Busiek and Johns have done a nice job converting me from a Superman hater into a mild Superman fan. I’m still not totally sold on Superman. I still find him to be a bit vanilla in personality. However, Action Comics has been a fun read. I think this “Up, Up and Away” storyline has been great and I am excited to read the conclusion. Let’s hit the review for Action Comics #840.
Creative Team
Writer: Kurt Busiek & Geoff Johns
Artist: Pete Woods
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.
Synopsis: The issue starts with Superman and Lex falling into the ocean. They both manage to swim ashore. Lex’s protective suit has shorted out and Superman is temporarily powerless due to all the green kryptonite exposure. So, Lex says it is time to settle this as normal men. The two enemies engage in your basic fist fight. Superman tells Lex that the powers and cape don’t matter. That he will always oppose Lex powers or no powers. Superman points out that Lex could do so much for the world if he would only let go of his rage. With that, Superman knocks out Lex and then Superman promptly passes out from his injuries.
Superman wakes up to rescue team telling him that they will take him to a hospital. They tell Superman that Lex has already been taken back to Stryker’s. Superman says that he is ok and flies away from the scene. The streets of Metropolis are filled with Superman supporters cheering him. Superman thinks to himself that Lex is wrong. Metropolis’ respect has to be earned. It isn’t owed or automatic. Superman man flies home to Lois. They embrace each other.
We shift to the next day at the Daily Planet. Clark opens a package from Ma Kent. It is his old typewriter. Clark’s powers have been disrupting electronic devices and causing his computer to crash. Perry comes barging in and demands to know where Clark disappeared to. Clark apologizes and then gives Perry a complete story full of perspectives of the attack, a statement from LexCorp, Pentagon officials and information about the ship. Perry thanks Clark, but says he wants dependable more than brilliant but erratic. Lois then jumps in and tells Perry that Clark was really sick, that Clark gave Perry a great story and for Perry to let it go. Perry walks off. Some co-workers whisper that the great Mr. Lane can get away with anything. Jimmy then tells Clark that he really needs to meet with Superman.
We cut to Superman helping with the repair efforts around Metropolis. Jimmy then approaches Superman and tells him that they need to talk. Superman flies them up to the roof of a building. Jimmy then gives Superman the Sunstone crystal that he found during the battle. Superman takes it and thanks Jimmy. Superman then hands Jimmy his old signal watch. (Cool.) Jimmy is excited to have it back. Suddenly, we hear cries for help and Superman takes off.
We shift to Superman battling Dr. Virus and Kryptococcus, which can duplicate and communicate any disease human or alien. Superman uses his heat vision to make short work of Kryptoccocus. Dr. Virus then surrenders and says that Intergang ordered him to attack Superman. Superman then signs some autographs for his adoring fans. Superman then hears a news report with his super hearing that Lex has escaped from Stryker’s Island. Superman is about to take off when Mahjoub, a street vendor, tells Superman to wait a minute.
We then cut to Superman at the North Polar ice cap. Superman examines the Sunstone crystal and says that it is so much more than what Lex thought it was. That the Sunstone crystal has individual command modules, activation nodes, multi-dimensional blueprints and more. And that the Sunstone recognizes Kryptonian brain activity. With a thought, Superman activates the Sunstone crystal and then throws it into the snow. Suddenly, a huge crystal fortress sprouts from the ground. (Just like the one in the original Superman movies and from Smallville. Very cool.) Superman mentions that his Fortress of Solitude in the Amazon is damaged and too many people know about its location. That he may keep the Amazon one as a “public address,” but that he needs a new private one. Maybe multiple sanctuaries around the world.
Superman then reaches into his cape and pulls out a pretzel with mustard that Mahjoub gave him. Superman enjoys the pretzel as he enters his new Fortress of Solitude. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Action Comics #840 was a great ending to a very enjoyable story arc. I liked all the scenes in this issue. The fist fight between Lex and Superman was well done. It showed that Superman is much more than his powers and his costumes. That Superman is simply standing for what is right and fighting evil in whatever capacity that he can. This scene also showed the reader what a truly warped individual Lex is. That Lex’s hatred has totally consumed him and the world has lost a genius who really could do so many positive things for mankind.
The scene at the Daily Planet was a nice change of pace. After Superman has been soaking up the glory and adulation of the population of Metropolis, Clark Kent isn’t so lucky. He gets yelled at by his boss, has to have his wife stand up for him and then has his co-workers mocking him behind his back. This was a nice counter-balance. Even someone has powerful and popular as Superman can have a tough day at the office as Clark Kent just like we all have experienced. This scene does a nice job making Clark Kent someone that we can relate to.
I liked the scene with Jimmy Olsen. It was great to see the signal watch again. I like seeing Superman returning to his roots.
Of course, the best scene was probably the ending. It was so cool to see the crystal Fortress of Solitude spring forth from the snow. I am thrilled that Busiek is bringing back this version of the Fortress of Solitude. It does a nice job connecting the comic book with the Superman movies and with Smallville. Plus, I have always liked this version of the Fortress of Solitude the most. This Fortress has plenty of potential and I hope that Busiek gets a lot of use out of it.
Action Comics #840 was a very satisfying finale to an entertaining story arc. I am amazed that Busiek and Johns have actually gotten me to like Superman. The mood to this comic book was just right. I liked the themes that were re-enforced in this issue. That Superman will always be about truth and justice. That Superman will always work hard to protect Metropolis. That the city of Metropolis will always give Superman the respect that he rightfully deserves. And that Superman has been re-born. That he is going to live for the moment and gladly great what the new day brings to him. It is really a nice change of pace to see a super-hero who is secure and at peace with himself. Nowadays, most heroes either full of anger, hate or angst. It is quite enjoyable to see a hero in Superman who has come to terms and accepted who he is and his role in the world. And that his motivations to be a hero don’t stem from anything dark and tragic.
Plus, it is great that we saw the return of trademark Superman features like Jimmy’s signal watch and Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. It is nice that Busiek is really embracing Superman’s roots and isn’t trying to make Superman’s character and his world into something that it isn’t just to try and make it more edgy, dark or realistic.
Busiek and Johns deliver a nicely paced issue. They wrapped up the plotline with Lex and continued on with the Intergang plotline. I think that the writers have a nice feel for the characters and wrote some good dialogue.
Pete Woods turned some excellent artwork. Woods draws a great Superman. His art really makes this comic book enjoyable to read.
The Bad: No complaints at all with this story. My only very minor quibble is that I just don’t dig how Woods draws Lois Lane.
Overall: Action Comics #540 was a very good ending to a great story arc. I am amazed that I am actually buying and enjoying a Superman comic book. This title is a nice change of pace from the vast majority of the titles currently on the market. This comic book is fortunate to have a writer in Busiek who clearly cares about Superman’s character. This makes for a great comic book to read. Readers who prefer the darker, edgier and more realistic comic books probably won’t get this title. For the rest of you, I would recommend that you give Action Comics a try.