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Action Comics (2016)
Superman: Action Comics, Vol. 2: Welcome to the Planet
Look--down there on the ground! It's a guy, he's kinda ordinary...it's--Clark Kent?! As Metropolis recovers from the devastating attack of Doomsday, the mysterious figure claiming to be Clark Kent takes the spotlight to clear his name and prove once and for all that Clark Kent is not Superman!
Writer Dan Jurgens (The Death of Superman) continues his return to the Man of Steel along with illustrators Tyler Kirkham (Deathstroke) and Patrick Zircher (Green Arrow) for the next great Superman chapter in Superman: Action Comics, Volume 2: Welcome to the Planet!
Collecting: Justice League 52, Action Comics 963-966
Writer Dan Jurgens (The Death of Superman) continues his return to the Man of Steel along with illustrators Tyler Kirkham (Deathstroke) and Patrick Zircher (Green Arrow) for the next great Superman chapter in Superman: Action Comics, Volume 2: Welcome to the Planet!
Collecting: Justice League 52, Action Comics 963-966
128 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
49 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jurgens
2,205 books283 followersDan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for his work on the DC comic book storyline "The Death of Superman" and for creating characters such as Doomsday, Hank Henshaw, and Booster Gold. Jurgens had a lengthy run on the Superman comic books including The Adventures of Superman, Superman vol. 2 and Action Comics. At Marvel, Jurgens worked on series such as Captain America, The Sensational Spider-Man and was the writer on Thor for six years. He also had a brief run as writer and artist on Solar for Valiant Comics in 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 15, 2017
The strange new tale of Superman continues in Vol 2. The Superman of this universe is dead, but another Superman from another universe has come to our world. In which there already exists a Clark Kent who is not Superman. Our world remembers Superman but doesn't know that this is another Superman. Lex Luthor is a good guy, sort of, and the "other" Superman has a family and is married to the Lois Lane from the other universe. Did you get all that? Ok then you are on the same frequency as the Afterbirth, er sorry..REbirth of DC story arc. Me? I can barely keep track of what version of DC this is since I rarely read comics in order of publishing. Still even with my limited knowledge of rebirth-this was a good story. I may have liked this volume more than the first one.
I appreciated the conflict between Superman and Luthor. It is also interesting to see Clark Kent interact with Superman and, must admit, I am curious to see where Dan Jurgens takes this. The artwork is well done and this is an entertaining volume. So far I have to say the Rebirth Action comics has been good. If you are a Superman fan then you will likely enjoy this.
I appreciated the conflict between Superman and Luthor. It is also interesting to see Clark Kent interact with Superman and, must admit, I am curious to see where Dan Jurgens takes this. The artwork is well done and this is an entertaining volume. So far I have to say the Rebirth Action comics has been good. If you are a Superman fan then you will likely enjoy this.
February 7, 2017
I liked the last volume more. I'm a sucker for DBZ level fights throughout various different lands. Watching supes and Doomsday battle it out was great. This volume focuses more on Lois and Clark figuring out what the heck is happening.
So we still have two Clarks. Nothing is really answered here. Just the fact this Clark has memories of the Superman Clark but not why he's here, how, or what in general is happening. It's interesting but frustrated. Also we get more into Lois going back into the world and living her life. Somewhat interesting. My fave moment in this comic really is with Superman and his son. It's both fun and interesting. I hope to see more of that in the future.
Overall not as fun or over the top as volume 1 but still solid. Much better than New52 action comics by fucking MILES.
So we still have two Clarks. Nothing is really answered here. Just the fact this Clark has memories of the Superman Clark but not why he's here, how, or what in general is happening. It's interesting but frustrated. Also we get more into Lois going back into the world and living her life. Somewhat interesting. My fave moment in this comic really is with Superman and his son. It's both fun and interesting. I hope to see more of that in the future.
Overall not as fun or over the top as volume 1 but still solid. Much better than New52 action comics by fucking MILES.
June 21, 2021
This was such a great volume and like clears up the confusion of continuity.
