Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1
The final battle between Superman and his rebels and Mongul and his Warzoons is fought in Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1, by writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, artists Brandon Peterson, Will Conrad, Max Raynor, and Miguel Mendonca, colorist Lee Loughridge, and letterer Dave Sharpe. “The Warworld Saga” has been an epic, and this ending is exactly what this epic needed.
Basically, Superman battles Mongul, and the rebels battle the Warzoons. There’re thrills, chills, surprises, and action. In the end, every plan is laid bare, Superman and the Authority win, a new power rises in the universe, and readers get to see an emotional homecoming like no other.
“The Warworld Saga” has been an amazing ride, and there’s no other way to describe it. From its shocking beginnings to the twisty and lore-filled middle to the climactic final chapters, Johnson has delivered a Superman epic unlike anything readers have seen in years, possibly ever. A story that has been this good, that has delivered this consistently, has to stick the landing, and this one does just that. This is the best possible ending for this story. There’s really no other way to describe it. The fact that Johnson ended this as well as he did speaks to just how well he built this story.
If there are any complaints to be had about this story, it’s that it didn’t often feel like an ensemble piece. Sure, Johnson set stuff up for the Authority to do, but this was a Superman story. Here, at the very end, he gives everyone the pages they need to end this chapter in their lives. As good as the Superman moments are, there’s some other great stuff in this book. Of course, there’s more than enough Superman in it, too. Johnson makes sure to showcase who Superman is and how he fights. He also finally pays off a plot thread that many fans may have forgotten about, the Durlan UP senator who denied Superman and the Authority any help, while also setting up a future conflict. It’s all so well done.
The art matches the script perfectly. Peterson’s clean, detailed style sells his pages brilliantly, capturing the size and power of the action scenes. Raynor’s pencils are more stylized, but they work brilliantly for the scenes at Engine City One. Mendonca brings it home with a nice little segment featuring some clever maneuvering from everyone’s favorite telepath. Conrad coming back to Action has been great, and this issue shows why he’s one of the most underrated Superman artists around. The art in this book is amazing, and that’s all there is to it. Every penciler brings the funk, and Loughridge’s colors are brilliant. He brings out the best in every artist and just kills it with every panel.
Superman: Warworld Apocalypse #1 sticks the landing. There’s really nothing else to say about it. Johnson, Peterson, Conrad, Raynor, Mendonca, Loughridge, and Sharpe produce an action-packed finale, one that has wonderful moments and sets things up for the future. Endings are difficult, but this one makes it look easy.
