“The Super-Brawl”: The Superman Family Will Battle The Phantom Zone’s Prisoners in Epic DC Comic Showdown

This winter, the entire Superman family is going up against the angry forces lurking within the Phantom Zone. DC All In is just days away and the past is coming back to haunt the Man of Steel in a big way as a mysterious new villain leads an uprising against DC’s greatest hero.

Big changes are on the horizon with DC’s All In initiative and the flagship Action Comics title is about to go weekly for an epic new story. The sins of Superman’s father are finally coming to life and leading to one of the most consequential battles Clark Kent has ever faced.

Superman’s Facing Off with the Phantom Zone’s Prisoners in Epic “Super-Brawl”

Action Comics Epic Phantom Zone Arc Ends December 25th, 2024

As fans wait with bated breath for DC All In to begin in earnest, solicitations are giving a big look at what lies ahead for the long-running series Action Comics. DC Comics surprised fans with the reveal that the last several months of its Superman Superstars initiative would feature lauded creators such as Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Mariko Tamaki, and Skylar Patridge. But the real surprise was that the title was going weekly to tell an epic saga involving Superman reckoning with the Phantom Zone and a mysterious new villain known as Aethyr.

This December, Aethyr’s grand plans are finally coming to fruition. The month will see four new issues of Action Comics being published, including the grand finale of the Phantom Zone tale. Despite Superman’s attempt to save both the Earth and the Phantom Zone, the incarcerated phantoms are heading straight for Earth! Thankfully the Man of Steel isn’t alone as he’s joined by his allies for what Action Comics #1080’s solicitation promises to be “the brawl to end all super-brawls”. When all is said and done, Aethyr’s final battle will have changed the iconic Superman prison for good.

The final two issues of this arc will feature a connection variant cover by Mark Spears. Action Comics #1080 sees Superman flying through the cosmos with Superboy, Supergirl, and Steel by his side. Action Comics #1081, on the other hand, shows off the villainous Aethyr as he presides over an army of Phantom Zone prisoners. When placed side-by-side, the covers form a powerful image that shows off the intense battle set to rock the Superman Family’s world and change Clark’s mythos for good.

What is the Phantom Zone and Why Does Aethyr Want it Gone?

Phantom Zone’s First Appearance: Adventure Comics #283 (1961)

The Phantom Zone is a liminal void that was originally discovered during the heyday of Krypton. The pocket dimension was originally discovered by Superman’s father Jor-El (at least in the Pre-Crisis DC Universe). The Zone is barren and empty and was used by Kryptonian society as a punishment for its most violent criminals such as Jax-Ur or Superman’s classic nemesis General Zod. While Krypton was eventually destroyed, the Phantom Zone lived on, as did all of its inhabitants, who stood by waiting for a chance to be freed.

Superman eventually discovered the strange dimension and the threats lurking within it. The Man of Tomorrow was able to access the Phantom Zone by way of a projector, though even he agreed that many of the criminals who had been sentenced to the void were too dangerous to be running around free. Superman has even sent villains he believed were a threat to the Phantom Zone, such as the White Martians. However, this was only ever under extreme circumstances and it’s not something Superman considers lightly.

However, some time ago, the Kryptonian criminal Jax-Ur broke out of the Phantom Zone thanks to a strange, non-phantom figure who was seen inside the realm working on a mysterious device. The figure, calling themselves Aethyr, lamented the state of the souls trapped within the Phantom Zone and cursing the monsters who built it. The stranger vowed that no matter how long it took them, Aethyr would eventually free those who had been condemned to the iconic prison Superman’s family so readily used.

Massive Changes Are Coming for the Superman Family

What is the Future for the Phantom Zone and Superman’s Allies?

Though fans haven’t seen this story play out yet, DC has released the solicitations of 12 issues, all of which hint at a huge storyline that’s going to have some huge moments for Superman and his family. But the most important thing that’s been seen so far is this epic battle that will play out in the final issues of the saga. The Man of Steel and his family have fought rogue Kryptonians before, but will they be enough to stop an entire army filled with embittered prisoners, all of whom possess the same strength as Superman?

Fortunately, by the sound of Action Comics #1081’s solicitation, Superman and his allies will save the day and return the prisoners back to the Phantom Zone. But shockingly, the solicitation outright says that one Superman Family member is going to go with the prisoners. It’s highly unlikely that Superman is all of a sudden going to condemn one of his own to the Phantom Zone, but someone is confirmed to be going. But who would willingly go back such a harsh environment, even if it does wind up changing for the better?

The most obvious choice is Mon-El. Not only is he confirmed to be a part of the arc and a distant Superman Family member, but his life in the Phantom Zone ultimately results in him joining the Legion of Super-Heroes. Mon-El’s always desired freedom from the Phantom Zone due to his sensitivity to lead. But perhaps this battle with the prisoners will give Mon-El a new perspective on the extra-dimensional prison and the important role he plays in the Superman Family guarding the Phantom Zone.

The Superman Family vs. Phantom Zone Prisoners Will Be a Battle for the Ages

There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to this upcoming saga, but one thing is clear: Superman’s battle with Aethyr and the Phantom Zone prisoners is going to have huge ramifications. The creatives behind DC All In have promised major changes for the DC Universe and what better way to do that for Superman than by shaking up this iconic part of his lore. Who knows how this fight is going to shake out, but Superman fans certainly aren’t going to want to miss it.

Action Comics #1080 is available on December 18th and Action Comics #1081 is available on December 25th from DC Comics.