Action Comics #816 (August, 2004)
"Superman vs. Gog, Part 2: Behold, I am Against Thee"
Writer - Chuck Austen
Penciller - Ivan Reis
Inker - Marc Campos
Colors -Guy Major
Letters - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
Ya know... I've been working on this blog for almost 800 days at this point... and in that time I've uploaded nearly 20,000 images using the same phone I've had since 2015.
And today was the first time I noticed that I can fiddle with the colors on my phone before I upload 'em. I generally just hit the little "magic wand" thing, and call it good. Never realized I could enrich the colors manually! I guess I still have a lot to learn about my already-nearly obsolete phone!
I say all of that, so that I may say this... I'm fiddling with the images a bit... sooooo, there might be a bit of "saturation abuse" in the coming days, until I can work out the "kinks".
Kinks as in... I might overdo it and make the sky look like the Crisis is visiting Arizona! Stop me before I saturate again...
Anyhoo, if anybody's still reading at this point... lemme know if these pics "pop" any better than usual.
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Picking up where we left off, Gog had just jabbed Superman with his spear-thingie. Superboy manages to get in between them and gets into his own fist-fight with the baddie. He takes a good pounding just long enough for Superman to recover and take a swipe at Gog with that very same spear.
Superman checks in with Kon... and there be banter. It's not long before Gog is back to his feet... and back in his helmet? Could'a sworn that had been knocked off. I'd love to have seen a few panels of Gog kicking aside rubble to find it... then wiping it clean before putting it back on. Anyhoo... he attacks.
Gog has clearly got Superman's number... and is making really holding his own. Nothing Superman (nor Superboy) is doing appears to be hurting him. Also... he can teleport! So... uh, why didn't he just teleport in last issue rather then pretending to be a meteorite?
Nearby, Kid Flash and Wonder Girl have gotten all of the Smallvillians to safety... and wonder what their next move ought to be. Before they can decide, Superman-and-boy come barreling past them and into a couple of cars.
The fight continues... this time with added-Titans. Wonder Girl manages to cinch Gog up in her lasso... and gives him quite the shock. Gog then hops away, Hulk-style.
As the dust settles, Superman gives instructions. He asks the Titans to get more help... the Justice League... more Titans... Hero Hotline... whoever! He's going to try and draw Gog to a nearby abandoned military base to settle the score. We can see that his wound from earlier is glowing... green. Looks like Gog might've dipped the tip of his spear (sorry about how that sounds...) into some Kryptonite.
After Superman leaves, the Titans realize that the place he's headed is... the same place they brought the Smallvillians for safe-keeping! Whoops. Kon tells Bart and Cassie to go for help... he's going to follow and protect the civilians. Gog overhears all of this... and makes sure to give the teens a little dig before heading back into battle.
At the abandoned base... Gog attacks Superman... sending them both into the underground bunkers... that are just loaded with Smallville-folk. Well, maybe not loaded... but there are a few of 'em here. Superboy starts carrying them out by the armful.
Then... the base explodes!
Superboy returns to the wreckage to find Superman... dead?! It's really a heckuva page, very reminiscent of that... other time Superman died.
We close out with Kon demanding answers from Gog... why would he do such a thing? Without a reply... Gog vanishes.
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Well... it was a fight scene, and a pretty good one at that!
Gog is depicted as quite the threat... actually "killing" Superman. I can't quite remember how this ended up... I think he turned out just to be a nut who happened upon the memories of the actual (Earth-22?) Gog. I dunno... I think he might've made a pretty neat addition to Superman's rogues gallery... but they definitely had grander designs on the Gog/Magog "brand" following Infinite Crisis... which we chronicled here at the humble blog... and this is where I'd leave a link, if only I bothered to assemble them into an easy-to-find page! Eh, maybe later. For now, if you are interested, check out the Justice Society of America (vol.3) discussions in the archives.
For this issue... I only really have one complaint. I don't feel like Chuck Austen has the right "voice" for Superman. I mean, he calls Gog a "loser" who "kicked my--" I mean, really now? I dunno. Just really feels like he'd be more at home writing a Superboy comic. It's just too bad there wasn't one in 2004...
The art remains really great. I hope I didn't muddle it up too much with all my newfound color-sorcery. Reis makes this book feel like something really special. His work definitely evokes that "event" feel.
Overall... it's, ya know... a fight scene. I could joke and say having Chuck Austen write a fight scene might be considered "risk mitigation"... but, I try to avoid the low-hanging fruit... sometimes. Worth grabbing? I think so... the art, as mentioned, is really nice... plus, ya know... Superman dies! This issue is available digitally.
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Action Comics #815 (July, 2004)
"Superman vs. Gog: End Times"
Writer - Chuck Austen
Penciller - Ivan Reis
Inker - Marc Campos
Colors - Guy Major
Letters - Comicraft
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Cover Price: $2.50
It's been... nearly a year, but we're about to check back in with the Chuck Austen run on Action Comics. At the time, this was when my Superman-fandom (insofar as being compelled to buy new issues) kinda waned. Though, it was also a time when my finances hit a bit of a crunch... so, my dropping off might have just been out of necessity... hard to remember being so far removed.
