Comments on Action Comics #838...! *spoilers*

[SuperManny]

The latest chapter of "Up, Up and Away" has been released this week in Action Comics #838. So what did you think of the comic book?

Personally, with Infinite Crisis #7 and Supergirl #6 out, I have to do some major reading tonight!

But feel free to submit summaries or discussions!

:p

[literally exaggerated]

Very nice issue. As someone whose never been a huge superman fan, I found myself rooting for investigativejournalist!Clark.

[Lord Ichabod]

I wish his powers coming back wasn't soooo predictable. the train thing was way too easy. overall totally great issue.

[JuggernautRM]

Yea, and the cover slightly killed it.

But i found myself rooting for clark the whole time.

[Barrister]

Lois goes to monster truck rallies? Ugh. Ugh. Yeah, just...ugh.

Other than that, I'm really enjoying this run, and this was the best issue so far.

Plus, this Woods guy is the bee's knees.

[Yoda]

Plus, this Woods guy is the bee's knees.

Renato Guedes actually was the artist for this issue. They must have been giving Woods a break.

[Lord Ichabod]

aww I loved lois at the monster truck ralley.

[Steve Brady]

I wish his powers coming back wasn't soooo predictable. the train thing was way too easy. overall totally great issue.

It's so iconic, though! Next he'll have to outrun a speeding bullet, and before you know it he'll be leaping tall buildings....

[Slumber Hulk]

Hmmm... I've liked the series and like this iss too. Although the monster truck thing was weak. Does everyone still go and do the things they did with their late father after he dies? Everyone? It's like they stole the plot from Fever Pitch and made Lois into Jimmy Fallon and baseball into monster trucks. But like I said a great series thus far.

But if it turns out Sups doesn't have powers just cus his subconscious is supressing them I'm going to be very annoyed.

If I have to hear, "I guess deep down I just wanted to be Clark Kent." BARF.

Dear Writers,

First, Great Job. Keep it up.

Second, If I've just quoted your next issue it is not too late to change your dialogue bubbles to read anything else. Even, "Luthor did it." would be more pleasing, even though we've heard that too often already.

Thanks,
Slumber Hulk

[Alex A Sanchez]

If I have to hear, "I guess deep down I just wanted to be Clark Kent." BARF.


I'm brand new to the DCU, the OYL Superman and Green Lantern are basically my first titles- I didn't get Infiniti Crisis and I'm not going to get 52: can anyone fill me in with a spoiler on stuff I need to know for Action Comics/Superman? I assumed that this was where Clark lost his powers.

[Slumber Hulk]

He lost his powers in IC #7 when he and the other superman tried to kill the evil Super Boy Prime by flying him through the remains of krypton and thru its red son. They all seemed to loose their powers and SBP was arrested by the Green Lantern Corps.

It's been one year since then and sups is still sans powers... until that train hit him and he seemed ok.

[Lord Ichabod]

I go to monster truck rallies with my friend heather. I don't know what she sees in them but it's only $10 and she loves 'em so I go.

[Rylon]

Going to monster truck rallys with your girlfriend is a true sign of love.

Back on topic: I thought Sam Lane was still alive? I was alive when I left....

[stealthwise]

I wish his powers coming back wasn't soooo predictable. the train thing was way too easy. overall totally great issue.

Hehe, to be honest, the ending surprised me, as I figured he'd get bailed out yet again by one of his hero buddies. Maybe that's because I honestly don't look at the covers, and when I do, they don't really register to me. :)

The issue was pretty good overall, but the art change was jarring.

[Choppa]

I didn't read it. How did his powers come back?

[Damo]

Seriously Jimmy, your life revolves around an older married man. Who you want to toss a baseball around with.

GET A DOG.

[Alex L]

But if it turns out Sups doesn't have powers just cus his subconscious is supressing them I'm going to be very annoyed.

If I have to hear, "I guess deep down I just wanted to be Clark Kent." BARF.

I doubt it. Wasn't he sporting bruises from being assaulted by thugs in another OYL-Superman title?

