ACTION COMICS 1000

Return of the red trunks

released OUT NOW! Publisher dC Comics

Writers/Artists Various

DC Comics has never been one to ignore an anniversary, and the company’s latest celebration is a two-in-one deal, toasting 80 years of Superman and 1000 issues of Action Comics, the title in which he first appeared. The resulting 80-page special brings together an eclectic group of creators for a handsome anthology that has enough highs to balance out the occasional misfire.

It’s bookended by stories that end one comic-book run, and begin another (while also quietly reintroducing Kal-El’s iconic red trunks). Longtime Superman writer/artist Dan Jurgens bows out of his lengthy run on the character with the affectionate “From The City That Has Everything”, while “The Truth” gives us an attention-grabbing teaser of what incoming writer Brian Michael Bendis has in store.

Elsewhere, the strongest highlights come from tales that focus on specific traits of Superman’s character: his love for his parents, his relationship with Lex Luthor, and his innate sense of decency. Tom King and Clay Mann’s powerful “Of Tomorrow” scores big in this regard, as does “The Fifth Season” by Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque, while “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet” by Brad Melzer and John Cassaday gives us a wonderful portrait of the effect Superman has on the citizens of Metropolis.

While a couple of stories work better as art showcases than proper narratives – “Never Ending Battle” by Peter J Tomasi and Patrick Gleason is a prime example – overall this is an entertaining tribute that hits the right blend of colourful superhero optimism. Saxon Bullock

A blend of colourful superhero optimism

Bendis will be writing three Supermanrelated titles: Action Comics, Superman, and weekly miniseries The Man of Steel.