Action Comics #987 review


This is the one you've been waiting for!

It's an old comic book cover line, usually sheer hype. This, though, is the one we've been waiting for, the beginning of the storyline unveiling the identity of Mr Oz. The mysterious manipulator who's been behind the scenes since DC Rebirth began stands revealed this issue. 

Yes, we find out who he is - or at least, claims to be - on the final page. That's a nice surprise, I expected the secret to remain until the final part of the serial. 

The Oz Effect opens with Mr Oz visiting captured supervillain Metallo, who's been handed over to government agency ARGUS. He plans to help the tormented crook - in his own, twisted, way. 


Mr Oz then muses on the pathetic nature of humanity. 

In Metropolis, a group of citizens have turned on the police. 


Happily, Superman, shows up to help Special Crimes Unit chief Maggie Sawyer recover the stolen hospital transport van and its precious cargo. 


He's happy. 


Soon, at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent introduces son Jon to his co-workers. One, in particular, is eager to impress. 


It's a nice moment with the Planet staff, but interrupted by an explosion of news alerts. Across the world, a series of atrocities is occurring. Superman does what he can, his spirit saddened by what he sees, not realising that someone has dialled man's worst side up to 11.  

As for who Mr Oz says he is, if you've read this far, you've either seen the book or plan to, or will check out the revelation across the web. I shan't spoil right now because a review shouldn't go as far as the final page... if there's a chance my ramblings will kill a sale, I'll avoid! Creators Dan Jurgens, Viktor Bogdanovic and co have put the work in, let them get some cash. 

Jurgens does a fine job with the script, showing that despite Mr Oz's gloomy worldview, there is goodness aplenty on Earth, best exemplified here by the compassion of Superman and Maggie. It's true, the citizens on the bridge are very critical of the police, but it's a stressful moment and their better sides soon show through. And while the scenes of spite and hatefulness could easily be occurring without the influence of Oz, Jurgens and illustrator Bogdanovic could as easily cherry pick moments of goodness occurring at the same time. And we do see the good work being done by the medics in Logamba. 

The biggest shock I had this time was the torture of Metallo by ARGUS - he's a bad guy, deserving of imprisonment and a chance at rehabilitation, he should not be treated as a plaything by the authorities. The Suicide Squad's Belle Reve should be the exception, not the rule. 

The Planet scene is terrific, from Perry's affection for Jon to jock Steve's eagerness to impress Jon rather than, as previous form would lead us to expect, humiliate Clark in front of him. The more we see of Clark's co-workers, the better... who knows, maybe newest Planet staffer Jacquee will eventually get a line...

There's a reference to LexOil but the sailors are on a (Simon) StaggOil vessel... probably just a lettering glitch to be fixed later. 

As for the identity of Mr Oz, I don't believe it. If he's who he says he is, then I'm calling Dream! Hoax! Imaginary story! Or a duplicate, or some temporary timestream meddling by DC Rebirth Fiddler-in-Chief Dr Manhattan. We shall see. 

Bogdanovic's pencils, sometimes inked by himself, at others by Jay Leisten or Jonathan Glapion, move the story along nicely. The work is clean, with several standout moments, including this splash; the composition is sharp, and I really like how letterer Rob Leigh works in the title and Superman's logo (I'm a huge sucker for logos in word balloons, and we get that twice this issue). 


And the montage of misery is very well done, with Mr Oz at page bottom, hands raised like an orchestra conductor. 

As for quieter moments, Jon's underwhelming by Steve, and his colleagues' expressions, is splendid. 

Colour artist Mike Spicer shows what he can do throughout, never more so than in the action sequence in Logambo, while the aforementioned Leigh demonstrates once again why he's the go-to letterer for the Superman books. 


The main cover by Nick Bradshaw and Brad Anderson, without the lenticular gimmick, is a tad dull, while Neil Edwards and Jeromy Cox's variant is pretty, but doesn't get across that this is Mr Oz... he looks like a guy in a sweatshirt, and the collision of logo and staff doesn't help. 

All in all, though, this is a good start to an important storyline. I'm excited to see what happens next. 