It picks up with Lex and how he deals with the death of N52 Superman and its a great story about a man trying to reform. Then we have the Superman story where he tries to find out who this mystery Clark Kent is and he finds him genuine but the big mystery: Geneticron. Then finally we have Lois trying to find a purpose in her life again and she assumes the life of New 52 Lois and the mysteries behind her disappearance and how it all might be connected. Also Lana! Its a volume which has so many mysteries and answers some but raises even more questions but at the heart of it is about a family trying to find answers to their place in this new world but they will find it because they are Super!
I love the slow writing and the questions piling up because the pay off is better than anything and finally loving the characterization of Lois and how she is back to being herself and the moments with Jon are just precious and the art is just amazing throughout.
It picks up with Lex and how he deals with the death of N52 Superman and its a great story about a man trying to reform. Then we have the Superman story where he tries to find out who this mystery Clark Kent is and he finds him genuine but the big mystery: Geneticron. Then finally we have Lois trying to find a purpose in her life again and she assumes the life of New 52 Lois and the mysteries behind her disappearance and how it all might be connected. Also Lana! Its a volume which has so many mysteries and answers some but raises even more questions but at the heart of it is about a family trying to find answers to their place in this new world but they will find it because they are Super!
I love the slow writing and the questions piling up because the pay off is better than anything and finally loving the characterization of Lois and how she is back to being herself and the moments with Jon are just precious and the art is just amazing throughout.
January 13, 2019
Really dissapointed with this one. I feel like superman is really hit and miss for me. Superman adjusts to the Clark Kent of this world and Lois taking over the old Lois' position at the daily planet. I really felt like nothing happened. Jurgens is way to dialgoue happy which Ive never been a massive fan of.
August 16, 2023
With little to no action, the focus falls more on unravelling the mystery, a mystery that has sadly dropped off in quality. Much of it feels like it has overstayed its welcome and, for the series' sake, it needs to hurry on with the progression of this point and introduce something new and exciting.
April 25, 2017
The first half of the book focuses on the new Clark Kent as Superman tries to figure out who he is. He doesn't. In the second half, we find out what happened to new 52 Lois Lane and post-Crisis Lois steps into her place.
While the art by Patrick Zircher and Stephen Segovia is very good, I don't find the story interesting at all. Psuedo Clark Kent is written as a dick and keeps spouting the same BS story. Jurgens is not a very good writer and it really shows in this book which is dialogue and plot heavy.
Received an advance copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While the art by Patrick Zircher and Stephen Segovia is very good, I don't find the story interesting at all. Psuedo Clark Kent is written as a dick and keeps spouting the same BS story. Jurgens is not a very good writer and it really shows in this book which is dialogue and plot heavy.
Received an advance copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2017
Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.
I received a free copy of Superman: Action Comics Volume 2: Welcome To The Planet from DC Comics in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was probably the most fluid volume of comic books that I have ever read. Right from the start, everything made sense and it continued like this until the final panel.
After we find out about Lex Luthor becoming the new 'Superman' of Metropolis in the previous volume, we see him in action as 'Superman'. We also find out how Superman took on the real Clark Kents identity (I am still not convinced that this is true but I will run with it) and Lois returns to The Planet.
Since the storyline was so well done, the art style was going to have a hard time keeping up with it, and it almost does. I know that this is my personal preference but I found it to be too line heavy and the colouring to be too blocky for my liking. But honestly they are just minor annoyances that I can live with, and I am sure that their will be some people who will absolutely love how the art work was done.
Whilst reading the first volume would benefit you for your understanding reading this volume, it is not completely necessary as the backstory from the previous volume does not confuse you in this volume.
I received a free copy of Superman: Action Comics Volume 2: Welcome To The Planet from DC Comics in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was probably the most fluid volume of comic books that I have ever read. Right from the start, everything made sense and it continued like this until the final panel.
After we find out about Lex Luthor becoming the new 'Superman' of Metropolis in the previous volume, we see him in action as 'Superman'. We also find out how Superman took on the real Clark Kents identity (I am still not convinced that this is true but I will run with it) and Lois returns to The Planet.
