Review: ‘Action Comics’ #1051 Is An Exciting New Beginning… Mostly
by Tony Thornley
The new Action Comics is here, and it’s exactly the Superman story we’ve needed for a long while. At least, for the most part.
The new expanded Action Comics comes from Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe on the lead stories, with back-ups by Dan Jurgens, Lee Weeks, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Rob Leigh, Leah Williams, Marguerite Sauvage, and Becca Carey.
The House of El has formally made their presence known widely as the protectors of Metropolis. With Luthor behind bars, they can affect real change on multiple levels. But on the morning of their big debut, a familiar foe makes sure that the Man of Steel and his family won’t make it out alive. Meanwhile, Power Girl and Omen become psychic superheroes, and we see an untold tale of Jon Kent, Superboy.
Well, two thirds isn’t bad.
The lead story is a lot of fun. Johnson establishes a great dynamic amongst the family immediately. These characters aren’t treated as a family often enough, but he writes them as such in a way that’s so natural that you’d think that unseen history between them has years of page time. Sandoval and Herms’ art is energetic, and is able to bring a sense of awe to the Supers. It’s a team book in the best way, but centered on a family that feels like such.
Williams and Sauvage creates a great new status quo for Power Girl. She’s still a fascinating outlier in the family, and Williams gives her a psychic partner, and a unique role that makes for a great story. It’s an interesting story that Sauvage makes look absolutely surreal and beautiful.
Where the issue falls short is in the flashback. The story is excessively backwards looking, with a version of Jon that we haven’t seen for several years. Lois and Clark don’t feel right, with unusual quirks in their dialogue. The art looks good, but Weeks’ style is significantly more retro that it stands out, especially in comparison to the other two stories.
It’s a solid issue dragged down by an out of place retro story, but the rest of the issue is strong enough to recommend.
Action Comics #1051 is available now from DC Comics.
Overview
It’s a solid issue dragged down by an out of place retro story, but the rest of the issue is strong enough to recommend. It’s an excited new beginning for the House of El.
