ACTION COMICS ANNUAL #13 Preview + Eventual Discussion (Spoilers) [Archive]

Desaad

11-30-2010, 05:15 PM

He had a similar look going in Superman/Batman #76.

I quite like it.

He's been doing it every since he stopped being a fill in for other, better known artists (JG Jones, Ryan Sook) on Final Crisis.

He did it in "Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape", and then in "The Shield", then again in Superman/Batman, then again in the latest Supergirl Annual.

He's great with layouts, but his rendering style is very different from JH Williams III. I realize there is a desire to attribute inventive page designs to JH Williams III since that is one of the most striking things about his work, but I'd argue that equally crucial to him is that he can so easily switch between styles, something that someone like Rudy doesn't seem capable of. I see more Steranko than Williams III in him.

Desaad

11-30-2010, 05:18 PM

Oh, and this book was literally tailor made for me. It's as if DC asked -- okay, it's going to be a while before Grant Morrison takes on your favorite group of characters, so who would you want to write and draw a story about one of them in the interim (and you can't pick Walt Simonson)?

I would have answered "Paul Cornell and Marco Rudy", both up and coming creators that I think are still burning with creativity and energy and ideas. Rudy is flat out the best up and coming artistic talent DC has, and Paul Cornell is second only to Grant Morrison at the company for me (though Nick Spencer is fast approaching, I don't know that the New Gods would necessarily be right for him).

I hope Cornell delivers on this. I can't imagine he won't, but I guess there is always the chance.

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-02-2010, 04:25 AM

I hope Cornell delivers on this. I can't imagine he won't, but I guess there is always the chance.

They deliver.

That was a really sweet annual.
Cornell's story was good, but Rudy's art really lifts it all to another level.
His Apokolips is great - love that Lex loves it.

I do wonder how some will react to Luthor getting a leg up from Darkseid when he was starting out - I think it works, he's still a smart fella, but getting those devices and patents was the quick leg up he needed.
(So now Darkseid had a hand in the origins of Batman, and now Lex!)

Wasn't as keen on the second story, but it was enjoyable.
Ed Benes's art was quite different - good to see him shifting styles for the story. His works been growing on me a bit lately.

I hope someone gives Rudy a series soon.
A series written by Cornell.

Gizmoduck

12-02-2010, 06:41 AM

Is it just me or does young Lex look a lot like Jimmy Olsen. Who is your father Jimmy?

Mat001

12-02-2010, 11:33 AM

They deliver.

That was a really sweet annual.
Cornell's story was good, but Rudy's art really lifts it all to another level.
His Apokolips is great - love that Lex loves it.

I do wonder how some will react to Luthor getting a leg up from Darkseid when he was starting out - I think it works, he's still a smart fella, but getting those devices and patents was the quick leg up he needed.
(So now Darkseid had a hand in the origins of Batman, and now Lex!)

It works given that Lex is successful being as young as he is in post "Infinite Crisis" continuity versus the longer time it took before. Also it fits in with Morrison's theme regarding the New Gods being like the mythological Gods of old. Having Metron introduce fire to Anthro in "Final Crisis" #1. It also ties in with Action Comics #891, where we saw Lex's fantasies of himself in different settings, including stealing fire from the Gods.

Sean Walsh

12-02-2010, 11:45 AM

A bit far-fetched, to be honest, but a very entertaining story.

Rudy's art looked great. I've not been sure about his artwork in the past, but have liked his last couple outings (this, S/B #76) and this gives me cause to check out THE SHIELD at some point.

And looking back, Rudy was definitely channeling Steranko here. While the design of the panels was certainly JH-esque, the faces and energy in them was definitely Steranko. In fact, the story never really felt Kirbyesque, which is interesting given the characters being used and the tradition of creators channeling that Kirby Krackle when rendering them.

Also I have to say!!
Seeing Darkseid talk!!
With all these exclamation points!!
Was a little annoying!!
But not bad considering the energy being channeled here!!