Since the storyline was so well done, the art style was going to have a hard time keeping up with it, and it almost does. I know that this is my personal preference but I found it to be too line heavy and the colouring to be too blocky for my liking. But honestly they are just minor annoyances that I can live with, and I am sure that their will be some people who will absolutely love how the art work was done.
Whilst reading the first volume would benefit you for your understanding reading this volume, it is not completely necessary as the backstory from the previous volume does not confuse you in this volume.
December 13, 2022
I read the singles when they came out. Oh, I was so happy back then to have my Superman back. The art is sloppier than I remembered (these being published biweekly, I think--surely they weren't weekly...? Eh, I'm too lazy to look it up), but Dan Jurgens is a capable Superman writer. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed these issues the first time through.
January 21, 2021
5 🌟
Lex declares himself to be the new Superman.
Clark Kent comes back claiming not to be Superman. Lois goes back to work.
Lex declares himself to be the new Superman.
Clark Kent comes back claiming not to be Superman. Lois goes back to work.
March 5, 2017
Action packed storyline with Doomsday and everyone is shocked that Clarke Kent is still roaming around. This was a fun collection but the Lex Luthor addition was a little over the top. Hopefully it gets better from here.
April 28, 2017
So I'm getting into this new Superman quite well. Throughout this volume, they pretty much clear up the whole duplicate Supermans, Clark Kents and Lois Lanes. This new Clark Kent who isn't Superman is still a mystery though. I'm not 100% sure how much I *like* this new storyline but it is intriguing and full of mystery. Superwoman makes an appearance and since I haven't read anything about her in Rebirth yet, her identity came as a big shock to me. The book ends with all this being settled for the time being and a new menace makes an appearance. Something quite fresh and intriguing for the Superman.
April 26, 2017
Slowly but surely, DC Comics is finally fixing their Superman problem.
August 13, 2017
I am so confused, but still loving the ride!
October 25, 2017
I was confused a chunk of the time, the storyline is still sort of uneven, and nothing was really resolved from vol. 1. That said, the Superman / Lois / Jon scenes were a plus (they are definitely an asset in the superior Superman / Rebirth series) and I still hold out hope that things will get really interesting soon. Have to stay positive, right?
August 25, 2017
Okay, completely different than the previous volume.. And that's a good thing! I liked the battle, but I'm really getting into the story about the Supermen and -women ;)
Jurgens has me looking forward to the next one for sure!
Jurgens has me looking forward to the next one for sure!
March 13, 2018
Not a particularly bad Superman book, just bland. Vanilla ice cream.
April 15, 2017
“Look--down there on the ground! It's a guy, he's kinda ordinary...it's--Clark Kent?! As Metropolis recovers from the devastating attack of Doomsday, the mysterious figure claiming to be Clark Kent takes the spotlight to clear his name and prove once and for all that Clark Kent is not Superman!”
I have to thank Net galley and DC Entertainment for giving me an opportunity to read this graphic novel.
In Volume 2, the story takes place after the epic battle of Superman with Doomsday. Superman is killed, before that the world comes to know that Clark Kent and Superman are same person. Now Clark Kent with fractured left hand comes to Daily Planet to finish his investigation on Geneticron, later Clark was thrown out of the building and Superman! saves him. Both know they are not who they are. Superman takes Clark to Fortress of Solitude and tests him, the result was unexpected and the mystery deepens.
Superman is seen married to Lois and having a kid named Jon, trying their best to adapt to their new world.
This graphic novel revolves around the lives of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Lois been dead! and another Lois taking her place and trying to finish the book on Superman.
The story is not conclusive but it has its fair share of mystery and twists which will surely engage us. The art work is good, written by Dan Jurgens and pencils by Tom Grummett for That which you manifest is before you, Patch Zircher for Superman meets Clark Kent Part I & II, Stephen Segovia in Lois Lane Back at the Planet Part I & II.
I have to thank Net galley and DC Entertainment for giving me an opportunity to read this graphic novel.
In Volume 2, the story takes place after the epic battle of Superman with Doomsday. Superman is killed, before that the world comes to know that Clark Kent and Superman are same person. Now Clark Kent with fractured left hand comes to Daily Planet to finish his investigation on Geneticron, later Clark was thrown out of the building and Superman! saves him. Both know they are not who they are. Superman takes Clark to Fortress of Solitude and tests him, the result was unexpected and the mystery deepens.
