ACTION COMICS #12

STORY: Grant Morrison

ART: Rags Morales, CAFU, Brad Walker, Rick Bryant, Bob McLeod, and Andrew Hennessey

Since last year's relaunch, Grant Morrison's phenomenal run on Action Comics has brought about a lot of history for the DCnU. We get to see Superman's earliest days as a superhero - before he could fly - in Metropolis, wearing little more than a t-shirt with his emblem, a pair of cuffed jeans and some work boots; we learn about the monstrous World Collector out to miniaturize and keep a piece of every civilization in the universe; the Legion of Super-Heroes makes an appearance; Superman's new digs are explained beyond a fashion decision; Clark Kent dies, and now, the 'First Superman' rears his head to save a world he believes is coming to an end.

This month, the forgotten 'First Superman' gets a lot more panel time, including a flashback sequence that shows the nigh parallel lives Clark and Adam Blake. Born at the moment Superman's ship streaked through the sky in rural Kansas, Blake was born with incredible telekinetic powers. After years of cautious adoration, Blake's mother died of cancer. Blake's father, angry and spiteful, blames his son for the death of his wife, causing Blake to start down his dark path of misplaced righteousness. Of course, this wouldn't be an issue of Grant Morrison's if there wasn't at least one element of weirdness. In this case, the Oort-Kind have taken Blake as their solider, tasked to help them find and recover Neo-Sapiens. If that sentence sounded confusing, that's perfectly normal, if somewhat annoying. It helps knowing that Morrison has a plan, seeing as his run on Action Comics is coming to an end with issue 16.

Morrison is not one to leave loose ends untied (as evidenced by the inexplicable resurrection of Batman Incorporated), so the Oort-Kind's machinations will surely be made more clear in the coming months.

GRADE

B

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