Action Comics #1076: The Butterfly Effect

Superman is stuck in the past, but can he get back home without changing the present? Action Comics #1076 is the seventh part of the “Phantoms” storyline and follows Superman as he finds himself removed from the Phantom Zone and sent back in time to Krypton.  After finding his mother and father, the El family is arrested for keeping technology private from the Science Council. Can the Man of Steel get his solar batteries back from the Council and find his way back to the Phantom without changing the present? Created by the superstar creative team of Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, and Matt Herms, this new weekly Superman arc is the perfect addition to the All-In Universe, with even more Kryptonians. Learn the secret of the Phantom Zone in this issue full of cosmic weirdness, action, and family reunions.

While Mark Waid comics are always great, this weekly arc is starting to lag. This issue, while well written, is anti-climatic and inconsequential. It pushes Superman’s story forward, but it does feel like filler. That being said, it’s great to get more panel time between Superman and his parents and seeing Krypton is always a joy. However, I finished the comic wishing something actually happened. However, this storyline has been fun and I know it will work well in trade. Getting to see Waid’s version of the Phantom Zone has been extremely interesting and his take on cosmic horror is fresh and exciting. Learning more about the history of the Phantom Zone and the ways it has changed is fleshed out well. I think sending Clark back to Krypton was a great choice and seeing him learn more about his family is so heartwarming. The dynamic of his parents is great and reminds me of Clark and Lois. Superman’s inner monologue is fun to see in this story and it gives him a strong voice in the plot.

The side plot of this arc follows Super-Man and Superboy and this has been palatable but was the standout this week. It’s great to spend more time with other Superman characters, and their dynamic is really fun. They get more page-time this issue which is exciting as their storyline progresses further than Superman’s. I wish their story tied in more with the main plot, but that may happen from the cliffhanger. It’s not clear how their story ties to the main plot but I’m hopeful Waid will make it work. It’s great to spend time with these characters and they would have really tied this whole storyline together.  Please give Super Family characters their own series!

The art in this issue is fantastic and so refreshing. Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, and Matt Herms are creating attention-grabbing and exciting creatures. The issue is vibrant and strong, something a Superman comic should be. They manage to make the Phantom Zone look like the hellscape that Waid describes. This is juxtaposed to the bright and futuristic Krypton. I like this contrast as it shows how much the prisoners in the Phantom Zone have changed their way of life.  The cosmic horror of the villains is terrifying and matches the new feel of the Phantom Zone perfectly. The design of Aethyr is terrifying and adds to the menacing tone he brings to the story. The whole creative team is making a fantastic Superman comic for old and new fans alike.