Warning! Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #1034!
In Action Comics #1034, Superman is busy trying to prevent a war between the U.S. and Aquaman's home, Atlantis. In the latest issue, Superman intercepted a flurry of incoming aircraft. One of the spaceships had a range of supposedly stranded refugees as passengers, which were being attacked by the Warzoons that followed behind. Superman and Superboy were able to save the Kryptonian refugees, but the ship they were on landed at the bottom of the ocean, in Atlantis' territory.
On scavenging the ship for information about its technology, the Atlanteans discover an energy source that has never been documented. According to their scientists, the substance that it most closely resembles is "source." For avid comic book readers, the material known as Source will be familiar. The Source is the core of all that exists in DC's universe, it's a material of unimaginable power that has limitless energy. Such power is not something that the Atlanteans are just ready to let go of. When Superman asks to examine the substance further, by taking it to the Fortress of Solitude, he is almost instantly denied.
This all heavily relates to the solicitation for Action Comics #1034 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Daniel Sampere, and Michael Avon Oeming. It teases a brewing war as other nations around the world find out about Atlantis' energy core. Holding that much raw energy is interpreted as a threat, therefore, Atlantis is shortly attacked as power-hungry world leaders order their armies to collect it. Check out the cover art below:
- Action Comics #1034
- story by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, BECKY CLOONAN & MICHAEL W. CONRAD
- art by DANIEL SAMPERE, MICHAEL AVON OEMING
- cover by: DANIEL SAMPERE
- ON SALE : 8/24/21
- $4.99 US | 40 PAGES | FC | DC
- card stock variant by : JULIAN TOTINO TEDESCO Price US $5.99
- The Warzoons make their way to the doorstep of the Fortress of Solitude and only Lois Lane and the alien girl Thao-La are there to defend it. That's because Superman is halfway around the world trying to stop the U.S. from declaring war on Atlantis. The Man of Steel must make a tough choice, and odds are, no one walks away happy.Elsewhere in Metropolis, Midnighter moves closer to the center of Trojan's empire in the penultimate chapter of his back-up adventure. The story finishes later this month with the Midnighter 2021 Annual.
Whilst Superman is preventing an all-out war from happening, the escaped Warzoons from Atlantis make their way to the Fortress of Solitude. This is where they encounter Lois Lane and the Kryptonian refugee known as Thao-La. They must defend the Fortress, but little does Lois know that Thao-La is actually a double agent for Mongul. Back in Atlantis, it seems that the country with the most interest in retrieving the Source rock is the United States of America. Superman will be stuck in a tough spot as his alliance lies with the U.S., however, the militaristic actions they are taking are unreasonable and greedy. Therefore, Superman will try his best to make peace between both sides rather than align with one or the other.
In the end, Superman would be the best person to hold the power of the Source. He is a trusted hero that's here to protect the world, not just one city or country. But mainly because he doesn't have any interest in using such extreme power. The tough decision that is described in the solicitation definitely teases that Superman will have to intrude and probably steal the power source. Which will ultimately force the U.S. to call back its army as they would have no further interest in Atlantis. Where Aquaman lies in the middle of this remains unknown, but he and Superman will be vitally important. Action Comics #1034 is set for release on August 24 in comic book shops and on digital platforms.