The Flashpoint Crisis Crossover event in DC Comics that "rebooted" the fictional DC Universe also brought the DCU back towards where it was in the beginning of the characters' stints as heroes. Most of the titles now begin five years after the advent of "the age of heroes", as the public in the DCU calls the current time frame. In these comics stories, the five years (or longer for some heroes, it's uncertain) the heroes have been active are periodically explored through the device of flashbacks. There is a case or two where the actual beginnings are shown in an ongoing story. The first story arc of Justice League (before it skipped ahead five years to the "present day" in the second arc) would be one example of this, and the "new 52" version of Superman: Action Comics would be another.
In the case of AC, it is an ongoing series that tells the story of Superman's beginnings as a super-hero. This is a separate series from the Man of Steel's other title, called simply Superman, which takes place in the same "present day" (five years later) as the other titles. I have heard one person compare the current AC run to the now-classic Batman title Batman: Year One, and the comparison fits. In the hands of writer Grant Morrison, this is the type of ambitious re-imagining of the Superman mythos that John Byrne spear-headed for DC Comics with his seminal work, Superman: The Man of Steel, in 1986.
As the story begins, Supes has appeared in the public eye in Metropolis, while as Clark Kent he works for a newspaper that is the competition for The Daily Planet where he will eventually work for a time. He is friends with Jimmy Olson, and - sort of - friends with Lois Lane. He and Lois are more like friendly adversaries in the journalism business. Also, at this point, Clark's powers are still in flux. He can't quite fly yet, and he is still very vulnerable to bruises and other injuries, though his healing factor is enough to make him recover quickly enough. He is able to pass off injuries as him being "roughed up" by the corrupt police or criminal elements he exposes in his articles. People believe him, because at this time, Metropolis is basically as crap-sack a world as Gotham City was when Batman first started.
What's more, like Batman experiences in Gotham City at around the same time, Superman is distrusted and hounded by the police early on. He is feared, and labeled an "alien monster" and so on. There are moments that he apologizes to his dead parents' photo for failing them in using his powers for good. He tries, but no one seems to want his help. They fear him. But the status quo will not last. There is an enemy alien approaching who is going to become one of Superman's most memorable recurring adversaries. This enemy is allied with Lex Luthor, and the agenda (unbeknownst to Lex, to be fair) is to destroy the world. To make matters worse, Supes is given a choice between saving Earth or saving fellow Kryptonians. Will he submit to this sadistic choice? Or will he find a way to save everyone?
Beyond the above story there are several "vignettes". They are divided between the origin of John Henry Irons' - who becomes the cybernetically suited hero Steel - career as a hero, an adventure of Superman with the Legion of Super-heroes, and the life of Clark and his parents pre-Superman. Morrison plays up the whole Moses and Christ-figure idea for all it's worth. Shortly after marriage, Clark's parents still can't conceive a child, due to medical reasons. In despair, they ask their pastor why God is "punishing them". The pastor alludes to figures of the Bible such as Moses and Samuel the Prophet, and tells the Kents that God has a purpose for them, so don't lose faith. The suggestion is that God sent Clark to earth. It's really rather bold to have this classic symbolism of the character made explicit once again, especially in our post-modern age where such notions as hope or faith are laughed at, but Morrison pulls it off nicely.
If the reviews are any indication, there are some that hated the smaller stories. I loved them. They fleshed out the character, and told us more of who Superman really is. We have a story not just of incredible adventure and super-heroics, but one also of faith, family, coming-of-age, and service to others. This was an ambitious, but successfully executed, tale.
One final part I liked about this first volume of AC was how they returned Clark's powers to the less game-breaking levels of the 1986 reboot, and away from the stupid Silver Age levels they were again approaching the past few years. It makes Superman struggle more, and makes him more "human" in a way. When he succeeds, the reaction isn't quite as "ho-hum" as before, but instead is one you really cheer for.
I can't say enough how great a beginning to this new iteration of Superman this story was.
Highly Recommended.
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Reviews with images
Beginning to the new 52.
It definitely lives up to it's name. Action comics. it's a good start to the series, also a really good sized book. I look forward to reading the rest.
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