In this review of Action Comics #1102, Ursa is determined to save Krypton from destruction. Can Supergirl and Superboy stop her and save the timeline?
ACTION COMICS #1102
Written by MARK WAID
Art by MONTOS
Main Cover: LUCAS MEYER
Variant Covers: PETE WOODS, SALVADOR LARROCA, MARK SPEARS
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 9/9/26
This review contains spoilers
Action Comics #1102 is part six of nine of the “Kingdom of Zod” event. As the issue opens, Superboy (young Clark) finds himself having to rescue Supergirl and Ursa from General Zod’s interrogation room, where they landed themselves in Supergirl #17.
Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter telepathically communicates with the Justice League Watchtower to ask for help. Unfortunately, there’s nobody available to send, as the Green K infection is spreading rapidly across the planet.
Back in the interrogation room, Ursa tries to convince Zod she’s from the future and that Jor-El is right about Krypton’s upcoming demise. This angers Zod, giving Supergirl the chance to grab her S-Matrix suit, knock out Zod, and escape.
While Steel (John Henry Irons) and Nat (Natasha Irons) continue to work on a remedy for the infection, Lana heads off to find Superman and crew. She finds them and tries to heal everyone, but collapses.
Supergirl and Superboy are able to drag Ursa back to the time sphere, but Zod catches up to them, blasting the area with an energy weapon. The cousins prepare to fight the General, as the issue comes to a close.
Analysis
Although this event is short compared to something like DC K.O., the writers continue to cycle through a large number of groups with efficiency. Writer Mark Waid’s early focus is on Superboy and his struggles to make it through Krypton, an alien world to him. Even with weakening powers, young Clark is able to do a good job of handling the pressure.
The rest of the story quickly moves through everyone else facing tough situations. Mary Marvel and Martian Manhunter get captured by El Calderan forces. Steel and Nat have to fight off Green K-infected human zombies. Superman, Prime, and Superboy (Conner) suffer through K-infection. One bright spot comes when Clark finally gets back to Lois and Jon.
I liked what Waid did with Ursa in this issue. She was determined to change the course of history in order to save Krypton, but her actions still led to Krypton’s destruction. Her pleas to Zod backfired spectacularly. Even after she escapes with Supergirl, Ursa attempts to convince Zor-El to report Krypton’s fate to the science council. He was already on the way to do so, but thanks to Ursa’s actions, Zor-El falls off a building, fractures his head, and breaks his data tablet, putting an end to any hopes of saving Krypton. It’s a pretty cruel twist of fate for Ursa.
The illustrations by Montos have a unique style to them. The drawings have good detail, especially the panels featuring up close face shots, but those details sometimes have a “rough” feeling to them. The look might not be for everyone initially, but it does grow on you. The colors by Ivan Plascencia are used effectively. On Krypton, he gives the scenes a red hue, while at El Caldero, greens and blues dominate. This fits perfectly with the environments for those locations.
Final Thoughts
Action Comics #1102 leads us into the home stretch of the “Kingdom of Zod” event. It’s an entertaining story that never stops rotating through hero groups, keeping the action fresh and the pages turning. Have fun, comic lovers!
