Action Comics #1046
Superman makes his play for the Fire of Olgrun in Action Comics #1046, by writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, artist Fico Ossio, colorist Lee Loughridge, and letterer Dave Sharpe. In the back-up, by Kennedy Johnson, artist David Lapham, colorist Trish Mulvihill, and Sharpe, Steel and the Superman Family confront Conduit. The penultimate chapter of the Warworld Saga delivers, but that’s nothing new.
Superman and company make their way to the Fire of Olgrun. Kryl-Ux is injured, but Superman saves him and leaves him behind. He makes his way to the inner sanctum, answering the riddle and finding himself face to face with the keeper of the Fire. He defeats it with an unconventional method and finally gets the power he needs. However, Mongul has one last surprise. In the back-up, Steel, Super-Man, Superboy, and Supergirl catch up to Conduit. He fights them off until Superman arrives. Jon puts him down, and Conduit asks for Waller’s help, but she denies him. He reaches out and grabs the Genesis fragment. He gains the power to fight them off, but Steel comes up from behind and destroys the fragment. When Supergirl asks him what they’re going to do about Thao-La, he says they’ll figure something out.
Johnson gives readers an action-packed story throughout the main portion of the book. From the initial attack by the guardian to Superman fighting the keeper of the Fire, this is a fast-paced comic. However, looking at the ending, he’s been building the twist right from the beginning. It’s so well done because it’s impossible to predict. Some readers might figure it out, but it’s not as telegraphed as some other twists have been.
The end game of the issue is so good. Everything leading up to this point has depended on Superman’s physicality, but getting to the Fire and claiming takes brains. Superman has to think outside the box to solve the riddle to unlock the door, and the battle against the keeper tests who he is as a warrior and a person. It’s a great way for Johnson to show what kind of person Superman is. The twist ending is wonderful and leads into the final chapter adroitly. The back-up is more of the same. It’s action-packed, shows off how dangerous Conduit can be, and sees Steel make a decision that shows just what kind of hero he is. It’s nice to see Steel get some love finally and shows that he’s a man who not only once replaced Superman but that he definitely deserved it.
Ossio’s style doesn’t exactly feel like it should fit this story at first, but as the issue goes on, it’s easy to see that he was a great choice as penciler. There are some gorgeous double-page action spreads in this chapter. Ossio imparts them with detail and flow that captures the kinetic action. His character acting is wonderful, completely selling the emotion of the script. The final page is the cherry on top of the whole thing. Loughridge’s colors do their job brilliantly. He lights every scene with a bluish glow that sets the stage and colors the double-page spreads beautifully. Lapham and Mulvihill do a tremendous job in the back-up as well. Lapham’s pencils retain the old-school style that they had, the heavy lines giving everything a solidity and power that it wouldn’t otherwise have. Mulvihill uses a very bright palette that makes the pencils look phenomenal.
Action Comics #1046 is a great penultimate chapter. Johnson is excellent at making an action-packed story, but he has no problem showing why the heroes are heroes. He does that with Superman and Steel in this issue’s stories. Ossio, Loughridge, Lapham, Mulvihill, and Sharpe supply the story with amazing visuals. This issue does an incredible job of getting everyone ready for the finale of this brilliant story.
