Action Comics #1035
Scheduled to arrive in stores: September 28, 2021
Cover date: November 2021
Reviewed by: James Lantz
“Warworld Rising” – Part Six
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Penciller: Daniel Sampere
Inker: Daniel Sampere
Cover: Daniel Sampere
Variant Covers: Julian Totino Tedesco
Thao-La has been electrocuted by Mongul. Superman has made a promise to her to free all the slaves of Warworld. To do that he must go to Warworld with a new team while the Justice League protects Earth. Batman knows of this team and will learn more [in the upcoming Batman/Superman: Authority Special #1]. Meanwhile, Jon Kent has big shoes to fill as he is about to be the new Superman on Earth. Yet, Kal-El knows he’ll be back because, as he says to Lois as they say goodbye, his love for his family is the strongest thing ever.
Story – 5: It looks like some plot threads begin to answer questions posed in Future State, Infinite Frontier and Superman And The Authority. There are others that require responses. Those will only come by reading more in this and other titles. This issue is, in itself, a great bridge between previous chapters and the next serial. It packs an emotional wallop while being an exciting story. Action Comics has been a great title since Phillip Kennedy Johnson took over.Art – 5: Sampere is the perfect artist for a Warworld story. He and Phillip Kennedy Johnson are the perfect creative team for this title after Bendis’ departure.
“Tales of Metropolis: The Guardian”
Writer: Sean Lewis
Penciller: Sami Basri
Inker: Sami Basri
Jimmy Olsen and Guardian must battle Dismember, a demon who imprisons young people in shards of the digital cloud to feed on their souls. Guardian takes the direct approach fighting the creature in the abandoned Metropolis Cathedral. However, he and Jimmy will need to find a means of freeing his victims.
Story – 5: Admittedly this one was difficult to rate. On one hand this is only the first chapter, which makes it possibly too early to review without reading the rest of the story. On the the other hand, it needs a rating as a chapter. It is a wonderful beginning to a serial, even if it does feel like it would suit John Constantine or Detective Chimp more than the Guardian and Jimmy Olsen. Perhaps that is the point. Putting these characters in a situation that is out of their realm of expertise does make for entertaining reading. Plus, it’s great to see Guardian again. Hopefully we’ll see the Newsboy Legion in this serial somehow.Art – 5: I’m not familiar with this artist, but they are a perfect fit in the Superman universe.Cover Art – 5: This poignant cover really give us a great idea about things to come for the Kents. I couldn’t wait to read this comic after seeing it.Variant Cover Art – 5: Julian Totino Tedesco channels 1950s sitcoms and Silver Age art for this variant to give us an amazing image.
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