ACTION COMICS #11

STORY: Grant Morrison
ART: Rags Morales, Rick Bryant, and Brad Walker

Writing complex, labyrinthian, enigmatic, totally relatable, emotionally engaging stories is Grant Morrison's game. His first arc on Action Comics, "Superman and The Men of Steel", explored Superman's early days, his origins, his future, and his most deadly villain, Brainiac. In the span of eight issues, Morrison took the Man of Steel we all knew and felt comfortable with, and reinvented him with a new audience and age in mind. While other titles couldn't handle the reboot (see Green Arrow), Morrison's adept navigation of Superman's earlier days has been nothing if not fantastic reading, whether you like the new direction or not.

Perhaps Grant got the memo about readers understanding the ongoing tale because Action Comics #11 seems to go at a more deliberate and cohesive pace, while still keeping the Morrison charm by throwing us a curveball with a new villain at the issue's end. In fact, this issue feels a lot like Morrison is throwing readers a bit of a bone with some fan service, including a two-page conversation between Supes and Batman, some history of the universe with Brainiac in Superman's (apparent) new base of operations, a look into the life of Johnny Clark - Superman's new alter ego.

Last month's Justice League revealed that Superman is the only member of the League that Batman actually trusts; a bold claim that deserves some narrative to back it up. Their conversation focuses on Superman changing his alter ego and the ramifications of his decision. Superman laments about losing the personal connections he didn't think he would miss, and how his responsibilities as the Man of Steel somewhat prevent him from realizing goals like building a new life for himself and/or rebuilding his old one. By the end of Batman's allotted five minutes, he agrees to take care of the problem of the dead Clark Kent. This revelation that Batman somehow orchestrates the 'return' of Clark Kent is quite exciting, as it signifies a greater cohesion in DC's 'New 52' universe.

Things start to get a bit murky near the end of the issue, when a new villain shows up to assume control of the planet. He goes on a (psychic) rant about his supreme intellect and how little Superman's brawn can stand up to an attack on the mind. Within moments, this mysterious new player is able to defeat a  Metalek monster similar to the one Superman was fighting at the beginning of the issue. He uses his psychic powers to take control of the nearby civilians and siks them on Superman as Lois Lane lays on the hood of a car, possibly dead. Morrison, if nothing else, has a flair for the dramatic and leaving the issue is one hell of a cliffhanger.

GRADE

A

(COMIC) ACTION COMICS #8

STORY: Grant Morrison

ARTWORK: Rags Morales, Brad Walker, Rick Bryant, and Bob McLeod

Grant Morrison finally wraps up his brand-spanking-new Superman origin story with Action Comics #8. Last we left the Man of Steel, he finally confronted the Collector of Worlds (a.k.a. Brainiac on Krypton) and this issue sees the subsequent fight, with Metropolis on the line.

One of Morrison's best accomplishments, so far with this series, is the balance between Clark's first years in Metropolis and Superman trying to find his way as a bona-fide superhero. While many fans (and non-fans, in a surprise twist of interest) were vocally displeased with Clark's 'hipster' look, complete with cuffed jeans, a tight tee shirt, and work boots. Either way, Clark gets his Kryptonian battle armor in issue seven, so it ceases to be a issue.

This month's issue isn't about a big finale; it's about small revelations that all point toward future events/ideas. We get to see Clark "NEVER QUIT!" and persist until the Collector is defeated; John Corben is released from the Collector's grip and survives, albeit fused to a power suit (Metallo, anyone?!?!?!); Superman inherits the Collector's ship and all the worlds on it, possibly as the new Fortress of Solitude; Glenmorgan finally falls, giving Clark an in at the Daily Planet; Lex Luthor starts questioning the future; and John Henry Irons gets his first taste of fame.

Next month brings Superman of Earth-23, President Superman! And it's based on Obama! AWESOME!

GRADE:

A

(COMIC REVIEW) Action Comics #7

Written by Grant Morrison
Artwork by Rags Morales and Rick Bryant

After a few issues in Grant Morrison's Fun House, things are back on track for Action Comics, taking us back to the action that fell to the wayside at the end of issue four. And while the Legion side-story-that-connects-to-the-main-story was nice, it's great to get back to the main tale.

New Troy, one of the many massive neighborhoods in Metropolis, has vanished. In keeping with Morrison's look into the evolution of Superman's powers, Clark pushes himself to run thousands of miles per hour faster than he ever has so he can launch himself into the stratosphere and board the alien ship he sees with his "Zoom Vision", as he calls it. Morrison is obviously having fun with Superman's origins, taking almost any opportunity given to convey more specific detail and really give the character a solid foundation beyond his 'boy scout' persona.

It's revealed in this issue (and months earlier to Superman aficionados) that the Colony is simply Morrison's re-envisioning of Brainiac, one of Superman's oldest and most ruthless enemies. And while most of the issue is spent setting up the next issue, which features the fight between Superman and the Colony construct, it does so with grace, giving Superman little room to move - figuratively and literally - until he snaps. It's a wise move giving Clark such a dilemma of morality so early in his career as Superman; it makes him more relatable and easier to not hate. In the artwork department, Rags Morales and Rick Bryant rip it up again. In an issue mostly set on an alien spaceship with mood lighting, Rick Bryant's shading really makes a splash.

The only complaint I can give Action Comics at this juncture, is that it's moving too slow. After two months of (technically) side stories, I was ready for some big action and instead, got the build up to said big action.

GRADE:

B+