Warning: Spoilers ahead Action Comics #1070!Superman is the most iconic superhero of any franchise for good reason. His latest mission is the perfect example of what makes him truly “super” – and it has nothing to do with his Kryptonian abilities. After being directly confronted with the suffering in the Phantom Zone, Clark Kent prepares to head inside and investigate, putting himself in incredible danger to do what is right by criminals who already hate him.
Action comics #1070 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe pits Superman and Supergirl against a monstrosity of three Phantom Zone prisoners fused into one being. The unnatural chimera demands in Kryptonian that they kill it, making it clear that its existence is torture. After the immediate threat is handled, Superman steps up by volunteering to go alone into the Phantom Zone to investigate what might be going on with the prisoners.
Every being there has a personal vendetta against the house of Al, but Clark knows what is happening there is wrong, and his kind, brave heart will not let him ignore it, making him truly the greatest superhero.
Superman demonstrates true heroism by walking into the Phantom Zone
All to save the most dangerous criminals – who hate him
Saving criminals is not a trait unique to Superman, and many DC heroes have unique relationships with their villains, often resulting in them sparing their lives and offering reform. Clark’s current predicament is a step beyond that. Not only the Phantom Zone prisoners blame multiple generations of the House of El for their situation, however Superman has no way of knowing what awaits him there. He readily admits that the zone is changing and is no longer the place his father first discovered. it is “Sad and disorienting,“And there is no comfort in his mystery.
Even with this knowledge and the genuine fear he feels, Superman remains determined not to let even those with the “darkest of hearts” suffer.
The Phantom Zone has already produced one monster that Superman and Supergirl failed to get together, and only Jimmy Olsen unleashing a dose of gold kryptonite finished the job. Clark will have no such backup this time. Even with this knowledge and the genuine fear he feels, Superman remains determined not to let even those with the “Darkest of hearts“Suffer. Superman is who he is because of Kal-El’s commitment to treating everyone with the same unwavering sense of empathy. Preventing suffering is the right thing to do. There are no caveats. This is the saddest “superhero” quality possible, and he embodies it.
Superman’s unyielding goodness may be his undoing
How will Superman survive the hostile Phantom Zone?
The qualities that make him the greatest superhero could spell his doom. Clark knows the unprecedented danger and that he will get no sympathy where he is heading. The job is uniquely dangerous, even for a man who routinely faces the worst of the universe. a simplerecon“Mission can quickly devolve into more than the Kryptonian can handle – especially since he is already struggling against the horrors something in the Phantom Zone is conjuring. Superman Facing his death in the Phantom Zone, he will do so by protecting some of the universe’s most dangerous and unforgiving criminals, as only the greatest hero can.
Action comics #1070 is available now from DC Comics.