Action Comics #1103 Preview

 

 

After a brief delay, Action Comics #1103 flew into comic shops yesterday. Don't miss this look at the early years of these two titans of Metropolis!

 

The future may seem tantalizing. But knowing too much about what lies ahead can rob every day of vitality. When young Clark returns to Smallville, that’s no longer something that he’ll have to worry about. But then, there’s that potentially damaging book Lana’s father is publishing.

 

After hurtling young Clark ahead to participate in present-day events in El Caldero, Mark Waid’s vision returns to the past. What crucial events will he reveal about Lex Luthor’s childhood? And how will Lex’s childhood compare to Clark’s formative years on the Kent Farm?

 

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

 

 

Action Comics #1103 Preview

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Cover Artist: Chris Brunner

Variant Cover Artists: Ryan Sook, Don Aguillo, & Dave Wilkins

Kingdom Come 30th Anniversary Variant Cover Artist: Ariel Olivetti

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $4.99 US | Variant $5.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: October 14, 2026

 

 

“Lex Luthor: Year One” Begins!

 

 

He is Superman’s greatest enemy…he was Clark Kent’s school-age contemporary. He’s been the President of the United States…and the world’s most wanted supervillain. He is Lex Luthor, and this is his story. From the epic Action team of Mark Waid and Patricio Delpeche comes the definitive origin of the greatest criminal mind of our time…if you survive the experience.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For young Clark's recent adventures in the Kingdom Of Zod storyline:

For General Zod's rise to power, see Action Comics #1100: End Of Reign Review. 

For the mission to El Caldero, see Supergirl #16: Kingdom Of Zod Part 1 Review. 

For the battle in El Caldero, see Action Comics #1101: Kingdom of Zod Part 2 Review. 

For how Superman takes the fight to Zod, see Superman Unlimited #16 Review.

For Zod's revival of Ursa see Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review 

For Ursa, Kara, and young Clark's arrival on Krypton, see Supergirl #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 5 Preview 

For what happens when Ursa, Kara, and young Clark meet Zod on Krypton, see Action Comics #1102: Kingdom Of Zod Part 6 Preview. 

For how Superman saves the world, but perhaps made more enemies, see Superman Unlimited #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 7 Review.  

For why Zod hated Jor-El, see Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review 

For how young Clark returns to his proper place in time, see Superman: Kingdom Of Zod Special #1: Kingdom Of Zod Part 9 Review 

 

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 Review

 

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 Review

Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Artist: Fran Galán

Colorist & Cover Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Variant Cover Artists: Mike Del Mundo & Marc Aspinall

Clayface Movie Variant Cover Artist: Frank Cho

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99 US | Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: October 14, 2026

 

He escaped Arkham Towers to reclaim his identity. Then he learned that someone else had stolen it. So, "Todd Russell" traveled to Hollywood to prove he was Basil Karlo. But proving the movie star is an imposter is harder than Clayface suspected. When Dr Victoria October finally agrees to see him, Clayface fears he's burned the bridges between them. But the one person who has befriended him has gone missing. And when Clayface breaks into Katie Park's apartment, he finds a photo of himself as "Bob Palmer" leaving Katie after their talk outside the diner. 

 

Can Clayface find Katie before the "Basil Karlo" imposter turns her into another meltdown? And is his nemesis also behind Losilmix, the supplement that is giving people meltdowns? Let’s leap into Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 and see!

 

Story

The future she imagined with Clayface may have been a mirage. Still, when he returns and shows her videos on his phone, she cannot ignore the evidence before her eyes. So, in her private lab, Dr Victoria October studies the Losilmax victims. From outside the patients’ rooms, Clayface watches the meltdown cases. The supplement promised users total control over their bodies. Instead, it turned them into distorted semblances of the Human form.