Backup was fine. Benes art looked a tad different than usual - but maybe that's just what his art looks like when he draws all men and doesn't include many leggy boobzillas (not that I'm legitimately complaining about his ladiez. :tongue:).

Was that box of Apokoliptian origins, and was that book the Crime Bible?

Uxas

12-02-2010, 11:57 AM

Darkseid and the Kirbyesque use of exclamation points! I need to read this noaw!!

I wasn't a huge of fan of Rudy's art in Escape! but we'll see.

Stu

12-02-2010, 12:58 PM

Is it just me or does young Lex look a lot like Jimmy Olsen. Who is your father Jimmy?

Hahah! I've been thinking the same! Really liked the annual. The main story brought mundane and fanastical elements together and gave us a new view on Perry White, and showed us once again what Metropolis was like without a Superman, and I loved the artwork. The Ra's story was good too, though raises some questions. Have Lex and Ra's interacted in the past before this story? I know Lex made Talia the CEO of his business, but did he cross paths with Ra's at all?

weeks

12-02-2010, 05:15 PM

i thought the issue was great. having lex, ra's, and darkseid all in one book, yes please! i really enjoyed rudy's layouts.

ho! ho! ho!

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-02-2010, 06:45 PM

Was that box of Apokoliptian origins, and was that book the Crime Bible?

I thought it was just a puzzle box, that would fall apart when opened - so you know if someone has opened it.
(There are rings like that as well - take it off and it falls apart. Let's you know if the spouse has been hiding their marriage and going on the sly or some such. I believe they have Arabic origins, which would fit with the location of the story).

I think the book was blank - it was all a test for Lex, to see if he could wait or not.
After seeing the book - which appears to be blank - Luthor keeps mentioning failing a test.

Desaad

12-02-2010, 07:10 PM

I thought it was just a puzzle box, that would fall apart when opened - so you know if someone has opened it.
(There are rings like that as well - take it off and it falls apart. Let's you know if the spouse has been hiding their marriage and going on the sly or some such. I believe they have Arabic origins, which would fit with the location of the story).

LOL, hope they don't take their ring off to do the dishes or bare knuckle box!

maniacmatt

12-02-2010, 08:56 PM

I really loved the first story. The art was fantastic and Cornell really nailed the New Gods. Lots of fun, and I was really surprised by the quality of the art.
Cornell managed to save the second story from Benes's art, but just by a hair. All around, a solid issue. I have to say that 4.99 stung a bit though.

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-02-2010, 10:01 PM

LOL, hope they don't take their ring off to do the dishes or bare knuckle box!

I actually found out about them because of someone who did exactly that!

Theozilla

12-02-2010, 10:02 PM

Oh man I loved this issue. Especially to Marco Rudy's artwork. The Ra's Al Ghul prose was awesome as well. Cornell was able to capture a formative youthful Lex Luthor perfectly.

TonyStark1012

12-02-2010, 11:19 PM

Amazing just amazing! Mr.Cornell you've done it again. Book of the week! Both stories were great. It just goes to show how great a character Lex Luthor is. Damn this was good! Easily worth the 5 bucks!

dupersuper

12-03-2010, 02:50 AM

I love that they made a nod to the Perry/Lex friendship, but Darkseid seemed a little off. Almost giddy...

kevdude

12-03-2010, 07:58 AM

Another good one and liked the other half as well.

coconutphone

12-03-2010, 11:36 AM

Really enjoyed it as well! I don't know Darkseid well (know of him really) but still really good. I especially like the Perry/Lex dynamic.

ffaristocrat

12-03-2010, 01:03 PM

Darkseid was definitely more in the vein of the "Kicking back in Jimmy Olsen's apartment" Darkseid than the Morrissonian "Abstract origin of Evil" Darkseid. Which fits because this is supposed to be years ago anyways...

brundlefly

12-03-2010, 01:29 PM

I love that they made a nod to the Perry/Lex friendship, but Darkseid seemed a little off. Almost giddy...

