Action Comics #1064
Scheduled to arrive in stores: April 9, 2024
Cover date: June 2024
“House of Brainiac” – Part One: “Brainiac Attacks!”
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Cover: Rafa Sandoval and Alejandro Sanchez
Variant Covers: Jorge Jimenez, Paulo Rivera, and Michael Walsh
1:25 Variant Cover: Ariel Colon
Ape-ril Variant Cover: Maria Wolf and Mike Spicer
Reviewed by: Marc Lax
It’s a beautiful Saturday morning in downtown Metropolis. Everyone seems to be in a good mood, especially Lois who has a much deserved day off. Superman’s flying through the skies on his way to meet Lois, Jimmy and Siobhan for morning yoga. Today seems to be a very special day for Lois and Clark and everything is right with the world… Until a sky filled with Czarnians and robots descends onto Metropolis. The Super Family goes into action. Meanwhile Brainiac watches from his ship. Lex Luthor is on work release in Super Corp Tower when the attack begins. The LL 01, the computer database at the tower, is activated and is taken over by Brainiac. Suddenly the Czarnians attack the tower. Then Mercy and Lena vanish. Taken by Brainiac. Lex activates his invisible armor and attacks a Czarnian. Superman flies to the Tower and in the middle of the fight Supergirl, Parasite, John Corben (Metallo), Superwoman (Lana) and Siobhan (Silver Banshee) are all taken to Brainiac’s ship. The Czarnian called General Chacal enters the fight and thinks Superman is down for the count, but upon hearing that Brainiac’s ship is hidden in Earth’s atmosphere, Superman unleashes on the Czarnian, who blasts Superman but is intercepted by Luthor who tells Superman he’s the only one who can save them. Superman flies after the ship but to no avail. Brainiac’s ship has taken off to somewhere even Superman can’t follow. While Superman calls for Lobo, Brainiac and his robots wait for their inevitable fight with Superman.
Story – 5: Whew! That was some issue! It’s great to see Brainiac back in the main Super books. And what’s with all the Lobos!? Much will be revealed in the coming story but right now we have an action packed, exciting issue. Brainiac is after the Super Family which includes some of his villains as well. It’s also nice to see Lana and John Henry, though I’m still a bit confused as to Lana’s Superwoman identity. Was it ever explained how she retained her abilities after the New 52 continuity was changed? So much has happened since, that it’s hard to keep track. Still her appearance as Superwoman was welcome. Now I’m not a big fan of Lobo. An occasional appearance is okay but an entire Czarnian species! At first I wasn’t thrilled with the idea but I like how they were portrayed in this issue. Let’s wait and see how the Main Man himself is treated during this story. Will it be a pleasant surprise? Time will tell. For right now, I love the beginning of this story and I’m so looking forward to what’s next.
Art – 4: Rafa Sandoval has done an amazing job here. His pencils are sharp and clean and the Super Family looks great. His Brainiac is one of the finest renditions I’ve seen in a long time. Keep up the fine work.Cover Art – 4: While this is just half a cover (the other half continues on Superman #13) it gives us a thrilling picture of what’s to come. Again we get Superman’s red eyes of anger, which is not something I particularly like, but it’s still a good drawing.Variant Cover Art – 4: A very creepy almost Geigeresque drawing of Brainiac. Very effective.
Ape-ril Variant Cover Art – 3: A very grotesque portrait of the Ultra Humanite. Not bad just not to my tastes.Variant Cover Art – 4: Jorge Jimenez’s nice drawing of Superman, Krypto, and the bottled city of Kandor. A sort of modern take on the Silver Age.Variant Cover Art – 4: An actually fun retro like cover of Superman and Lobo. I like the look of this one.Variant Cover Art – 3: A simple drawing of Superman and Lois flying through the skies. Upside down? That’s got to give you a big head rush. At least for Lois.
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