Action Comics #10 Preview

[Goldenboy882]

A preview of Action Comics #10 was posted by IGN.

Here it is- http://m.ign.com/articles/2012/06/01/superman-hunted

Are you excited? I know that I am.

Action Comics, Animal Man, and Swamp Thing seem to be bringing their "A" game. It is going to be a great week to read comics.

[Desaad]

I'm fighting the urges to read this so hard right now.

[jsimz924]

its really hard for me to not read reviews...comics movies, anything...im sweating right now.

[FailureByDesign]

[QUOTE=Goldenboy882;15269427]A preview of Action Comics #10 was posted by IGN.

Here it is- http://m.ign.com/articles/2012/06/01/superman-hunted

Are you excited? I know that I am.

Plus Minutemen issue 1, sure people aren't over the moon about the Before Watchmen titles but Cooke will deliver the good stuff.

[Sacred Knight]

Child killer...wonder if this will be Superman's first run in with that sort of trash, and if we'll see him come dangerously close to breaking his code. I'd imagine it'd be hardest to honor that first time you come across such a person.

To be honest, I like the real name Maxim Zarov better than Nimrod. I get the biblical connotation of course, but I can't help but read the name at all times in its slang meaning.

[Auguste Dupin]

Child killer...wonder if this will be Superman's first run in with that sort of trash, and if we'll see him come dangerously close to breaking his code. I'd imagine it'd be hardest to honor that first time you come across such a person.

To be honest, I like the real name Maxim Zarov better than Nimrod. I get the biblical connotation of course, but I can't help but read the name at all times in its slang meaning.

So....the guy is litterally Count Zarof? No wonder he's hunting the most dangerous game.:biggrin:
As always, hooked on this. Newt week is gonna be good.

[AndItsOn!]

what can I say: THIS LOOKS ADSOLUTELY GREAT!

[Rainzo]

Action comics is just so good. IMO, Morrison should have handled both Superman books! It would have been way better than what we are getting atm (probably). I'm so excited about this arc

[El Sombrero]

My thoughts on the preview, contains spoilers from the preview...

Looks very, very good. Nimrod looks like an awesome villain, a DC take on Kraven the Hunter. The fact that he already suspects Superman is Clark certainly makes him a big threat and ramps up the "hunt" aspect. I also really liked how they brought back the dude who Clark gave the farm to, since that's a nice way to tie things in to the back-ups.

Rags' art is looking really nice. His work always looks the best after he takes a few issues off (which obviously makes sense).

[Jake V]

I think I might be the only one not digging the art.

There seems to be some dissonance between the big strapping guy in #1 and this Harry Potter looking guy on the cover of #10.

[Retro315]

I'm certainly not as stoked on Rags' art as I was on his two fill-in artists. With higher profile, more wild artists I think a lot of the criticisms of Morrison's Action Comics would be nonexistent. But Andy Kubert isn't known for being super-speedy, is he? And I don't know as much about Gene Ha. Anyway Morales is doing serviceable work, just not as amazing as it could be. I hope somehow Grant wins the artist jackpot in the near future and Morales moves on. Meanwhile I can't complain much.

Nimrod is great, and the legerdemain required for Clark to throw a guy who has been possibly tipped off by existential satanic forces as to his secret identity (or who is just "that good") should be fascinating to watch Clark pulling off.

[George Taylor]

I really want to have this book right now. Rags' art still puts me off but I can't wait ti get this though.

So the rumor of the mysterious "super-boy of kansas" are still in continuity and looks like Zarov is already suspecting that Clark and Superman are the same person.

[El Sombrero]

I'm certainly not as stoked on Rags' art as I was on his two fill-in artists. With higher profile, more wild artists I think a lot of the criticisms of Morrison's Action Comics would be nonexistent. But Andy Kubert isn't known for being super-speedy, is he? And I don't know as much about Gene Ha. Anyway Morales is doing serviceable work, just not as amazing as it could be. I hope somehow Grant wins the artist jackpot in the near future and Morales moves on. Meanwhile I can't complain much.