[Damo]

In Action 838 we learn that Lex Luthor is using some sort of Kryptonite drill to lure a ship to Metropolis. A ship that had crashlanded in 1938, in Texas, and had burrowed under ground to lurk all this time...

My guess? The Kryptonian Brainiac so many of us want (hey, this is post Retcon Punch, if Matrix can be gone so can the old Brainiac stories).

[stealthwise]

I think it'd be funny if it was just Doomsday.

He could return from the centre of the earth every 30 days. :)

[Sean Whitmore]

Steers and queers.

;)



SEAN

[Justin D.]

Seriously Jimmy, your life revolves around an older married man. Who you want to toss a baseball around with.

GET A DOG.

I liked that page. Sure, it could've seemed sad, but I took it not only as a guy wanting to hang out with a friend who he doesn't get to hang out with often, but he was also missing his chance to flirt with women dressed for summer in the park. I think the dog comment was just a comment about get a four-legged friend, but also a four-legged friend that draws women. It seemed like a totally natural, character moment and it's one of the reasons I like this story arc so far.

[Sean Whitmore]

Back on topic: I thought Sam Lane was still alive? I was alive when I left....


Nope, Sam bought it during the "Our Worlds at War" storyline a few years ago.

He did reappear briefly during a recent Day of Vengeance crossover, when ghosts started appearing all over Metropolis.


SEAN

[Rylon]

Dagnabbit! I'm gone for a few years and DC decides to kill off the wrong people!

[Rich L]

Nope, Sam bought it during the "Our Worlds at War" storyline a few years ago.

He did reappear briefly during a recent Day of Vengeance crossover, when ghosts started appearing all over Metropolis.


I seem to remember it being hinted at pretty strongly in that issue that Sam as actually alive and had faked his death. Wouldn't mind that being followed up on some time.

[Damo]

Steers and queers.

;)



SEAN

So you're saying steers and queers are actually from Krypton originally?

This... explains so much. XD

[MrBeebs37]

I'm getting the feeling that this storyline is leading to a Clark Kent that has to keep his powers a secret from Lois Lane and so far it's being developed as a pluasible return to a classic status quo if that is indeed what's happening. Anyone else?

[garin]

I'm getting the feeling that this storyline is leading to a Clark Kent that has to keep his powers a secret from Lois Lane and so far it's being developed as a pluasible return to a classic status quo if that is indeed what's happening. Anyone else?
He'd have to adopt a different costumed identity (although.. he could probably style his hair slightly differently and nobody would recognize him.)

I don't see it happening long term.

[MrBeebs37]

Drats, you're right...I didn't think that through too well. I guess it really is just a fun little Superman story.

[Kilgore Trout]

ACTION 838

What I liked:

Best book of the bunch so far... In fact so good I think it should have been part 1 instead of part 4...

Renato Guedes art work was excellent on this issue... It’s MUCH cleaner and much more expressive than the Woods penciled issues of Up, Up and Away...

Check for the great headshot where Clark looks EXACTLY like Chris Reeve…

Very nice…

This issue was much more focused than the other 3 and I personally enjoyed the give and take between Clark and the rest of the supporting cast...

I REALLY enjoyed the opening sequence in Star Labs... AGAIN, it should have been in the first issue...

What I didn't like:

My only real complaint is the first person narrative which seesm forced and is more of a distraction than anything else... Personally I don't think it’s really that necessary... I think the pictures tell the story better...

But that's a small matter...

Nice book...

[Lord Ichabod]

wow I suck. I totally forgot about stronger than a locomotive.

[The Batman]

I didn't read it. How did his powers come back?

well from what i've read in IC#7 and here it seems that it was just him gradually reabsorbing yellow sun radiation between the events of IC and OYL.

[El Kabong]

So far is hasn't explained how his powers are returning. Yes, he lost them going through the remains of Krypton and then the red sun, but the first page explains that he's still Kryptonian but not processing yellow sun energy like he should be. There isn't any more explanation given, but it's safe to assume the return of his powers has something to do with this previously unknown Kryptonian ship, all the green K Luthor amassed and the sunstone. It's funny how I didn't even think about returing powers until the end. Covers are notorious for being misleading, so I figured it was just another way to entice more people to buy the ish. Then re-reading it, there are subtle hints to returning powers.

