Action Comics #1100: Game Night Review

 

Action Comics #1100: Game Night Review

Writer: Sophie Campbell

Artist: Dan Mora

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer: Becca Carey

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; David Talaski; Jim Cheung & Jay David Ramos; Rahzzah; Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/$6.99 US Card Stock/$7.99 US Foil

Release Date: July 22, 2026

 

Kara Zor-El has mentored a fellow Kryptonian. She has built a circle of friends in Midvale. Yet Kara has struggled to cope with what she has lost. And she has found it difficult to forgive her friends and move on when they disappointed her.

 

Recently, Kara formed a team of friends with unique abilities to help her carry out a new mission. But is she ready to be a team leader? And after sharing her life with Clark Kent, what does Lois Lane think of Kara's leadership style? Let's leap into Action Comics #1100: Game Night, and see!

 

Story

With the help of Lesla-Lar, Lena Luthor, Conner Kent, and Thundergirl, Supergirl has freed Kandor from Black Flame’s reign of terror. But since Lesla-Lar told her about the Sun Crystal in Caldero, Supergirl has felt obliged to step up in Superman’s absence and represent the House of El on Earth. Still, before they travel to the Kryptonite Kingdom, Kara Zor-El and her friends take a moment to relax and recharge with Jon Kent.

 

Sophie Campbell’s story begins through Lois Lane’s eyes. While overseeing the Daily Planet’s global activity, she urged Jon to follow in his parents’ footsteps. When a younger version of her son appeared, Lois struggled to cope with raising a young superpowered boy without Clark's help. Now, Lois has her teenage son back, and she wants to let him find his own path. Yet just having Jon, Kara, Conner, and Thundergirl over for a relaxing evening stresses Lois out.

 

Game Night shows how much Lois has struggled in Clark's absence. She is strong and resilient. Lois endured a bout with superpowers she didn't want and fought to prevent the destruction of her planet. Yet Kara Zor-El and Lois Lane find that coping with family, even when they are getting along, can be stressful in this third story in Action Comics #1100.

 

Art

When Lois Lane returns after a long day at the Daily Planet, clothing, sporting goods, toys, books, and food litter the floor. Beverages clutter the bar in the kitchen. She kneels in her suit to sponge up the spill, observing the mess around her. Then, Lois finds Jon and his friends in his bedroom, clustered around the flatscreen TV. As her son and his guests play or watch the game, one of the posters on the crowded walls suggests inspiration for Jon’s recent secret identity.

 

As Dan Mora portrays Lois amid her family, Tamra Bonvillain adorns Action Comics #1100: Game Night with vibrant colors. Despite Clark's absence, Lois Lane's green suit hints at her determination to carry on. Her attire also links her with Thundergirl, who could prove more amenable to her guidance than Jon. Orange and yellow herald confrontations, while red signals rage amid another Game Night that could end in a deadly contest.

 

As black uppercase letters fill dialogue balloons, Becca Carey's dots and clouds reveal Lois' thoughts. The letters grow bold for intonation and change color amid tense situations. A besieged combatant speaks into cloudy dialogue balloons amid angry cries as the action heats up in Action Comics #1100: Game Night. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

As Master Txyz told Jon Kent recently, Superman shines so brightly that he puts the other members of the Super-family in the shade. The Justice League recognizes his importance, and Booster Gold is determined to find his friend. While Superman is absent, Kara Zor-El has a chance to shine. But to demonstrate her ability to lead the House of El, Supergirl must earn her teammates' respect and achieve a significant accomplishment before her cousin returns to reclaim the spotlight in Action Comics #1100: Game Night.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For Booster Gold's search for his friend, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Superman Meets Superboy. 

 

For Superboy's battle with Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Mission Failure. 

 

For Kara and Lesla's battle to free Kandor, see my review of Supergirl #15. 

 

For Lois Lane's struggles in Clark's absence, see my review of Superman Unlimited #15. 

