Action Comics #895 (spoilers)

[ffaristocrat]

Didn't see a thread.

Luthor realizes in a dream all he needs to do to gain power from the Black Lantern spheres is change them by scanning them. He's apparently worked out the locations of the remaining pieces (4 in space, 6 on Earth) but first he's going to deal with two spheres that are situated next to each other.

In the other plotline, following a prophecy, Savage sets guards through the centuries waiting for the phophecised figure to show up so he'll receive happiness. The black lantern spheres in his care apparently make everyone around them angry. Centuries pass, little changes. Eventually, modern day roles around and he spots Luthor in a newspaper and realizes that's the guy.

We're then treated to more flashbacks to previous storylines as Savage tries to invite Luthor back to his pad (he has to show up willingly apparenlty) only to be blown off each time.

In the present day, Luthor simply scans the two spheres remotely via satellite. Savage shows up to check on them and is pissed when he sees they're now white.

Having been denied his prophecized happiness, he rolls in to LexCorp and takes over the building by force. Luthor pretends to surrender but actually triggers a silent alarm to summon... the Secret Six.

[dupersuper]

Does this cross over with the next Secret Six issue?

[Stu]

No, because Secret Six is still on it's current arc, so they'll be still dealing with that in the next issue.

[weeks]

i thought this was the best issue of cornell's run so far. i loved the story with vandal savage and each panel jumping through the centuries. excited to see what he does with the secret six.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

This was probably my least favourite issue so far - but it was mostly set up, and the rest have been great, so I can forgive it.

I thought it was the best Jimmy Olsen back up so far - I hope put Nick Spencer and the artist onto an ongoing Jimmy Olsen after this, it was absolutely hilarious.

[dupersuper]

Lois must be really bored with Clark on walkabout, to try and give Jimmys love life a boost via make-over. Speaking of, Supermans walk got a mention in JSA 45.

[pariah-1972]

I thought this issue was kind of confusing and i was let down.

Why was he calling henchmen postules for? i thought those were some kind of warts..

The art is amazing tho.

Am i the only one wondering why a robot clone of Lois would be so demure about walking around nude? and if so she could have just wore underwear or pajama's .. so i found that a little distracting.



The jimmy backup was kind of too silly.. and Chloe seems to be acting way out of character here ...she has never been an ice queen bitch to anyone that i recall.

[suss2it]

I thought this issue was kind of confusing and i was let down.

Why was he calling henchmen postules for? i thought those were some kind of warts..I believe he was referring to the black spheres when he says "postules".


The jimmy backup was kind of too silly.. and Chloe seems to be acting way out of character here ...she has never been an ice queen bitch to anyone that i recall.
You should watch season 9 of Smallville then.

[pariah-1972]

[QUOTE]I believe he was referring to the black spheres when he says "postules".
yeah lol i think i got that on my third read thru !


You should watch season 9 of Smallville thenHmm i stopped watching since the JSA episodes.

[Mat001]

and Chloe seems to be acting way out of character here ...she has never been an ice queen bitch to anyone that i recall.


That's because this isn't the show version. It's the comics version.

[pariah-1972]

That's because this isn't the show version. It's the comics version.Yes i know but what's the point of bringing someone in from the show and having her look and act completely differently to be as unrecognizable?

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Yes i know but what's the point of bringing someone in from the show and having her look and act completely differently to be as unrecognizable?

Because it's more of an in-joke/easter egg type thing.

TV shows and movies do it with comic characters - why not vice versa?

[paulski]

Another okay issue but I really feel the storyline's meandering a bit at the moment.

I think it would have been better if a couple issues got chopped from the overall arc.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

I think it would have been better if a couple issues got chopped from the overall arc.

You must be new to DC...

[Mat001]

Yes i know but what's the point of bringing someone in from the show and having her look and act completely differently to be as unrecognizable?

Because the story was already written with another character that was similar to Chloe and then Spencer realized that's who he was writing and decided to see if he could use her. Renee Montoya was the same way when she was introduced into the comics. She was just a random cop who worked in Gordon's department and eventually turned into the character that she became before becoming the Question. Montoya was still a rookie cop in the DCAU, when Montoya was a plain clothes detective and Bullock's partner. Then Rucka and Brubaker had her battling personal demons, which wasn't like the character in the comics. And then there's Non. Johns and Rucka depicted him as a sympathetic character, rather than Zod's enforcer that is like a force of nature, nor a simplton under Lester.

[paulski]

You must be new to DC...

Not sure what that's supposed to mean, Funky - I think DC are generally pretty varied in how long their story arcs go for. Many are the standard 6 issues, but there's just as many that go for 3 issues as those that might go 9 or 10 (like this one).

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Not sure what that's supposed to mean, Funky - I think DC are generally pretty varied in how long their story arcs go for. Many are the standard 6 issues, but there's just as many that go for 3 issues as those that might go 9 or 10 (like this one).