 

Victoria may not have wanted to see Clayface again. But as they study the victims and pool their knowledge, Victoria and Clayface catch up on each other’s lives in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4. As Jude Ellison S Doyle follows Clayface’s search for the truth, “Basil Karlo” meets with a reporter from Mister Magazine. Mr Dunne asks Basil about his life. Like Clayface, the reporter wonders about the women who vanished after being with him.

 

Yet, like Losilmax’s victims, Clayface has changed. When he was locked in a tank in Arkham Towers, he could only think about getting his life back. Discovering that someone had stolen his identity and was doing so well in Hollywood gave him an enemy to fight. Then, Katie Park helped him get on his feet and shared her struggles with him. Now, Clayface no longer prioritizes his interests. He still wants to destroy the imposter's career. But his priority is preventing "Basil Karlo" from melting down other people’s lives in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4.

 

Art

As a reporter in a suit sits on a recliner, "Basil Karlo" stares through his wall of windows in his short robe and slippers. When the actor raises his cup toward the surrounding city, the reporter studies the carpet. In her private laboratory, Dr Victoria October visits a patient in her hazmat suit while Clayface watches through an interior window. A trail of brown links their silhouettes with Clayface and Victoria’s current position. When she removes her white lab coat, Clayface towers above her like Beauty and the Beast. Yet when they exit the elevator, Basil wears casual attire and approximates Victoria's height.

 

As Fran Galán adorns Victoria’s home with modern furniture and rectangular building design, violet furnishings hint at the life she and Basil (or, if you prefer, Matt Hagen) could have had. Patricio Delpeche links their shirt and blouse with blue as Victoria and Basil sit beside a green pool. After Clayface relives a red memory, his imposter wears a red shirt. Yet while desert-style plants surround Clayface and Victoria, the tropical foliage behind Hollywood’s brightest star suggests an impenetrable jungle in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4.

 

Tom Napolitano fills irregularly shaped white balloons with uppercase black dialogue. Offscreen conversations fill narrative boxes. Clayface's words evoke a leaky pen, while white letters in red balloons hint at the speaker's sanity. Clayface's thoughts inhabit boxes with irregular gray borders, while sound effects heighten a frightened woman’s plight. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Gotham's authorities imprisoned him in Arkham Towers, Clayface believed he deserved better than being classed with other criminals. But after returning to Hollywood and discovering how little the authorities cared about villains destroying people's lives, Clayface decided to do something about it. He may not be the world’s greatest detective. But as Clayface searches for missing women and investigates a dangerous supplement, he could be Hollywood's greatest protector in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 Preview. 

 

For how Losilmix is "Giving people total control of their bodies," see Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3 Preview. 

For "Todd's" fight to reclaim his life in Los Angeles, see Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2 Preview. 

For how this series began, see my Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 Preview.

 

For more recent series involving Clayface, 

See my review of DC K.O. Knightfight #1,

My preview of Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #1 & 

My review of Batman and Robin: Year One #1. 

 

Action Comics #1103 Preview

 

The future may seem tantalizing. But knowing too much about what lies ahead can rob every day of vitality. When young Clark returns to Smallville, that’s no longer something that he’ll have to worry about. But then, there’s that potentially damaging book Lana’s father is publishing.

 

After hurtling young Clark ahead to participate in present-day events in El Caldero, Mark Waid’s vision returns to the past. What crucial events will he reveal about Lex Luthor’s childhood? And how will Lex’s childhood compare to Clark’s formative years on the Kent Farm?

 

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

 

 

Action Comics #1103 Preview

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Cover Artist: Chris Brunner

Variant Cover Artists: Ryan Sook, Don Aguillo, & Dave Wilkins

Kingdom Come 30th Anniversary Variant Cover Artist: Ariel Olivetti

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $4.99 US | Variant $5.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: October 14, 2026

 

 

“Lex Luthor: Year One” Begins!