Action Comics #1100: Superman Meets Superboy Review

 

Action Comics #1100: Superman Meets Superboy Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Daniel Sampere

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; David Talaski; Jim Cheung & Jay David Ramos; Rahzzah; Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/$6.99 US Card Stock/$7.99 US Foil

Release Date: July 22, 2026

 

Young Clark Kent didn't ask Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, and Mary Marvel to bring their battle to his time. He didn’t ask to lose his superpowers. Nor did he ask Epoch to try to kill him. Still, Clark gradually realized that, whether he wanted to or not, he had to reclaim his powers. Earth needed a Superman. And the threats facing his planet would only grow over time.

 

Now, Clark has regained his powers. Once more, Clark Kent is Superboy. But after defeating Epoch, Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, and Mary Marvel believe he should accompany them on their mission. What will Superboy discover as he travels the time stream with his new friends? And how might it affect his future? Let’s leap into Action Comics #1100 and see!

 

Superman Meets Superboy: Story

After the events in Mission Failure, Clark accompanies Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and Martian Manhunter on their search for Superman. While they fly through the timestream, Mary Marvel expresses her concerns that their flight could alter Clark’s future. Martian Manhunter also warns Booster Gold to curb his enthusiasm.

 

Still, Booster is in the driver’s seat in Action Comics #1100. He argues that Superman has vanished. Despite everyone's superpowers, no one has found their friend. Young Clark, with his super vision, represents their best hope of finding Superman. Amid his love for his friend and his desire to share that love with Clark, Booster shrugs off his friends’ concerns about revealing too much about Clark’s future.

 

Joshua Williamson’s story tackles the role of spoilers in our lives. Some people don’t want to know anything about their future. Others read the last chapter of a book to learn how it ends before deciding to read the book through. Booster's arguments suggest that knowing his future will give Clark a target to strive for. 

 

Superman Meets Superboy links with previous events in Action Comics with DC K.O. and Justice League Unlimited. And after Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Martian Manhunter asserted Clark’s importance to the future, Superboy gets to play a vital role in finding his future self. Mary Marvel and Martian Manhunter tried playing it carefully. Trying to shield knowledge of future events from Clark led to the trio being erased from time. So, they let Booster Gold call the shots in Action Comics #1100.

 

Superman Meets Superboy: Art

Booster sits before the controls of their time ship, while Clark, Mary Marvel, and J’onn stand. Booster's face reveals his exuberance as he thumps Clark on the chest. Clark's eyes glow, and his jaw drops, as he sees what lies ahead of him. When Mary moves forward, gesturing with her arms, Clark shrugs and points at the eye-catching visions beyond the canopy.

 

Their ship may look futuristic. Still, the keyboards and black-and-white monitors reveal its cobbled-together nature. Daniel Sampere tilts panels 45 degrees when separately showing Mary Marvel and J’onn frowning at Booster Gold’s decisions. But in a cinematic wide shot, the camera rights itself as Mary Marvel throws up her hands in Action Comics #1100.

 

Their ship travels along a stream of light as it ventures into the future. The white, light-red, and light-yellow bands of light contrast with the vibrantly colored occupants and the glimpses of the future. People in the timestream radiate colors like an aura, or multiply in slow motion. Then, their view outside grows opalescent until Alejandro Sánchez portrays their surroundings as individual bands of color amid a white void.

 

Steve Wands fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black lettering that grows bold with intonation. Offscreen dialogue appears in white boxes with colored borders, while Superboy’s appears as white words in blue boxes. Sound effects reveal how the ship reacts to changes in the flow of the timestream. As alarms wail inside the transparent canopy, the dialogue swells, and balloons change shape in Superboy Meets Superman. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Mary Marvel and J’onn argue that learning secrets will heap more responsibility on Clark’s young shoulders. Yet Booster Gold insists on sharing the secrets he knows Clark will enjoy hearing. As the trio argues over two sides of the same coin, they embody different aspects of friendship while searching for their greatest friend in Action Comics #1100.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside the previous story, Mission Failure, see my preview of Action Comics #1100. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1099. 

For how Clark lost his powers, see my preview of Action Comics #1098. 