But then much less so after Lex "escaped" back to Earth. Almost like his whole "ho ho ho" thing was part of the 'con' (as Darkseid actually wanted Lex to rebel and escape) and perhaps he wanted Lex to underestimate him? Ironic, given that Lex accused Darkseid of doing the underestimating after trying to kill him.

Loved both of these stories and that Rudy artwork on the first one was just phenomenal. And like Stu, I don't recall a proper Lex/Ra's meetup occurring before, other than peripherally through Lex/Talia, so I wonder if this prior mentor/student relationship will ever be touched on again. I hope so, as that has a lot of potential.

Just as in ACTION #895, Cornell proves himself very adept at traversing DC's retcon-infested waters and making sense of all the indulgent, whimsical changes that have been made over the years to Lex's history. Such as Lex and Superman unnecessarily 'having to be the same age' now, and that then posing the question of how Lex established such a vast corporate empire in Metropolis in such a short time (as opposed to in MOS continuity, where he was significantly older than Clark). Or how Lex would still have a friendship with Perry White, when now White is much older than Lex and the two no longer grew up together in Metropolis. While other writers make these kinds of haphazard changes without thinking them through, Cornell is the one who comes in and does the work to make these changes actually make sense. Hats off to him. Only (minor) thing I didn't care for was the "the story of how I lost my hair? Oh, that's my secret" bit. Can we please just stick with the simpler "he's prematurely bald" and leave the variations on "a chemical fire caused all his hair to fall out, and he irrationally blames Superman" stuff to his Silver Age incarnation?

Uxas

12-03-2010, 02:43 PM

Oh yes, just read it and I have to say: if I ever was unsure who besides Morrison could capture the magic of the New Gods mythos, now I know. Darkseid's dialogue was delightfully Kirbyish and he even managed to make the "Ho Ho Ho" line work. Rudy's art was great as well, best I've seen from him so far. Just great.

Sean Walsh

12-03-2010, 03:38 PM

I wasn't a huge of fan of Rudy's art in Escape! but we'll see.

That story was impenetrable. The script certainly didn't help him.

Retro315

12-03-2010, 04:34 PM

Is it just me or does young Lex look a lot like Jimmy Olsen. Who is your father Jimmy?

What freaks me out is how much Young Lex looks like ... me. I thought it reading Superman: Secret Origin, but it was even closer here.

It also occurred to me that Lex was totally that classic "annoying ginger kid" in school who raised his hand for every question the teacher asked.

TonyStark1012

12-03-2010, 04:51 PM

That story was impenetrable. The script certainly didn't help him.

Sorry to hear you didn't like escape. I loved it.

dupersuper

12-03-2010, 08:24 PM

What freaks me out is how much Young Lex looks like ... me. I thought it reading Superman: Secret Origin, but it was even closer here.

Your name's not Jerry White, by any chance...?

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-05-2010, 11:57 PM

But then much less so after Lex "escaped" back to Earth. Almost like his whole "ho ho ho" thing was part of the 'con' (as Darkseid actually wanted Lex to rebel and escape) and perhaps he wanted Lex to underestimate him? Ironic, given that Lex accused Darkseid of doing the underestimating after trying to kill him.

My personal take when reading it - so there's no evidence anywhere that it's true - was that Darkseid spoke a lot more Kirby-esque!!! back then, because he was new to interfering with our world, so hadn't quite gotten conversing with a human down pat.
I found it worked quite well reading it in that vein.

BBally

12-06-2010, 01:15 PM

brundlefly

12-06-2010, 01:35 PM

My personal take when reading it - so there's no evidence anywhere that it's true - was that Darkseid spoke a lot more Kirby-esque!!! back then, because he was new to interfering with our world, so hadn't quite gotten conversing with a human down pat.
I found it worked quite well reading it in that vein.

