Superman: Action Comics: Superstars Vol. 2

by John Ridley, Inaki Miranda (Illustrator)

The Man of Steel wrestles with the limits of his power to inspire when Major Disaster and other former super-villains return to their lives of crime…but is something else behind this devastating setback? And when Clark Kent travels to the Arctic to explore a mystery, it’s a job for Superman to stop a bizarre machine intelligence whose goals threaten everything the hero holds dear. Collects Action Comics #1082-1086.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Superman, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2025

About the author

John Ridley IV (born October 1965)[2] is an American screenwriter, television director, novelist, and showrunner, known for 12 Years a Slave, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He is also the creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed anthology series American Crime. His most recent work is the documentary film Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992.


Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth or justice? Ridley presents two stories that provide mental and emotional challengers for the Man of Steel. The first is a story of how far one would go for family and how this can blur the lines between justice and Superman's compassion. The other touches upon the shift in environmental factors and the repercussions of time that Superman has to come to terms with. It's always nice to see writers explore more than powers levels with this character. and Ridley pretty much nails the Clark and Superman differences. A lot of fun and lined with sweet Clark and Lois moments, sometimes you just need to read a Superman comic that focuses on how even the most powerful can struggle with human emotions.

actual rating 3.5 stars

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some more random Superman adventures as the Superman Superstars initiative concludes.

John Ridley and Inaki Miranda put recidivism in the spotlight for about five seconds before the first story becomes a tale about the death of hope, so mixed messages seems to be the order of the day here. I'm glad to see Miranda's art again though, I've missed their visuals.

The second two issues send Clark to the Arctic to fight robotically enhanced polar bears and stuff in a story that seems to think it's about environmental activism and AI, but is actually about not very much at all. G. Willow Wilson's script and Gavin Guidry's art are both fine, but I've read better from both of them.

Infinitely skippable, unless you're a Super-collectionist.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories given a chance to showcase Clark Kent having doubts and fears...

Major Disaster and Kilgore as the focus of the stories featured in this TPB was a good touch. We're not recreating the wheel here. It's typical Superman storytelling (have faith, keep hoping, care for each other).
====
Bonus: All we're missing is 'sharks with fricking laser beams attached to their heads'...
Bonus Bonus: Arctic camouflage Superman is the whitest thing EVER...

[Steven desJardins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two unconnected stories. The John Ridley story, about a villain turned hero who relapses to villainy, was the more interesting of the two, because it's as much about Clark Kent doing journalism in an effort to understand what was happening, but it was undermined by a couple of twists that felt like cop-outs. The G. Willow Wilson story set in an Arctic research station was just kind of, well, passable. If there were half-stars, I would rate this lower, instead of rounding the stronger story up.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The emotional weight of being Superman.

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

1082-1084, Force Majeure, ☆☆☆
1085-1086, Solitude, ☆☆☆