Originally published on Patreon
The latest issue of Action Comics gets things ready for the big, final showdown on Warworld as the story comes to a close in the next, special issue. But first, Superman finds himself fighting his way towards a fabled artefact, buried deep beneath the planet's surface, hoping that it will provide him with enough power to take on Mongul.
I really liked this issue, due in large part to the fact that the focus was solely on Clark, rather than it being split between the different teams as has been done in previous issues. Yes, there's more going on elsewhere as the rest of his team, and the resistance movement that has formed around them, fights for their freedoms. But Clark is the most important one, and his mission is the one that may most turn the tables; and so focusing on him makes a lot of sense.
But other than that, this issue is also one of the best for showing how wonderfully kind of a person he is. Whilst fighting to get this ancient artefact he is acknowledged as having never killed anyone, something that sets him apart on Warworld, and whilst that seems to stand him in good stead with the forces protecting the artefact it's his kindness that wins the day. He risks his life to protect this being, this energy-like creature that may not even really be alive in the way that we understand it; and that proves that he's the kind of man worthy of wielding this power.
This is, what I think, most encapsulates what makes Superman he kind of hero he is. He's fighting for his life, fighting to get a power so that an evil despot doesn't, fighting to save the lives of millions, but risks it all to save one more person. That's who Superman is, that's what makes him worthy of the name.
It feels like this was a nice issue to remind readers of who he is, of what he stands for because for months we've seen him leading a crusade to free an alien world. We've seen him fighting to overthrow a tyrant. He's been leading a resistance group, fighting in arenas, and he's less like the man we think of as Superman all the time. But he's still him. He still does the right thing and is a kind and decent man. And next issue he's going to finish this fight.
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