Superman is seen married to Lois and having a kid named Jon, trying their best to adapt to their new world.
This graphic novel revolves around the lives of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Lois been dead! and another Lois taking her place and trying to finish the book on Superman.
The story is not conclusive but it has its fair share of mystery and twists which will surely engage us. The art work is good, written by Dan Jurgens and pencils by Tom Grummett for That which you manifest is before you, Patch Zircher for Superman meets Clark Kent Part I & II, Stephen Segovia in Lois Lane Back at the Planet Part I & II.
June 29, 2017
'Superman: Action Comics, Volume 2: Welcome to the Planet' by Dan Jurgens will make you feel really confused if you haven't read Superman for a while, but come on in. The water is fine.
Superman is dead. Clark Kent is alive. Lex Luthor is Superman now. Also, there is a new Superman who is married to Lois Lane and has a son named Jon. That's just the beginning.
The new Superman wants to check out Clark Kent to make sure he isn't Superman in hiding. Lex Luthor really wants Superman's cape so he gets it the way only the super wealthy can. The new Lois Lane is on a mission from this world's counterpart to finish a book on the life and death of Superman. Did I mention that there is a SuperWoman too?
This collects Justice League 52 and Action Comics 963-966. It tells a pretty interesting story and sets things up for future stories fairly well. It will be interesting to see how Superman, Clark Kent, and Lex Luthor all play things out, and how Lana Lang fits into everything.
This volume has pretty decent art. There is also a cover gallery with some pretty striking covers. I like the one featuring alternating ribbons showing Superman and Clark Kent. There are also some pencil breakdowns for some covers and splash pages.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Superman is dead. Clark Kent is alive. Lex Luthor is Superman now. Also, there is a new Superman who is married to Lois Lane and has a son named Jon. That's just the beginning.
The new Superman wants to check out Clark Kent to make sure he isn't Superman in hiding. Lex Luthor really wants Superman's cape so he gets it the way only the super wealthy can. The new Lois Lane is on a mission from this world's counterpart to finish a book on the life and death of Superman. Did I mention that there is a SuperWoman too?
This collects Justice League 52 and Action Comics 963-966. It tells a pretty interesting story and sets things up for future stories fairly well. It will be interesting to see how Superman, Clark Kent, and Lex Luthor all play things out, and how Lana Lang fits into everything.
This volume has pretty decent art. There is also a cover gallery with some pretty striking covers. I like the one featuring alternating ribbons showing Superman and Clark Kent. There are also some pencil breakdowns for some covers and splash pages.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
November 7, 2017
A nice character-driven book that almost totally reverses course from the excesses of fighting in the previous volume. Instead, three different short stories ask three great questions about the interesting Rebirth status quo: how did Lex get the cape? who is Clark Kent? and what is Lois' role going forward?
With its wide breadth, this volume of Action Comics loses a lot of the family dynamic that was so enjoyable in Jurgens' Lois & Clark, but nonetheless he does a great way of pushing forward the narrative in an interesting way and continuing to integrate Superdad into the nuDC universe.
With its wide breadth, this volume of Action Comics loses a lot of the family dynamic that was so enjoyable in Jurgens' Lois & Clark, but nonetheless he does a great way of pushing forward the narrative in an interesting way and continuing to integrate Superdad into the nuDC universe.
December 24, 2018
This second volume was way better than the first. Putting aside the neverending battles and focusing on Clark Kent's mystery and Lois Lane's next move was a step into the right direction. This is the Dan Jurgens that I like and enjoy so much reading.
It didn't get a solid 5-star because his Jon is a bit off when compared to the one portrayed in the Superman book.
It didn't get a solid 5-star because his Jon is a bit off when compared to the one portrayed in the Superman book.
October 26, 2024
This one was alright. As someone who hasn’t read new 52 I don’t know exactly why there’s doppelgängers about but there was still some fun moments and the writing was good- I just didn’t totally understand it.
