Chris Kent and Thara Ak-Var, who have assumed the roles of the mythical Kryptonian heroes Nightwing and Flamebird, continue their mission to uncover and capture General Zod’s sleeper agents on Earth. Chris and Thara don’t have to actually search out the next two agents though, as Az-Rel and Nadira seem to have no problem revealing themselves, figuratively and quite literally, to those around them. Chris and Thara, now fully recovered from her injuries, suffered in battle with Ursa a few issues ago, rush to confront the two rouge Kryptonians after Az-Rel and Thara reveal their location by engaging in some attention getting “intimate activities.” Nightwing and Flamebird are not the only ones on Az-Rel and Nadira’s trail though, as General Lane continues his campaign, which is now beginning to border on obsessive fanaticism, against everything and everyone Kryptonian.

The plot keeps on rolling on in this issue, and slowly seems to be building to a climax. General Lane espouses more hate toward Kryptonians, blindly refusing to listen to the moderate voices around him raising intelligent counterpoints, and we get to see some of the anti-Kryptonian forces that he is developing. Lois continues to play a pretty sizable part in this issue. That’s a good thing. It’s good because her character won’t remain on hold until Clark comes back from his stay on New Krypton, and she has a role to play, keeping her in the action. Perhaps the most important development in this issue is the stronger inkling we get on the, pretty obvious, but not overtly revealed, romance between Chris and Thara. 

Chris and Thara are the polar opposites of Az-Rel and Nadira. Chris and Thara are affectionate, and restrain from flaunting their relationship physically, while Az-Rel and Nadira basically murder a couple in order to use their bed for the flagrant “intimate activities” mentioned earlier. Az-Rel and Nadira tell each other they love each other often, while Chris and Thara never do, but it’s easy to tell which couple understands love, and which couple mistakes lust for love. 

All this talk of lust and love, coupled with the talk of “intimate activities” and cold blooded murder, might have readers of this review wondering if Action Comics is joining the ranks of the “mature readers only” titles. Between the amount of blood being spilt in this book, especially a few issues back where Thara nearly bled out after being stabbed by Ursa, and the first full page panel of Az-Rel and Nadira in bed, Action Comics is mature in nature, but doesn’t display the “mature readers only” hallmarks, i.e. gore and nudity. It definitely is harsher in tone, but most comics are nowadays. Personally, I’m enjoying the current story line, and have no problem with its content, but I wouldn’t pass a copy of any current Actions Comics issues to my 7 year old niece to thumb through. 

Diego Olmos’ art is great, and his depiction of Lois is particularly well done. Where many artists often seem conflicted over how to portray Lois, either making her the ultra-sexy reporter or the ultra-conservative typist, Olmos splits the difference. His Lois is beautiful, strong, and professional looking with just enough of a low, but tastefully, cut blouse to provide sex appeal. Sex appeal isn't the only thing he's good at pencilling though, the action packed fight scene between the two Kryptonian couples is well done also. His art is solid overall, if not particularly groundbreaking.

Overall, the continued development of Nightwing and Flamebird holds the readers’ interest. This interest will be piqued even more when we finally get to see them begin to come into conflict with General Lane. It looks like we won’t have to wait much longer than another month for this conflict to begin to unfold.