Action Comics 2021 Annual #1 continues the House of El solidifying the legacy of Superman into legend! The House of El was introduced in Future State: Superman: House of El #1. It took place in the 30th century, which was the beginning of the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Legion future seemed to cap the future of the DC universe. Phillip Kennedy Johnson has crafted a future world that is not the dystopian darkness of Dark Knight, but the utopian hope of Superman.
Still, the House is challenged by threats of this very different future and it is not all different varieties of Superman. They were settled on the moon with the Fortress of Sanctuary. The House of El is allied to the Warzoons, this reminds me of the Tharks of John Carter of Mars, who swore loyalty to the House after Superman freed them from Warworld. The world of Mongul was introduced in DC Comics Presents #27 (1980). Future State: Superman: Worlds at War #1-2 had Superman fighting as a gladiator, again like Barsoom!
Interior co-artist, Scott Godlewski, provides cover art of the Merlin-like figure, bearded with a hood, and five members of the House of El ready for action! Godlewski is the artist of Superman: House of El. “Tales of the House of El” is by Johnson with art by Godlewski and Siya Oum, the writer and artist of her own sci fi series, Lola Xoxo for Aspen Comics. In a village on Warworld, a young girl is playing with her toy statue, she manages to give an old man some iron and rushes off. I like the red skies giving the Barsoomian sheen with colors by Hi-Fi.
The girl, Thao-La, has goggles, ragged, red cape, and blue tunic with brown pants. Oum has some great work on character faces and storytelling. An older Thao-La was introduced in Johnson's Action Comics #1030, she is part of the Phaelosians, a lost colony of Kryptonians! Thao-La is meeting with the other kids listening to the storyteller. Byla is told Thao-La wants a story about Superman, she carries a metal lump in a Superman shape, and the others are worried that the bloodpriests will hear her. He decides to tell them a story about the future.
This shifts to a splash page with the darkness of the beginning to a bright citadel of Sanctuary. Superwoman is floating above the House of El and the other assembled people. The young Thean’dr complains about weddings. She first appeared in Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #2. This had the last stand of Earth’s heroes at the end of the world. Her father, Brandon Kent, tells her not to worry about the wedding or her armor.
Kennedy mentioned there is a Camelot connection so I think Brandon would be Lancelot and Thean’dr may be Galahad who found the Grail. Brandon is the Superman of New Metropolis. He stands next to Ronan Kent. Ronan is an African-American man so we don’t have to wait for some alternate version of Superman, he is a Kent and of the House of El, a true Superman! If they are looking for a movie version, this is the Superman, not Calvin Ellis. It is unknown who are his parents. Superman’s uniform has a red upper body shoulder armor to the S symbol. He speaks to his twin sister, Rowan, who is the Blue Lantern, the Blue Lantern Corps represent the emotion of hope.
They discuss the wedding, Ronan doubts Alura Van-El would get married, and she is standing next to him! She was the leader of the Warworld’s Valkyries. The equivalent to Tristan? Next to her Brainiac4, Bry Dox, ally to the House of El. He looks similar to Querl Dox, Brainiac 5, of the Legion of Super-Heroes. As an advisor, Brainiac is the Merlin of the group. Alura is going to marry Khan, the warmaster of Warworld Prime.
He has a crop of dark hair on his bald scalp with a short beard, and Conan like armor with cape, golden tasset plates, and sword. Superwoman presides over the ceremony, Alura introduces Khan, and he gives his sword forged in Thanagar as a gift. He offers to Alura his blood which he will use to defend her. A true member of the House of El! Superwoman says the tradition of Warworld is the Test of Strength is to fight one of the House. Brandon Kent agrees to test Khan, but the ceremony is shattered by Pyrrhos. He bursts in a lock of white in his dark hair and red armor. He has killed Darkseid(!) and is now Highfather of Apokolips. Pyrrhos is similar to Mordred who betrayed Camelot.
He challenges Khan who flies goward him with his sword. Pyrrhos has brought a device that crackles with energy. He sends away the House of El. Brandon realizes what Pyrrhos has discovered, it is an apocalyptic world of floating islands with a river of lava below them, the Phantom Zone! Superwoman flies towards Pyrrhos who summons snakes to bind her, he is also the son of Circe, the witch foe of Wonder Woman. The House of El finds the hellscape also inhabited by blue, demonic creatures. There are dark secrets to be revealed later! Alura asks Brainiac 4 if there is a way to escape and he says the only way out is Phantom Zone projectors which were all destroyed.
Khan is on guard with his sword as the hordes of creatures head towads them, one has the tentacled mouth and wings like Cthulhu, Brandon has Thean’dr ready for battle. Rowan leads the battle with two Lantern-made spears. They battle with the creatures, but of course without the yellow sun, their strength is fading. Godlewski brings action to the artwork and has fantastic character designs! Khan is saved by the gauntlet blast of Hank Henshaw! He is the hooded figure with cybernetics, Cyborg Superman, Henshaw was introduced as Cyborg Superman in Adventures of Superman #500 (1993) which started the storyline, “Reign of the Supermen!” The House of El may find an ally in Henshaw to help them escape the Phantom Zone, but he may betray them, and they also have to deal with Pyrrhos when they return! Which makes for a story for Thao-La to learn.
Five Iron Statues out of Five!
#ActionComics2021Annual, #TalesOfTheHouseOfEl, #PhillipKennedyJohnson, #SiyaOum, #ScottGodlewski
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