Action Comics #1064: Family Matters

It’s a family affair as Brainiac begins his plan of attack on Metropolis. Action Comics #1064 (written by Joshua Williamson with art by Rafa Sandoval, colors by Alejandro Sanchez, and letters by Dave Sharpe) is the explosive debut of the “House of Brainiac” arc. The issue opens with Lois Lane on her first day off in a long time. She’s set on having a great day, starting off with a workout through Metropolis as she sees the other members of the Super family and key players in this new arc. It’s a fun sequence and a great way to introduce the Superman family, with names and short backgrounds given to all the characters making this comic new-reader friendly. Any issue with Lois’ perspective is always fun, especially following the “I, Bizarro” arc which focused so heavily on Superman.

Lois’ day off is, of course, ruined as Czarnians (Lobo’s people) and Brainiac drones drop from the sky and wreak havoc on Metropolis.  Brainiac’s plans begin to unfold as he starts to use his army to teleport the Superman family, Luthor’s daughter, and anyone with powers to Brainiac’s ship. The writing of this issue is really successful, with pacing and emotional scenes that are perfect for the start of the arc.  Joshua Williamson is taking an interesting approach to writing Brainiac, having his machinations be more chaotic than calculated like they usually are. It’s a great way to write Brainiac and is a scary thought to think about how he might operate in full chaos. Williamson also shows off his writing skills by incorporating Luthor’s daughter as a key character in this arc to make a compelling way to get Luthor on the side of the good guys. The fight sequence in these pages is also perfectly done, with an awesome display of the Super family’s powers. This all makes for a fun and energetic issue that feels perfectly Superman.

The writing of this issue is exceptional, but the real star of this comic is the art. Rafa Sandoval and Alejandro Sanchez do a fantastic job of creating characters with emotion and depth. One of the most successful designs is the Czarnians, as they are clearly related to Lobo, yet are never mistaken for him. The issue is also full of colorful backgrounds that are the same color scheme as Brainiac, reinforcing for the reader what this arc is about. Each page is an absolute work of art. The issue also includes my new favorite image of Clark Kent, with him in his yoga outfit. Overall, this first issue is exhilarating and makes me excited for the rest of the arc.