 

For Clark's battle at the Metropolis Expo of Tomorrow, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

 

For how Superboy met Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1096.  

 

 

Action Comics #1100: Mission Failure Review

 

Action Comics #1100: Mission Failure Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Skylar Patridge & Ryan Sook

Colorist: Ivan Pascencia & Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; David Talaski; Jim Cheung & Jay David Ramos; Rahzzah; Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/$6.99 US Card Stock/$7.99 US Foil

Release Date: July 22, 2026

 

Young Clark Kent didn't ask Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, and Mary Marvel to bring their battle to his time. He didn’t ask to lose his superpowers. Nor did he ask Epoch to try to kill him. Still, he had his new friends to defend him. But then, they weren’t around. Despite their promise to protect him, when Epoch returns, Clark Kent must defend himself against the time traveler who laughs at paradoxes.

 

Can scientist Bruce Gordon help the high schooler reclaim his superpowers? And how will Clark defend himself against his armored adversary? Let’s leap into Action Comics #1100 and see!

 

Mission Failure: Story

A cow's kick might hurt him. Clark might struggle to keep up in PE class. He might even need people to speak up when they talk to him. Still, there were compensations. Clark toyed with the idea of enjoying his teen years without the responsibility of protecting the planet weighing him down. Then, Mary Marvel disappeared.

 

Now, Clark's in Solar City. Booster Gold and Martian Manhunter have been erased from existence. But Clark has repurposed the spaceship that brought him to Earth into armor. And although he's not accustomed to fighting with a sword and shield, Clark needs to buy time until Dr Bruce Gordon can repair his solar recharger.

 

In Mark Waid's story, Clark Kent wants all the things his friends and neighbors do. He knows he's fighting for the planet and to help his friends from the future return to life. Clark Kent may only be a teenager. He may not be as experienced as his former teacher, Captain Comet. Still, Clark must draw on any advantage he can to regain his powers before Epoch kills him in Action Comics #1110.

 

Mission Failure: Art

Clark carries a sword and wears an armored version of his Superboy costume. As he withstands the energy rays from Epoch’s shoulder cannons, angled panels enhance the desperate struggle. When Epoch pounds him into the laboratory floor, the crumpled concrete gives way to fractured panels in the ground.

 

Ivan Pascencia and Patricio Delpeche enhance Skylar Patridge and Ryan Sook's art with bold colors in Action Comics #1100. The strong blues, reds, and golds shine, casting Dr Gordon's lab into darkness. Amid the speed and brutality of the fight, softer tones color Clark's memories. Yet as the battle ascends toward its zenith, darkness threatens to envelop the combatants.

 

Steve Wands places lowercase black words in a typewriter font inside yellow boxes as Clark sets the scene. Orange letters in yellow boxes locate readers in time and space. Uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons turn bold with intonation and swell for raised voices. Large, colorful dialogue accompanies pain, while wiggly balloon arrows convey weakness. Bright, colorful sound effects enhance the armored combat and Epoch’s unrelenting firepower. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing Mission Failure and the three other stories in Action Comics #1100 with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Clark’s struggle with time began when cause and effect went out of whack. Then, at the Expo of Tomorrow, Clark rescued Mary Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and Booster Gold from Epoch’s attack. While he fights to preserve his own future, Clark also fights to reinstate his new friend's tomorrows. Clark's future wife will worry about her son's ability to follow in his parents' footsteps. Yet, Mission Failure demonstrates that Jon Kent will take his father's formative experiences to heart in Action Comics #1100.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Action Comics #1100.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1099. 

For how Clark lost his powers, see my preview of Action Comics #1098. 

 

For Clark's battle at the Metropolis Expo of Tomorrow, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

 

For how Superboy met Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1096.

 

Action Comics #1100 Preview

 

Young Clark Kent didn't ask Martian Manhunter, Booster Gold, and Mary Marvel to bring their battle to his time period. Nor did he ask to lose his superpowers. He definitely didn't ask Epoch to try and kill him. And despite their promise to protect him, when Epoch returns, Clark Kent must defend himself against the time traveler who laughs at paradoxes.

