Review: The House Of El Goes To War In ‘Action Comics’ #1055

One of Superman’s greatest foes wears his face, and in Action Comics #1055 the Cyborg Superman returns to plague the House of El.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe build to the end of the beginning of the new era of Action Comics, with continuing back-ups by Dan Jurgens, Lee Weeks, Elizabeth Breitweiser, Rob Leigh, Dorado Quick, Yasmin Flores Montanez, Brad Anderson, and Sharpe.

The Cyborg Superman’s army of Metallo drones are overrunning Metropolis. While Superman and his family fight them off, they know their only hope is to find Hank Henshaw and taking the fight to him. To do that, Superman, Superboy and Steel may have make a deal with not just one but two devils…

Johnson writes a story that’s equal parts action, nostalgia, and character. This issue is perhaps the strongest of the story arc in that last respect. Everyone gets at least a moment to shine, even if the story doesn’t focus on them, and Metallo is humanized more than he’s probably ever been. Meanwhile the fight against the Metallos is a lot of fun, and Johnson builds great tension as the family strides into their confrontation with Henshaw.

Sandoval and Herms are a huge part of why the issue works so well too. They pace the action well, and are able to capture each character’s personalities through it (Conner and Kenan’s growing relationship continues to delight). They’re also able to inject Metallo with increasing pathos, despite the fact that he’s almost entirely lost his humanity at this point. The layouts all look good, but Metallos flashback being told as a photo album is an especially poignant touch.

The back-ups continue to be a mixed bag. The Lois and Clark back-up really doesn’t do much and this story feels like it’s dragging on too long. The Steel story is interesting but doesn’t have a hook to quite be interesting enough to keep me coming back.

Action Comics #1055 is available now from DC Comics.