Andy Kubert is a very slow artist. He teaches at his dad's art school and just generally takes a long time on his projects. That's why they've put him on things that he can get done WAY ahead of time, like Flashpoint and Before Watchmen. The last time they tried to give him a monthly gig (starting Batman with Morrison) it was a disaster of delays, I don't think they'd try that again.

Ever since Gene Ha's been with DC he's done sporadic work here and there. I don't know if he's slow or he'd just rather not do a monthly book.

I think Rags' art on this title has been extremely inconsistent. Some issues and especially individual panels have looked absolutely horrible, but when he's on point (as he has been the last few issues, and here), it's really nice IMO. I hope it took him a while to hit his stride, because I thought the first few issues were the most inconsistent, and his work has seemed to improve.

[13th Superman]

Can't wait!

[The World]

Lol. Harry Potter look alike or not he looks manly as hell compared to Harry Potter so it all good. And I'm enjoying Rags art in that preview.

[Adekis]

Harry Potter?

See, as far as I'm concerned, Clark Kent should look like Harry Potter. Sort of geeky and relatable but ultimately heroic.

Superman, on the other hand, should look like Hercules! And he largely does. We haven't seen him in this issue, but I wouldn't be afraid to bet that he'll look plenty tough once he makes his debut..

This comic look so epic, I cannot wait.

[DarkKnghtJared]

I'm certainly not as stoked on Rags' art as I was on his two fill-in artists. With higher profile, more wild artists I think a lot of the criticisms of Morrison's Action Comics would be nonexistent. But Andy Kubert isn't known for being super-speedy, is he? And I don't know as much about Gene Ha. Anyway Morales is doing serviceable work, just not as amazing as it could be. I hope somehow Grant wins the artist jackpot in the near future and Morales moves on. Meanwhile I can't complain much.

In terms of back-up artists doing the duties, I think I'd want to see what Brad Walker would do with a full issue. His fill-in on #8 had some awkward stuff, but he drew some excellent stuff during his run on Heroes for Hire.

http://www.hypergeek.ca/wp-content/gallery/perss12/heroesforhire_announcement.jpg

[Desaad]

He's the ongoing artist for a book by DnA out of Boom right now, a sort of Legion of Superheroes riff.

So he's not doing anymore work on the title, I'd bet.

I, personally, would like to see Aaron Kuder get the full time gig on this book. Perhaps alternating with CAFU. That would bring this book up to snuff with Morrison's other DC work, Batman Inc, I think.

[Let's Kill Hitler]

I've personally been loving Rags work on this title. Is it inconsistent? Sure. But at it's best he does some amazing stuff, and I kind of like the rough around the edges style, it suits the title.

[El Sombrero]

I've personally been loving Rags work on this title. Is it inconsistent? Sure. But at it's best he does some amazing stuff, and I kind of like the rough around the edges style, it suits the title.

I do agree with that. You can more get the sense that it was drawn by a person, which sort of adds to the pulpy / classic feel of the title.

I really hope Grant stays on this title for a long time. I thought I heard earlier that he was scheduled for 16 issues, and I'd hate to think he's already past halfway done. I'm burned out on his Batman stuff but I think he is the ideal Superman writer.

[manofsteel1979]

This looks pretty damn good.

While I still overall prefer the non mainstream Superman books over the DCnU version(SMALLVILLE, SUPERMAN BEYOND and SUPERMAN FAMILY ADVENTURES)
This still looks like a lot of fun. Rags looks like he's back on the A-Game he brought with Issue #1 and #2.

I'm okay with "five years ago" Clark looking a bit desheveled and Harry Potter-ish, but I do get a little unnerved when Supes looks similarly too young and relatively scrawney. Especially when the first JL arc shows a Superman from around that time looking as buff as he always seems to be elsewhere. Comic book Superman should look like a Lantern jawed power house. He is the king of all superheroes after all and should look like it. Rags does tend to make him look more like a SuperBOY instead of a SuperMAN, even in the armored suit.

