Comic Book Review: Action Comics #811
by R.J. Carter
Published: January 10, 2004
Title |
Story |
Creative Team |
Publisher |
Price |
Grade |
Action Comics #811 |
"Strange New Visitor"
part 1 |
Dan Abnett
Andy Lanning
Karl Kerschl |
DC |
$2.25 US
$3.50 CAN |
B |
For more information: DC Comics link |
|
News Flash: Superman is becoming readable again. No confusing interweaving plotlines about mind-control coffees or future killer Supermen and genetic-recipe Supergirls.
In the wake of all that, which climaxed in Superman #200, Metropolis finds itself in the middle of a temporal storm. For the past week, the skies have been swirling an unusual color, the B13 technology has been failing and fading, and Superman has been nowhere to be found.
Against this backdrop, Lois Lane is finding story after story of personal heroism as people, inspired by what Superman would do, reach out to help others during this "Crisis in Metropolis," realizing that they may have come to rely too much on the impossible becoming possible:
Lois Lane's narration: It's not that there's no story, Perry. The problem is there are too many.
A hundred thousand plus stories of private heroism and personal courage. People making do. People getting by. People not expecting the impossible anymore.
Metropolis is looking after itself as best it can. We'd better hope that's enough.
We've got used to there only ever being one story. Every morning. Every late edition. Every front page.
One story.
Superman.
Along the way we see memories of events from Doomsday through the advent of B13, as well as a bit of a flashback to some events from the John Byrne "Man of Steel" run as a preparing-for-divorce Lana Lang expresses regrets and wishes she could turn back the clock and go back to the time she was in love with a man who was going places. (Could this be a hint that one of the upcoming alternate timelines is going to involve a Smallville relationship with Lana Lang that actually matures?)
 Of course, there's always one given in Metropolis: with or without Superman, Lois Lane is going to get into the kind of trouble that finds her falling off a cliff or a building or a bridge. And when the inevitable happens at the end of this issue, with no Superman to save her, it's going to require a miracle of surprisingly majestic proportions to save the day, and do the impossible.
Abnett and Lanning provide some refreshing storytelling after a rather lackluster period in the Caped Kryptonian's published life. I'm unfamiliar with Karl Kerschl's previous work, but he has a definite unique style--his Lois Lane has a timeless appearance that would look equally comfortable in 2004 or 1944. Together, it's an interesting first chapter to a promising storyline.
In stores Wednesday, January 14, 2004.
|
CD Giveaway - Paper Bird, "Rooms"
Ends May 28, 2013
Drifting ever so slightly away from traditional folk music, this Colorado band delivers harmony and energy aplenty. |
|
|