Can scientist Bruce Gordon help the high schooler reclaim his superpowers? Why is Lana Lang so worried about her father's new book? And where will the other stories in this extra-long take us?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Action Comics #1100 Preview

Writers: Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, Sophie Campbell & Dan Slott

Artists: Skylar Patridge, Ryan Sook, Daniel Sampere, Dan Mora & Lucas Meyer

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: David Talaski, Mark Spears, Daniel Sampere, Jim Cheung & Rahzzah

Foil Variant Cover Artist: Jim Cheung

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 56 Pages

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card stock)/Foil $7.99 US

Release Date: July 22, 2026

 

Superman Returns 

In This Landmark Issue!

 

Celebrate 1,100 issues of Action Comics with DC’s top talent and architects of the world of Superman! In April 1938, a man faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound graced the pages of Action Comics #1, and the rest was superhero history. Now, together with the talents of writers Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, Sophie Campbell, and Dan Slott, we honor Superman’s storied career and turn toward his thrilling future. Brought to life by the all-star artistic talent of Skylar Patridge, Ryan Sook, Dan Mora, and Lucas Meyer, the Man of Steel has never looked better.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1099. 

For how Clark lost his powers, see my preview of Action Comics #1098. 

 

For Clark's battle at the Metropolis Expo of Tomorrow, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

 

For how Superboy met Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1096.  

 

Action Comics #1099 Review

 

Action Comics #1099 Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Skylar Patridge & Patricio Delpeche

Colorist: Ivan Pascencia & Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Kevin Wada; Daniel Di Nicuolo & Marcelo Costas

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Leirix

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 10, 2026

 

After battling Epoch at the Metropolis Expo and the Kent farm, Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, and Booster Gold fear the Lord of Time will return to kill Clark Kent before he matures into a more formidable foe. So, Martian Manhunter takes up farming. Mary Marvel shadows Clark at school. And Booster Gold gets two jobs: protecting Jonathan and Martha while tracking down the teleporting villain who absconded with Clark's spaceship.

 

Sadly, things went disastrously wrong when the Superfriends regrouped with Epoch for Round Three. Does the Justice League trio still need to protect Clark Kent from a time traveler who shrugs off reality-shattering realities as bumps in the road? And how does Lana Lang feel about "Mary from Philadelphia"? Let’s leap into Action Comics #1099 and see!

 

Story

After he arrived on Earth in his rocketship, Clark Kent grew up on the Kent farm. Whether it's growing crops, maintaining the farm equipment, or caring for the animals, Clark is accustomed to the routine. So even though Epoch robs him of his powers, Clark continues his life as normal. But when he visits the barn amid his daily chores, Clark discovers that, when a cow kicks him, it hurts.

 

In Action Comics #1099, Clark Kent's life has abruptly changed. And after learning to utilize his powers to help others, Clark encounters culture shock. Losing his new identity threatens to return him to childhood. It takes young Clark a while to see that losing his powers isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it could make his teenage years infinitely easier.

 

In Mark Waid’s story, Jonathan Kent reminds Clark that regaining his powers is important. Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, and Mary Marvel wouldn’t be guarding him if he didn’t play a crucial role in safeguarding Humanity. Clark has enjoyed helping people as Superboy. And his parents preach that Clark has a responsibility to others.

 

Still, after losing his powers, Clark must decide his next course of action. He can immerse himself in his High School years and pursue relationships without hiding who he really is from the people in his life. Or he can try to reclaim his onerous life of protecting the endangered, deceiving his friends, and never having time for himself, in Action Comics #1099.

 

Art

After Clark enters her stall, the cow watches as he prepares to work. But after Skylar Patridge and Patricio Delpeche provide a close-up of Bessie's eye, the cow's twitching leg and swishing tail precede a kick to the face. Clark yanks his head away as Martha tries to tend his wound. And when Martian Manhunter rationally discusses the situation, Clark hurls a pitcher of lemonade across the room.