[brik-el]

Preview looks great! Can not wait to read this. Will be picking this up Wednesday, right along side the new War of Light Heroclix. Wednesday is gonna be sweet.

Also this preview confirms that Clark is around 20 in ACTION, and 25 or so in SUPERMAN.

[Grievous]

Harry Potter?

See, as far as I'm concerned, Clark Kent should look like Harry Potter. Sort of geeky and relatable but ultimately heroic.

Superman, on the other hand, should look like Hercules! And he largely does. We haven't seen him in this issue, but I wouldn't be afraid to bet that he'll look plenty tough once he makes his debut..

This comic look so epic, I cannot wait.

I agree. And Rags has done a good job so far - especially in Action #1 where he was intimidating as hell as Supes when he was first revealed.

[KRAKABOOM!]

Clark PO'd at the death of an innocent. And ready to do something about it. Good.

If this were pre-N52, there would be tears streaming from his eyes and he'd be wracked with doubt and guilt. Quivering with the IDEA of doing something. That idea probably amounting to a quiet chat with Lois or ma and pa Kent about "oh, the humanity of it all!" *sob*.

[Zoch]

Preview looks great can't wait

[crossbones]

liking the preview.

i hope there's more actual action in this arc, seeing how the book is called "Action Comics"... the first arc was good but a little slow at times.

[Auguste Dupin]

liking the preview.

i hope there's more actual action in this arc, seeing how the book is called "Action Comics"... the first arc was good but a little slow at times.

Slow?
I mean, in 8 issues, Superman threatened a corrupted businessman, saved people from a collapsing building, fought a tank, stopped a train, got captured by the Army, escaped, fought robots, fought the robot henchman, fought a shape shifting monster, used his own poisonned by Kryptonite self to repower his rocket, jumped into space using the ramp of a truck and a sattelite, infiltrated a giant space ship, fought the alien leader and used his rocket as a dart to stop him. That's not exactly what I would call slow.

[Let's Kill Hitler]

Of the criticism I've heard of Action Comics, this is the first time I've heard anyone call it slow. It's probably the fastest paced comic I'm reading right now.

[Auguste Dupin]

Of the criticism I've heard of Action Comics, this is the first time I've heard anyone call it slow. It's probably the fastest paced comic I'm reading right now.

Yeah, I mean, to me it feels like he's always running, jumping, or punching something.

[DragonPiece]

Grant Morrison said in a interview since the comic was called Action Comics that's what he decided to go for, just doing a lot of that. And you can tell.

[Retro315]

Clark PO'd at the death of an innocent. And ready to do something about it. Good.

If this were pre-N52, there would be tears streaming from his eyes and he'd be wracked with doubt and guilt. Quivering with the IDEA of doing something. That idea probably amounting to a quiet chat with Lois or ma and pa Kent about "oh, the humanity of it all!" *sob*.

Got to give this props; if Jonathan or Martha were still alive, or Clark still married to Lois, it'd be way too tempting for writers to have him in scenes where he "talks it out" with these very important people in his life. Screw that ... stripping those options from him means that Superman is making his own decisions, for his own reasons, with no committee meeting before making them. Going from the gut, Colbert-style.

[El Sombrero]

Slow?
I mean, in 8 issues, Superman threatened a corrupted businessman, saved people from a collapsing building, fought a tank, stopped a train, got captured by the Army, escaped, fought robots, fought the robot henchman, fought a shape shifting monster, used his own poisonned by Kryptonite self to repower his rocket, jumped into space using the ramp of a truck and a sattelite, infiltrated a giant space ship, fought the alien leader and used his rocket as a dart to stop him. That's not exactly what I would call slow.

Haha awesome. This should be on the back of the collected edition.

[BBally]

Harry Potter?

See, as far as I'm concerned, Clark Kent should look like Harry Potter. Sort of geeky and relatable but ultimately heroic.


