Action Comics #52 review

Judge this book by its cover and you'll likely throw it into the deepest pit. Whatever happened to John Romita Jr? His work since coming to DC has been getting odder and odder, his Superman so blocky he's almost ready for a Lego movie. A terrific tease - the first meeting between New 52 and post-Crisis Superman - doesn't get the image it deserves under Romita, inker Klaus Janson and blameless colourist Dean White. (And why are the shield symbols on P-C Superman reversed? He's on the other side of a window, not trapped in a mirror?)
The New 52 variant cover by Ben Oliver is much more nicely rendered, a homage to this series' first issue as we bid farewell to the current numbering. 

Inside, things are a lot better. It's true, the first page with New 52 Superman ruminating on the love between him and Diana churns my breakfast porridge, but I just have to get over it and move on; that's the set-up for this story and better things lie ahead. This week's chapter of The Final Days of Superman has the pair, and best pal Batman, flying back to the US after their trip to China.  They'd hoped to find the confused energy double of Superman who killed several Daily Planet guards, but the mission proved a red herring. Batman, though, can trace the doppelgänger through his energy pattern, the mystery man having absorbed Superman's solar flare energy along with his memories. 

As they proceed, Superman is having an attack - tests say he's not got long to live, and recent exertions seem to be bringing the end closer. And flying, when he could be sitting in the Batplane, isn't the brightest move. 
Over in Metropolis, Pseudo-Superman has showed up at Lois Lane's apartment. She knows he's unstable, as likely to kill her as kiss her, but doesn't try to play along with his delusions - she tackles them head on like the ace reporter she is. 

And it's rather heartening that Lois is the only one he feels he can trust. The strange visitor has something he wants Lois to see, somewhere he wants her to go...
In Salinas, California, at the family farm, post-Crisis Superman and son Jon are making supper, ready for their Lois to arrive home. But someone else arrives first - Pseudo-Superman and other Lois. Even though New 52 Superman doesn't know of the older version of him from another Earth, the energy double has managed to tune into him. And his bid to take over New 52 Clark's life at the Daily Planet having been a disaster, he's ready to kill the bearded Clark and steal his family. 

P-C Superman, of course, isn't having that, and merry hell breaks loose, just before more people arrive - his own Lois, and the Trinity of this Earth...

Phew. I liked this issue loads, from the friendship between Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to the sweetness of Clark and Jon cooking together. New 52 Lois is exactly the character I want her to be, smart and brave; I especially like how when Pseudo-Superman 'suggests' they sit down and eat with Clark and Jon, she slots into an unspoken 'keep things calm, keep the boy safe' agreement with this Clark who isn't her Clark. And when things really kick off, she takes on the role of Jon's protector as quickly as would her sister-Lois. 

Writer Peter J Tomasi's dialogue for each character is spot-on, with the relationships between the various characters dictating the action. There's a little bit of apparent selfishness on Diana's part...
... but that's there to intrigue us - he's been to Lois, Lana and Kara, who is he visiting next? Jimmy and Perry? Kon-El? Lori Lemaris? Maybe we'll find out next time, as the story goes into Superman/Wonder Woman #29. Until then I could spend the week poring over and purring at the artwork, the result of two teams. 

Or rather, one and a half - while Scot Eaton is inked by Wayne Faucher, Dale Eaglesham finishes his own linework, and every page is a treat. Until all parties come together, I think it's Eaton and Faucher giving us Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and Eaglesham handling the Metropolis and Salinas sequences. I'm going by decor as much as anything else (such as angled panels) here - Eaglesham has shown, in the suburbia-set Secret Six, that he's splendid at drawing domesticity, and such things as Lois's terrace and Clark's kitchen scream Eaglesham. Look at the thought put into this panel, the placement of the three characters, the body language, the socks for goodness' sake... it's a testament to Eaglesham's - or Eaton's, as I say, I'm not certain about who's drawing what - craft. 
Plus, Eaton does an especially gorgeous Wonder Woman, and I think I'm seeing her here. 

Corrections and better theories welcome!

The talkie scenes on the Batplane, the tension at Lois's apartment, the more physical drama of the farmhouse fight - it's an exemplary performance from all the artists. And how about this for a way to convey super-hearing, I've never seen this previously. Clever. 
Then there's the way Jon and Ranger (who needs to team up with Krypto) are drawn in the following panel, tiny and vulnerable. It's just really good stripwork. 
And colourist Tomeu Morey deserves an extra nod for his work on pseudo-Superman, just look at how he conveys the energy with his yellow blends - if someone at Marvel isn't looking at this work and thinking. 'Human Torch', they're missing a trick. 
As for letterer Rob Leigh, he's as quietly key as ever, I love his wobbly font for sick Superman. 

With just a few issues to go of this storyline, this is as perfect a second act as I could wish for, bringing the key players together and promising a big finish. Just where everyone will end I up, I don't know, but as fun rides go, this has even the Batplane beat. 

