Review Brew: Action Comics #957

Writer: Dan Jurgens

Artist: Patrick Zircher

(Spoilers ahead!)

This week sees the release of one of two “Rebirth” titles which doesn’t fall under a “Rebirth” issue but simply resumes its old numbering. Maybe that’s appropritate for historical and symbolic reasons: DC published Action Comics continuously from 1938 until the mid 1980s, briefly changing it to Action Comics Weekly for 42 issues while maintaining the numbering. It changed back to Action Comics and continued publication until its 904^th issue in 2011, when the series then restarted with a new #1 under the New 52 relaunch. However, DC decided to listen to fan craving for the old numbering, and with the company undergoing a “Rebirth” this month, the old numbers are reborn as well, tacking on the prior 52 issues to get itself to its 957^th issue.

That said, a high issue number implies a degree of continuity baggage with it. Seriously, readers who like high-titled numbers because of the legacy the numbering carries forget that all of the book’s previous history comes with it. And that’s the flaw of the “reborn” Superman titles: they’re not the cleanest jumping-on point for new readers. Action Comics #957 spins out of last week’s Superman Rebirth #1 by continuing the previous Superman’s entry into a world he doesn’t quite belong in. (See our review of Superman Rebirth for a fuller explanation of what’s up.) Older readers looking to get back into Superman may be delighted; newer ones need to fill themselves in on Flashpoint, Convergence, and May’s Death of that Other Superman to get up to speed, and a one-page explanation to fill them in might have helped.

“Lack of clarity” is what brings the relaunched Action Comics down. Veteran Superman writer Dan Jurgens is ostensibly distinguishing this title from Peter Tomasi’s Superman by making the book a sort of Superman/Luthor reluctant “buddy cop” story. In the wake of other-Superman’s death, Luthor has armored up and declared himself Superman’s replacement. Classic Superman isn’t having this, as he knows from experience that the Luthors are rotten and manipulative to the core. That said, the “buddy cop” angle isn’t really presenting itself yet, with the issue reducing itself to a slobberknocker where Superman—an older, wiser, experienced Superman, mind you—picks a public fight with a Luthor he just met. For an elder statesman of the old DCU, Superman comes off pretty brash for his first public appearance.

It’s not a bad story so far, though we’ll have to read issue #958 to get the full scope of the story, particularly with this issue’s “are we really going there already?” cliffhanger. It’s just that the issue needed tightening, with Jurgens’ ideas being a bit disconnected from each other. There’s a mysterious robbery plot (tying into the cliffhanger) which literally just floats in the background during the Superman/Luthor fight. There’s a second mystery in the sudden appearance of a guy who just shouldn’t be there. There’s a third mystery of some hooded guys who are watching the whole situation from afar. These plot elements are all great in concept, but in execution they’re a little flat, and they’re awkwardly interposed into the story when they do show up.

At least Patrick Zircher’s art is very readable. Zircher has a decent sense of how to make the characters look like themselves, with Lois, Jimmy, Perry, and Maggie Sawyer all looking very recognizable. Even more impressive is the dynamism he brings. One gets the impression that Zircher enjoys drawing flying figures, as both Superman and Luthor look very impressive whether fly into battle or just majestically hovering over a crowd. It makes up for some of the shortcomings in the script.

Readers looking to dip back into the Superman titles may want to see how Tomasi’s Superman #1 does next week before choosing between this and Action. Readers who’ve been tracking classic Superman since Convergence may want to keep going with this one.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Supermen.