Yeah, but we're talking about a book in a line, that just came out of a multi-book, multi-year storyline.
(And story itself has it's roots in a crossover that spun two books, tied into a third, and had six billion mini-series tie into it, and then spun into two separate bi-weekly books).

[edhopper]

This continues to be my favorite of the revamped Superman books. Cornell and Woods continue to mix the right amount of evil and humor into Luthor.
But the best part of the book were the bottom of pages 6 and 7. The editors note telling us where the events on that page happened. Not assuming we have read and remember every incident regarding Lex for the past three decades.
This was usually done on a regular basis. Keeping the reader in the loop and not assuming they know everything the writer does. Or choosing to keep them confused.
It's not that hard and appreciated more than they think.

[Desaad]

Yeah, this book is awesome. Hilarious but also wonderfully loaded with sci fi concepts and real characterization and wonderful DC continuity.

Love. This. Book.

[kevdude]

Agreed, Paul and Pete are doing great, every book has many things happening and goes together well. :cool:

[TonyStark1012]

Another solid issue. I loved how it showed Savage over time just get frustrated at Lex and try to rush him into the prophecy. Even when he thinks he has Lex where he wants him it's the other way around. Can't wait for the Secret Six crossover.

[TonyStark1012]

This continues to be my favorite of the revamped Superman books. Cornell and Woods continue to mix the right amount of evil and humor into Luthor.
But the best part of the book were the bottom of pages 6 and 7. The editors note telling us where the events on that page happened. Not assuming we have read and remember every incident regarding Lex for the past three decades.
This was usually done on a regular basis. Keeping the reader in the loop and not assuming they know everything the writer does. Or choosing to keep them confused.
It's not that hard and appreciated more than they think.

Man, Quoted for truth! Everything you've said is on point. Especially about the yellow blocks on the bottom of the pages talking about past events. I loved that about the older comics. Why the hell don't they do that anymore??!! I glad to see I wasn't the only one that appreciated that.

[Mat001]

Footnotes are seldomly used these days either because they want more of the artist's work to be seen uncluttered or because so many books are in trade, the companies just figure that you can go look it up on your own.

[brundlefly]

Poor Vandal Savage. He kept inviting Lex over to his house to hang out and got shot down every time. :frown:

SAVAGE: "Hey, man, you should really come over later and check out my place in Czech. We could..."
LUTHOR: "Can't. I gotta wash my hair tonight."
SAVAGE: "Huh? Wash your hair? But you're..."
(Lex walks off before Savage can finish)
SAVAGE: "Jerk."

Great usage of prior DC continuity by Cornell here. I would have thought he would have referenced Vandal & Lex's little tête à tête outside Libra's place during Final Crisis instead of that Salvation Run spot. It would have been a little more natural for Savage to segue into another invitation to his Czech vacation home then, as opposed to when they were stuck on a prison planet in another galaxy. (Plus Savage and Joker were both written in SR as inexplicably wanting to stay on the prison planet instead of returning to Earth, but that whole story was just dumb and I digress.) Between this and ACTION ANNUAL #13, Cornell is proving a master of navigating all the editorially-inflicted retcon potholes of DC continuity and letting its rich history enhance his stories. Additional kudos for the old-school footnotes detailing what issues the Lex/Vandal flashbacks occurred in. I miss those things and they are quite handy for those who haven't read the issues in question.

I loved this issue and I just can't praise this run enough. I've been waiting for the Lex/Savage/Secret Six arc in ACTION ever since it was announced and I'm very much looking forward to the next two installments!

[Pixie_Solanas]

This was probably my least favourite issue so far - but it was mostly set up, and the rest have been great, so I can forgive it.

I thought it was the best Jimmy Olsen back up so far - I hope put Nick Spencer and the artist onto an ongoing Jimmy Olsen after this, it was absolutely hilarious.

This was a great issue, at least to me. It picked up nicely from that Death-slog last issue.

Vandal Savage was written beautifully.

One of the more smartly-written runs out there right now.

[edhopper]

Footnotes are seldomly used these days either because they want more of the artist's work to be seen uncluttered or because so many books are in trade, the companies just figure that you can go look it up on your own.

Go look what up on your own? I mean they portray an event that could have happened anytime in thousands of possible comics. Telling us where it happened enable us to find that story, in the comic or the trade, and read it.
I find today's editors and writers expecting everyone to have a universal knowledge of the comic they are reading to be infuriating. Or they are just lazy.

[brundlefly]

I find today's editors and writers expecting everyone to have a universal knowledge of the comic they are reading to be infuriating. Or they are just lazy.

QFT. Today's editors spend too much time online hyping the latest "events" and razzing fans on message boards and not anywhere near enough time doing any actual editing, imo. Get back to work! :evilsmile:

[dupersuper]

No comments on 896 yet?

[pariah-1972]

I like how all these guest stars on this arc have felt natural instead of forced .

of course Secret Six makes sense if you are gonna have an issue with Luthor and Vandal Savage.