Comments

  1. I loved the scenes in the farmhouse between Clark, the confused superman who isn't, New 52 Lois and Jonathan. Especially Lois's snark "Remember what we said about the S shield and innocent people?" She's going to be a wonderful Superwoman if written like this.

    I really liked how Jonathan was written here and how he and New 52 Lois interacted.

    I am with you about the queasy feelings the first few pages. This relationship just never worked for me. I think Diana suffered the most. She was not written well here at all. She would never begrudge Clark time spent with others. She's not selfish, no matter how much she loves.

    I'm looking forward to where this goes next.

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    1. I didn't read that as snark so much as a gentle-yet-urgent plea - mind, this is Lois, she's as likely to try snark as the gentle touch, but having seen how he killed those guards without a thought...

      Anyway, chuffed you liked the issue too!

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  2. The story-telling from the interior teams is top-notch, making for an effortless reading experience, which isn't easy (obviously, considering how many can't seem to do it at all). The Superman-Wonder Woman re-relationship is as abrupt and awkward as it always was, but Tomasi does do as well with it as can be. With the apparent demise of Superman (and the relationship) forthcoming, it's a nice bit of fan service for the ones who enjoyed it. It doesn't bother me as they're not "my" characters.

    Honestly, the only thing I have to complain about is "Jonno," but that's just something that irked me for no real reason. I haven't followed much of the New 52 since the first couple of years (and then only about a quarter of the books anyway), so it seemed odd to see Batman and Superman so chummy. :)

    About the cover, P-C Superman (Politically Correct? Post-Crisis? Pre-Crap?) isn't on the other side of the window, he's N52 Superman's reflection on the glass, hence the reversed chevron. Badly executed for all that. Blecch.

    This was really pretty good.

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    1. Sorry, are you saying bearded Superman is a metaphorical reflection of the younger chap? Then why reverse something that isn't being reflected? Am I being dumber than the artwork? Is that even possible?

      Why the downer on 'Jonno'? It's very British, I realise...

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    2. I dunno, it just doesn't seem to be in his nature. He bristled whenever Steve Lombard called him "Clarkie."

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  3. Well, Steve Lombard wasn't the same character for this Superman's continuity, he only appeared a few times and the back and forth routine wasn't there. Plus, 'Jonno' from a father to his son is very different to 'Clarkie' from a bully to his supposed victim, it's all about intent, and Clark is being affectionate.

    Is it a nickname thing full stop? Are you just uncomfortable with 'em?

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  4. When I saw a preview of the icky Supes and Daughter of Rapists and Murderers in love again I was upset that I was going to have my money go to this comic. But it seems that overall it's a good issue, despite it's failings. I may have to rip that cover off and recycle it if I keep the issue, it's just so bad. But, maybe that's another new Kryptonian ability we haven't seen before, not unlike Stone Boy's people. :P

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  5. "Jonno" seems like a "dad thing" to do, and is less of a, well, cliché to say "Johnny" these days. I can see Clark mess up his son's hair and call him that, with Jonathon "Daa-AA-aad!" looking upset but loving his dad doing it.

    I like this new Superboy but has it been addressed anywhere what they are doing/ what they have done with Kon-El?

    I hope with Rebirth we can have a real Super Family again. Yes, there were brief moments with Kal, Kara, Kon, and Steel together (and getting along) but overall I felt like it was lost.

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    1. I've not heard anything about the whereabouts of Kon. I hope he comes back in a more fun Kesel/Grummett form.

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  6. Hey Martin, getting interested in grabbing the collection of this arc based on your enthusiasm. How many parts make up the whole storyline?

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    1. It's been advertised as eight issues, Paul, so you should have a nice trade for Christmas.

      (And if anyone doesn't know Paul's excellent podcast Waiting for Doom, a weekly treat with fellow Doom Patrol lifer Mike Garvey, give it a listen!)

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  7. Aw, no, I missed this one at the store! I'll have to wait till next week to read your review!

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    1. Bad news! Hope you enjoy it when you have it.

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    2. Finally got it! (Turns out my LCS was shorted for these past two weeks!.) Like you, I loved the interior art. I don't have the same problem you do interpreting the cover, either -- like Mayak says, it's intended as a metaphorical reflection -- like Bruce Wayne looking in the mirror and seeing Batman.

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  8. A confusing issue if you aren't in the know. Three Superman characters? Lois who isn't Lois? Jonno? Is that the thankless dog from Man of Steel? It's not a bad issue, but it's not a new reader friendly one either. Superman and Wonder Woman together reminds me just how much they've gotten Wonder Woman wrong since 2011.

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  9. That's so true, wouldn't it be great if the upcoming relaunch brought us lettercols AND recap pages?

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  10. Yes, but DC is still in treating readers with contempt mode.

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    1. I think it's more that they're scrabbling around trying to find something that works creatively and commercially.

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