Action Comics #1088
Scheduled to arrive in stores: July 9, 2025
Cover date: September 2025
“Trial by Fire”
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Skyler Patridge
Cover: Ryan Sook
Variant Covers: Leonardo Romero, Karl Kerschl, Skylar Patridge
Reviewed by: Marc Lax
New editor in chief Perry White is discussing names to call the new hero who recently appeared in Metropolis. He suddenly remembers that the niece of one of his employees (a young Lois Lane)called him Superboy. And so Superboy is born! Back in Smallville Ma and Pa Kent decide that Clark can make an occasional appearance and lend a hand as Superboy. Provided he does his chores. After a few excursions we learn from Superman’s narration that not all of his powers has manifested yet. Even his skin still has marks. But the worst part of all this is that Clark has to face something more dangerous. High School! Ma gives him a pair of old glasses to make him look unassuming which works because bully Kenny Braverman laughs at him and pushes Clark into his locker. Then he sees her. Lana. She went away for the summer and the tomboy Clark hung around with is now a beauty. Meanwhile Clark is getting some strange vibes from his new history teacher Mr Blake. Later while in chemistry class a fire breaks out. Clark runs off to become Superboy. He uses the towns water supply to put the fire out. He then discovers why the sprinklers did not go off in the school. He follows the paper trail and finds the man responsible. A Mr Wallabee. He confronts him about taking money for putting in the sprinklers but never finished. Superboy uses everything in him not to hurt this man. After he calms down he tells him he’s told the fire department and the police. With that he flies home. Pa Kent gives Clark a good talking too. He’s to apprehend not punish. But Pa understands and knows the townsfolk won’t take kindly to what this Mr Wallabee did. He won’t get off so easily. With that there’s a knock at the door. It’s Mr Blake Clark’s history teacher. He’s come to see… Superboy!
Story – 4: Outstanding issue! Waid’s version of how Clark became Superboy has a bit of the Silver/Bronze Age but is truly his own invention. It’s modern and is clearly a pre Flashpoint Clark. He’s still developing his powers at this point and is not the godlike being he was in the past. Now I don’t mind Superman’s narration it does help guide us through these early years but I was hoping these stories would be a little more self contained. Hearing young Clark’s thoughts I think might have been better. But again for me just a nitpick. I guess we all knew that Kenny Braverman would show at some point. Here the school bully. But we see that at the core of the story is the Clark/Lana/Pete relationship. Can’t wait to see how that plays out here. And Mr Blake. J’onn J’onzz? We’ll soon find out. Mark Waid is bringing his A game as usual telling both a coming of age story and the origins of a legend.
Art – 5: The characters look fantastic and Patridge’s Lana is exquisite. The fire and rescue sequence was superb. The Daily Plantet globe on the first page shone through the panel. Keep up the good work Skyler Patridge.Cover Art – 5: A shirt rip by Ryan Sook. Beautiful.Variant Cover Art – 5: Leonardo Romero gives us a stunning portrait of Superboy soaring with Krypto by his side.Variant Cover Art – 4: Nice rendering of Superboy above the earth.Variant Cover Art – 5: Very colorful and beautiful image of Superboy hovering over the Kent farm. All variants were terrific this month!
Check out the Mild Mannered Reviews contents page.