 

As Clark navigates a non-superhero life clothed in blue, a white bandage covers his cheek in Action Comics #1099. When he meets Lana, her violet top evokes Martha's efforts to comfort her son. Yet after Bessie injures him in the reddish brown barn, Martian Manhunter assesses Clark with red energy surrounding his eyes. Epoch prepares for his next battle in a red room. And as Clark's family and new friends gather for an intervention, Ivan Pascencia and Patricio Delpeche reinforce their arguments with scenes bathed in red.

 

Steve Wands places Clark Kent's lowercase black monospaced narration in yellow boxes. Black uppercase letters inhabit white balloons and colored boxes. Words grow bold for intonation, shrink for lowered voices, and swell for volume. Giant red letters alert Jonathan Kent to the new dangers surrounding his son. Sound effects clarify Bessie's distress and Epoch's resolve, while white letters in a blue box clash with the symbol beside them. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Clark has fought to prevent Superboy's exploits from disturbing his life in Smallville. But after Epoch attacks his home, Clark realizes that he could lose his Human parents by being Superboy. Shorn of his superpowers, he has an opportunity to start over again as an ordinary High School student. Yet as he looks ahead and contemplates the importance of his personal liberty and safeguarding others, Epoch isn't the only person threatening Clark Kent's future in Action Comics #1099.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Action Comics #1099. 

 

For how Clark lost his powers, see my preview of Action Comics #1098. 

 

For Clark's battle at the Metropolis Expo of Tomorrow, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

 

For how Superboy met Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1096.  

Action Comics #1099 Preview

 

After battling Epoch at the Metropolis Expo and the Kent's farm, Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, and Booster Gold fear the Lord of Time will return to kill Clark Kent before he matures into a more formidable foe. So, Martian Manhunter takes up farming. Mary Marvel shadows Clark at school. And Booster Gold gets two jobs: protecting Jonathan and Martha while tracking down the teleporting villain who absconded with Clark's spaceship. 

Sadly, things went disastrously wrong when the Superfriends regrouped with Epoch for Round Three. Does the Justice League trio still need to protect Clark Kent from a time traveler who regards reality-shattering realities as bumps in the road? And how does Lana Lang feel about "Mary from Philadelphia"?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Action Comics #1099

Writer: Mark Waid

Artists: Skylar Patridge & Patricio Delpeche

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Kevin Wada & Daniele Di Nicuolo

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Leirix

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $4.99 US/Variant $5.99 US (card stock)

Release Date: June 10, 2026

 

 

Blast from the Past!

 

 

After defeating Xotar, Superboy and the Justice League turn their attention to another mystery unsolved. The rocket ship that brought Clark to Earth has been activated. Could this be the key to finding Superman?

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us. 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Action Comics #1098. 

For how this story arc started, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

For how Superboy met Martian Manhunter, Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Epoch, see my review of Action Comics #1096. 

Action Comics #1098 Preview

 

Clark Kent doesn't know them yet. But Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, and Mary Marvel know him. At least they will in the future. But this unexpected visit to Superboy's time means being parsimonious with the truth, lest they rewrite their history. 

Sadly, a villain they tangled with during their trip through the time stream also slips into Superboy's time. After vanishing from the Expo of Tomorrow in Metropolis, Epoch appears at Superboy's home. How will Epoch use what he stole from the Kent's barn? And could anything Epoch does crush Clark's hopes for the future worse than Mary Marvel's question, "Who's Lana?"

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

Action Comics #1098 Preview

Writer: Mark Waid

Artists: Skylar Patridge & Patricio Delpeche

Cover Artist: Ryan Sook

Variant Cover Artists: Haining & Sweeny Boo

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 13, 2026

 

Reign of the Superboys!

At War with the Weapons Master!

 

The Weapons Master has homed in on the most scientifically advanced tech on Earth, which happens to be hiding on the Kent Farm…Clark’s rocket ship. Now the Justice League and Superboy must defend his legacy and save the town of Smallville from Xotar and his cache of malevolent munitions!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1097. 

