#Review: Action Comics No. 1
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @Kryptodies
I initially chose “Action Comics #1” for the Superman section, I admit. I find it crazy that a hero created so long ago is still insanely popular and iconic today. Superman’s first feat (first feat mentioned in the comic, anyway) is saving an innocent woman from being executed for a crime she didn’t commit AND turning over the guilty party all at once. Pretty freaking cool, huh? One of those things alone would be great, but both? Next, he is sent to report on a domestic abuse situation and finds a man beating his wife. With the line “You’re not fighting a woman, now!” Superman throws the man through a wall. IRL Superman (aka Clark) gathers the courage to ask his coworker, Lois, on a date.
During the date, a man much like “Prince Charming” of “Fables” cuts in. Trying to hide his Superman identity, Clark plays submissive as a very angry Lois leaves the room. Ego bruised, the man (Butch) decides to follow Lois and force her into his car. Superman appears in the middle of the road and avoids being run over by jumping OVER Butch’s moving car. He follows behind the car, keeping in perfect pace, until he catches the car and shakes all the passengers (yup…he picks it up and dumps everyone out!). After stranding Butch at the top of a telephone pole, Superman takes Lois home. The next day, Superman is hot on the trail of a political scandal. Crook in hand, the last panel of the section shows Superman saying “Missed- Doggone it!” as he’s jumping into the sky.
This is obviously the most impressive part of the comic (it’s Superman’s premiere, for Christ’s sake!), but there’s much, much more to Action Comics #1. The entire comic (64 pages in all) is filled with tons of different adventures ranging from Cowboys in the Old West (“Chuck Dawson”) to “The Adventures of Marco Polo” to “Pep Morgan” (A comic about boxing). Every section has its own characters, plot, and outcome. I’m not really sure if I can pick a favorite outside of Superman…ok, I’ll try. How about “Zatara Master Magician”? It’s the original “Harry Potter”, yo! Zatara and his crew never give up, use magic to fight the bad guys (sound familiar?), and always narrowly escape harm. But Zatara and his sidekicks aren’t even my favorite part. “The Tigress”.
Yup…I’m on the side of the villain this time. “The Tigress” escapes at the end of the comic, and, I admit, I was secretly happy for her. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that she commits all her evil deeds in 4” heels or the fact that her hair stays perfectly curled in place. Whatever it is, she’s got it, she works it, and she doesn’t get caught. And her name? Nothing says “don’t even try to stop me” like a name derived from an animal with finger-long fangs, 400 pounds of muscle, and razor-sharp claws.
I really did enjoy “Action Comics #1”. I didn’t think it would be something I would like at first, but it ended up surprising me. That’s one thing that I like about comics…you’re always surprised about how different combinations of art/story effect you. Another thing that amazes me…A comic created so long ago is still entertaining, relevant, and relateable.
I don’t think I’ll rate this one, as it’s on a completely different level than the comics I have been reviewing. Its style and type are the first…its what all comics today stem from. You can’t compare the original, the cause, the FATHER to the offspring.
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