ACTION COMICS #1095 (DC COMICS)
Friendship is a part of everyday life. What happens when it spills into the world of super heroes?
Pete Ross is finding this out first hand. The best friend of Clark Kent just discovered his most prized secret. When Kent flies back from a mission involving Gen. Sam Lane, Ross sees him changing out of his super costume. How does he deal with this discovery?
ACTION COMICS #1095 by Mark Waid, Patricio Delpeche & Steve Wands (DC Comics) throws a huge roadblock at two young friends.
Let’s take a closer look at how this plays out.
ACTION COMICS #1095 by Mark Waid, Patricio Delpeche & Steve Wands (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Waid gives Ross a true dilemma of trust. It is one the young man can’t seem to grasp. This spins into his everyday life at school. When a classmate is getting bullied, Ross steps in for the save. It provides a small break of the wonder about his super friend. Meanwhile, readers watch as Clark does what he does best in secret. Having hero admiration causes a profound sense of jealousy as Pete can’t process what he’s seeing. The writing nails this adolescent point a bit further with another friend.
Ross’s talk with Lana Lang is a standout moment. Their dialogue hits the key points of Ross’s issues. Knowing Lana’s feelings towards Superboy, it could have missed mark. Waid steers right into the heart of the matter before being knocked off course. Some thugs come looking for payback on Superboy. It leads into some heroics and drama fitting for the sequence. Its’ aftermath pushes Ross into a clear cut path of status. It is a moment readers can rally around while enjoying this era.
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Delpeche doesn’t downplay Pete’s worry throughout the issue. Staring into the darkness shows how lost in thoughts he has become. This transfers into the high school Hijinx Ross is accustom to. A full page image shows Clark in Superboy action. The moment is brief but enough to offset Ross’s worry. When Smallville has a minor crisis, the art locks in on the admiration of its’ hero. This pushes Ross into more uncertain waters.
Lana’s talk eases many of the anxiety Pete is going through. Readers watch the ranges of reactions covered in this moment. It moves right into the conflict of the issue. Once Superboy flies into scene, there’s a tease of something more dangerous. Clark keeps his powers in check, unless someone hurts people he cares about. The glowing red eyes in the shadows hits the spot to end the fight. This leads into a more traditional landing place as events go back to the high school life. A final panel brings a smile to reader faces as this story comes to a close.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
Keep your friends close and your best friend’s closer. Waid puts Pete Ross through an emotional grind with the writing. Delpeche throws some timeless looks into this vintage era. The Superboy era continues to impress with its’ classic storytelling.
Let me know your thoughts on ACTION COMICS #1095 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
