Mild Mannered Reviews - Action Comics
Action Comics Annual 2021 #1
Scheduled to arrive in stores: July 6, 2021Cover date: 2021
Reviewed by: James Lantz
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"Tales of The House of El"
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Penciller: Siya Oum and Scott Godlewski
Inker: Siya Oum and Scott Godlewski
Cover: Scott Godlewski
Variant Cover: Valentine De Landro
In a future time, children on Warworld secretly hear a tale of another future where the House of El welcomes a new family member. Phaelosian Warmaster Khan and Kryptonian Valkyrie of the Warworld Engines and Alura Van-El, Kara Zor-El's niece, are about to marry. Khan gives his sword to the House of El and his blood to Alura. Then, as per Phaelosian tradition, he must combat one of the House of El's family members. Pyrrhos, fallen son of Superman who killed Darkseid and took over as ruler of Apokolips, accepts Khan's challenge, but his means of fighting meant sending many from the House of El to the Phantom Zone. There they find Henry Henshaw, the destroyer of Coast City who is better known as the Cyborg Superman.
Henshaw has helped Brandon Kent, Khan, Brainiac 4 and the others while Pyrrhos holds Kara prisoner. The latest line in the House of El is saved many times over by the Cyborg Superman. However, he merely used them to active a Mother Box belonging to the dead Mister Miracle, who was murdered by Henshaw. Kara, meanwhile, looks to a metal model of Kal-El, the same one as child's toy in the beginning of the story, for hope. As if to answer her, Brandon Kent and those stranded in the Phantom Zone return with Hank Henshaw, who is pardoned by Kara. The Cyborg Superman leaves, but we may not have seen the last of him or Pyrrhos, who has returned to Apokolips.
The wedding of Khan and Alura goes on without any problems. Brandon's son Ronan takes over as Earth's Superman. He and his sister, the Blue Lantern Rowan Kent, defended the universe while Brandon trained daughter Theand'r to one day become Superwoman. More stories will entertain Warworld's children another day. Yet, little Thao-La wonders how her Superman toy came into Kara Zor-El's possession. That is but another tale for another time.
Story - 3: Inasmuch as the story itself is in fact good, I can't help but wonder if all the time jumps in Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run at this point are necessary? Perhaps other issue will quell my doubts. Still, we had "Future State," and gradual nuggets of that have been shown coming to pass. I had hoped for a story to answer my many questions during Kennedy's run on the title. Instead, I'm left asking more. It feels like readers are left in the middle of a movie whose beginning and end have not yet been filmed.
Art - 3: I'm a bit on the fence about the art. On some pages, it's great. On others it's atrocious, and still, others are mediocre. It feels like both artists had problems sticking with a style.
Cover Art - 5: This cover is utterly incredible.
Variant Cover Art - 4: I waffled back and forth on this one. Much like "Star Trek: Nemesis," I hated it at first. Then after a couple more views it grew on me. It still has its flaws, but it's a decent effort.
Mild Mannered Reviews
2021
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2021
- Superman #27
- Action Comics #1027
- Batman/Superman #14
- Justice League #56
- Justice League #57
- Young Justice #20
- Legion of Super-Heroes #11
- DCeased: Dead Planet #5
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #1
- Superman: Endless Winter #1 [of 1]
- Superman #28
- Justice League #58
- Action Comics #1028
- Batman/Superman #15
- DCeased: Dead Planet #6 [of 6]
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #6 [of 6]
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1
- DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #4
- Challenge of the Super Sons #5
- Justice League: Endless Winter #2
- Legion of Super-Heroes #12
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #1
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #1
- Future State: Justice League #1
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #1
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #1
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #1
- Future State: Batman/Superman #1
- Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights - Metal #1
- DCeased: Dead Planet #7
- Dark Nights: Death Metal #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #6
- Challenge of the Super Sons #7
- Challenge of the Super Sons #8
- Challenge of the Super Sons #9
- Truth & Justice #4
- Future State: Superman of Metropolis #2
- Future State: Kara Zor-El, Superwoman #2
- Future State: Superman/Wonder Woman #2
- Future State: Justice League #2
- Future State: Superman: Worlds of War #2
- Future State: Legion of Super-Heroes #2
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #2
- Future State: Batman/Superman #2
- Future State: Superman: House of El #1
- Challenge of the Super Sons #10
- Challenge of the Super Sons #11
- Challenge of the Super Sons #12
- Challenge of the Super Sons #13
- Challenge of the Super Sons #14
- Truth & Justice #5
- Truth & Justice #6
- Infinite Frontier #0
- Crime Syndicate #1
- Superman #29
- Action Comics #1029
- Superman: Red and Blue #1 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #16
- Justice League #59
- Future State: Superman vs. Imperious Lex #3
- Superman by Grant Morrison Omnibus HC
- Superman #30
- Action Comics #1030
- Superman: Red and Blue #2 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #17
- Justice League #60
- Crime Syndicate #2
- Superman #31
- Action Comics #1031
- Superman: Red and Blue #3 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #18
- Justice League #61
- Justice League: Last Ride #1
- Crime Syndicate #3
- Superman #32
- Action Comics #1032
- Superman: Red and Blue #4 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #19
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #1 [of 8]
- Justice League #62
- Justice League #63
- Justice League: Last Ride #2
- Crime Syndicate #4
- Infinite Frontier #1
- Action Comics Annual 2021
- Action Comics #1033
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #5 [of 6]
- Batman/Superman #20
- Superman & The Authority #1 [of 4]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2 [of 8]
- Justice League #64
- Justice League #65
- Crime Syndicate #5
- Justice League: Last Ride #3
- Infinite Frontier #2
- Infinite Frontier #3
- Justice League Infinity #1
- Action Comics #1034
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #2
- Batman/Superman #21
- Batman/Superman 2021 Annual #1
- Superman: Red and Blue #6 [of 6]
- Superman & The Authority #2 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #1 [of 6]
- Superman vs. Lobo #1 [of 3]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #3 [of 8]
- Justice League #66
- Justice League: Last Ride #4
- Justice League Infinity #2
- Crime Syndicate #6
- Infinite Frontier #4
- Infinite Frontier #5
- Action Comics #1035
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #3
- Batman/Superman #22
- Superman & The Authority #3 [of 4]
- Superman '78 #2 [of 6]
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #4 [of 8]
- Justice League #67
- Justice League #68
- Justice League: Last Ride #5
- Justice League Infinity #3
- Infinite Frontier #6
- Superman: Son of Kal-El #4
- Superman & The Authority #4 [of 4]
- Justice League: Last Ride #6
- Justice League Infinity #4
- DC vs. Vampires #1 [of 12]
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Check out the Comic Index Lists for the complete list of Superman-related comics published in 2021.