Scott's Take: Superman Action Comics Vol 1: Warworld Rising by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Superman Action Comics Vol 1: Warworld Rising by Phillip Kennedy Johnson comes out of the events in Dark Nights: Death Metal. Superman has a secret. He is not as super as he was. He has lost some of his power. After a damaged battleship carrying refuges, who may be Kryptonians, trying to escape the forces of Mongul the warlord leader of Warworld crashes into the ocean, a race is on over recovering the power source of the battleship. Also at stake is how best to deal with the refuges and also prepare for the invasion by Mongul. Jon (Superman’s son) has a secret fear. While he was in the future, he found out that the records of this time period indicate that Superman goes missing at some point. He is not ready to be Superman or lose his dad, but life may have other plans.

 

This book has Superman, Lois, their son, Supergirl, and various members of the Justice League. Mongul is an alien warlord from a family of alien warlords where tradition in the family business means each one kills their father and takes their place as leader. Each one leads the gladiator slave society where they all love in a giant death star that they call Warworld. Mongul is cruel, intelligent, and powerful. Mongul is responsible for using “Black Mercy” on Superman as it is a plant from Krypton that traps people in a dream world while it feeds on them. He did it to him on Superman’s birthday. That caused Superman to dream of a perfect world where Krypton never exploded. When he got free of the plant, Superman had to fight through the pain of losing his family all over again. As result, Superman hates Mongul and is not about to allow him to do anything to anyone ever again.

This book also has minor ties to Superman and The Authority by Grant Morrison. This particular saga is continued in Superman Action Comics Vol 2: The Arena which is currently scheduled to be released in August. Some of the events here in this book lead to what happens in Superman: Son of Kal-El Volume 1: The Truth currently scheduled to be released at the end of May. In that book, Superman’s son, Jon, is trying to live up to his father’s legacy.

Featuring plenty of action and drama with great art supporting it, Superman Action Comics Vol 1: Warworld Rising by Phillip Kennedy Johnson is well worth your time. Recommend.

My reading copy came from the Pleasant Grove Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. 

Scott A. Tipple ©2022