I agree with the sentiment, but which choice are you referring to specifically?
“The Warworld Saga,” part three. Everything changes! After the heart-stopping events of Action Comics #1037, Superman and the surviving members of the Authority see a side of Warworld they never knew existed. In the lower catacombs, Superman finds another survivor of the lost Phaelosian race of Krypton, a scientist turned enslaved gladiator with much to teach Superman of his new home, including how to survive...and maybe, in time, how to escape. Meanwhile, Superman’s quest to turn the hordes of Warworld against their masters begins.
Seriously, Superman is physically beaten but indomitable. He cares. And he wants to be heard by those who need him the most. Powerful stuff indeed. Read Full Review
There is nothing more satisfying than watching Superman's most impressive ability, his absolute and incorruptible goodness, coming into play. Don't get me wrong, I love to watch Clark throw down as much as anyone else... but fists are often impotent in fighting the most important battles, especially in a situation like this. Fantasies of playing the savior are tempting, but in the end, it is the people of Warworld themselves who must want a new path... and who must choose to walk it. Clark knows that, now. And that's why he's going to win. Read Full Review
In some ways, this actually feels more like a Black Label book"from the isolated nature of the story, to the older Superman, to the sheer level of brutal violence that gets dealt out. But it never feels gratuitous"it feels like the opening act to a story that might just define Superman for this current era, if he's lucky enough to escape it alive. Read Full Review
The Warworld Saga continues in an unexpected way. This story isn't at all what it could have been, and may have been twenty years ago. This is a modern epic in the making and I'm excited to see what's next each month. Read Full Review
Action Comics avoids the rumored twist few Superman fans wanted while establishing a seemingly impossible task. Johnson and Mendonca have set the stage nicely and are continue to keep the title one worth staying invested in the end game. Read Full Review
Action Comics #1038 keeps up the momentum from the previous issue. The story shows the aftermath of Mongul's victory, highlighting the brutal struggles that Superman and his team will have to overcome. All while showing that the Warworld Saga is as much a moral battle as it is a physical one. The writing by Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues to capture Superman's heroic spirit, while the art by Miguel Mendoca and Adriano Lucas' colors make this an amazing comic to look at. Read Full Review
Action Comics is upping its game lately and thankfully this issue continues that trend as we see the aftermath of the epic defeat of our heroes in the previous issue. While things seem gloomy for Superman and the Authority I love the way that this issue plays with the elements of hope and how Superman will never give up. The art is fantastic and the Martian Manhunter backup is a great step up from the backups we've had previously. Read Full Review
Action Comics #1038 is yet another hit in a book that has been full of them lately. Both teams do a remarkable job of building their stories. The art is mostly great, but it lacks in places in both stories. All in all, this issue is gets it done. Read Full Review
Mendonca delivers some fantastic visuals throughout the issue. The art takes on the dark tone of the story and it is evident in every page and panel. Read Full Review
Action Comics hasn't felt this different in some time. Issue #1038 delivers an adventure story with high stakes that are testing Superman beyond anything we've seen before. This may be a slower and sadder chapter, but it's incredibly important as it's always darkest before the dawn. Read Full Review
It's a good book, just gloomy and grim and it kind of pulls everything down a bit for a character so rooted in hope. Read Full Review
Buy this one for Tedesco's variant cover and the Marian Manhunter second feature. Action Comics #1038 isn't without merit, it's just probably not the merit you were banking on. It's still a difficult time for Superman, but it's nice that there's more to this title than the lead Superman story. Read Full Review
Lets pray Johnson stays on this title once this story ends!
Im loving it
Outstanding as always. It's really nice to see so damn good dialogue in every panel.
This issue was amazing as every issue from Warworld Saga. Seriously! Mendonça's art is great as ever, and PKJ is taking his time to slowly create a really epic saga about hope. The end of the issue was inspired by everything Superman has of best. Can't wait for the next issue.
Fantastic. Just a really top-notch expression of who Superman is. "Not more... but not less" is the sort of line that has kept me reading Superman comics for 35 years now.
Action Comics is such a incredible book, fantastic writing and art, loved every single moment of it, easily one of my top 10 2021 books
I really loved the main story. It was very well written and has sold me on this Warworld story. It truly feels hopeless, which in turn really sells Superman's heart. I can't wait to read the next one. On the other hand, the backup really feels unimportant. I don't connect with it. I think it is a waste of money. The sooner DC drops the backups, the better.
It's hard to rate individual issues for this series since they all function as sections to a grand tapestry PKJ is weaving in his Superman Epic. It can be a detriment due to the lack of uniqueness of each chapter with month to month making it harder for them to stand out; the story is written in a manner that blends everything into a single narrative that will be much more fulfilling to read in trade than it already is. Otherwise, this is clearly one of the best books being put out by DC, and the best Superman book since the Jurgens/Tomasi rebirth era.
I think this may be one of DC's best events of 2021.
A bit all over the place. I dont understand how Midnighter located Superman's prison cell by just killing a few guards... the story is chalk full of narrative shorthand such as this, but strikes a satisfying moral thesis at the heart of it. The backup is a citrus chaser, nice NFT reference.
This issue is a little slow and tries like mad to sledgehammer the depression on to set up the final page. I mean I like the final of this book but it’s a slog. Warworld so far has been all over the place but it is nice to see Superman talk like Superman again. The art is awesome though. The backup story is just ok. I like Martian but like a lot of the backups they feel so truncated.
Pretty mediocre story that always backs down whenever a serious choice with real consequences is to be made.
I agree with the sentiment, but which choice are you referring to specifically?
I was referring to the part where Mongul put Supes in the moral dilemma of either killing that guy to save his whole team or refuse to do it and then endangering his son by Mongul's threats. A tough choice that was just waved off with some cheap hopeful speech by Superman. I was genuinely curious to see what choice he'll make and the solution was... Superman just telling Lia everything will be fine. I expected better.
To be fair, he did make a choice (not kill and "endanger his son") and then someone actually died. He then doubled down on that philosophy to not kill "those who dont cheer for you" in the conversation with MN. I actually thought that was a bold ass move, telling MN that his life was not worth more than the warlords'. I was into it.
I actually think Supe's anti-lethal philosophy in this run is exceptional, its challenging and certainly interested in this day and age. Compare that to the intensely insufferable superman arc happening back on Earth...
His solution was "I'm sure everything'll turn out ok for you Lia, even though you're dead right now". That's not something I enjoyed at all. His philosophy wasn't about not killing those who cheer for them, it was about winning hearts and minds by trying to win over even those that don't understand him at this point. I did like that but again, it really bothered me that whole "oh you're dead but you'll get over it".
Yeah, I also enjoy this a lot more than Taylor's cringy Superman, which is horrible overall. But I still feel like this run is playing it too safe.
Edge Lord story telling at its finest. The art is well done but I'm over this story already. It's long, it's boring, and it's not making me want to rush out to pick up the next issue. The decision to have Superman with grey hair is also a lame attempt to make the character of Superman unappealing to the younger readers while trying to push them to accept Jon as the new Superman. Hopefully Action Comics starts a more light hearted story arc after this one is done, because the book desperately needs it. Save your money kids.