Action Comics

Action Comics #2 – DC’s New 52

I missed yesterday’s post so today you get two from me. I have a lot to say and my words are important Damnit! I need you to hang on my every word and then share the word with your friends and fans and followers and so on. Come on, help a guy out and get me some hits. As I read each subsequent issue I learn more about this new 52 and its characters.  How impatient I must sound as I brutally blog about the story and character without really knowing what is going on and trusting in the fact these writers and artists know where they are going and what they are doing.

In this issue we begin with Superman hooked up to an electric chair and being “interrogated” by a Lex Luthor character that I am not used to. Since I was not the big Superman reader most of you may have been, I got my visuals from Smallville and a maniacal ripped young Luthor who is not yet the most evil but is on his way there. In the comic, he is older, a little more out of shape and not so studly. I find this much more appealing because it makes sense to me how this Luthor is jealous of Superman and his good looks, abilities, musculature and so on. He continues to call him “It” so he can degrade and dehumanize him in front of everyone in the room with him.


luthor torture

As the story goes on, you can see that Superman is not the same character I remember from the comics or the TV show. He is still vulnerable and can be hurt as seen in the images below. The fact that either he isn’t as all powerful (or never will be) is very appealing to a new reader because if he was, there would be little that could stop him except for Kryptonite which nobody is aware of just yet. Rags is still kicking ass in the art department and the story, especially the flighty banter from Superman is great. I mean he is just a punk kid with all these powers so he needs to act like a kid. However, a pissed off kid with powers could be much more dangerous than an adult with filters and experience. One who knows right from wrong and can pull back in case he needs to be really tough but not so tough that he really hurts someone.

I go back to the original post about the timeline issues because I still don’t really know what to think or where it is, where it’s going and where the continuity starts and ends. Unlike the Batman books, Detective, Dark Knight, Catwoman, Batman & Robin, etc, I am confused and hope they explain a little more. The Bat books all seem to flow together and I can see how they interact with each other. I really liked the end of the book where it helped to explain a little more of what was going on so that worked out well.

This issue gets the 4.5 out of 5

action 2 cover

Action Comics #1 – New 52

I was SOL when the 1st print of Action Comics was issued so I had to wait until today when I was able to pick up the reprint. However, I cannot find the words reprint or second printing anywhere so if anyone out there knows, please tell me otherwise I’ll think it’s a reprint. What would be cool is if it was just a variant cover that is being released today that is not really a 2nd printing or reprint.  Whatever. Anyway, I am a bit torn because I have no idea where in the new DC 52 timeline this story takes place. I have to assume the future issues will step back and do a little origin story so people like me can understand what is going on. I mean come on, you have this Superman, you have Superboy who is a clone of this one and someone else. Then you have Supergirl who is new to the area but Superman is a seasoned veteran with his cool costume which came out before this one. Then you have Superman which came out today that I have not yet read (will happen in about 2 hours from now). And yet another version in JLA who is not yet in the JLA so I am a bit confused about continuity and timeline of the different books.

Ok, looking below, what cover do you like? (sorry about the scan, it sucks, I know)

Action #1 Alternate Cover

Action Comics #1 Cover - no text

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the writing, the dialogue, the childish banter of Superman who is not yet seasoned and battle hardened, the story and the artwork. I am a big fan of Rags Morales (except for the bizarrely disproportionate image on page 8 where his waist is about 20″ wide and his lats and shoulders are about 80″ wide). But other than that I was pleased with the comic. I assume he has not yet fully realized the full potential of his powers since at the end he was smashed by a “speeding bullet” in to the Daily Bugle. I guess I could be nit picky but why bother, this is all knew and I am getting a front row seat at ground zero for this awesome new reboot.

What do any of you think? Any comments? Critiques? Wanna call me out? Say something will ya? Oh yeah, and by the way if you want to be a guest blogger just let me know and we can work something out. I am looking for readership and will do anything to get it. If that means selling out…I’ll do it.