May 21, 2017
4.5.
Fun, enjoyable, just a little more payoff needed.
Part of me feels like they are arranging to everyone's preferred state of Superman by Action 1000.
Fun, enjoyable, just a little more payoff needed.
Part of me feels like they are arranging to everyone's preferred state of Superman by Action 1000.
October 1, 2017
A good volume, but not hugely memorable for me, except for the distinction of having a couple of Lois-centric issues at the end. I’m definitely pleased with how Superman is written, though. Rebirth has already exceeded the New 52 for me.
December 4, 2017
This gets the 1 star award of "I got too bored and started skimming."
The dialogue is just absolutely terrible. I forgot to write it down, but there's a line from Perry White to Lex Luthor that sounds like it was right out of a 1950s sitcom. No one in 21st century talks that way! Especially not editors at major newspapers. Between the unnaturalness and the blatant exposition, the dialogue seems like it would be entirely too at home in the campy, Adam West Batman show.
Then there's the plot contrivances. I'm not entirely sure where this 100% human Clark Kent storyline is going, but right now I'm willing to bet that it's setting up for exactly what happened to New 52 Lois Lane: establishing the old status quo.
Jurgens and DC killing off New 52 Lois Lane and then having her send a completely out of character plea to the new Lois Lane to please pretend to be her and take over her old life is absolutely absurd. The whole characterization of Lois is just terrible. Lois was an ambitious, driven journalist who risked life and limb to get a story back in the pre-Flashpoint DC universe, but as soon as she has a kid and ends up in a parallel universe, she's willing to be a stay-at-home-mom who anonymously writes big exposé books in her spare time? Huh? I don't buy it. But even if I did, if you're now willing to tell me that that same woman, after doing that for a decade (how old is John?) now feels the burning need to work at a major newspaper again so badly that she's willing to try to impersonate her alternate universe doppelganger? What?
I suppose there are plenty of driven women who put their careers on hold to raise their kids, but I just don't know if Lois Lane is that kind of woman. The right writer could probably pull it off, but Dan Jurgens isn't that writer. Instead, it just comes off as a series of awkward contrivances blatantly designed to get the pre-Flashpoint status quo of Clark and Lois into the New 52 universe.
So, at the end of all of this, here's what I'm expecting: human-Clark will finally establish to everyone that he's not and never has been Superman. Then he'll die and the pre-Flashpoint Clark and take over his life (just like Lois took over New 52-Lois's life) and go back to being a reporter for the Daily Planet. There will be some ridiculous explanation for what brought human-Clark into existence and then poof he'll be gone.
And can we just talk about how absurd this whole human-Clark is, beyond the mere fact of his existence? Who Clark Kent, the disguise, was as a person was a combination of two things: who Clark Kent really was (a superhuman growing up in humble Smalltown, USA) combined with that man's desire to be unassuming. Clark's public persona wouldn't be who it was if he'd grown up as who he pretended to be.
Worse still, that persona, the "mild mannered reporter" (which he literally refers to himself as!) would not break into a building and risk death to get a story. Real Clark might, because he can't get hurt. But the Clark persona that everyone at the Daily Planet knows him as? I don't think so. If he would, then that persona wouldn't be a "mild mannered report," it'd be a daredevil reporter just like Lois Lane.
Finally, apparently glowing (or being on fire?) is enough to make Lana Lang completely unrecognizable? How is it that we, the readers, can clearly tell who she is but Superman and Lois Lane need her to turn her super-flames off in order to not just recognize her but to immediately recognize her?
Ugh. This book was just a nonstop exercise in annoyance. The kind of poorly-written schlock that makes me wonder why I bother reading all these comics in the first place.
At least Superman, Volume 2: Trial of the Super Sons was good.
The dialogue is just absolutely terrible. I forgot to write it down, but there's a line from Perry White to Lex Luthor that sounds like it was right out of a 1950s sitcom. No one in 21st century talks that way! Especially not editors at major newspapers. Between the unnaturalness and the blatant exposition, the dialogue seems like it would be entirely too at home in the campy, Adam West Batman show.