Yeah, I like that. That Darkseid and the New Gods are so far above us on the cosmic scale that he's got to fine-tune how he interacts with us on our level. Similar to advanced aliens who know familiarize themselves with English, but still come off as odd or stilted when dealing with humans since they're still getting the nuances of culture and whatnot down.

Retro315

12-06-2010, 05:15 PM

Your name's not Jerry White, by any chance...?

Nope. That'd be one too many coincidences.

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-06-2010, 06:05 PM

I know people have the right to their own opinion but damn I really hate it when I see 2 different extreme responses to a comic/movie..etc:

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/2011-post-crisis-reviews/c-review-2011.php?topic=action-annual13

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php?readmore=8958&c_start=0

The simple answer is - those guys are idiots!

Seriously, look at the low rating they gave Rudy's art - that's objectively wrong.

As for those fan comments - meh.
One is now going to drop Action because 'why should he buy it if there's no Superman' - seriously?
Bit late for that complaint isn't?
Also, the complaints seem to all focus on 'changes to Lex's history'.
If that's your biggest complaint, when the story actually doesn't change anything, then I ain't interested in your complaints!

Mr. Holmes

12-06-2010, 06:10 PM

The simple answer is - those guys are idiots!

Seriously, look at the low rating they gave Rudy's art - that's objectively wrong.

As for those fan comments - meh.
One is now going to drop Action because 'why should he buy it if there's no Superman' - seriously?
Bit late for that complaint isn't?
Also, the complaints seem to all focus on 'changes to Lex's history'.
If that's your biggest complaint, when the story actually doesn't change anything, then I ain't interested in your complaints!

Agreed on all three points.

OldSchoolfan

12-08-2010, 01:33 PM

I didn't like this issue very much.

There aren't really any story telling flaws that are glaring, so I chalk it up to personal taste.

One thing that bothers me is that there isn't really a sympathetic character in either story. Luthor and Darksied are not characters I find myself rooting for and so the interest has to come from their confrontation. Which I thought was a little dull, Luthor makes a weapon that is supposed to blow up in Darkseids face? Okay...but shouldn't any story contain an idea that is a little more provocative? There isn't any drama at all in Lex's escape...Mister Miracle's escape took a long time and is still a bone in Darkseid's craw. Lex basically walks out the front door.

Alan Moore pointed out one time that comics used to have at least one or two great ideas in them that were played out....most of what I have seen from this corner of the DCU are quiet stories where the characters and dialogue are supposed to drive the interest....and the only characterization I can quibble with is Darksied's....I don't think the character would even waste his time wiping his nose with Luthor to be honest...much less let him get away with a "That little rascal..." speech. But as far as idea's go? I really am at a loss to see how what happened in this comic, or in the pages of the monthly, are that imaginative and compelling.

I'm sorry, but I'll stand in the minority and say that this creator's work is a little bland.

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-08-2010, 04:37 PM

One thing that bothers me is that there isn't really a sympathetic character in either story. Luthor and Darksied are not characters I find myself rooting for and so the interest has to come from their confrontation. Which I thought was a little dull, Luthor makes a weapon that is supposed to blow up in Darkseids face? Okay...but shouldn't any story contain an idea that is a little more provocative? There isn't any drama at all in Lex's escape...Mister Miracle's escape took a long time and is still a bone in Darkseid's craw. Lex basically walks out the front door.

Well, Lex is in a very different situation than Scott Free was, and didn't Darkseid want him to escape?
(I may be wrong, but now I've got an excuse to re-read and check!)

The big idea for the story - which I found entertaining throughout - was that Lex got his boost up in life from Darkseid.
That's been a bit of a missing link in his life - how he became the overnight millionaire.

the only characterization I can quibble with is Darksied's....I don't think the character would even waste his time wiping his nose with Luthor to be honest...much less let him get away with a "That little rascal..." speech.

Have you read Kirby's Fourth World stuff?
That's exactly how Darkseid is in them.

