Action Comics #1060: Hello darkness, my old friend…

This is it folks! The penultimate issue of the Blue Earth Saga, that pits Superman, and the rest of the Superfamily, against an alternate reality descendant of Batman and Talia Al’Ghul, Norah Stone! Norah’s come from a future where she’d gain the ability to traverse between worlds, conquering, I mean “liberating” them, as they’d be ruled by Norah, and her followers. Somehow Superman cut her off from that ability, hence why she’s now trying to take over Prime Earth/Earth Zero, the current DC universe, so let’s get down to it. 

It’s the end of 2023, and it’s been filled with a whole host of hellos and goodbyes, as creative teams have left, or joined a whole slew of DC’s titles, and this is one that hurts. After a two and a half year run we say goodbye to Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run on Action Comics. Coming on with issue 1029, he began his journey setting up the Superman line, gearing up Jon for his solo title as the Superman to protect earth while Clark set his eyes for deep space. Specifically Warworld, where he’d be joined by the Authority, and they’d go on to liberate the denizens of Mongul, picking up two young children who’d be welcomed into the family. After coming back, Lex would use Manchester Black’s amplified telepathic powers to make the world forget Clark, Jon, and the rest of the Superfamily’s secret identities, giving them a chance to return to a familiar place in the comics community. Aka return to the familiar status quo that most comics eventually do. 

Johnson would continue his take on Clark, but essentially Action became the Superfamily team comic, bringing us a fresh take on Metallo, and his sister, to the current arc, where Norah used technology to steal Superman’s powers, and gave them to her sycophants, where they’d turn their powers against the people of Metropolis. Superman is searching for his missing daughter with Constantine, Otho-Ra, who’s held captive on Planet Al-Ghul, as the rest of the family deals with her followers, showing again that it takes more than just someone with Superman’s powers to be Superman. It’s these little moments that can seem inconsequential to the casual reader, but KPJ’s tapping into that indelible feeling and certainty that has helped  define Superman after the last 85 years since his creation. It’s these moments that’s made him be the epitome absolute best of who we are, and who we can be as a society. It’s not about his incredible powers, or if his trunks are on the outside, or not. It’s him. It’s Clark. It’s Superman. It’s something Johnson has had an incredible ability to tap into, and deliver to us, his fans.

Eddy Barrows is on art duties, and he’s no stranger to the Superman family. Barrows got his start on the Superman franchise all the way back to the World of New Krypton, and then the truncated J. Michael Strazynski run, before the New 52 era began. Barrows has had runs on almost every character out there. Whether it’s the Teen Titans, or the Nightwing artist after Flashpoint, and then he had an amazing run on the Rebirth Detective Comics’ run, written by Tynion IV. From there he’d fill in wherever he was needed, so seeing his hand here fills me up, knowing that he’s going to produce one hell of an adventure. Can’t wait to see where he ends up next.