Action Comics #1055
The Superman family finds themselves dealing with the Cyborg Superman, Superman and Lois battle Doombreaker as they try to figure out what happened to Jon, and Steelworks presents their plans for Metropolis in Action Comics #1055, by writers Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, and Dorado Quick, artists Rafa Sandoval, Lee Weeks, and Yasmin Flores Montanez, colorists Matt Herms, Elizabeth Breitweiser, and Brad Anderson, and letterers Dave Sharpe and Rob Leigh. The main story is still amazing, but the other two stories are merely okay.
In the main story, the Necrohive keeps coming, and the Superman Family discovers that Cyborg Superman is behind it. Later at the Fortress, they activate the Eradicator, who can find Kryptonians and hunt down the Cyborg Superman. Metallo tells Otho and Osul about his past while they’re looking for Cyborg Superman. He finds them and introduces them to Tracy Corben, in a Metallo body she can’t control. In the second story, Lois goes to the crashed ship to get a weapon and discovers Glyanna’s message for Superman. Superman fights Doombreaker, but Lois uses a stasis weapon on him and takes Superman back to the ship, where they discover what happened to Jon. On Glyanna’s planet, Jon realizes that she’s the villain, having killed her parents to take over the planet. In the third story, Jon, Superboy, and Natasha show off John’s new technology to protect Metropolis to the Metropolis Future Fund. They’re impressed, but one of them calls a mysterious listener and tells them he failed. Later in John’s office, he’s confronted by Mister Terrific.
Since the end of Power Girl’s special, the main story is the best. Johnson gives readers a really cool “Reign of the Supermen” reunion in this issue. He does an amazing job of capturing everyone’s characters, with Superboy and Jon bantering, Kara not wanting to involve the Eradicator, and more. Corben’s origin story is heartbreaking and gives the issue a great emotional core. All in all, a nice read that goes by a little too fast. The second story is okay. This chapter is more action-oriented, and it’s easy to see how the page count holds the story’s action back.
The third story is the most boring since there’s really no action to it. Superboy and Natasha banter, and it’s kind of cringey, as they throw slang at each other. Steel’s inventions to protect Metropolis are fantastic, but this is basically just a tech demo written as a comic with some drama and slang thrown in. Mister Terrific showing up at the end would usually be a cause for celebration, but the whole thing feels wrong, down to him also using slang that he wouldn’t.
Sandoval’s linework often feels missing in this issue. The art mostly looks good, but it seems like there are parts missing. He’s kept the schedule, but Sandoval’s art looks better when he has time, and he hasn’t had any in a while. Weeks is back, and his art looks amazing and is the best in the issue. Montanez’s art is generic and doesn’t really do much for the story, but it doesn’t look bad, so there’s that.
Action Comics #1055 goes from awesome to good to okay. It’s still an excellent book, but the back-ups feel like they’re running out of steam, which is a problem in a book with two of them.