Now, the last time we talked about Austen, I made it pretty clear... fella was never my favorite writer, but I didn't really fall into that "frothing rage" camp either. Let's read his second issue here and see if we can move the needle... in either direction!
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We open in Smallville, where Teen Titans Superboy, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash are walking the sleepy streets. Bart thinks the town is pretty lame... but cannot fully opine, because just then something crashes down to the street! At that same time in Metropolis, Clark Kent is dealing with his recent demotion. He calls Lois and is rather displeased to find out she knew all about his shift down the Planet's ladder and didn't warn him! We find out that he's been replaced by Jack Ryder... who we might know better as, The Creeper.
Jack goes to shake Clark's hand... before telling him he needs to vacate his work area before his workmen arrive with his belongings. Clark stares a hole in him... well, uh, not literally. Just then, he hears Superboy calling for help... and so, it's up, up, and away.
In Smallville, we can see that "the thing that fell" was actually a man in some shiny... horny armor. In case you missed the cover, this fella be Gog. No, not that Gog. He actually looks more like Magog... but it's not him either, ya dig? Anyhoo, he holds Superboy up by the throat... and is pleased to find that Superman has already been called in.
Gog decides to just beat the holy hell out of the Boy of Steel for awhile, until Superman finally arrives.
Superman and Gog tussle for a bit until the latter levels the former... sending him flying into a tree. The Titans run up to check on Superman... and are immediately given jobs to ensure the safety of the Smallvillians. I think this was a really well written scene... really illustrates the hierarchy of the DC pantheon. The Teen Titans don't question Superman's requests... and get right right to work.
Then... back to fightin'. And... unfortunately, back to quippin'. Like seriously, Superman starts mocking Gog's threats. That's something Spider-Man might do... but, Superman? I don't see him instigating such a massive threat, especially in his hometown... where his parents and friends live. I dunno, that just seems like tossing some unnecessary gasoline on an already out of control fire. Well, he did the same thing last issue... only then it was Metropolis, and he was sassing Darkseid! Woof.
They fight some more... and Superman decides to mock Gog's fashion sense. Yep. He then smashes the baddies head into the ground before giving him his "options". This is pretty cringy, folks.
The issue wraps up with Gog recovering, outta nowhere... and jabbing Superman in the gut with his spear... rod... thing. The next issue blurb warns that next time... things get worse. Heaven help us (I kid, I kid... sorta).
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Just like with the last issue, this Austen script doesn't really fall apart until after the staples. Up until there, we had scenes of Clark Kent dealing with his demotion... and Superman directing traffic with the Teen Titans. Nothing bad... actually, there were a few good lines in there.
Then... the staples. For folks who only read comics digitally, I should probably explain... comics, the physical ones, are stapled together. Ahem. Once we hit those staples here, the script goes completely wonky... and Superman turns into a quipping twit. I mean, he's mocking Gog's lines... as if he's Spider-Man or something. This really doesn't feel like Superman. I mean, you might be able to get away with Superboy talking this way... but not the big guy.
Last issue, Austen had Superman sassing freaking Darkseid... so it stands to reason that this is just how he thinks Superman is supposed to act? I mean, it's been forever since I've read this... so, for all I know it might be revealed that his "new attitude" is a result of his being frustrated with events from his civilian life... but honestly, I don't have enough faith in Austen's ability to be subtle to rest and kind of hope in that idea.
Speaking of subtlety... I recall back in the early-mid 2000's, people really ran with the notion that through Mr. Austen's writing you could deduce that he had a lot of... er, issues, with the fairer sex. I suppose if I were to get out the yarn and thumbtacks and start connecting the dots on the forensics wall of my Palatial Christate, I might be able to come back with something...
Here we have Lois withholding information from Clark... and being painted rather poorly for it. Clark comes across like a trusting goof... while Lois, with all the power and information comes across as condescending and dismissive. Not a good look for Lois, and while she's always been career-focused, I'm not sure I see her keeping something like a demotion from Clark. I'd actually see her putting her own position on the line to ensure Clark keeps his.
This might just be me thinking too hard... or giving in to the Chuck Austen hive mind, circa 2001-2004, but it might still be a subject worth discussing. I want to make it clear... I don't hate Austen's work. Some of his Marvel (X-Men/War Machine) work was rough... like really rough, but it wasn't completely without its charm. I think if someone were to "discover" this run on Action today, with no prior knowledge of Austen's reputation... they'd just find it a middling issue, bag it, board it... toss it in a longbox and not give it a second thought.
Overall... a pretty weak issue, however one I couldn't insist you avoid picking up. The art is still spectacular and... I feel, in hindsight, this is a pretty fascinating era for the character to observe. We're out of the initial "Berganza" run (Seagle/Casey/Kelly/Loeb/Schultz)... into the earliest days of the Didio DC... and on our way to Infinite Crisis. There are a lot of plates spinning at the same time... it's pretty interesting watching to see which ones start hitting the floor first. This issue is available digitally.
