Action Comics #962 review

And just as it risks going on too long, Superman's battle against Doomsday concludes. After several issues of back and forth, with Superman perturbed to find this Doomsday can think strategically, I was beginning to wonder how things would end. But end they do, as Superman lures the monster to his Fortress of Solitude.
For a while Superman has the upper hand, but it becomes evident he can't best Doomsday alone. Thankfully, Wonder Woman arrives and buys the time he needs to enact a plan - he'd asked her to watch over Lois and Jon in the Justice League satellite, but Lois realised Diana could do more good by her husband's side. 

After the team-up, there's a nice moment underlining the relationship of Superman and Wonder Woman going forward - there'll be no sexual tension between these two, 'just' friendship. 
The reunion scene with Lois and Jon - overexcited at being in space - is equally good, especially this exchange. 
Dan Jurgens really knows how to write convincing relationships. And his solo Superman moments capture the classic hero - he's constantly thinking about others, the victims of Doomsday. 

As for Doomsday, he's out of Superman's hair forever - or not. The mysterious Mr Oz, who has somehow been spying on everyone since the start of this storyline, has other plans. 
I have to admit, this guy has me confused; ages ago he spoke about having trained Superman, at the start of this issue he wants to see what the hero is capable of, and by the end it seems control of Doomsday was his goal all along. As I've said previously, I hope Mr Oz is dealt with soon, as I'm not keen on mysterious types with mysteriously flexible agendas. Watch him turn out to be the 2016 version of the Robot Teacher From Krypton...

This issue also has Superman and Lex Luthor having a chat. Luthor has acted heroically throughout the fight with Doomsday, latterly doing a fine job with evacuation and rescue work. Superman risked everything to stop the creature. And yet neither is willing to trust the other - for the time being, they'll be uneasy allies. 
The apparently powerless extra Clark Kent is also around, but his deal is at the core of next issue, and I cannot wait to find out more about him. 

Jurgens is doing a tremendous job juggling mysteries, Action Comics has been hugely consistent over its first few fortnightly issues. And Stephen Segovia, one of the rotating pencillers, acquits himself well, with dynamic layouts that power us through the story. It helps that veteran inker Art Thibert is on board to add his own brand of sharpness. One or two of the fight scenes with Doomsday are a tiny bit tough to parse, but I've always found that with the monster - all those spikes and rough planes make him difficult to get a visual grip on. 

The colours of Ulises Areola have the necessary pop, while letterer Rob Leigh makes me smile with his Lois caption boxes. 
The variant cover by artist Gary Frank and colourist Brad Anderson is well executed, but a bit too similar in subject and tone to ones we've seen throughout this storyline. 
The regular cover by Clay Mann and Alejandro Sanchez with Dan Jurgens - whatever that means - uses an old idea, but it's hugely well-done, with the combatants tiny as they smash through a literal wall of Action. 

Action Comics #962 is another hugely enjoyable issue of the new Superman saga, balancing fighty bits and talky bits with aplomb. Now, let's solve some mysteries. 

Comments

  1. As usual, we are in agreement, even down to panel picks.

    I like this issue a lot. The Doomsday fight has some oomph. You really feel the threat that Doomsday is.

    But small moments like Diana/Clark post-fight and the Lex/Superman roof scene add tons to the story.

    Rebirth really has done Superman a service!

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  2. It's been ages since I've read the Death of Superman, and I'm sure they gave a reason...but why didn't Superman use the Phantom Zone projector in his original fight with Doomsday? Surely someone could have fetched it for him. Was it out of commission for some reason?

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    1. I can't remember if it even came up - anybody?

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  3. Did I like it? However, two niggling things I just get be rid of.

    1) Why does Wonder Woman have to pitch in? Sweet Grace, let Superman do it on his own! No Batman, no Wonder Woman, just the Man of Tomorrow. It just takes away from the battle that he fought so hard to win. Go home Diana! We need a man! Er, Wo-Man! Er. . .onto my my next point.

    2) The Phantom Zone? He could have one-shot Doomsday into space for all of that. When did Superman have the time to set any of these protocols up?

    Aside of that, very good story.

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    1. I'm good with WW being around, given how much a part of New 52 Clark's life she was, it makes sense to me that she's around in this transition period.

      I suppose he set up the protocols during his five years-plus in hiding.

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  4. It was only 2 months, but 5 issues was a bit long for me. However, it wasn't TOO decompressed for all that. (My quibble with Wonder Woman would be that she's far too busy in her own series, but that's the fun of shared universes.)

    This issue hit a lot of really good notes, and I am curious about the faux Kent. The Eisnerish covers here and on Detective have been delightful. Jon's youthful enthusiasm for the sights in the satellite were fun. I am waiting for Lois to get something to do, however. And is anyone ever going to bother to explain the inexplicable name change following their bicoastal swap?

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    1. I'd like to see the name change addressed, though clever posters here have speculated that it's because Lois was discover by Intergang in the Lois & Clark series.

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