Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Action Comics #2

By Dan Horn
October 7, 2011 - 11:22

Superman's been captured by the US Army and is being tortured by none other than Lex Luthor.

There's something very classically enjoyable about Grant Morrison's retreading of Superman's Golden Age roots. Here Superman isn't quite as powerful or invincible as his most modern incarnations. He's still leaping to "fly" and still quite capable of getting his ass kicked, a fact which makes the seemingly mundane electric chair which he's been strapped to that much more potently dramatic. Just like his 30s and 40s days of tilting automobiles and snapping chains with some minimal effort, Morrison's Action Comics Superman is somewhat vulnerable, which I believe is an absolutely endearing quality in a hero. I suppose Superman has always had his vices, in one form or another, but the idea of physical weakness, however minute, brings a certain level of humanity I never really connected with in recent Superman stories.

It is hard for me to believe that Grant's been in this comic book game for so long, though. His pacing, in this issue and in #1, left much to be desired. Dramatic builds and tension are practically nonexistent. Much like the scene with Lois Lane in the first issue, this chapter's pages featuring the female reporter are a bit haphazard. Morrison shoehorns in some strange and clunky dialogue for the sake of character development, but to no avail. There are some really great ideas in this book, however, which shouldn't be too surprising. Morrison has always been a writer of grandiose and charmingly absurd reveries; he just needs a hand with storytelling mechanics now and then.

Rags Morales gets an art assist from Brent Anderson in this issue, and the drawings don't seem quite as tight as the first issue's. I've been noticing quite a bit of this on most of the New 52 #2s, and I suppose it was to be expected. But, for every great panel inside this book, there seems to be another sloppy or awkwardly drawn panel.

The $3.99 price tag is still a bit disconcerting, too. I assumed this would be an introductory price hike, but the fact that follow-up issues are still sporting the hiked-up price points seems extremely contradictory to DC editor-in-chief Dan DiDio's promise of keeping the new line of books firm at $2.99. I can't really say that this issue was well worth $3.99. It's a quick read, and the art isn't something that's going to warrant multiple reads.

Marginal problems aside, the new Action Comics has really been fun and intriguing, offering readers a classic rejuvenation of a tired character. I look forward to next month's installment, albeit with un-bated breath.

Rating: 7 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12