Then there's the plot contrivances. I'm not entirely sure where this 100% human Clark Kent storyline is going, but right now I'm willing to bet that it's setting up for exactly what happened to New 52 Lois Lane: establishing the old status quo.
Jurgens and DC killing off New 52 Lois Lane and then having her send a completely out of character plea to the new Lois Lane to please pretend to be her and take over her old life is absolutely absurd. The whole characterization of Lois is just terrible. Lois was an ambitious, driven journalist who risked life and limb to get a story back in the pre-Flashpoint DC universe, but as soon as she has a kid and ends up in a parallel universe, she's willing to be a stay-at-home-mom who anonymously writes big exposé books in her spare time? Huh? I don't buy it. But even if I did, if you're now willing to tell me that that same woman, after doing that for a decade (how old is John?) now feels the burning need to work at a major newspaper again so badly that she's willing to try to impersonate her alternate universe doppelganger? What?
I suppose there are plenty of driven women who put their careers on hold to raise their kids, but I just don't know if Lois Lane is that kind of woman. The right writer could probably pull it off, but Dan Jurgens isn't that writer. Instead, it just comes off as a series of awkward contrivances blatantly designed to get the pre-Flashpoint status quo of Clark and Lois into the New 52 universe.
So, at the end of all of this, here's what I'm expecting: human-Clark will finally establish to everyone that he's not and never has been Superman. Then he'll die and the pre-Flashpoint Clark and take over his life (just like Lois took over New 52-Lois's life) and go back to being a reporter for the Daily Planet. There will be some ridiculous explanation for what brought human-Clark into existence and then poof he'll be gone.
And can we just talk about how absurd this whole human-Clark is, beyond the mere fact of his existence? Who Clark Kent, the disguise, was as a person was a combination of two things: who Clark Kent really was (a superhuman growing up in humble Smalltown, USA) combined with that man's desire to be unassuming. Clark's public persona wouldn't be who it was if he'd grown up as who he pretended to be.
Worse still, that persona, the "mild mannered reporter" (which he literally refers to himself as!) would not break into a building and risk death to get a story. Real Clark might, because he can't get hurt. But the Clark persona that everyone at the Daily Planet knows him as? I don't think so. If he would, then that persona wouldn't be a "mild mannered report," it'd be a daredevil reporter just like Lois Lane.
Finally, apparently glowing (or being on fire?) is enough to make Lana Lang completely unrecognizable? How is it that we, the readers, can clearly tell who she is but Superman and Lois Lane need her to turn her super-flames off in order to not just recognize her but to immediately recognize her?
Ugh. This book was just a nonstop exercise in annoyance. The kind of poorly-written schlock that makes me wonder why I bother reading all these comics in the first place.
At least Superman, Volume 2: Trial of the Super Sons was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2017
This book is a bit of a challenge for trade readers. Comics these days are often "written for the trades" so that each block of six or seven issues fits nicely into a trade paperback as an epic storyline. This one doesn't. We get Issue 52 of the New 52 Justice league combined with Issues 963-966 of Action Comics. You don't get any resolution from any of this. Questions are explored but nothing's resolved, but you at least feel the stories are going somewhere.
The book kicks off with, "That Which You Manifest is Before You" which is a Lex Luthor story of how he's returned to Earth even though he could rule Apokolips and wants the cape of the new 52 Superman, who was killed off. It's a story of how he bought the Daily Planet and began to identify as Superman. More important than that, it's why he'd choose to do that rather than being a cosmic force. The answer is very humanizing and it shows how Dan Jurgens take on Luthor is very different than others. This is a particularly interesting story for those of us who didn't follow the New 52 as we wondered what Luthor's intentions were in trying to become Superman. Here we see that they are honorable and noble and that he's trying to be a better person. It doesn't mean that he'll succeed or that his old instincts won't betray him, but it's good set up.
Next up is Meet Clark Kent, a two part story where Superman tries to find out the truth about the Clark Kent that re-appeared during his duel with Doomsday in the previous volume. He doesn't really achieve it. He finds out a lot about who this Clark Kent isn't but next to nothing about who he is. We're merely dipping our toe into this mystery. It does end with Clark writing a very nice article on Superman.
