Superman and horror go together marvelously in “Action Comics” #36. Who would have thought? The “Action” dream team of Greg Pak, Aaron Kuder, and Wil Quintana creep us out with the beginning of a new arc that is perfect for readers who like a dash of the supernatural in their superhero books. And, if done right like it is here, who wouldn’t savor that mix?
Written by Greg Pak
Illustrated by Aaron KuderA new epic begins! The deck is stacked against Superman when Smallville is poisoned by the appearance of dark magic and ancient horrors! Can Superman figure out what’s going on and save his hometown before this evil epidemic spreads across the entire world?
Magic and mayhem infect the beginning of Kuder and company’s unexpectedly effective foray into horror in the pages of “Action Comics”. Smallville (or Horrorville, as the title of this issue proclaims) is being observed by Lana Lang and John Henry Irons in the aftermath of Brainiac’s reign of terror during “Doomed”. Weird events begin occurring in Smallville, which leads Superman to feel a sixth sense that something rotten is going down in his hometown. Things just get weirder when Smallville’s favorite son arrives and he must rely on and interact with his growing extended family.
With the epic “Doomed” crossover concluded (and what an end that was!), Pak and Kuder are able to focus on Superman and two of his family members. Lana Lang has been an infectious addition to the Superman world of the New 52 since Pak and Kuder introduced her in the beginning of their “Action Comics” run. The romance that bloomed between her and John Henry (A.K.A. Steel) was one of the best developments to come out of “Doomed” and it’s nice to see them as a couple in this issue. With the focus firmly placed on three “heroes” (Lana could definitely carry her own book), it’s nice to see intimacy between friends and lovers in a fun and heartfelt issue.
Hiro, who was first introduced as the “Toymaster” in Pak’s “Batman/Superman” title, is another character who has some nice moments in this issue. He adds a youthful voice to the proceedings and one that also, like the other characters, adds intelligence and inventiveness. In one humorous scene, Hiro is able to help Superman when he’s in a jam and proves to be a crucial ally. While reading this particular scene, it occurred to me that Pak is allowing Superman to receive help from others for a specific reason: Superman isn’t perfect, even though his moniker would imply otherwise. His humanity (although he’s an alien) and his depth of character (with credit going to this creative team) are highlighted with Hiro, John Henry, and Lana by his side.
We specifically, and genuinely, care for both Superman and Lana in particular, because Pak gives them natural and very human voices, whether it’s through their thoughts or the conversations between the two of them. There is a heartbreaking scene between these two childhood friends when things begin to go horribly wrong. On just one page we can feel Superman’s powerlessness, Lana’s conflicting emotions, and a sense of understanding between them. This scene works so perfectly because that sense of history between them has been so well established by Pak’s brilliant and seemingly effortless writing.
That effortlessness comes through because of Kuder. He adds another dimension to these proceedings that raises the issue even higher into the realm of super-ness. The scene mentioned above would not have worked if it wasn’t for Kuder. The expressiveness of his faces and eyes is breathtaking to behold both in its simplicity and intensity. Superman’s downturned eyes suggest powerlessness, while shock emanates from Lana’s deep green eyes (thanks to Quintana’s exceptional color palette) while she holds her hand to her mouth. There is a great panel where you can see Lana’s individual eyelashes and is more proof of Kuder’s attention to detail and love for the story and characters.
Kuder really ups the ante when it comes to the horror in this issue. Swirling mist, people who may have sinister ulterior motives, and the unexplained phenomena that occurs in Pak’s script give the entire issue’s proceedings an unearthly quality. I haven’t seen mist this scary since the Stephen King film adaptation of “The Mist”. The big bad that Superman confronts is horrific not just for the way he/she/it looks, but in the way it emotionally punches the characters in the gut. There has to be action in a book with “Action” in the title, and Kuder delivers powerful splash pages that are dynamic, pop off the page, and punch us in the gut. Superman’s fist never seemed so powerful.
Continued belowQuintana’s colors burst with personality, and lend an aura of the uncanny. From the very first panel, we take in an ominous Metropolis sunrise. Clouds move in on a blood-red sky, with a portent of doom in the distance. Quintana’s use of shadow and light evoke a sense of horror permeating every panel of this issue. The fog appears dirty, with red and green swirling together to make the natural into something unnatural. Shadow covers Superman’s eyes throughout the issue and expresses the heavy burden he must feel in facing the unknown. Quintana’s colors enhance story and character. You need only take a glance at the brilliant red and blue of Superman’s costume, which transforms him into a beacon of hope and protection, to see how Quintana contributes to making Superman come alive on the page.
The lack of John Henry’s thoughts is the only complaint I have for this issue. He is a very welcome addition to the book and I hope we get some more insight into his character. Like Superman, he’s compassionate and highly intelligent. We get a glimpse of his genuinely kind heart in the beginning of the book when he and Lana delight in playful banter while lying in bed. He’s a supportive and loving man who relates exceptionally well to Lana. They are one of the best couples in the DC Universe and their love story deserves to be fleshed out even more in this book and elsewhere.
The “Action” team are enthusiastic in their passion for Superman and his world. There have been some small bumps along the way for Superman on his journey through the New 52, but he has certainly found his footing. Now the Man of Steel has a family of books (which include “Superman”, “Superman/Wonder Woman”, and Pak’s own “Batman/Superman”) to stand next to the Bat-books in terms of quality and a clear direction. Superman has always had a rich supporting cast that enhanced and enriched his character. This “Action” team’s run has been particularly adept at highlighting that fact. With the addition of a horror flavor in this issue, we will definitely be on the edge of our seat and hoping our heroes (both super and non-super) will get out of this strange predicament.
Final Verdict: 8.8 – “Action Comics” is one of the best DC books around and this issue cements that fact. This is a great jumping on point for readers who avoided the “Doomed” issues and will also appeal to those who are cuckoo for the strange and unusual. And, as a random aside, Superman looks very pleasing to the eye with that beard.
