In this review of Action Comics #1085, Clark is sent off to find what is happening at an Arctic research station that is experiencing numerous malfunctions.
Action Comics #1085
Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Gavin Guidry
Colors: Trish Mulvihill
Main Cover: Brad Walker
Variant Covers: Cully Hamner, Davide Paratore, Danny Earls
Page Count: 32 Pages
Release Date: April 9, 2025
This review contains spoilers
In Action Comics #1085, the heat is on in Metropolis, literally. Instead of going to the Arctic to talk about a refreezing of the Arctic Shelf project with stationed scientists, Perry White wants Lois to work the Metropolis city council about what they plan to do about it. Since everyone else is busy, Lois is able to tap Clark to go in her stead. After a comically stomach-churning flight Clark meets Drs. Pearce and Addison who inform him that something, or someone, has been monkeying around with their mainframe and all the data they’ve accumulated could be lost.
While going over the damage the group is attacked by a pair of cybernetically enhanced polar bears. Fortunately, the are saved by the timely arrival of Superman. Superman removes the bears but before he can dispose of them they dissolve in the arctic air. Clark, who has been “hiding” shows back up with the scientists who are now convinced they are being targeted, but by who? Taking a look around, Superman is attacked by a giant robot. He is able to easily dispatch the robot and in doing so discovers who is behind the attack on the scientists…Kilg%re!
Analysis
The whole Superman family of characters have never really been my jam, to be honest. Unless he’s a SuperBOY and surrounded by a Legion of other superheroes I’ve never been all that interested in stories involving an unstoppable Ubermensch. So, given that, I feel most stories involving Superman are best served focusing on the “man” part and de-emphasizing the “super.” This story does a good job of doing just that. I like the focus on Clark and it works well with this story from his feigned queasiness on the flight to the arctic, and his dealings with the scientists.
I also liked the interaction between Perry and Lois although I would have liked a little more backbone from Perry regarding Lois’ demands (if this is the normal way things go, she has to be the richest reporter on the face of the (Daily) planet (Ha!). Kilg%re is an interesting choice of villain for this issue since I can’t really see why he would care about refreezing the arctic shelf but I’m not writing the story, I’m just reviewing it.
The art is good. It reminds me a little of Trevor Von Eeden’s work on old issues of Green Arrow. It’s pretty simple but it’s also evocative. I don’t think its intentional but I do like that one of the arctic scientists looks like an older version of Ice of JLI fame. Guidry is a little hampered by dealing with an arctic palette but he does do an interesting job giving Big Blue a camouflaged version of his uniform to blend in with the snow. All in all, a very nice effort and well executed.
Final Thoughts
For what I would call a “filler” story, Action Comics #1085 is a nice and compelling effort. I’m interested in what Kilg%re wants with refreezing the arctic shelf but if anyone can get to the bottom of the mystery, it’s Superman.
