Action Comics #1071: I Hate Spiders

The superstar creative team of Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, and Matt Herms, bring a new weekly horror arc just in time for the Halloween season. Action Comics #1071 continues the Superman story in the 52 days between the Absolute Power event and the Battle of the Watchtower. Superman is investigating the Phantom Zone, but the ethereal prison has turned into a hellscape. Who is waiting for the Man of Steel on the other side of the Phantom Zone? And what other horrors await him beyond this realm? Find out in this issue full of horror, action, and Superman characters.

This new weekly arc has had an exciting start and it’s nothing less than I expect from a Mark Waid comic. Waid understands how to write a strong and strategic Man of Steel. Superman is rivaling Batman in his ingenuity and planning as he is prepared for the terrors of the Phantom Zone. I think the concept of exploring the Phantom Zone is interesting, and I appreciate Waid’s interpretation of the Phantom Zone, taking it from an ethereal prison to a hellscape. This arc is the perfect place to start for a new reader and promises to be a great Superman story. New readers have the honor of spending more time with smaller Superman characters like the New Superman of China. Readers also get a great introduction to some of the lesser-known Kryptonian Superman villains. The pacing of this issue is also exhilarating, with Waid using the little page room he has to fit in twists and turns. This new arc is cosmically fun, just like a Superman comic should be.

The art in this issue is fantastic and so refreshing compared to the previous arc. Clayton Henry and Matt Herms are creating works of art in these comic pages. The issue is vibrant and strong, something a Superman comic should be. The action in this issue is also really stunning with dynamic poses and movement that feel real and are clear to the reader. The panels are also laid out in an engaging way that keeps the story pushing at an appropriate pace. The Phantom Zone looks ethereal and scary and the creature designs are something straight from a horror comic. It’s perfect for Halloween. The Super Family designs in this issue also deserve praise as they look cohesive and fresh. The whole creative team is making a fantastic Superman comic for old and new fans alike.