ACTION COMICS #1096 (DC COMICS)
Time is moving quickly for Clark Kent…or is it?
Still adjusting to the world knowing about “Superboy”, the young hero notices something is not making sense involving time. While investigating the problem, he discovers a situation for more complex than he could ever imagine.
ACTION COMICS #1096 by Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, Ivan Plascencia & Steve Wands (DC Comics) kicks off a brand new throwback arc for the Boy Of Steel.
Let’s take a deeper dive into what is unfolding here.
ACTION COMICS #1096 by Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, Ivan Plascencia & Steve Wands (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Readers will not see what’s coming with chapter. Waid starts off innocently enough with a view of Smallville. Lewis Lang is a peculiar figure in town. When a bolt of lightning hits a nearby tree, Clark jumps into action. The writing shows his immortal optimism as he talks with the professor. His demeanor is met with a stiff response. This sense of pause carries over to a familiar location which has a sentimental place in Clark’s memory. The story shifts back to the Expo of Tomorrow, where “Superboy” was born.
Readers watch as the perplexing situation grows. It carries a timeless feel as Clark starts noticing the effects play out. This leads into some rash decision making to solve it. The writing allows Clark to struggle with grasping what is unfolding. The technique also pushes towards a break int he case as well. This is where the traditional storytelling steps aside. As the closing act starts, everything is upended. Readers will watch with many questions following as guests crash the scene with trouble behind it. Whatever they decide is more wild is completely fair game. It’s a great cliffhanger until the next round starts.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Patridge returns after a few issues off. The opening of a rainy day in Smallville shifts to a half panel of the lightning strike. Lang’s reaction mirrors the readers as the mystery starts evolving. Tone swings to a more light-hearted look when Clark and company hit the expo. The expressions shown by Pete and Lana elevate the sense of worry Clark has been feeling. It leads to more confusion as time is not operating in a functional way.
The panels take flight into more comfortable superhero moments. This leads into a unique full shot of Clark processing what happened. The art team throws in a nice shot of a classic Superman hidden base before switching gears yet again. Readers watch as Clark handles the source of his problems. Panel ripple in memories of past events. What follows is anything but a throwback. A full page image welcomes some new “friends” into this past timeline. The clash of personalities is brief but gives way to a larger full page close. Without question, there is more going on here than a trip to the expo.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
Time is not absolute nor is the world of Superboy as it is rocked by a startling reveal. Waid weaves in classic hero moments with the shocking close.. Patridge & Plascencia construct vintage images before shaking everything up in the end. Fans had better brace for what’s coming next as it seems as worlds are colliding.
Let me know your thoughts on ACTION COMICS #1096 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