 

 

He is Superman’s greatest enemy…he was Clark Kent’s school-age contemporary. He’s been the President of the United States…and the world’s most wanted supervillain. He is Lex Luthor, and this is his story. From the epic Action team of Mark Waid and Patricio Delpeche comes the definitive origin of the greatest criminal mind of our time…if you survive the experience.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For young Clark's recent adventures in the Kingdom Of Zod storyline:

For General Zod's rise to power, see Action Comics #1100: End Of Reign Review. 

For the mission to El Caldero, see Supergirl #16: Kingdom Of Zod Part 1 Review. 

For the battle in El Caldero, see Action Comics #1101: Kingdom of Zod Part 2 Review. 

For how Superman takes the fight to Zod, see Superman Unlimited #16 Review.

For Zod's revival of Ursa see Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review 

For Ursa, Kara, and young Clark's arrival on Krypton, see Supergirl #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 5 Preview 

For what happens when Ursa, Kara, and young Clark meet Zod on Krypton, see Action Comics #1102: Kingdom Of Zod Part 6 Preview. 

For how Superman saves the world, but perhaps made more enemies, see Superman Unlimited #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 7 Review.  

For why Zod hated Jor-El, see Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review 

For how young Clark returns to his proper place in time, see Superman: Kingdom Of Zod Special #1: Kingdom Of Zod Part 9 Review 

 

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 Preview

 

He escaped Arkham Towers to reclaim his identity. Then he learned that someone else had stolen it. So, “Todd Russell” traveled to Hollywood to prove he was Basil Karlo. But proving that the “Basil Karlo” starring in movies is an imposter proves more difficult than Clayface suspected. When Dr Victoria October finally agrees to see him, he realizes he’s burned the bridges between them. But the one person who has befriended him has gone missing. And when Clayface breaks into Katie Park’s apartment, he discovers a photo of himself as "Bob Palmer" leaving Katie after their talk outside the diner.  

 

Can Clayface find Katie before the “Basil Karlo” imposter turns her into another of his failed experiments? And is his nemesis also behind Losilmix, the supplement that is giving people meltdowns?

 

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

 

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 Preview

Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle

Artist: Fran Galán

Cover Artist: Patrico Delpeche

Variant Cover Artists: Mike Del Mundo & Marc Aspinall

Clayface Movie Variant Cover Artist: Frank Cho

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Series Length: 6 Issues

Price: $3.99 US | Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: October 14, 2026

 

An All-New Story 

Featuring the Batman Villain That Inspired 

DC Studios’ Clayface Movie!

 

 

Hollywood is full of monsters!

 

Looking into numerous disappearances and the bizarre side effects of Losilmix, Basil Karlo and Dr. Victoria October start to put the pieces together—and the evidence says Basil Karlo is to blame. Their findings lead Basil straight into the crosshairs of Lady Clay—but is she here to help or to end Basil’s Hollywood dreams once and for all?

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For how Losilmix is "Giving people total control of their bodies," see Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3 Preview. 

For "Todd's" fight to reclaim his life in Los Angeles, see Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2 Preview. 

For how this series began, see my Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 Preview.

 

For more recent series involving Clayface, 

See my review of DC K.O. Knightfight #1,

My preview of Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #1 & 

My review of Batman and Robin: Year One #1. 

 

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.

 

Catwoman #89 Review

 

Catwoman #89 Review

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Davide Gianfelice

Colorist: Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Seba Fiumara

Variant Cover Artists: Frank Cho, Jeehyung Lee & W Scott Forbes

Swimsuit Variant Cover Artist: Homare

Editors: James Reid, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: July 15, 2026

 

Carmine Falcone lost the Palermo Pearl in Venice. Yet, he returned to Gotham with greater control over his organization. And whether she likes it or not, Catwoman is indebted to him. Unlike Falcone, Roman Sionis, when he lost everything, looked for people to blame. Katarina Belov bailed him out. But she had one prerequisite: he must make Catwoman suffer.

 

So far, Black Mask has stripped Holly Robinson of her sobriety. He forced Selina's sister to relive the way he tortured her and killed her husband. Now, one of his lookalikes has implicated Selina as a terrorist. Can Selina prevent the bomb her double planted in Burnley Station from exploding her life in Gotham? And can she help Samuel "Slam" Bradley avoid her friend, George's fate? Let's leap into Catwoman #89 and see!

