Weird Science DC Comics: Action Comics #1084 Review

When we last left the Man of Steel in Action Comics #1083, Clark Kent’s investigative research led him to conclude that someone was taking advantage of former supervillains in a cash-for-DNA scheme. The trail led to Bruno Mannheim setting up the scheme within a pocket dimension, ignoring the depression-causing side effects impacting the supervillains trying to reform. The issue ended with a group of animalistic super soldiers attacking Superman on Mannheim’s orders.

Plot Synopsis

In Action Comics #1084, the arc comes to an end when Superman learns about Bruno Mannheim’s primary client – the Foreverers. The weird team of Aliens/Demons/SomethingOrOthers tells Superman they pay Mannheim for the DNA material the gangster gets from supervillains so they can live forever. Why? Simply because they can.

Superman threatens to shut them down, prompting the Foreverers to attack. Superman holds his own, but Scorch saves the day when she (again) chooses not to side with Mannheim and banishes the gangster and the Foreverers to a Hell dimension.

The issue ends with the painful truth that Major Disaster’s daughter, Penny Booker, was responsible for Max Boykin’s death. Major Disaster staged the accident to cover up for his daughter’s mistake. Presented with the truth, Superman struggles with which call to make – leave Penny Booker alone to not follow in her father’s footsteps or expose the truth so Major Disaster doesn’t remain in prison by choice to protect his daughter.

Action Comics #1084 is, as an Irish friend of mine would say, “pants.” Writer John Ridley sets up a scenario that may or may not be legal and resolves it in the harshest terms possible, but he chooses to leave an obvious injustice unattended. In other words, John Ridley’s moral compass for Superman points in every direction but the right one.

How’s the Art?

Inaki Miranda’s art style is generally solid. Superman looks sufficiently super, especially during the brief action scene, and the Foreverers are uniquely designed, which is a plus. 

What’s great about Action Comics #1084?

John Ridley plants the seeds for future exploration if an enterprising writer were motivated to take up the cause. The Foreverers swear to return for revenge, so there’s that, and the discovery of a medical procedure for immortality has potential.

What’s not great about Action Comics #1084?

The moral inconsistency is a deal killer for this issue. How can Superman be perfectly okay with banishing Mannheim and the Foreverers to a Hell dimension without blinking an eye but turning a blind eye (maybe) to a woman who clearly commits manslaughter because a man yelled at her? Ridley’s sense of right and wrong is broken.