Finally, we have Back at the Planet, where Lois tries to find out what happened to the New 52 version of herself by going undercover at the Planet. Again, we don't learn conclusively what actually happened to the New 52 Lois but we do meet Superwoman and get a hint of what may have happened. We also get to see Lois return to work with all the problems of pretending to be a younger alternate universe version of yourself that's ten years younger glossed over. We're treated to "Girl power" proclamations about why a mother of a ten year old can return to work which is very culturally relevant in a 21st Century world where Women frequently return to work when their children are three months old.
The story just feels forced. I'm not sure whether it was an editorial mandate or just a status quo of Lois working at the Planet that Jurgens wanted to restore, but it's a weak tale right from the psychic message that sent our Lois to the planet right to the over the top over exuberant argument for her returning from work that would have made sense in the 1980s.
But still we do get more interesting questions to be explored in later volumes, but the weaknesses of the final story do drag the volume down a bit.
The book kicks off with, "That Which You Manifest is Before You" which is a Lex Luthor story of how he's returned to Earth even though he could rule Apokolips and wants the cape of the new 52 Superman, who was killed off. It's a story of how he bought the Daily Planet and began to identify as Superman. More important than that, it's why he'd choose to do that rather than being a cosmic force. The answer is very humanizing and it shows how Dan Jurgens take on Luthor is very different than others. This is a particularly interesting story for those of us who didn't follow the New 52 as we wondered what Luthor's intentions were in trying to become Superman. Here we see that they are honorable and noble and that he's trying to be a better person. It doesn't mean that he'll succeed or that his old instincts won't betray him, but it's good set up.
Next up is Meet Clark Kent, a two part story where Superman tries to find out the truth about the Clark Kent that re-appeared during his duel with Doomsday in the previous volume. He doesn't really achieve it. He finds out a lot about who this Clark Kent isn't but next to nothing about who he is. We're merely dipping our toe into this mystery. It does end with Clark writing a very nice article on Superman.
Finally, we have Back at the Planet, where Lois tries to find out what happened to the New 52 version of herself by going undercover at the Planet. Again, we don't learn conclusively what actually happened to the New 52 Lois but we do meet Superwoman and get a hint of what may have happened. We also get to see Lois return to work with all the problems of pretending to be a younger alternate universe version of yourself that's ten years younger glossed over. We're treated to "Girl power" proclamations about why a mother of a ten year old can return to work which is very culturally relevant in a 21st Century world where Women frequently return to work when their children are three months old.
The story just feels forced. I'm not sure whether it was an editorial mandate or just a status quo of Lois working at the Planet that Jurgens wanted to restore, but it's a weak tale right from the psychic message that sent our Lois to the planet right to the over the top over exuberant argument for her returning from work that would have made sense in the 1980s.
But still we do get more interesting questions to be explored in later volumes, but the weaknesses of the final story do drag the volume down a bit.
May 15, 2017
I am going to warn all readers you must read Superman: Lois and Clark, Superman: The Final Days of Superman, Superman: Action Comics, Volume 1: Path of Doom& maybe DC Universe: Rebirth #1 to get a clear picture at the direction this volume is going. I hope this will not intimidate new readers from jumping into this volume of Action comics. Dan Jurgens does a great job of catching readers up on what has happened proceeding this volume. I felt that the inclusion of Lex Luther's self imposed taking the mantle of Superman was a special bonus to the narrative in the book. It was great to see that the events that Lex experience on Apokolips are still canon. Readers may want to check out Justice League: The Darkseid War Saga Omnibus when it comes out or pick up Justice League, Volume 7: Darkseid War, Part 1 & Justice League, Volume 8: Darkseid War, Part 2. The mention books were written by Geoff Johns and they were awesome. In Superman: Action Comics, Volume 2: Welcome to the Planet we find our new "Superman" aka Clark, Lois, & their son Jon trying to adjust to life since a recent Doomsday attack on Metropolis. The story transitions into a mystery as both Lex Luther and Clark are trying to discover the true identity of the all human Clark Kent. Over the course of the book things get interesting as Lois finds herself at the Daily Planet impersonating her doppelganger. I mean this story is a real mind-bender. You have two Clark Kents, Two Lois Lanes, a dead Superman and Lex is Superman. It is so funny trying to explain this tale. But the artwork is great and the book is really entertaining. I still feel like the Peter Tomasi Superman series is better but Jurgens is still having fun with the character. I am looking forward to the next volume.
