Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1078Supermanhas taken down plenty of dangerous opponents over the years, but his latest challenge is enough to put even Doomsday to shame. An army of Kryptonians has spawned in Earth’s vicinity, and with the Super-Family weakened, only Superman can make a stand as his home’s last line of defense against its most perilous threat to date.
Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, and Michael Shelfer’s “Phantoms” storyline reaches a fever pitch inAction Comics#1078. Aethyr’s machinations have led to thePhantom Zone being destroyed, taking out Earth’s sun with it to fuel his dastardly schemes. Superman tries to free the Zone’s prisoners in an effort to save their lives - and the Earth - but his plan backfires when they emerge beside the sun.
As the Phantom Zone inhabitants are exposed to the yellow sun, they unlock the true extent of their superhuman abilities, reaching Superman’s level of might.Superman must now face off against full-powered Kryptonians in a fight that makes Doomsday seem like a joke.
Superman Faces His Greatest Challenge Yet as Kryptonian Criminals Attack
The Phantom Zone Prisoners Rival Superman Thanks to Earth’s Sun
Superman’s most diabolical villain yet, Aethyr, hastransformed the Phantom Zone into a twisted nightmarethat’s contributed to its implosion. By drawing energy from Earth’s sun, Aethyr is tearing both the Earth and the Phantom Zone apart, and Superman can’t salvage the Zone.To avoid any casualties, he decides to release the prisoners on a planet with a red sun; that way, they can survive, but they’ll beweakened by the red sunlightand unable to put up a fight. Supergirl and Jon Kent set out to free the prisoners safely, only for them to somehow join Superman near Earth’s sun.
Superman’s “Black Lightning” Weakness Makes Kryptonite Look Safe
Superman reveals a mysterious new weakness that puts Kryptonite to shame, as Krypton’s black lightning affects him in a terrifying way.
Superman may practically be a godcompared to most other fighters in the DC Universe, but if anyone can match him in terms of power, it’s the inhabitants of the Phantom Zone. Kryptonians' unique biology lets them gain power from being in ayellow sun’s proximity, as demonstrated here when Superman recharges. Earth’s sun is therefore the ideal energy source for the prisoners now that they’re free.Superman’s immeasurable power in the hands of Krypton’s darkest criminals is a recipe for disaster, and although Superman is certainly a powerhouse, he’s at a critical disadvantage against so many fighters of his caliber.
Superman Faces an Army of Kryptonians Alone in the Ultimate Battle
Superman Is Outnumbered and Outmatched - Can He Win This Fight?
Superman isn’t only rivaled in raw power by these incoming Kryptonians, because they also possess strength in numbers.Normally, Superman has the Super-Family to watch his back when he’s in trouble. As recently asAction Comics#1070, when thePhantom Zone first releaseda monstrous Kryptonian, Supergirl assisted him in the subsequent battle so he didn’t have to fight alone. Now, with therest of Superman’s family powerlessand separated, he has no choice but to take on the Phantom Zone prisoners without their help.Supermanis officially in for the fight of his life against this Doomsday-level threat.
Action Comics#1078is available now from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
