REVIEW: ‘Action Comics,’ Issue #1056

Action Comics #1056 from DC hits all the right notes in its three stories. The main feature involving Metallo and the Cyborg Superman is written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with art by Rafael Sandoval and Max Raynor. Matt Herms provides some brilliant colors in this story, and Dave Sharpe delivers excellent lettering (here and in the third tale as well). The Cyborg stands revealed. And, he’s also turned Metallo’s sister Tracy into a killer cyborg. While one half of the Super Family fights the Necrohive in A-Town, Clark and Metallo lead the team taking down the Cyborg and trying to liberate Tracy from his clutches.

First off, Johnson offers a slam-bang end to this storyline, loaded with big action scenes and just enough fun panels for each Super character. While Metallo gets in on the power, the Cyborg’s new power levels give everyone a run for their money. Nothing is wasted here, and the emotional aspect of Metallo’s heart for his sister remains a strong point in the story. This is more of a team effort as Superman blends a bit into the background, and that works out well (maybe a Super Family specific book would be a good idea). All in all, the end to this arc is grand, fulfilling, and carries with it a wealth of Superman’s morality and passion. This was an amazing tale.

‘Home Again, Part Six,’ by Dan Jurgens, begins with young Jon Kent in the clutches of Glynna on her homeworld. This looks like a job for Superman, and it is, courtesy of some more professional sketchings from Lee Weeks and smooth coloring from Elizabeth Breitweiser. Superman rushes to Glynna’s world to save his son, but she aims to get Kal to remove revolutionaries who are giving her trouble. While this was already a complex story giving all three in the Kent family near equal billing, it’s not slowing down here. Rob Leigh slips between Sharpe’s double lettering run to lay out his reliably clean words. This truly needs to be its own series.

Action Comics #1056 drops the final part in the Steel story before it runs off into its own limited series (Psst! It’s already out!). Mister Terrific has come to warn John Irons about how much harder going public will be for him. Dorado Quick allows this to condense quickly into a fight, but the heart of this tale, drawn with verve by Yasmín Flores Montañez, centers around Steel finding a spot for himself in life outside of the armor and Steelworks. It’s a deep story, full of bright Brad Anderson colors, that sets Steel up nicely to handle threats revealed in earlier issues. And I really liked this tale; the feel and speech as they work things out that the writer provides rings true.

This issue killed it in every way. It built up three times over what came before, never lost traction or focus, and delivered on characterization. We’re getting treated to a more empathic Superman that’s seemingly been absent for a while and watching Steel reach for new heights. There is nothing boring about Superman, definitely not in this issue. Be nice to yourselves. Buy this. Be kind to others. Encourage them to read Action Comics. Net a double victory and nab Steel #1.

Action Comics #1056 is available wherever comic books are sold.