Action Comics #353: The Battle of the Gods is a total spinout! Superman, the ultimate hero, is on the verge of becoming a god right here on Earth! When the ancient Greek gods catch wind of this, they go into full panic mode. The Oracle of Delphi drops a staggering revelation: Superman is destined to take their place as the supreme deity, and even more shocking — Olympus itself risks fading into obscurity, lost to time as forgotten legends. Talk about a cosmic shake-up!
So, what do the Greek gods do? They don’t sit around and hope for the best. Nope, they pool all their power into one unstoppable super champion. Enter Zha-Vam, who obtains the powers of Zeus, Hercules, Apollo, Vulcan (Hephaestus), Achilles, and Mercury (Hermes). His loyalty is tied to Zeus, and he’s built to take down Superman. The stage is set for an epic showdown — The Battle of the Gods is born!
If you’re curious about how it all begins, it all kicks off in Action Comics #351 with Zha-Vam’s debut. The conflict intensifies in #352, and by the time we reach #353, things escalate to a whole new level. That’s the key issue this review focuses on — where the gods truly step into the spotlight, not just in name but in action. Through Zha-Vam, you’ll witness the gods themselves battling, scheming, and doing everything in their power to put an end to the Man of Steel.
So, what makes Zha-Vam such a powerhouse? He’s got a magical belt that grants him the divine powers of the legendary gods — pretty much like a mythological Swiss Army knife. It’s a pretty fantastic power, kind of like Shazam, who’s also powered by ancient gods and myth figures. Their names even sound kinda similar — Zha-Vam and Shazam! Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Who do you think will come out on top in this clash of titans? Superman’s raw power or Zha-Vam’s divine might? To find out, you’ll want to dive into Action Comics #353: The Battle of the Gods. Take it from me, it’s an epic showdown you won’t forget!
Action Comics #353 Review: The Epic Superman vs. Zha-Vam Battle
The Battle of the Gods erupts into full force when Zha-Vam makes his daring move to prevent Superman from returning to Earth. To accomplish this, he deploys an indestructible Orion’s shield into space, designed to stop Superman in his tracks. It’s a high-stakes clash of titanic powers, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.
Superman appears completely blocked from returning to Earth. Even his heat vision unable to pierce the unbreakable Orion’s shield. But just when all hope seems lost, an idea sparks in his mind. He decides to break the time barrier and journey back to Ancient Olympus.
If Superman can uncover Zha-Vam’s origins there, he might just find the key to defeating him. When Superman arrives, he stumbles upon a secret conference of gods and heroes — an unexpected gathering that could hold the answers he needs, or put him face-to-face with dangers beyond his imagination.
Initially, Superman is perceived as an intruder among the mighty immortals, a stranger in their sacred realm. But he quickly wins their favor by serenading the gods with a heartfelt song, earning their respect and attention. Later, while in the company of the Olympian gods, he encounters the Oracle of Delphi. As the wise seer gazes into the future, she reveals a prophecy to Zeus — foretelling the rise of a new hero yet to come, whose destiny will intertwine with the fate of gods and mortals alike.
After learning that Superman will wield a multitude of powers capable of matching the gods themselves, Zeus gives a commanding order to Prometheus: to prepare for the impending threat. In response, Prometheus shapes a new hero from sacred clay — a champion destined to stand with the Olympian gods. His name is Zha-Vam, a formidable warrior forged from divine essence, ready to confront the future and defend Olympus from the chaos that threatens to unfold.
Superman also takes the opportunity to consult the Oracle, determined to fully understand his mysterious adversary. Then, it’s back to the battlefield. Superman returns to the space-shield, only to catch Zha-Vam off guard, igniting an epic showdown.
Zha-Vam wields his magical belt to summon the might of the Cyclops, but Superman surprises him with his own enchanted belt. Using the power of Pan, Superman intercepts Zha-Vam’s Cyclops attack. How did Superman acquire his magical belt? Dive into the comic to discover that secret!
The battle intensifies as Zha-Vam calls upon Jason’s power to conjure ferocious dragons, threatening to engulf Superman in flames. But Superman counters with the power of Midas — his touch turning everything to shimmering gold, halting the fiery menace.
Not finished, Zha-Vam unleashes the Rainbows of Iris to ensnare and overpower Superman, but he swiftly responds by disintegrating them with the blazing rays of the Sun God himself.
As the fight grows more desperate, Superman calls upon the strength of Atlas — the strongest man of the past — to turn the tide. The battle of the gods spirals into chaos, and things are about to get even wilder. It’s a clash of legends you won’t want to miss.
Action Comics #353 Review: The Battle of the Gods
I’m not super familiar with Superman comics — so far, my only reviews have been on Superman: The Odyssey and Superman vs. Alexander the Great. But more are on their way!
That’s why Action Comics #353: The Battle of the Gods was a true godsend. Any story that features Superman alongside the Olympian gods definitely deserves attention. It takes the superhero story to a whole new level, especially with how the gods feel threatened and the diabolical ways they retaliate. The introduction of Zha-Vam, a new champion created by Prometheus, is especially intriguing. Because of that, I found myself really invested in this epic showdown.
I’d give Action Comics #353: The Battle of the Gods (DC, 1967) a respectable 7.5 out of 10. It’s a pretty slim comic, and disappointingly, the pages are very thin — almost like tissue paper. So, while I was holding it up in the wind, after a few photos, I ended up tearing a few pages and even part of the cover along the spine. Keep in mind, this comic is from 1967, so I should have been more careful. It wasn’t in the best condition when I bought it, but I still paid twenty bucks for it.
The Superman vs. Zha-Vam story in DC Action Comics #353 is only 17 pages (cover not included), but it really packs a punch. It’s a quick read, but there’s also another story about Supergirl afterward, so you get two stories in one issue. Overall, if you’re into comics that mix superhero action with mythological themes, this one’s definitely worth its weight in gold.
If you’re into Superman and Greek mythology, you’ll find this comic blends superhero action with mythic elements in a way that’s both fun and fresh. Honestly, there’s not much negative to say — except maybe that it would’ve been even better if it had stuck solely to Greek gods, instead of introducing other mythological elements like Zha-Vam’s use of Shiva’s power, the four-armed Hindu god. That felt a little out of place, but I suppose it did make the story a tiny bit more interesting.
Overall, I really enjoyed it and was blown away by the creativity involved. I honestly think a Superman vs. Zha-Vam animated battle would make an incredible cartoon — imagine the epic fight scenes! If you’re into superhero comics with mythological twists, this one’s definitely worth getting a hold of. It’s a cool mix of Superman and Greek mythology that journeys back to Ancient Greece, to the days of the Greek gods who ruled on Mount Olympus!
If you’re into Greek mythology comics and graphic novels, you’ll definitely want to check out some of these too.
I’ve even put together my own Greek mythology comic series called The Adventures of Athena & Hermes: Gods and Mortals. I bet you’ll find a few of them pretty funny.
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