Johns and Donner’s debut issue on Action Comics was incredible. I loved it. I wasn’t as impressed with Adam Kubert’s artwork. There is no doubt in my mind that Action Comics #845 is going to be a fantastic read. Let’s not waste anytime and go ahead and do this review.
Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns & Richard Donner
Artist: Adam Kubert
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10.
Synopsis: We begin with Superman and the Kryptonian boy at the Fortress of Solitude. Jor-El says that not all of Krypton’s historical records survived. That he doesn’t not know who the boy is. Superman then asks the boy if he wants to learn how to fly. We see the two of them zooming into the sky.
We cut to Clark and Lois with the Kryptonian boy at the Kent farm in Smallville. Clark wants Lois and him to adopt the boy. Lois tells Clark that they weren’t put on Earth to be parents. Clark is here to save the world and Lois is here to find the truth. Lois says they can’t adopt the boy.
We shift to Lex Luthor talking to Bizarro who he has had trapped in his lab for the past thirteen months. Lex Luthor turns Bizarro loose and tells Bizarro to fetch him this “super-boy.”
We cut to Superman and Steel meeting at a huge press conference. Superman tells Steel that he wasn’t going to meet with Steel without the media present in order to keep Steel and his scientists honest. Superman tells Steel that he wants to know where Steel is going to keep the boy, who is going to handle the boy day to day and how they are going to educate him. Suddenly, Bizarro Superman streaks onto the scene and pounds Superman into the ground. Bizarro mistakes a normal human boy for the Kryptonian boy. When the normal human boy’s arm snaps under Bizarro’s strong grasp, Bizarro realizes his mistake and tosses the human boy aside. Superman grabs the human boy and takes him to an ambulance. Then Superman and Bizarro engage in a titanic battle that causes massive collateral damage.
Superman uses his heat vision to engulf Bizarro in flames and then his super cold breath to freeze the flames solid encasing Bizarro in an ice prison. Superman sees Lois holding the Kryptonian boy. Lois tells Superman that she knows she said they couldn’t adopt him, but she now wants to try to adopt him.
We shift to Clark, Lois and the boy walking in the park. The boy is wearing glasses just like Clark. Clark and Lois talk about how it had to have been Lex Luthor who sent Bizarro after the boy. Clark and Lois then decide that the boy needs a name. They decide to call him Christopher Kent.
We then cut to three more space capsules similar to Christopher capsule landing on Earth. Out steps three figures. One says that the Tether has broken open the Zone. That they are free. The three figures are none other than General Zod, Ursa and Non. Zod tells Ursa that their son is the reason that the Tether has broken open the Zone. That they must find their son and the son of Jor-El. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Damn, Johns and Donner did it again! Action Comics #845 was an incredible read. I’m not even a big Superman fan, and I am completely hooked by the wonderfully written storyline that Johns and Donner are crafting on this title. The pacing is perfect. There is a nice balance of action and drama. The steady pacing and impressive blending of action and drama help to give Action Comics #845 a great flow. This is a very enjoyable comic book to read. You can tell that Johns and Donner have crafted a well plotted storyline that is tight and focused.
Johns and Donner serve up some solid dialogue. Each character has their own unique voice. I also like how Johns and Donner are handling Clark’s character and Superman’s character. Their version of Clark Kent reminds me so much of Christopher Reeves’ Clark Kent from the first Superman movie. And their version of Superman is one of the most appealing versions of the big red S that I have read in a very long time. I wouldn’t say that Johns and Donner have given Superman a mean streak, but it is close. It is more of a little edge to his character. A little bit of attitude. It makes Superman a bit more engaging and interesting.
Johns and Donner have also created impressive chemistry between the various characters in this storyline. The scene at the Kent Farm and the scene with Clark, Lois and Christopher in the park are great examples of the nice chemistry between the characters. Johns and Donner know that what makes Superman so great are all the wonderful supporting characters. Johns and Donner have a great feel for the various characters and are doing a nice job developing their characters. Add that to their fine dialogue and that is why there is such impressive chemistry between the characters.
Now, what is truly impressive is that Johns and Donner are equally as adept at delivering wild action scenes as they are with dialogue heavy scenes. Action Comics #845 boasted one seriously wicked good fight between Bizarro and Superman. It felt like a scene from a big Hollywood blockbuster movie. This was really a well done fight scene.
That leads me to the villain for this issue: Bizarro. This is definitely not your father’s Bizarro. Johns and Donner deliver one seriously scary Bizarro. This Bizarro is much more of a Frankenstein monster with a violent child-like mentality. Gone is the goofy and wacky Bizarro who was played for laughs than anything else. I like it. This is the Bizarro that I hope DC continues to give us in the future. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing more of Bizarro in this storyline.
Ok, now that we have dealt with everything else in this issue, let’s get to the big bomb that Johns and Donner dropped on the reader at the end of this issue. Zod. Is. Back. ‘Nuff said. That was one hell of an ending! I was jumping out of my chair completely geeking out. I loved it.
Along with Zod comes Ursa and Non. They all looked great. Especially Non. I dig his look. And then we learn that Christopher Kent is Zod and Ursa’s son! Or at least, we are teased with the possibility that Christopher Kent is Zod and Ursa’s son. We shall have to see about that. At any rate, this ending creates numerous questions for the reader. How did they all escape the Phantom Zone. Is Zod’s son Christopher? What does Zod want with Superman? And what role will Lex Luthor play in this entire mess? So many questions. It is going to be a blast seeing what Johns and Donner does with this storyline.
I also like how Johns and Donner are continuing to try and merge the Superman comic book with the Smallville TV show and the Superman movie. It is nice to see DC try and create a more cohesive and interconnected Superman universe.
Adam Kubert provides some solid artwork. It is a bit too inconsistent for me. Some panels looks wonderful while others looks rather pedestrian. Having said that, Kubert drew a very powerful looking fight scene between Superman and Bizarro.
The Bad: Lois still looks butt ugly.
Overall: Action Comics #845 was a kick ass read! I love what Johns and Donner are doing on this title. This title is just pure fun. I’ve never been a big Superman fan, but Johns and Donner are quickly making me one. I definitely recommend Action Comics to anyone even if you have never really liked the big red S.