 

Story

After Selina rescued Holly from her air-tight room in the shuttered Seagate Home for Troubled Teens, Holly drove her back to town before the two women went their separate ways. But when Holly decides to ditch the stolen car, she discovers that she is still part of Black Mask’s plans.

 

While Holly struggles to escape Roman Sionis’ control, Selina also realizes she is still caught in his web. Seeing Katarina Belov explained why and how Roman had turned her life into a nightmare. Yet as she plays the message on the tablet Katarina handed her, Selina realizes she has another friend to save in Catwoman #89.

 

Just as Roman left clues that led her to the Seagate Home for Troubled Teens, a clue he left there helps Selina deduce Sam “Slam” Bradley’s whereabouts. Like a kidnapper demanding that a relative of his victim jump through hoops to ensure they aren’t followed to the drop point, Selina must race against time to save Slam’s life. But even as she does so, she knows that neither Roman nor Katarina wants her money.

 

As Selina navigates the hurdles Roman has set in her way, Torunn Grønbekk's story contrasts Roman Sionis and Carmine Falcone. Both crime bosses have had their ups and downs. While Carmine differentiates between disloyalty and business, Roman punishes anyone who fails or displeases him. Black Mask is an astute businessman with an exceptional ability to orchestrate and execute elaborate plans. Yet after Carmine Falcone orchestrates the heist of the Gotham Police Department Headquarters quickly and quietly, he worries about the repercussions of Black Mask’s current operation in Catwoman #89.

 

Art

As a road worker sets cones before halted automobiles, he motions to the driver of a cement truck. Holly climbs from her appropriated classic convertible to ask a fellow driver what’s happening. She shields her face with her hand as a brace of motorcycle cops passes. Instead of watching the bottleneck below, Selina stands before a water tank, studying the skull-face on the tablet. Then, faceless servants of Black Mask, like the one Katarina shot, follow her as Selina whips across the rooftops.

 

As Davide Gianfelice portrays the culmination of Black Mask's plans, Selina's black-and-gray suit blends into the blue night sky. The blue tablet turns red when Selina drops it and whips past blue and yellow windows. While some of the blue evening enters through the tall windows, sapphire and indigo fill Carmine Falcone's penthouse. Still, Patricio Delpeche mixes gray with the colors, reminding us of the complicated relationship between Carmine and Selina in Catwoman #89.

 

As the narrator employs black lowercase letters in yellow boxes, Selina’s thoughts fill light indigo boxes. White starbursts relay voices from TVs, phones, and tablets. Intonation emboldens words in white dialogue balloons, and raised voices enlarge dialogue. Steve Wands uses smaller, gray letters for lowered voices. Occasional colored dialogue balloons, or white balloons with colored outlines, spice up scenes. While honking rewards Pip’s efforts, the explosive climax will determine the brilliance of his master’s plans. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Before she came to Gotham to ruin Selina Kyle's life, Katarina Belov did her homework. Yet in her anger at Selina, she failed to recognize the inadequacies of her working methods. So, as she repeats history once again, Katarina is surprised when, like her sons, Roman also defies her control in Catwoman #89.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Catwoman #89. 

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Catwoman #88.

For what happened before that, see my preview of Catwoman #87. 

For what happened even before that, see my review of Catwoman #86. 

For how this story began, see my review of Catwoman #85.

 

Catwoman #88 Review

 

Catwoman #88 Review

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk

Artist: Davide Gianfelice

Colorist: Patricio Delpeche

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Seba Fiumara

Variant Cover Artists: Frank Cho, Michael Walsh & W Scott Forbes

Editors: James Reid, Arianna Turturro & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 17, 2026

 

When Selina Kyle found Holly Robinson in her safehouse, it took her a while to determine that an intruder was wearing a mask of her friend's face. Then, on "Holly's" unconscious body, a phone rings. As Selina watches, Holly sits in a room rapidly losing oxygen. But when Selina races to save her in the shuttered Seagate Home for Troubled Teens, Holly pushes her away. After Black Mask abducted her, Holly saw Selina in his headquarters.