Comments

  1. I don't think Oz is who he claims he is, either. Just pacing-wise, the story is going to need a twist down the line, and Oz having a further secret ID is just the sort of thing that would fit the bill.

    I like logos in word balloons sometimes... but not all the time. The shouted "Superman" is a great one. The one where Mr. Oz says his own name just looks silly to me, like he's posing or waiting for a rumble of thunder for dramatic effect.

    I think Viktor Bogdanovic does a fine job of conveying the action clearly, which is the most important thing, but something about his faces just doesn't work for me. Some of the adults look a little childish to me, particularly Maggie Sawyer. I think it's that adorable button nose. But that last shot of Oz's face, revealed, was really good, no doubt about it.

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    1. That bit where Mr Oz gets a logo, that seemed to be Dan Jurgens saying 'of course he doesn't call HIMSELF Mr Oz'... but it's too late for that!

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  2. So much between for Rebirth being DC returning to being more positive, eh? Between Metal, where everyone but Batman is incompetent and the Dark Multiverse takes over, and this highly disturbing revelation, it looks like Didio and Johns are fixated on the same old same old that made the DCU such an ugly place for years. I'll even be skipping Doomsday Clock for fear it'll out Pete Ross as a serial killer or Pa Kent covered up Ma Kent's years euthanizing cancer patients...

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    1. I've found Metal to be ridiculous fun so far. There's a baby Darkseid. The Justice League made a Voltron. If only Scott Snyder wouldn't load it down with so much hooey about bat tribes and bird tribes. Every time I get to those captions and word balloons, I start to skim.

      As for this revelation, I suspect it's similar to any Silver Age heel turn in all but the pacing; we'll eventually discover that this wasn't the character in question after all, or he'll be exonerated in some other way. These things used to take an issue to be revealed, and now they take months.

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    2. Steve, I really hope this doesn't signify that a return to darkness is the new norm... I'd like to think they'd learned their lesson pre-Rebirth, and that's why we've had so many more entertaining books of late.

      Rob, top observation on this being just your average shocking Silver Age tale - e.g. Superboy #158 - with a shot of Gingold.

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  3. I don't think he's who he says he is, either. Doesn't really jibe with Johns' set up in the initial Rebirth issue (not that that means anything, they change direction all the time). There was a hint to this a few issues ago, but I'm about 6 weeks behind again and don't recall what the hint was right now.

    But I'm looking forward to this unveiling and the Doomsday Clock series!

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    1. I'm hoping Doomsday Clock will be a big old Christmas treat!

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    2. FINALLY got to read the full issue for myself and I'm more convinced it's a feint, as it doesn't completely jibe with what's gone before, Oz-wise. Which is good, because this twist is (if true) not good. But as a diversion? Interesting.

      I don't know if you've seen any of the clueless out-of-context commentary on the attempted murder of immigrants scene, but it's been crazy over here in the States.

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    3. I read about that. What a load of rubbish.

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  4. apart from all the kidnappings he's done has Oz done anything truly evil or villainous an if not would it be strange if eye wanted him to stick around as a Good Guy

    Ps eye realize he did "Kill" Metallo but seriously Corben has been through worse an he will be back

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    1. He killed a helpless Zor-El (his brother?
      ) in Supergirl this week. So yes - in combination with what he caused in this issue I'd say he is evil beyond redemption now. Superman's father if he is that is a serial killer now.

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    2. Hope Lara is alive as well she could mentor Jon in combat if she was still a member of the military guild

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    3. Good idea. I’d forgotten about her recent fight skills. That would be one tough grandma.

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    4. Yup, Anonymous, I think ‘serial killer’ is unarguable.

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    5. Serial Killer would mean he has killed more people than just his Brother has actually committed Serial Murder or it this a case of Fratricide

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    6. Well, Shadow, there's also Metallo in this issue, so the body count seems to be going up.

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    7. seriously all Corben needs is a new heart an he will be right as rain he is as dead as cell phone at zero percent power

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    8. I don’t know, why would everything function in between one power source being pulled and a new one plugged in?

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