Many were excited for Andy Diggle and Tony Daniel’s take on Superman in “Action Comics,” following on the heels of Grant Morrison’s polarizing run. However, those who keep up with industry news have likely heard about Diggle’s unfortunate departure from the book. With Tony Daniel set to wrap up the arc based on Diggle’s scripts, “Action Comics” #19 is a solitary glimpse at what could have been a promising new start for the Man of Steel in the New 52.
Written by Andy Diggle
Illustrated by Tony S. Daniel• Welcome the new creative team of writer Andy Diggle and artist Tony S. Daniel!
• Inside the nefarious mind of Lex Luthor, who bares his scars—but how did he get them?
• Luthor’s plan to eradicate Superman may make Kal an alien pariah!
• The Oracle awaits at the edge of the Solar System to pass judgment on Superman—and he is not alone.
• You won’t believe who comes calling on the final page!
Following Morrison’s trend of playing around in different points of the New 52 timeline, Diggle’s story picks up one year in the past with Clark and Lois corresponding on location in Qurac. Diggle writes a far more traditional take on Lois and Clark, giving the characters a chemistry that has been sorely lacking for most of the New 52. The writer remains true to the New 52 as well, planting the seeds for the relationship between Lois and Jon Carroll seen in the pages of “Superman.”
Other men aren’t the only thing coming between Lois and Clark, as the latter gets a tip regarding smuggled weaponry. Clearly, it’s a job for Superman. The images of Superman floating, cape billowing, facing down mechanical monsters are some of the purest Superman moments seen in a long time, and Diggle has the characterization to match. Superman here is a great mix of pre-New Superman and the brash young “Golden-Age” portrayal defined by Morrison. He’s a hero who hates bullies and stands up for those who can’t stand for themselves. One who “won’t throw the first punch, but will throw the last.” In other words, this is a step closer to the fun, confident hero that fans have been missing out on.
Diggle rounds out the trifecta of essential Superman characters with Lex Luthor. Luthor has stayed out of the limelight for much of the New 52, but Diggle places him front and center with a well executed plot against Superman. However, the way Diggle introduces Luthor to the story, through a counseling session with one Dr. Lagarde, lacks any pretense of subtlety. We already know Luthor is a bad guy, and this section oversells, beating the reader over the head with it.
Easing the loss of Andy Diggle, Tony S. Daniel’s art is absolutely breathtaking. His style is similar to that of his recent “Justice League” arc, best characterized as a mix between Jim Lee’s scratchy lines and Ivan Reis’ fantastic page layouts. His characters are full of expression and subtle nuance. The scenes mentioned before where Superman floats, small and regal, against a giant mechanical monster are fantastically iconic. Superman is a force of nature here, and his power is made all the more majestic by colorist Tomeu Morey. When Superman fires a blast of heat vision, shades of red and orange wash over the evening sky. In contrast to the primary color pallet of Superman’s pages, Morey uses a pallet of cool greens, purples, and greys in Luthor’s scenes. This is a common color distinction between heroes and villains, but it really helps set the mood for the different sections of the book.
It may be due to the fact that “Action Comics” #19 was intended to be the second issue of Diggle and Daniel’s run, but the “WTF” gate fold cover is very misrepresentative of what actually occurs in the story. It’s definitely not unheard of for covers to be misleading or unrelated to the plot inside, but when DC makes such a big deal over these special covers, one would expect them to be handled with a little more care.
With stellar art and better than average characterization, “Action Comics” #19 is a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, like a gust of wind it is also short lived. However, it’s hard to look this gift horse in the mouth, considering the dearth of quality Superman stories.
Final Verdict: 8.3 – Buy. A fun, fresh story for all Superman fans.