Thank you, I thought I was the only one who liked that Harry Potter look for Clark Kent, it actually helps hide his identity

[direction9]

Got to give this props; if Jonathan or Martha were still alive, or Clark still married to Lois, it'd be way too tempting for writers to have him in scenes where he "talks it out" with these very important people in his life. Screw that ... stripping those options from him means that Superman is making his own decisions, for his own reasons, with no committee meeting before making them. Going from the gut, Colbert-style.

that's such a damned good point. it's really the first time i've thought about the idea that supes is exiled and on his own, from krypton.....and shouldn't be managing adulthood with a comfortable surrogate family, he should be reexiled (into adulthood, the city, the workforce) and independent. forehead smack on the level of finally giving batman an actual son.

[crossbones]

Of the criticism I've heard of Action Comics, this is the first time I've heard anyone call it slow. It's probably the fastest paced comic I'm reading right now.

really? ha ha, well maybe it was the weird Legion story in middle arc that that sort of killed the momentum for me.

it could be even faster though, i'm thinking about the old Byrne reboot and those Action issues, Superman was fighting even more on those, in fact all he did was fight.

[Auguste Dupin]

really? ha ha, well maybe it was the weird Legion story in middle arc that that sort of killed the momentum for me.

it could be even faster though, i'm thinking about the old Byrne reboot and those Action issues, Superman was fighting even more on those, in fact all he did was fight.

I'm not sure, I mean, the fights back then used to go for the entire issue ( I think of the Metallo fight, or the one against the Titans, where nothing else happened).
And, in all honesty (but you should that I believe the Byrne reboot to be crap), I just think the current run has much more diversity in his action scenes: you have h
chase scenes, Superman saving people , one on one, fights on group, unbelievable stunts.....In Byrne, there was nothing but one on one from what I read at the time.

[Space_Butler]

it could be even faster though, i'm thinking about the old Byrne reboot and those Action issues, Superman was fighting even more on those, in fact all he did was fight.
Your post made me pull out my trade of Byrne's Man of Steel miniseries to compare the first few issues.

Comparing issue 1's, it's 2/3 of the way through Byrne's first issue before the "saving a plane" scene. By this point in Action, Superman has already roughed up Glennmorgan, led the police on a chase, attacked a wrecking ball, fought a tank with said wrecking ball, and then fled back to his apartment where he changed into Clark. This doesn't even account for the remaining pages where he derails the train in trying to stop it. Action winner: Morrison.

Issue 2, in Byrne's issue Lois goes on a wild goose chase to find Superman. We mostly see the aftermath of his actions, but we see him easily stop a mugger and foil a hostage situation with his heat vision and flicking his finger. The rest of the issue is dialogue pages where Lois interviews Superman. In Morrison's issue, he breaks out of an electric chair, fights off armed soldiers, completely humiliates Lex Luthor, and breaks out of the army base. Winner: Morrison

I'll probably do more issues later, but so far the lead in terms of raw action is given to Morrison. Things will probably pick up for Byrne once the issues with Batman and Bizarro show up.

[RoughNTumble]

we need another grant morrison interview

guy hasn't done an in depth one in so loooong

[crossbones]

Your post made me pull out my trade of Byrne's Man of Steel miniseries to compare the first few issues.

i'd start with Action #584, as it's Action Comics we're discussing.

but whatever. tastes differ.

[Space_Butler]

i'd start with Action #584, as it's Action Comics we're discussing.

but whatever. tastes differ.
My reasoning for comparing MoS to AC was to compare origin story to origin story. Byrne definitely had a lot more action once he got out of setting up the new history, and that's why I'm excited for this new arc. Morrison is out of the establishment phase and is now entering ongoing action territory.

[ascended]

Agreed. I think I recall reading somewhere that Morrison said that when Superman is standing still, you know he's in trouble. I love that, as it fits perfectly with my own vision of how Superman should be. Always moving, always multi-tasking and doing something, if not several something's at once.