OldSchoolfan

12-09-2010, 01:13 PM

Well, Lex is in a very different situation than Scott Free was, and didn't Darkseid want him to escape?
(I may be wrong, but now I've got an excuse to re-read and check!)

I have to agree that Lex's situation is very different from Scott's....but the point I was trying to make was more that once some one came under Darkseid's boot....it would be very difficult to escape from that influence and if Darkseid really wanted to use Lex the way I understood in the story, he wouldn't have let him walk out the front door.

Don't forget to jump ahead and read "Himon" in Mr. Miracle. I think its one of my top ten Kirby stories. I can't remember the issue number, sorry.

The big idea for the story - which I found entertaining throughout - was that Lex got his boost up in life from Darkseid.
That's been a bit of a missing link in his life - how he became the overnight millionaire.

The Lex I used to like, obviously its not this version of Lex, didn't need any one to give him a lift up. He would scheme and manipulate himself to the top on his own....congratulating himself the whole time.

Have you read Kirby's Fourth World stuff?
That's exactly how Darkseid is in them.

I am not sure if you are referring to my comment about the "That little rascal speech" or the statement "Darkseid wouldn't even bother wiping his nose with Luthor".

Sorry if I wasn't clear...what I meant to say is that I don't think Darkseid would let Lex do what he did and let Lex waltz out of there and then turn around and blow it off and say, "Who's your Daddy?" Which is kinda how I interpreted the scene. To me...this is not Kirby's Darkseid at all.

In my mind, the original Darkseid has very little, if any, regard for humans at all (hence my 'wipe his nose' comment.). They are pawns in his ultimate objective, destroying New Genesis and controlling the Universe with the Anti Life Equation. Darkseid would use Lex Luthor, but never ever let him think that they were on any kind of equal footing. I think Lex would view Darkseid the same way....in fact the Lex that I really liked would have figured out ten ways to use Superman to get to Darkseid to show him who's boss.

I didn't see any of that tension between the two characters in this story at all. That's why I found it so disappointing.

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-09-2010, 04:06 PM

The Lex I used to like, obviously its not this version of Lex, didn't need any one to give him a lift up. He would scheme and manipulate himself to the top on his own....congratulating himself the whole time.

And that's what happened here.
Lex was looking to quickly work his way up the ranks of society, but then he saw an opportunity to steal from a god, and so he took it.
He then reversed engineered several patents to get himself money - and as we saw, congratulated himself the whole time!
As we saw in his dream in the second part of Cornell's story, his subconscious sees himself as Prometheus, stealing fire from the gods to better the mortals.

I am not sure if you are referring to my comment about the "That little rascal speech" or the statement "Darkseid wouldn't even bother wiping his nose with Luthor".

The little rascals speech.
Kirby's Darkseid wasn't the concept of evil/nothing come to life that Morrison writes him as.

Sorry if I wasn't clear...what I meant to say is that I don't think Darkseid would let Lex do what he did and let Lex waltz out of there and then turn around and blow it off and say, "Who's your Daddy?" Which is kinda how I interpreted the scene. To me...this is not Kirby's Darkseid at all.

In my mind, the original Darkseid has very little, if any, regard for humans at all (hence my 'wipe his nose' comment.). They are pawns in his ultimate objective, destroying New Genesis and controlling the Universe with the Anti Life Equation. Darkseid would use Lex Luthor, but never ever let him think that they were on any kind of equal footing. I think Lex would view Darkseid the same way....in fact the Lex that I really liked would have figured out ten ways to use Superman to get to Darkseid to show him who's boss.

I didn't see any of that tension between the two characters in this story at all. That's why I found it so disappointing.

But Lex wouldn't have taken his weapons to Earth if he didn't think he was pulling a fast one, and I got the feeling that's exactly what Darkseid wanted him to do - Darkseid was playing the long game.
Gotta remember, even the Endless are watching Lex at the moment - something big is coming!

