ACTION COMICS #1073 (Cover) by Ibrahim Moustafa

Action Comics 1073 (Cover)

By Ibrahim Moustafa

Graphite and ink wash

On comic illustration board

Not For Sale

Action Comics 1073 was written by Mark Waid and released on October 30, 2024, as part of the "DC All-In" relaunch. The main story follows Superman and Mon-El as they venture into the Phantom Zone to confront Xa-Du and Aethyr, while the backup story focuses on Supergirl's quest to meet a mysterious being. 

This glorious cover illustration by Ibrahim Moustafa perfectly captures the scale of Aethyr (also known as "The Oversoul"), a dragon-resembling, godlike beast who exists solely in the Phantom Zone —and is, in fact, the only being truly native to the zone.

As a child, I remember enacting a scenario between my Mego Superman action figure and my best pal's Shogun Warrior Godzilla toy. This was after having seen the 1978 Superman movie in theaters in which Richard Donner really did convince us that a man could fly. While avid readers of the Incredible Hulk comics and weekly viewers of the Hulk television show, Superman's powers as showcased in that first movie forever put to rest the argument about who was stronger. 

We got the Phantom Zone villains in the second Superman movie, but Aethyr was still a couple years away from being introduced in the comics. So in a way, my seven-year-old imagination prefigured this event by mixing and matching some toys in the playroom at my best friend's house. With only gratitude to Mark Waid for making it happen forty-five odd years later. And thanks to Bill Cox for hosting a live claim show for Ibrahim Moustafa on CAF+ allowing me to add this to my collection. Truly iconic!