 

Selina may have rescued Holly from danger. But after a phone conversation with Samuel "Slam" Bradley, Selina realizes Black Mask's people are after him. And if Black Mask is targeting the people close to Selina, he won’t forget her sister. How does Maggie factor into Black Mask's plans? And why is one of his minions wearing Selina Kyle's face? Let’s leap into Catwoman #88 and see!

 

Story

Black Mask trapped Holly Robinson in a building that evoked painful memories. As she slowly asphyxiated, she stared at the hypo he left behind, knowing it could take away her pain. Yet worse was that Black Mask drugged her and made her believe that Selina had betrayed her. Farther away in terms of miles, if not emotions, Magdalena Selina senses that someone is entering her house. Like Holly, Maggie suffered from Black Mask's cruelty. And the trauma she endured is a wound that may never heal.

 

As Catwoman #88 follows Selina, Holly, and Maggie’s journey, Black Mask’s minions also pursue Samuel “Slam” Bradley. And as Black Mask enacts his grand plan, the woman who funded his magnum opus watches. While Black Mask feels every passing moment viscerally, Katarina Belov studies her agent. Unlike the sons who thought they knew better than her, Black Mask reveres her. Yet she sits and watches, imperious and quietly scornful, of these men who orchestrate criminal empires.

 

As Black Mask forces Selina, Holly, and Maggie to relive their painful past, a woman wearing a mask of her face threatens Selina’s future in Gotham. Still, she’s one among many. In Torunn Grønbekk’s story, all the characters wear masks to disguise their appearance, shield their intentions, and hide the emotions surging through them. And then there are the masks the characters wear to assure their friends and loved ones that they’re over the trauma that still afflicts them in Catwoman #88.

 

Art

Davide Gianfelice begins by contrasting two pairs of women. The first pair sits in a comfortable office. A teapot, cups, and saucers rest on the side table between them. Maggie looks down and shields her face with her hand. Yet when she faces her therapist, the woman averts her gaze. Compared with the therapist’s spotless, light-filled office, filled with arranged bookshelves and an organized desk, Holly and Selina sit in a dirty hallway. Cardboard boxes rest nearby, and blankets cover old furniture. Holly hides her face with her hands. Yet when she sees her friend's pain, Holly embraces Selina.

 

While Patricio Delpeche adorns Maggie’s painful present in red, Holly and Selina commiserate amid green. Blue vehicles, clothing, and a blue night sky tantalize characters with the possibility of escape. Clad in blue and red, Katarina hopes to destroy Selina’s life. Yet as Selina strives to end the cycle of violence, yellow and orange lights illuminate the green-tinged gray buildings in Catwoman #88.

 

Steve Wands locates readers in time and space with white lowercase letters. While the narrator employs black lowercase letters in yellow boxes, Selina’s thoughts fill light indigo boxes. White starbursts relay phone calls. Intonation emboldens words in white dialogue balloons, while raised voices enlarge dialogue. When the background fades away, colored dialogue balloons rise above the vignettes. Yet as gunshots fill the air, red letters on a dirty wall warn of Selina’s future. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Katarina Belov tried to kill Evie Hall, Selina Kyle wiped out her family. So now, the former crime family matriarch is using Black Mask to destroy the people in Selina's life. Believing she has nothing she values, Katarina ignores the love and admiration Black Mask offers. And in their determination to torment Selina, Katarina Belov and Black Mask ignite fires that could finish off the job Selina started last time in Catwoman #88.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Catwoman #88.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Catwoman #87. 

For what happened before that, see my review of Catwoman #86. 

For how this story arc began, see my review of Catwoman #85. 

 

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.