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Action Comics #643 (July, 1989)
"Superman on Earth"
Story & Breakdown - George Perez
Finished Art - Brett Breeding
Letterer - Bill Oakley
Colorist - Glenn Whitmore
Assistant Editor - Jonathan Peterson
Editor - Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $0.75
Wow, has it really been 100 days since our six-hundred sixty-sixth post?! Where does the time go?
Anyhoo, welcome to the 766th post... where, as part of #Action100, we'll be discussing a very special issue of Action Comics. It's one I've blown passed in the long box many times over... each time pausing to admire the cover homage (before such a thing was played out)... but, for the life of me... I couldn't tell ya a whole heckuva lot about what goes on inside. Pardon my projecting, but I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not alone in that.
The short of it is... this issue marks the return of Superman to both Action Comics... and Earth!
The long of it is... to follow!
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We open with Superman returning to Earth from his time In Exile. Upon arrival in Metropolis, we get the whole "it's a bird, it's a plane..." before he safely and triumphantly lands atop the Daily Planet Building.
He admires his Earthly surroundings, pollution and all before the Daily Planet staff arrive to welcome him "home". Superman notices that Lois and Clark aren't around and asks Jimmy about their whereabouts. Lois is at Hamilton's... Clark is, well... out. Remember, while Superman was In Exile, Matrix took over for him as Clark Kent to keep up the ruse.
Superman takes off to catch up on what he might've missed during his months "away". Just then, Clark Kent and Cat Grant arrive... with the former a little surprised to hear that (s)he just missed Superman. We follow Superman, who flies passed LexCorp Tower. Inside, Lex smugly smirks.
Back to Superman, he arrives at his apartment. His first order of business is to place the Kryptonian Artifact, the Eradicator on his mantle for safe-keeping.
Back at the Planet, "Clark" is acting a bit wonky... and so, Perry White sends him home for a few days rest. Jimmy walks him out... but overhears Cat Grant in the middle of a very urgent call. Turns out Lois and Gangbuster are trapped under the pier... which was destroyed by an Intergang Robot!
Jimmy uses his signal watch to call Superman... interrupting his shower-time. At the pier, Lois attempts to tend to the fallen Delgado.
Nearby, the Intergang robot is causing more and more havoc. We can see that it's being controlled... or at least monitored by Morgan Edge... who appears to have made a deal... with Darkseid?!
Just then, Superman appears... and smashes into the bot with a left!
And the crowd goes wild!
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| See? |
The robot returns fire, literally... in the form of a pair of missiles. Superman shields the crowd with his massive chest, saving the day yet again!
As he pulls himself up, he gives the 'bot the ol' x-ray look-see... and deduces that it's in no part human... which makes his job from here a whole heckuva lot easier. Superman proceeds to beat the devil out of the robot, before encasing it in his cape.
With the threat neutralized, Superman sets his sights on saving Lois and Jose. Lois informs him that Morgan Edge was behind the robot attack... and so, Superman's next stop is Mr. Edge's office. Upon confrontation, poor ol' Morgan suffers a heart attack!
When the dust settles, we meet up with Desaad, who is watching the events unfold. He is summoned by Darkseid... and fears he might know about a "ruse" he attempted with a certain "Terran fool".
We close out with Superman returning back to his apartment... just in time to see it blown to bits! Inside, he finds... Clark Kent, with a handful of Eradicator!
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Well, I think I can safely say the story didn't quite live up to the cover... least not to me. This wasn't the first time I read this... but the story is forgettable enough where it felt like it was.
It's Superman's return... which is cool. It's good seeing him back as the starring feature of Action Comics after the nearly year-long Action Comics Weekly experiment. Speaking of which, man... I've tried synopsizing some Weeklies... that's a heckuva endeavor right there! Also, this marks his return to Earth. Another cool thing... but at the end of the day, we get a bunch of pages of Superman fighting a robot.
I've said it before (and I'll likely say it again), the thing that kept me wary of DC Comics when I was a kid was... some lame-o threats/villains. I just can't get excited about Superman fighting a robot. Seems like such a non-threat. It ought to go like... Superman scans the thing, realizes there are no human "parts" (and no bystanders in the "line of fire"... then flies right through it. End of story. I'm oversimplifying, I guess... but really... I just feel like most robots are kinda boring.
I suppose the real threats here are Morgan Edge and Darkseid, which works. I guess with this "big return" issue I kinda expected more... which isn't really the fault of the book.
The art here... ehh... I'd never want to besmirch George Perez, but some of the characters here looked a bit "off". I'm talkin' Jimmy and Lois, mainly... but even Superman's face looked "off model" (if that's even a thing) a few times here. Everything else looked great... but I'll admit that I lingered on a few of the wonkier panels longer than I should've.
Overall... I mean, the cover alone makes the issue worth a pull. The action-centric parts of the story is kinda boilerplate, and the few "soapier" elements we get really do the heavy-lifting.
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And today was the first time I noticed that I can fiddle with the colors on my phone before I upload 'em. I generally just hit the little "magic wand" thing, and call it good. Never realized I could enrich the colors manually! I guess I still have a lot to learn about my already-nearly obsolete phone!