OldSchoolfan

12-13-2010, 02:03 PM

And that's what happened here.
Lex was looking to quickly work his way up the ranks of society, but then he saw an opportunity to steal from a god, and so he took it.
He then reversed engineered several patents to get himself money - and as we saw, congratulated himself the whole time!
As we saw in his dream in the second part of Cornell's story, his subconscious sees himself as Prometheus, stealing fire from the gods to better the mortals.

You make it sound so much better than the story I read...that tells me that the writer missed his mark.

The little rascals speech.
Kirby's Darkseid wasn't the concept of evil/nothing come to life that Morrison writes him as.

Don't get me started on anything written by Grant Morrison, because essentially when I point out what I think the problems are, I am made to feel like I am too stupid to understand what he writes.

But Lex wouldn't have taken his weapons to Earth if he didn't think he was pulling a fast one, and I got the feeling that's exactly what Darkseid wanted him to do - Darkseid was playing the long game.

Once again....the way you describe it is way better than what I read. The story just didn't do anything for me.

Gotta remember, even the Endless are watching Lex at the moment - something big is coming!

Please read this with a sense of humor, cause that's how I intend it; People say that after they take EXLAX too!

FunkyGreenJerusalem

12-14-2010, 12:40 AM

You make it sound so much better than the story I read...that tells me that the writer missed his mark.

But that is the story you read.

That tells me... you missed his mark!

Don't get me started on anything written by Grant Morrison, because essentially when I point out what I think the problems are, I am made to feel like I am too stupid to understand what he writes.

Morrison has problems in his works, but it depends on what you think they are - because some people do have silly problems with his work - and how you bring them up.

Because as a Morrison fan, I'm even more sick of being told I only love his work because he wrote it, and that I'm pretending to love his work just to seem cool.
Which may even make sense with some writers - but he's been a no.1 seller for almost two decades!
So it's not not even that the 'cool kids' read his work - everyone does!

So... yeah.
Everyone braces for it when they mention Morrison.

Once again....the way you describe it is way better than what I read. The story just didn't do anything for me.

But it's all in the story!

Maybe give it a re-read?
Cornell does write in a different style to the norm - he doesn't emphasize everything, and leaves a bit of disconnect so you aren't being spoon-fed every bit of information.
It is a little odd at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's great!
I didn't like his first mini I read - Wisdom - but I checked out his Captain Britain, and have been eagerly awaiting each new release.

Daybreak_st

12-17-2010, 01:29 PM

Ok this story was fantastic!!! Thank you Paul Cornell for giving us a Lex Luthor who's worthy of being called Superman's greatest foe :biggrin:

This is the sort of fleshing out of a backstory that is worth reading. I don't care if he grew up in smallville as was jerk when he was 12. But i am interested in seeing him cross paths with Perry white, DArkseid, Bruno, RA's and be resurrected by the lazuaras pit :eek: (say what!!!)

Cornell has craft the single most interesting multideminsional Lex Luthor i've seen in the comics. He's not crazy just driven. He's transended simply being a one note villian like the kingpin, he's not even simply a supporting character, he's almost an anti-hero. He reminds me of Darth VAder, not so much in execution but in that's he's become a villain i'm interested in seeing fleshed out, seeing stories told from his perspective, etc.

I know there's talk about a lois lane ongoing but i would honestly prefer to see lex get his own title written by Cornell. It could continue to flesh out luthor's formative years as well as his interactions with the mainstream DCU, pretty much continue what Cornell is doing now with Lex. That would be all kinds of Awesome!

Best DCU villian ever :cool:

OldSchoolfan

12-23-2010, 08:40 AM

Okay.....I finally got some time to re read this and while I appreciated the artists experimenting with the grid on the pages.....I don't think it helped Cornell's story any.

Final verdict: There isn't really any thing technically wrong with this story...I just didn't like it.
I stand by my original assessment of Darksieds diaglog...it was off a little..."HO HO HO" ? twice? Who is he, the Dark Santa?

dupersuper

12-24-2010, 02:48 AM