Action Comics #1097 Review

 

Action Comics #1097 Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Skylar Patridge

Colorist: Ivan Pascencia

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artists: Ryan Sook, Hayden Sherman, & Amy Reeder

Things To Come Variant Cover Artist: Skylar Patridge

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzher

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 8, 2026

 

Clark Kent has worked hard to protect his secret identity. So, when Lana's father records his surreptitious observations in a notebook, Clark wonders what he's noticing that other people aren't. Still, that doesn't prevent Superboy from saving Professor Lewis Lang when a tree explodes before the lightning strikes it.

 

The phenomenon intensifies during a visit to Metropolis. As Clark strives to understand what's happening, time seems to flux and shift around him. Then, at the heart of the storm, superheroes appear. They know Clark, even if he's never met them. What has brought Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and the Martian Manhunter to the Expo of Tomorrow? And while Superboy fights to protect Metropolis, how is Lana Lang's father threatening Clark's secret identity in Smallville? Let’s leap into Action Comics #1097 and see!

 

Story

Jonathan and Martha Kent taught their son the importance of helping and protecting others. So, when Epoch knocks Clark away, he worries about injuring someone in his path. After regaining control, Superboy returns to aid the superpowered strangers battling the villain who just gave him the hardest hit of his life. Yet when the strangers introduce themselves as friends from his future, Clark's most difficult struggle is to ignore all he could learn.

 

In Action Comics #1097, an older, wiser Clark Kent relates the struggles that shaped him. While Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and the Martian Manhunter use their superpowers to protect others, each struggles with how much they should share with their friends. Clark already faces the daily struggle of preventing others from learning he is Superboy. Yet the Justice League teammates' journeys through time remind them of the need to dispense information sparingly.

 

As Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and the Martian Manhunter accidentally meet Clark Kent at this earlier phase of his life, they realize that the wrong word could adversely impact Clark’s development. They also recognize that their intrusion at this time has alerted Epoch to Superboy’s vulnerability. 

 

In Mark Waid's story, Clark is still discovering who he is. Like any teen, each new day brings fresh insights. Yet Clark lacks abilities he will later develop, and he's weaker than he will eventually become. So, before Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and the Martian Manhunter resume their hunt for Superman, they remain in the past in case Epoch decides to exploit Superboy’s vulnerabilities in Action Comics #1097.

 

Art

While the circles and arches of the Metropolis Expo’s Space Museum entryway evoke Absolute Wonder Woman's Hieron, the red line of Superboy’s uncontrolled flight is as straight as the Athena Blade. Epock’s armor is as sculpted as Booster Gold's. Yet the angular villain fires energy particles resembling dots and blobs. And the blast that hits Superboy recalls the Modoran sonic weapon that threatened to incapacitate him.

 

As Ivan Pascencia lavishes a loaded palette on Skylar Patridge’s art, the neon colors of Epoch’s attacks contrast with the gray interior of the Space Museum. Epoch's gold armor outshines Booster Gold. Yet, the gray, hanger-like building’s interior supports echo the red-and-white energy net that threatens to imprison him. While the red dots surrounding J’onn’s transformation mirror Epoch's particle beams, the crackling white energy of Mary Marvel's transformation recalls a painful chapter of Booster's life in Action Comics #1097.

 

Steve Wands places Clark Kent’s lowercase typed black narration in yellow boxes. Black uppercase letters inhabit white balloons and colored boxes. Words grow bold for intonation and swell for volume, while guttural sounds shrink, and lowered voices shrink and turn gray. Sound effects enhance attacks, violent impacts, transformations, and Epoch coming to grips with the situation. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Our lives are a constant search for the truth. Yet we also hide from facts that we find displeasing or threatening. And no matter how hard we try, or how great our abilities, sometimes our aspirations exceed our capabilities. Superboy has the powers of a god. He wants to believe that he can achieve anything. Yet just like Professor Lewis Lang's secret observations, a seemingly innocuous question could destroy how Clark Kent approaches each day in Action Comics #1097.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Action Comics #1097.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1096.