April 18, 2018 was an epic day in the world of comic books with the release of Action Comics #1000 celebrating 80 years of the Man of Steel, Superman.
Paying homage to the legacy of Superman, Action Comics #1000 looks at the past, the present and a glimpse of the future with several shorts written by some of DC Comics finest writers and brought to life by the industries finest artists. Each story has a sense of nostalgia as it takes a look at Superman’s life through the first 80 years. Whether it was celebrating him or seeing him evolve through those years batting tommy-gun wielding thugs, fighting time against Vandal Savage or playing a game of chess with his arch-enemy Lex Luthor. Each one showcases why Superman is so important beyond that of a fictional character. His importance lies within the ideals that make Superman, superman. Things like Truth, Justice and the American way is often overlooked in today’s world. Yet, through all the negativity, Superman remains a shining example of what it means to be human. Coming from a dead alien world and Superman raised here on Earth by Jonathan and Martha Kent is the most human of us all.
Not every story in this nearly 100 page tribute is a winner, my least favorite being the Mr Mxyzptlk-esque, Actionland. Some stories are even dark in tone but still well-written and beautifully drawn. My personal favorite comes from the one written by my favorite author, Brad Meltzer called Faster Than a Speeding Bullet. As for the final short, The Truth written by Brian Michael Bendis, it introduces a new villain named Rogol Zaar and brings the past back to the present by giving Superman his red trunks and yellow belt. While I’m not sure where Bendis will be headed with this as he tackles the upcoming mini-series, The Man of Steel, what I do know is that the legacy of Superman is in good hands. Here’s to the next 80 years and 1000 issues.
The list of shorts:
“From the City That Has Everything” by Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, and Hi-Fi
“Never Ending Battle” by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Alejandro Sanchez
“An Enemy Within” by Marv Wolfman, Curt Swan, Butch Guice, Kurt Schaffenberger, and Hi-Fi
“The Game” by Paul Levitz, Neal Adams, and Hi-Fi
“The Car” by Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Olivier Coipel, and Alejandro Sanchez
“The Fifth Season” by Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque, and Dave McCaig
“Of Tomorrow” by Tom King, Clay Mann, and Jordie Bellaire
“Five Minutes” by Louise Simonson, Jerry Ordway, and Dave McCaig
“Actionland” by Paul Dini, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Kevin Nowlan, and Trish Mulvihill
“Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” by Brad Meltzer, John Cassaday, and Laura Martin
“The Truth” by Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
