The new Action #1 starts about 5 years in the DC past.  Did they have smart phones and texting 5 years ago?  Maybe in Metropolis.  It’s an interesting way to re-start Superman.  At least they didn’t retell the original Action #1.  I think everyone alive already knows that story, so I”m glad they started at a point that at least is fresh.  I’m not really sure about the Jeans, boots and patches.  If you are going to wear street wear to fight bad guys, why would you add a cape?  It just doesn’t fit with that look.

I always like Grant Morrison’s scripts.  He always has some new idea, or fresh perspective that we haven’t seen.  One problem I had was that Lex was way more interesting than Clark.  His dialogue pops, and his personality shines.  While Clark seems like a dope.

Some the difference I liked and some not so much: 1) Jimmy is his best friend?  I’m actually okay with that, it makes more sense than a sidekick.  2) Lois on a rival paper?  I’m not sure who works for what, but that is fine.  If we are going to separate them after 70 years, I say leave Lois out of it for a few years.  No need to rush them back together as a couple.  3) Clark is deadbeat rent payer?!  That is a character issue that surprised me the most.  The ‘big blue boy scout’ might not be perfect?  It sounds so small, but it is a big change from DC guidelines.  What is next?  Is he going to cut in line at the supermarket? 4) He can’t fly.  I’m torn on this.  We know that he will fly eventually, so this seems like an unneccary burden.  But it does freshen up the situation, so I guess I’m okay with it.

The art is great.  I like Morales art most of the time.  1) I love the glowing eyes.  Superman should always look like that.  It makes he seem way more alien.  2) he does crowds better than anyone.  Each person seems unique and has personality, action, and emotion.  That is a lot of work for characters that are never seen again.  3) There is a scene where people are running down the stairs.  He added a lot of detail that other artist would have scrimped on.  4) One thing he does that does bother me, is that some of his lines are wavy.  Steps and walls sometimes are curvy and not straight.  It adds some personality and perspective, but mostly it makes things slightly unreal.

There has been some controversy about the superman noise.  In one panel he makes the sound ‘GD’ when hit.  Some have taken this to mean that he is swearing?  I think it is pretty obvious that it is just an exclamation.  I think some people are just looking to get publicity.

Good start, B —-     Don

Well, since this is the very first Superman comic I have ever read…..I suppose this will be a unique perspective that I have. However, I am knowledgeable about the Superman zeitgeist or traditions. I must say that this issue took me by surprise. Superman is angry! Superman is late on his rent! Wow. Really? He’s a bit darker than what I’m used to. But he definitely is working hard to put bad guys away. Or rather he’s working hard not to kill them first by giving the cops the chance to arrest them. I really felt he would kill the bad guys, no problem.

Interesting that Lois & Jimmy work for a rival paper. And that Clark is a full fledged reporter with many articles under his belt and has influenced others with his expose’s and said articles. And I liked seeing that Superman just showed up and started rounding up bad guys and freaked out the residents and cops of Metropolis who are trying to figure out who he is. I also liked that fact that even though he can’t be really hurt/killed/damaged — he can still feel “pain” and lets out grunts and groans.

They (DC) say he can’t fly yet — I couldn’t really tell from this issue….I guess what seemed like a landing to me (from a flight) was actually just a landing from a big ol’ jump.

The biggest thing I had a problem with in this issue (and that is putting it mildly – it really drove me crazy..) was there appeared to be a missing panel or dialogue bubble. Clark is talking to Jimmy and then suddenly is talking to someone else. Who? His editor? He never hung up with Jimmy or even finished the phone call. You’ll see what I mean. It took me the next page and half and then going back and rereading it twice to figure out that he wasn’t still talking to Jimmy and had switched phone calls. Very confusing. Where was the editor on this?

So overall I’ll give it a B-minus. —— Kelly

Almost all of the best Superman stories are origin stories for some reason. This isn’t quite that, but it is a “flashback” to sometime before most of the new 52 take place. Superman can’t fly yet and is back to leaping tall buildings with single bounds. He also has the decency to put on some pants, which doesn’t seem as striking in the cover art but does make more sense than either the underwear-on-the-outside look. I’ve seen this version of the character referred to as “hipster Superman” and I can see why, but it’s not a bad take on the Clark Kent character either.

Rags Morales has always been a solid artist, but I’ve never made it a point to follow his work in particular. Besides his take on Luthor, which doesn’t seem quite right to me, I really enjoy his art, especially when it comes to rendering the city itself. There is a comment made in the story about the city being designed as a giant weapon against Superman, which could be a recurring theme in the story or one of many throw-away genius ideas by Grant Morrison. Morrison has such a good history for me that I’d keep up with this book even if it was terrible, but as it stands it’s still one of the best of the more-impressive-than-I’d-hoped new 52.

A- —- Ed