Action Comics Annual: 2021

8.5

Critic Rating

9 Reviews
7.3

User Rating

37 Reviews
Writer Phillip K. Johnson
Artist Scott Godlewski, Siya Oum
Cover Price $5.99

The return of Future State's House of El! It's time to head back to tomorrow, as Superman's descendants face a threat from today. This special tale connects to "Warworld Rising" as the actions of Clark Kent in the present reverberate, leaving long-lasting changes...and a deadly threat for the House of El to reckon with. Can Brandon Kent, the Superman of his era, stop the danger from hurting the next generation? Also, for those wanting to know more about Brandon's relationshop with Theand'r, the Tamaranean queen, prepare yourself for a little romance as well.

Reviews (9) User Reviews (37) Rate / Write A Review

CRITIC REVIEWS

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  • 9.6

    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz

    Jul 14, 2021

    I hope Kennedy works in the DC Universe for a long time to come. It's been great. Read Full Review

  • 9.3

    Comic Watch - Ariel Bee

    Jul 06, 2021

    A great many exciting things are happening in DC during the current Infinite Frontier initiative but Johnsons Action run (and the shorter Superman run before it) have been standouts in a field of standouts for me even more now that the story has the space and time to really get going. The 2021 Annual is no exception. It manages to bridge the past and the future yet remain relevant to the present... all while telling a strong standalone story featuring characters that I really hope to see again. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield

    Jul 07, 2021

    The art by Oum and Godlewski, especially the scenes in the Phantom Zone, is dramatic and haunting, and this remains one of the most unique Superman stories in a while. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum

    Jul 14, 2021

    Overall, this is a fantastic book and a really lovely "Superman" story. Read Full Review

  • 8.5

    The Comicbook Dispatch - Dispatchdcu

    Jul 06, 2021

    Overall, Action Comics Annual 2021 #1 was a pleasant surprise. It had a compelling main story that may end up taking a back seat to the bookends of this annual with Thao-La and Mr. Byla's interactions. If you were thinking of passing on this annual, I implore you to reconsider. This creative team delivers a great story and incredible art with so many possible implications for the current story arc making Action Comics Annual 2021 #1 a can't miss issue. Read Full Review

  • 8.5

    COMICON - Tony Thornley

    Jul 19, 2021

    This jam packed annual is just full of great set-up, hints and world building for Superman's future (and maybe his past). On top of that though, it's a great story with very good art, start to finish! Read Full Review

  • 8.4

    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj

    Jul 16, 2021

    In total, this was a fun read. As I said, it works fine as a stand-alone peek into the future. But the bits which impact the current arc make it more impactful. And the return of Aethyr! Cool. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles

    Jul 06, 2021

    House of El is a fun concept that Johnson reinforces would make for a quality spin-off to further expand the Superman Family titles. Read Full Review

  • 5.9

    Weird Science - Eric Shea

    Jul 13, 2021

    While all the Superman Family members of the future look cool and distinct, the story in this Annual feels a bit odd all together with its new ideas about classic things, its discontinuity with other Future State stories, and ultimately, it didn't feel like it needed to be as long as it was for the story it was telling, but that being said, the book looked great and if you wanted a younger version of the Future State House of El character then I'm sure you'll enjoy this story but sadly, I wanted more out of it. Read Full Review

USER REVIEWS

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  • 10

    Dave

    Jul 12, 2021

    Fun story

  • 8.5

    Stormwrath

    Jul 13, 2021

    Huge fan of what PKJ is doing with the Superman mythos

    + Like Comment
  • 8.0

    deen

    Jul 13, 2021

    This was a fun romp with the future House Of El, though my one reservation here is that while no one El gets a complete focus on the story, it feels like we barely get to know most of the family. There are some decent character moments for each, and granted this is meant to be just one moment in time with these folks, but I certainly ended up wanting to learn more about them. I'm not sure how I feel about the expansion on the lore of the Phantom Zone. On one hand it's clear PKJ wants to try his hand at expanding the Superman mythos and I like some of the concepts here. However, the classic hopeless void of terror is gone here. I prefer having a PZ that's a desolate lonely place of wonky physics, basically Purgatory. PKJ keeps some of the more

