first” DC hero both publication-wise and in the fictional universe. But that is not the case in the current DCU, so it makes perfect sense for an older hero to learn about Superboy and want to try to mentor/keep an eye on a young, novice Clark. Now if only Waid finds ways to utilize Comet’s many powers. Sure he’s best known for the telekensisi and other mental skills, but it seems like every other story he was given new abilities back in the 1950s. It would be fun to see Waid acknowledge some of those.

    -Brian

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    1. Brian, I am so sorry for the late reply. I don’t know what’s happened this week… distracted by my right foot going dodgy, away for a family wedding… sorry! I managed a few reviews but fell behind with the comments.

      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the story and Captain Comet. I do enjoy the original take, I was not keep on the guy we had in the 2000s, so jacked and non-Captain Comet like. If Mark Waid can keep some semblance of his early innocent self that would be wonderful.

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  5. I found Captain Comet to be a little off-putting, but I have to remind myself that these stories take place years and years before his appearances in Secret Society of Super Villains and L.E.G.I.O.N. He’s still got time to mellow out. I hope that your idea that Comet is pulling a fast one on General Lane turns out to be true. I’m very much tired of the “military thinks Superman is a threat” type of stories.

    I understand the thinking that in the forties and fifties, Superboy was able to train himself. But those stories took place in a time bubble where there weren’t any other DC characters with whom he could interact. Most characters kept to themselves (with the exception of Superman & Batman). DC is a totally different company now, and given that we have a richness of characters upon whom creative teams can draw, I don’t have any issue making use of them. Having Captain Comet appear in a few issues doesn’t negate the fact that Superboy *is* figuring out how to use his powers. We’ve seen that very thing in the last issue when he needed to learn how to get home after a joy ride of flying around the globe.

    Barring the military subplot, I’m looking forward to seeing where this title goes.

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    1. You’re right, Murray, we’re seeing Clark figure things out and will doubtless see a lot more. Did you ever read that back-up story in Superman or New Adventures of Superboy or wherever in which time travel shenanigans saw the Earth One Clark wind up in the past of Earth Two and train the Golden Age Superman? Nuts, but fun.

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      1. Haha! Nope. That story isn’t ringing a bell but it sounds very bronze agey to me. It would probably be a fun little tale. Superman was never one of the characters I followed with any regularity, so I suspect that there are probably a number of cool little stories just waiting to be discovered at some point by me.

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  6. Anj here.

    Love your idea that Comet is being a bit two-faced with Lane and actually hoping Clark is the hero. We shall see. I am sure we are going to learn he executed those ‘heroic’ tyrants he mentioned before. Maybe he is morally gray and not good like Mart Gray.

    Love the Lana pages as Patridge seems the perfect fit to draw the ‘girl next door’.

    And Clark being grumpy and pushing boundaries and thinking he knows what’s what feels like normal adolescence to me. It makes sense that Clark would feel that way. He is ‘human’ after all.

    Hope you’re right about Comet.

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Published by martingray1

Journalist, comic reviewer, theatre critic, film lover, biscuit fan, cat indulger