Action Comics #1090 review

It’s the beginning of his superhero career and Superboy is testing his limitations. Today, it’s super-speed when he’s in flight.

The round-the-world trip shows our hero to be capable of 60,000mph, but there’s a price to be paid… yet another uniform in tatters.

There’s better news the next day when Lana Lang agrees to a maybe-date with Clark after school. But what to wear?

On the way to the local diner, though, Clark has a worrying thought.

He soon has something else to occupy his mind as Lana admits she’s in love… but not with him. Well, not ‘him’, him.

The soda session is cut short when Superboy’s self-appointed mentor. Captain Comet, summons him to a New York laboratory.

The return of Raze from Action Comics #1087, eh? And he has pals… but surely Doc Magnus has prototype Metal Men who can give Superboy a shiny hand? I’m saying nowt, buy this book! Mark Waid gives us another terrific script showing how Clark Kent went from farmboy to idol of millions. Despite Superboy’s ever-growing abilities he’s certainly not there yet, and his big Achilles heel proves to be Trust.

The Lana scene is a hoot, showing us her first steps on a path of pining that will occupy her for years. And Clark being his own rival makes for a few smiles.

Ma and Pa Kent are on great form, supportive and teasing at the same time.

As for Captain Comet, we’re not speaking.

He really does look like he’s betraying the Boy of Steel.

Raze and his two pals, collectively Avalon, aren’t hugely interesting, something Waid has Clark point out, but they do serve a purpose.

Skylar Patridge continues to impress as a storyteller, complementing Waid’s words with nicely observed figurework and expressions. I particularly like the comedy of the clothes scene, and how Clark’s every emotion is writ large on his teenage face. The weakest part of the art is the fight scene, it’s a little underwhelming – Patridge might benefit by being buried for a month with Sal Buscema comics. Patridge is nearly there, we just need a few motion lines, some starbursts, dripping saliva…

Ivan Plascencia and Matt Herms share the colour work and I can’t see the join, but I especially like the sunny date night tones. Meanwhile, Steve ‘Magic’ Wands (as nobody calls him), works his usual wizardry on the lettering front.

The cover by Ryan Sook is a winner, cleverly composed with real impact, the only thing that could improve the overall impression would a bigger logo, with the ‘leg’ of the big ‘A’ extending off the cover in classic style.

So, not many quibbles at all; this is a great read and I hope the new Action Comics is doing well.