1. The VERY cold Planet office. Clark doesn't notice, but you're lead to think he's just concentrating very hard.

2. The comment from the big green thug about never seeing someone move so fast. The page is also drawn to illustrate Clark moving at great speed. But we just think he's running to save his life.

3. The blast from whichever random thug hits his shoulder. Again, we're lead to think it's not a direct hit but just a glance.

I think the ish was well written, well drawn and overall another solid story. I hope they don't make the explanation for his returning powers something off base, like "I'm really happy to be just Clark" or "Luthor did it".

[Steppenwolf]

I've liked Busiek's run so far. Just wish someone would tell Clark that wearing his Smallville high school jacket is a tad pathetic.

[Barrister]

I'm actually surprised their isn't more speculation on this board about what Luthor is using all that Kryptonite to bring to the surface, considering this could play out really well if handled right.

My first reaction was that it was original (Kal-l) Superman's ship. Now here me out: as the "new Earth" has incorporated elements from the multiverse, whats to stop writers from incorporating elements of characters without actually incorporating the characters themselves? We've arleady seen in IC #7 Tangent Green Lantern's lantern on the beach. This Lantern has never appeared in the DC Universe proper, and yet, here is her lantern.

I realize that the design must be different, and another big question is how it got buried in the first place. But it's just something to think about.

I like what Damo suggested, that it might be Braniac. That would probably be my second guess as it stands right now.

I want to hear what everyone else thinks it might be. If you don't mind, of course.

[Sean Whitmore]

I want to hear what everyone else thinks it might be. If you don't mind, of course.


On the one hand, I am curious as hell to see the "New Earth" Brainiac. Robot? Organic? Coluan? Kryptonian? Telepathic?

On the other hand, I think making Brainiac a part of this storyline is just blowing Superman's entire villain wad all at once.


SEAN

[Damo]

Or making sure other writers don't have a chance to screw his main villains up... all at once.

[Shellhead]

I wonder if Clark got Lois pregnant before his powers started coming back... that could get around many of the potential problems identified in the classic Larry Niven piece titled "Man of Steel, Woman of Tissue."

[Slumber Hulk]

But if it turns out Sups doesn't have powers just cus his subconscious is supressing them I'm going to be very annoyed.

If I have to hear, "I guess deep down I just wanted to be Clark Kent." BARF.

Dear Writers,

First, Great Job. Keep it up.

Second, If I've just quoted your next issue it is not too late to change your dialogue bubbles to read anything else. Even, "Luthor did it." would be more pleasing, even though we've heard that too often already.

Thanks,
Slumber Hulk

Ok it's bad taste to quote oneself. But I called it! BARF!

In Superman 652 ... "Deep down" Superman just wanted to be Clark Kent.

The overuse and predictability of the term "deep down" is vexing.

[Mike Smith]

I wish his powers coming back wasn't soooo predictable. the train thing was way too easy. overall totally great issue.

Yeah, the cover did sort of give that away.

Even before the ending Lois made a point to ask him if he was cold and he wasn't...that sealed the obvious deal. There was also one of the baddies, maybe Radion, commented on how he never saw anyone "hustle" as fast as him.

I still felt a tinge of excitement as well with the shot of the hand imprint.

CK was awesomely shown pursuing justice in the face of danger with Intergang and his first thoughts when being chased by superpowered goons "Need get them away from people..." not anything selfish despite his *thought* vulnerability. It shows his courageous nature doesn't hide behind the S but is always there.

I loved Luthor. That air of evil 50's era scientist and villainous mastermind is awesome. Then of course there is toyman.

It was a fun read, albeit predictable, but good nevertheless.

Seriously Jimmy, your life revolves around an older married man. Who you want to toss a baseball around with.

GET A DOG.

Hah I felt for the poor guy. Maybe he needs a rocketpack and zany powers so he can spend more time with Clark.