Written by Grant Morrison
Illustrated By Rags Morales
The one and only Grant Morrison (ALL-STAR SUPERMAN) returns to Superman, joined by sensational artist Rags Morales (IDENTITY CRISIS), to bring you tales of The Man of Steel unlike any you’ve ever read! This extra-sized debut issue is the cornerstone of the entire DC Universe!
After Justice League, Action Comics is probably THE flagship title coming out from the new DC Comics. Where Justice League shows how the DC Universe came together, Action Comics is the title that shows the very beginning of this baby universe. And it’s especially fitting, because Superman is the alpha and the omega of superheroes (if you pardon the messianic reference). And with a superstar team of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales, you can’t really go wrong.
Or can you? Check out my review after the cut!
This book is probably the book I’ve been looking forward to for the past three years. Ever since All-Star Superman wrapped, I’ve been dying to see what Morrison could do with the big blue Boy Scout in continuity. Seriously, when I found out about this, the DCnU had me hooked. And while Rags Morales wasn’t exactly my first choice for an artist, he was a fine addition and made me look forward to it even more.
But while I was looking forward to it, I’m a huge fan of both the writer and the character. Morrison has a lot of work cut out for him. How can you navigate 75 years of continuity and distill everything into something not only enjoyable for fans, but something that will keep people who wouldn’t consider themselves Superman fans coming back for more?
For starters, if there was ever anyone who could tell the story of an American Icon, it’s somewhat appropriate yet ironic that the person who seems to have the best voice for the character is a Scotsman. Morrison and Superman have a shared outsider’s perspective of America and its inhabitant. That’s probably why his Superman is one of the best iterations of the character. And being the master of understanding the characters he writes, one of the most welcome things he made sure to add to the “new” Superman is a return to his grass roots, stand-up-for-the-little guy ethos, and his lack of fear to rough up those who would exploit those less privileged than they are. This isn’t the Superman from The Dark Knight Returns, who is a stooge for an overreaching President, this guy CARES about everyone. He PROTECTS people who need it. He frightens those who deserve it. Superman sees how the world works, and he’s ANGRY over it. He wants to change it. And that’s exactly what he’s gonna do. As someone who is a passionate fan of the Man of Steel, I couldn’t be happier. And it’s not just Superman who gets great characterization, everyone is pitch perfect. There’s a monologue from everyone’s favorite bald bastard Lex Luthor that establishes his beliefs and motivations so clearly you can’t help but see his side too, even if it gives you a chill. Lois and Jimmy, while only having bit parts in the book (along with Lois’ oft-dead father General Lane) even stand out with their personalities as familiar to long-time readers as they would be accessible to new readers. The independence of Lois Lane is just as evident as and complementary to Jimmy’s exuberance and enthusiasm.
But characterizations aside, had and action packed issue that dropped the reader right smack dab in the middle of Clark’s clash with the assumedly corrupt Metropolis Police Department, where he stands up for the little guy by exposing the corruption of one of the most powerful men in Metropolis, only to run afoul of another, who is that bald bastard I brought up earlier. What follows not only gives us the drama a non-fan might claim isn’t there in a book, but sets up a great action packed arc that not only fully introduces the DCnU Supes, but the entire DCnU.
And while I didn’t initially think Morales would be someone who could take an already exceptional book and make it better, I’m more than willing to admit I’m wrong. Morales’ art is truly sublime. There are little moments, simple facial expressions that are so life-like and real that you get a real sense of why a populace would embrace someone who is faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. What’s more, is how he rendered the slightly cocky, knowing smirk of Superman’s; the wide-eyed optimism of his alter-ego Clark Kent; or even how Clark wears baggy, unflattering clothes to hide his powerful physique. It’s all very subtle, and you might not necessarily notice it’s there, but it is. There are even points in the comic, which I can assume works as part of the synergy between Morrison and Morales, where you get homages to some iconic Superman idea emblazoned there on the page. It’s absolutely gorgeous. And if his character designs weren’t great enough, the action conveyed on-panel is some of the best in comics. The sense of movement and urgency makes the book one of the most fun to read in a long time, and I cannot WAIT until the next issue. And I’m not speaking as the resident Superman fanboy; I’m speaking a resident comic book fanboy.
Continued belowThis book really excelled in every way. Morrison and Morales seemed to write a how-to on making Superman, a character who many feared lost his relevance, possibly the MOST relevant superhero for our time. If anyone claims to hate Superman after reading this comic, I really don’t know what to say. They’re beyond reproach, and they must be afraid of great comics that might be a bit out of their comfort zone.
Seriously, if you want a chance to read up on a character you might not have given a chance before, start here.
Final Verdict: 9.5 — BUY. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, BUY.