May 7, 2017
I'm torn.
World: The art is fine, the art has a retro quality to it that I both enjoy but also don't like, as I said, I'm torn. The colors are also flat in some cases but stunning in others (Superwoman comes to mind). The world building is still fairly interesting and intriguing. With the changed status quo of Lex as Superman, Human Clark and DCU Lois and Clark the dynamic is good and the mystery is something I enjoying, even if it's a bit tacky at the same time.
Story: The human Clark issues were a but choppy but the Lois issues were emotional and well done. I want to avoid spoilers but I am still awfully torn on what they did with New52 Lois, just like I was torn with New52 Supes. I kinda understand they path they went because they needed to set a new status quo, but at the same time I'm not completely okay with how DC 'honored her'. The mystery of these characters is intriguing and I am enjoying the story so far.
Characters: A but choppy and janky this arc and being of my torn feelings on how they are dealing and dealt with New52 Lois I was torn in this area. Clark is classic Clark and human Clark is a mystery which I am enjoying. Pretty much all the characters I am enjoying simply because I don't know where DC will go with them. Strong but still a mystery.
Torn but still a good mystery.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fine, the art has a retro quality to it that I both enjoy but also don't like, as I said, I'm torn. The colors are also flat in some cases but stunning in others (Superwoman comes to mind). The world building is still fairly interesting and intriguing. With the changed status quo of Lex as Superman, Human Clark and DCU Lois and Clark the dynamic is good and the mystery is something I enjoying, even if it's a bit tacky at the same time.
Story: The human Clark issues were a but choppy but the Lois issues were emotional and well done. I want to avoid spoilers but I am still awfully torn on what they did with New52 Lois, just like I was torn with New52 Supes. I kinda understand they path they went because they needed to set a new status quo, but at the same time I'm not completely okay with how DC 'honored her'. The mystery of these characters is intriguing and I am enjoying the story so far.
Characters: A but choppy and janky this arc and being of my torn feelings on how they are dealing and dealt with New52 Lois I was torn in this area. Clark is classic Clark and human Clark is a mystery which I am enjoying. Pretty much all the characters I am enjoying simply because I don't know where DC will go with them. Strong but still a mystery.
Torn but still a good mystery.
Onward to the next book!
June 27, 2022
Thoughts: More and more develops in the saga of this new Superman and the ever amazing Lois Lane. I liked this volume and I appreciate that they are not rushing to fix the "problem" that was the New 52 Superman. I like that they aren't making him or Lois villains, just different individuals who took different paths. Do I think Lois stepping in and filling the shoes of a dead woman is a little weird? Yes. Do I think Clark would do the same if there wasn't a mystery Clark running around? Also, yes. Guess we will all just have to wait and see. If you would like to read my recap of this volume check out the links below.
Part 1: https://comicbookjourney.blogspot.com...
Part 2: https://comicbookjourney.blogspot.com...
Part 1: https://comicbookjourney.blogspot.com...
Part 2: https://comicbookjourney.blogspot.com...
January 10, 2017
The Clark story was good. Loved the Lois story, and at this point it just goes without saying that writer Dan Jurgens simply 'gets' these characters. The art is decent enough, though I highly prefer Superman's art. Action Comics may be lesser Supes book, having said that the character has never been in a better place for the 5 years that I've been reading comics. Hey at least it's better than Batman that's getting slayed by Detective week in and week out.
December 31, 2016
The mystery deepens of how Superman and Clark Kent can be separate people. Meanwhile, Superman, Lois, and their son, Jon, continue their efforts to adjust to their new world. I got the sense that all this is mostly a set-up for better character development and action to come. Not horrible, by any means, but not really that exciting, either.
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
Note: I read this as individual comic book issues.
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