After 80 years of serving as the standard bearer for superheroes everywhere, an important milestone for the Man of Steel has finally arrived. DC’s Action Comics #1000 is exactly what its title says, the four-figure marker for Superman’s primary home series since its legendary first issue in 1938.
A team of all-star pencilers and writers have banded together to create a 90+ page collection of short stories. They not only showcase some eye-popping artwork and fun action sequences but also get to the root of what’s made Superman so resonant as a character for so many years.
There are a surprising amount of variations in the tone of these stories, ranging from humorous and tongue-in-cheek, to emotional and moving, and also some just plain inspiring tales. They do a great job emphasizing Supes’ compassion and humanity, two of his most important personality traits. In Dan Jurgens’ From The City Who Has Everything, Clark, alongside Lois Lane and his son Jonathan, tries to remain incognito while fretting over an oncoming alien invasion- in the middle of a public celebration given by Metropolis’ mayor for his heroic deeds.
One memorable scene that stands out in the story is when a reformed criminal details his multiple run-ins with the Last Son of Krypton, and how Superman helped him rebuild his life after prison. It’s a testament to how he’s a character who can make his readers feel powerful and inspired without having to throw any punches.
Of course, this issue’s got plenty of ass-kicking action for those who want it. Some good examples of such can be found in Peter Tomasi’s “Never-Ending Battle”, where Vandal Savage locks our hero in a time loop and forces him to battle figures through his detailed history. It’s a fun list of references (including Kingdom Come and Dark Knight Returns among others) with a surprising ending that’s got some great illustration on the part of Patrick Gleason.
Brad Meltzer’s “Faster Than A Speeding Bullet”, drawn by John Cassady features Superman’s race to catch a hostage-taking criminal’s bullet before it strikes its victim, while Brian Michael Bendis and penciler Jim Lee debut Rogol Zaar, a deadly new villain that Clark will contend with in future issues.
Some of the more poignant moments are showcased in stories like Geoff Johns’ “Of Tomorrow” where Superman visits the graves of his parents far into the future. Mankind has gone extinct, but Kal-El still remains, and his tribute to Jonathan and Martha will easily tug on the heartstrings.
Another Johns tale, “The Car” (co-written by the 1978 Superman director Richard Donner) displays how he’s able to see the positive traits in people even when they themselves might not. One really charming aspect about Supes is how much he believes in the inherent goodness and inner strength of people, and Marv Wolfman’s story “An Enemy Within” (crafted from unreleased Curt Swan artwork) rewards his optimism.
And that’s not to say this issue doesn’t also feature Superman’s lighter, more personable side. Paul Dini’s “Actionland!” is an amusing look in the mind of longtime Superman foe Mr. Mxyzptlk and how he perceives his rival.
Paul Levtiz and Neal Adams’ “The Game” is a cute look into the dynamic between the Man of Steel and Lex Luthor (Scott Snyder’s “The Fifth Season” goes a lot better for him), and Louise Simonson and Jerry Ordway’s “Five Minutes” features a charming comparison by Clark of his two jobs as a superhero and intrepid reporter.
To me, Superman is a character that’s gradually become more fascinating over time even as the world becomes more complex, and that also may be a reason for such. He’s an unironic symbol of the best ideals that people can strive for, and even though he’s fictional he still makes for a great symbol of hope for many. That’s why I think some of the recent, darker portrayals of his personality (his more distant New 52 incarnation, for example) have left some fans cold.
A cynical, grim-minded Superman reacting dourly to the ills of society isn’t particularly interesting. But a firm-hearted, kind and hopeful Superman standing for truth and justice against a cold world? Ah, now we’ve got something. He and Batman are equally heroic and good, but they have different kinds of character strengths- one shouldn’t be transformed into the other.
What we’ve got here is an entertaining collection of short stories that showcase how versatile Superman can truly be with good writing. In Action Comics #1000, he’s gregarious, bad-ass, vulnerable, witty and poignant. The creative staff at DC have certainly gone out of their way to give the Man of Tomorrow a loving tribute for his anniversary, and not only do they succeed, I think their efforts disprove the theory that it’s hard to craft interesting stories around him. Easily recommended.