Action Comics #1034
Scheduled to arrive in stores: August 24, 2021
Cover date: October 2021
Reviewed by: James Lantz
“Warworld Rising” – Part Five
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Penciller: Christian Duce
Inker: Christian Duce
Cover: Daniel Sampere
Variant Covers: Julian Totino Tedesco
Desperate to end the fighting between Atlantis and the United States military, Superman takes the Warworld fragment. This may not be the best coarse of action, but Clark, Kara and Jon don’t have time to ponder this decision. Thao-La has killed those who invaded Kal-El’s Fortress, and she’s about to reluctantly do the same to Lois and fight the Man of Steel and his family.
Story – 5: I’m a sucker for Warworld and Mongul stories. At this point in his run on this title, Phillip Kennedy Johnson has written one of the best sagas for that planet and its totalitarian leader. He does so by leaving the reader wanting more as they read every fantastically written page. The future looks bright for Superman thanks to scribes like Johnson.
Art – 4: The S shields look off in recent comics. It’s as if new artists didn’t learn to draw it. Plus, some panels look overinked. Otherwise, the art is pretty good.
“The Passenger” – Part Six
Writers: Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad
Penciller: Michael Avon Oeming
Inker: Michael Avon Oeming
Midnighter and Mister Miracle have made short work of Andrej Trojan’s cult. However the artificial intelligence that Trojan becomes is still in Midnighter’s head. Apollo is about to arrive to assist Midnighter and Mister Miracle.
Story – 5: I’ve really enjoyed this serial and look forward to seeing how it connects to the main story and other recent Superbooks. Supes has the same S shield in “Future State” and “Superman and The Authority”. He also says to Midnighter that it’s good to see him again in issue #2 of the latter comic. It’ll be interesting to see how all the events will come together as each character’s story unfolds.Art – 5: The art is a stupendous complement to the fantastic story. Michael Avon Oeming should always work with Cloonan and Conrad.Cover Art – 5: This ominous image prepares readers for the last page of the main story’s chapter. The style is similar to that of Pat Olliffe.Variant Cover Art – 5: There should be an art book of Julian Totino Tedesco Superman related images, and this variant proves that.
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