After 63 Years, DC Is Permanently Destroying an Iconic Part of Superman Lore

Warning! Spoilers for Action Comics #1076!With both the Fortress of Solitude and Krypton now destroyed, it seems that DC is finally moving onto destroying Superman’s third important location, the Phantom Zone. As Aethyr takes over the Phantom Zone, it’s finally crumbling to nothing, and Superman is about to lose the final important landmark in his history.

The surprising destruction of the Phantom Zone is glimpsed and teased in Action Comics #1076 by Mark Waid and Clayton Henry. The Phantom Zone has been taken over by Aethyr, a being who wanted to make the Phantom Zone a better place. Unfortunately, the Phantom Zone is full of violent criminals, and Aethyr quickly realizes the error of his ways in trying to give these people salvation.

Furious that the prisoners of the Phantom Zone rejected his salvation, Aethyr begins turning the Zone into an even worse hell. The Phantom Zone is finally reaching its limit as Superman discovers it is being torn apart, completely crumbling around him, as he can do nothing but watch one of the most important parts of his history be destroyed.

The Phantom Zone Has Been A Major Part Of Superman’s Legacy – But Now It Might Be Gone for Good

Action Comics #1076 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe.

Despite the destruction of Krypton, Superman managed to keep quite a lot of Kryptonian technology, and one of the most dangerous has always been the Phantom Zone Projector. Originally created by Jor-El, the exact use of the Phantom Zone Projector has changed over the years. In some stories, it was created specifically for prisoners; in other stories, it was created as a means for Kryptonians to survive the upcoming implosion of Krypton. It’s always been one of Superman’s most powerful tools – perhaps too powerful, as the destruction of the Phantom Zone fixes a few storytelling problems with Superman’s lore.

One of the biggest issues with Superman having such a powerful weapon was the question of why Superman never uses it against his more dangerous villains. It makes perfect sense why Superman can’t use the Phantom Zone Projector on Doomsday, as during the New 52, Doomsday had developed the ability to teleport to and from the Zone at will. But it’s never really been addressed why Superman doesn’t remove other major villains, like the Joker, using the Phantom Zone. If Batman refuses to kill the Joker, the Phantom Zone seems like a great solution, but it’s never been brought up.

The Last of Superman’s Legendary Landmarks Is Finally Gone

Could the Phantom Zone Actually Survive?

With the Phantom Zone being destroyed, questions about why Superman doesn’t use the Phantom Zone Projector for his more dangerous villains are finally answered. Tons of problems would be solved if Superman was more liberal with the Phantom Zone Projector. He could’ve slowed down Imperiex, sealed away Darkseid, or taken care of smaller villains like the Joker with ease. But now that the Phantom Zone seems to be on the verge of collapse, Superman will have to figure out another way to deal with his most dangerous villains.

Action Comics #1076 is available now from DC Comics!