    + Like Comments (1)
  • 8.0

    sebastianorellana95

    Jul 14, 2021

    I liked this mostly, because Philip undoing Future State Superwoman. Glad to see that grim story is not more part of Kara mythos/canon. Philip characterization of Superwoman/Kara is great, finally we see again her heroics qualities :'D and fight with and for her family... And looks she is immortal like Kal-El. Thank you Philip for make justice with Kara, you're doing great things with her. Here and much more in your Action Comics ongoing title :D

  • 8.0

    REYNARD

    Jul 17, 2021

    PKJ has won me over 100%.

  • 7.5

    Fracadactyl

    Jul 13, 2021

    Nothing special, just an in between events chapter of House of El. But at least we get to see the culture of the House of El in regards to honor.

  • 7.0

    Psycamorean

    Jul 14, 2021

    I do not find the House of El future very interesting. It kind of reminds me of that alien race from the most recent Superman arc, also written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. It's just a whole lot of information about these new(ish) characters and no reason to care. The best thing about this issue is Cyborg Superman's inclusion, and that should say something.

  • 6.5

    Not bad for a book that made little sense. What was this? When? I don't follow this House of El stuff nor do I follow the multiverse. Frankly Superman's world is becoming even more confusing than in the silver age. The end was pretty poor. Johnson is apparently a strong believer in Superheroes being replaced at a young age. This Brandon Kent looks like he must've been in his lower teens when his daughter was born. I thought at first it was a story from Jon's time as Superman. Heaven forbid it be that simple though. They're going to have to undo a lot of crazy stuff to get me back into Superman after I'm out in the near future.

  • 5.0

    fearUhavemeisenough

    Jul 13, 2021

    An annual of the house of El with characters that do not hook me much.

  • 5.0

    K-23

    Jan 18, 2022

    Amazing art but painfully boring story of characters that we have no connection to that were just as boring in their future state story.

  • 3.0

    Merlyn

    Jul 13, 2021

    Didn't care about these characters the first time around, don't care this time either, there's nothing interesting about them and if Pyrrhos is who I think it is, it's pretty shitty, too.

  • 1.0

    RKS

    Jul 16, 2021

    About as appealing as microwaved dog s**t. ANYTHING else would have been better than an Annual that uses the future state failure. No one wants to read this crap. Save your money kids.

  • 10

    Bruno Mael

    Jul 14, 2021

  • 10

    JLD

    May 30, 2022

  • 10

    Lovecomics777

    Feb 25, 2023

  • 10

    tomimo78

    Apr 10, 2023

  • 10

    jellysara

    Apr 16, 2023

  • 10

    pldcm7

    Apr 19, 2023

  • 10

    matta

    Jun 11, 2023

  • 10

    Jaylogo

    Jul 08, 2023

  • 9.0

    RJ

    Jul 13, 2021

  • 8.5

    tonpas1989

    Jul 19, 2021

  • 8.5

    retcon_D

    Aug 13, 2021

  • 8.5

    Khan/Murdock

    Oct 08, 2021

  • 7.5

    Bdbdndw02

    Jul 14, 2021

  • 7.5

    TheKing

    Jul 15, 2021

  • 7.5

    Watchtower022

    Aug 01, 2021

  • 7.5

    mrDovydas

    Sep 05, 2021

  • 7.5

    wesshamu

    Sep 23, 2021

  • 7.0

    daspidaboy

    Jul 13, 2021

  • 7.0

    Radar

    Jul 17, 2021

  • 7.0

    Cool

    Jul 22, 2021

  • 7.0

    UxasIs

    Jul 22, 2021

  • 6.0

    ZachPort123

    Jan 15, 2025

  • 4.0

    Dali

    Jul 15, 2021

    + Like Comment
  • 1.0

    hedevil

    Jul 12, 2021

    + Like Comments (2)
  • 1.0

    Nicetrylaoche

    Apr 12, 2022

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