DC Comics have announced Gail Simone and Eddy Barrows will join the ‘Superman Superstars’ initiative in “Action Comics,” creating the main arc in issues #1067-1069, releasing from July to September. The story, ‘Superman and the Challenge from the Stars,’ will follow a younger Clark “when a massively powerful alien race makes Earth their arena.” He must “stand alone against impossible challenges that threaten locations all around the world and the lives of those he loves,” forcing him to summon all of his “strength, wit, and resourcefulness [while still] in an early stage of his public career.”
The arc marks Simone’s first series at DC for some time, as she had quietly quit writing comics in 2020. She comments, “I love the classic Superman cast, and this story is deliberately meant to echo my all-time favorite Superman time period. We didn’t want to tell a quiet story of Superman in a diner; we wanted to have a massive threat, a war taking place all over the world, and only Superman could possibly protect his adopted planet. It is unapologetically huge in scope and fun as hell, with one of the best art teams I’ve ever worked with… Eddy Barrows, Danny Miki, and Rex Lokus on colors!” She adds, “My advice to alien conquerors? Don’t tug on Superman’s cape!”
Barrows shared a personal story in the press release about what it’s like penciling the comic. “For me talking about ‘Action Comics’ is something that goes beyond the title itself,” he begins. “I remember when I was seven years old, I was playing on the sidewalk, and suddenly I was run over by a truck, right there. I spent three days fighting for my life, and during that whole year that followed I remained in bed, doing lots of physiotherapy, lots of meds and exams. Going to the doctors was a very regular thing. And it was during that time that Superman came to my life, reading ‘Action Comics.’ Kal-El became a good friend of mine, making my days better. His adventures and his behavior were things that stuck with me! Reading his stories were the highlight of my days, for a seven-year-old recovering from an accident like I was. Back then I wouldn’t have imagined that one day I would be helping to build his legacy: illustrating his stories. The stories of my all-time favorite superhero… SUPERMAN!”
Their arc will be paired with a story by Rainbow Rowell (in her DC debut) and Cian Tormey (“Superman: Son of Kal-El”). Rowell says, “As a former newspaper reporter, I’ve always had a soft spot for Daily Planet stories. I love that Clark Kent is Superman and also a working journalist — and that it isn’t just dusty backstory. It’s a real facet of his character. I love that Clark met Lois in the newsroom, and that they still work there together. (This is so realistic, I swear.) I really like it when comic book romances last… There’s a lot of story to tell after two people say yes to each other. So — even though I was a little nervous about diving into the DC Universe — I couldn’t resist the chance to write a love story that is also a newsroom story, and still a superhero story.”
Rowell and Tormey’s three-parter will apparently center on Clark helping Lois Lane adapt to her new role as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet. Tormey says, “The story that Rainbow and I are telling is about Lois finding her strength, with Clark supporting her as she becomes stronger in her convictions. He sees her finding her courage in a new role, her sense of responsibility for everyone — a gentle reminder for Clark of how far he has come, and how far all of us who are not blessed with superpowers can go when faced with adversity.” Rowell adds, “I’ve just seen the first of Cian Tormey’s pages, and I think people are going to adore his take on Lois and Clark. [His] work has a timeless quality that’s perfect for this relationship.”
“Action Comics” #1067 will go on sale Wednesday, July 10, with a main and black-and-white foil variant cover by Barrows, Danny Miki, and Tomeu Morey, as well as variants by Wes Craig, Pablo Villalobos (emphasizing Lois), and Ben Oliver (1:25). You can check those out below:
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