Anyway, preview looked good. I tried to avoid it but just could not stay away. I blame this fifth week for eroding my willpower. Nimrod seems more interesting with each appearance.

Also like what appears to be a subplot with the little girl's murder. Could this be the first hint of Morrison's Toyman? And I echo the poster who mentioned how pre-Flashpoint Superman would have handled it. Gods, its so nice to see a Superman who has not lost his balls. Absolutely love the macho, super confident and action oriented thing Morrison is doing.

As for Rags, its weird. I actually agree with most of what people are saying here. The monthly grind seems to be taking its toll on the guy and his work has been wildly inconsistent. Yet somehow, I cant really complain. I sort of like that his art is rough around the edges. It feels old school and has a certain pulp quality to it that fits the Golden Age vibe of Morrison's Superman.

[RoughNTumble]

My reasoning for comparing MoS to AC was to compare origin story to origin story. Byrne definitely had a lot more action once he got out of setting up the new history, and that's why I'm excited for this new arc. Morrison is out of the establishment phase and is now entering ongoing action territory.

Yeah, I feel like somehow the real action comics is starting right here. This is my favorite new 52 book tied with batman incorporated.

[Patroklos]

Is Nimrod/Maxim Zarov an original Morrison creation?

[Auguste Dupin]

Is Nimrod/Maxim Zarov an original Morrison creation?

I think so. I never saw that name in another Superman before at least, and he said in interviews he was going to create some villains.
He does have a slight Terra-Man feel though, and the "Zarov" name is probably a reference to the movie "The most Dangerous Game".

[Jody Garland]

As far as anyone knows, yeah, he's a Morrison original. However, he owes a huge debt to the short story "The Most Dangerous Game", which featured a hunter named Count Zaroff.

[KRAKABOOM!]

I sort of like that his art is rough around the edges. It feels old school and has a certain pulp quality to it that fits the Golden Age vibe of Morrison's Superman.

this is EXACTLY why i like rags' work on this book.

[RoughNTumble]

I do like the art apart from rags' depiction of clark, lois and jimmy. At the same time though I'd like to see another artist take over.

[Rakzo]

When Rags is focused he can do great and detailed art with really expressive characters, but when he's not, he's pretty much terrible.

However, I think he has gotten better with the last few issues, I hope that this arc delivers a better story too.


Harry Potter?

See, as far as I'm concerned, Clark Kent should look like Harry Potter. Sort of geeky and relatable but ultimately heroic.

I think Clark Kent should look like Clark Kent.

[Quinnhop]

I love the "Hounds of Zaroff"/"The Most Dangerous Game" reference with his name. And obviously Nimrod is the hunter.

I expect this Nimrod to be similar to Batman, but an evil and less-competent version of him. He'll probably shoot Kryptonite bullets.

[edhopper]

The scene with Clark and the Justice League was worth the price of the book. :smile:

I am a fan of Rags art here. And I think Rick Bryant is doing a great inking job. It all feels very E.C.

[sandmountainslim]

I do like the art apart from rags' depiction of clark, lois and jimmy. At the same time though I'd like to see another artist take over.

Yeah he apparently gets rushed and has problems doing a monthly book. A good workhorse artist of Action Comics would be a blessing. Rags is OK but Curt Swan he ain't.

[dupersuper]

The scene with Clark and the Justice League was worth the price of the book. :smile:


"So...no one wants hamsters?" :biggrin:

[cphilli]

Finally got my comic shipment in yesterday and this was one of the issues I received. It's the first Superman comic I've read since I was a kid and I was very pleased. The only thing I was not crazy about was some of the art but other than that I loved it. The justice league scene was top notch and I loved seeing red-eye Superman bust into the room and throw the guy against the wall. I all around loved it and am going to keep it on my pull list for a while.

[The Frozen Reptile]

Of the criticism I've heard of Action Comics, this is the first time I've heard anyone call it slow. It's probably the fastest paced comic I'm reading right now.

Agreed. I am also liking the back-up features; much better than what hey are putting in Detective right now.