Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1070The Phantom Zone has been a key part of Superman's lore for decades, acting as a prison for foes who can't be won over to the side of good. However, with time, the once seemingly harmless prison has evolved into a torturous dimension that Superman can't abide by. Superman's Phantom Zone just got a dark twist that calls his ethics into question, threatening to tarnish his perfect image in the DC Universe.

Action Comics #1070 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe is the first installment in a new weekly storyline where Superman faces danger from an unexpected source: the Phantom Zone. A monstrous creature emerges from the Phantom Zone and engages Superman in a battle that he barely manages to survive, and this occurance forces the Man of Steel to question the ethics of the prison dimension his people took advantage of.

This change to a staple of Superman's mythos has blurred the lines between right and wrong, and Superman's moral code hangs in the balance as he's forced to confront the sins of the Kryptonians, his father, and even himself.

Superman's Phantom Zone Spawns Monsters, Becoming More Brutal Than Ever

The DC Universe's Harshest Prison Just Took a Dark Turn

In this first issue of the Phantoms story, a terrifying monster crawls out of the Phantom Zone Projector. It takes Superman and Supergirl's combined might to stand a chance against it, and even then they're only able to win when Jimmy Olsen comes to their aid with Gold Kryptonite. Superman, much to his horror, discovers that the creature is an amalgamation of Phantom Zone prisoners. Somehow, they have fused into a single being in a process so painful that they spiral into madness. The Phantom Zone may have been a twisted place already, but it's officially taken a much darker turn.

Subjecting anyone to a place like the Phantom Zone with no hope of rehabilitation is certainly grim, especially for a hero like Superman who believes so deeply in others, and this reveal makes it a more cruel fate than ever before. In reference to the Phantom Zone, Superman its that he's "never come across anyplace so...ominous". Despite not understanding it himself and feeling that foreboding sense towards it, Superman and his father have used it to seal their enemies away for decades.

Superman's Father Discovered Krypton's Darkest Punishment

DC's Infamous Phantom Zone Has A Deep History in Kryptonian Lore

The Phantom Zone was discovered by Superman's father, Jor-El, back in the glory days of Krypton. At the time, it was an empty void where time stood still, and the Science Council used it as a prison. Only those who had no hope of rehabilitation were sentenced to the Phantom Zone. Its inhabitants include ventures into the Phantom Zone to solve its problems at their source.

The Phantom Zone first appeared in 1961's Adventure Comics #283 by Robert Bernstein and George Papp.

In Batman/Superman: World's Finest #18 and #19 by Mark Waid and Travis Moore, the Phantom Zone began its unusual activity. According to escaped prisoner Jax-Ur, strange portals had appeared within the Phantom Zone that permitted him to escape. At the center of this conflict is a godly being, Aethyr, who vows to release every soul in the Phantom Zone from their imprisonment to exact revenge against Superman for trapping them. It's likely that Aethyr is the one behind the Phantom Zone's mysterious happenings, and his mission is a direct consequence of Superman's actions.

Superman Refuses to Let Anyone Suffer, Even Villains

Superman Risks His Life for the Phantom Zone's Prisoners

While Superman stands firm as a paragon of justice in the DC Universe, this latest revelation about the Phantom Zone casts doubt on that image. If the Phantom Zone is torturing its inhabitants and transforming them into monsters, is it truly the ethical punishment that Superman might have initially thought it to be? Thankfully, Superman addresses this issue here. Lois expresses concern about him venturing into the Phantom Zone when its prisoners are all villains who want him and the House of El dead, and Superman responds with the following:

They hate me in there. But if there are people in the Zone who are suffering - even those with the darkest of hearts - I can't let that stand.

This moment speaks to Superman's character and proves why he's one of DC's greatest heroes. He could leave the Phantom Zone prisoners to suffer grisly fates as punishment for their crimes, but Superman believes in the good of everyone, including his enemies. Simply put, Superman refuses to stand by and let those trapped in the Phantom Zone suffer, regardless of whether they are beyond redemption. When Superman's morals are challenged, he clarifies that he will always stand on the side of good, and his journey into the Phantom Zone shows that he's ready to make up for his - and Krypton's - mistakes.

Action Comics #1070 is available now from DC Comics.