Action Comics is a 2016 comic book series published by DC Comics as part of the DC Rebirth branding initiative. The series was launched in 2016 with Dan Jurgens as writer, Patrick Zircher as penciller and inker, and Tomeu Morey as colorist. It began with issue #957, adding together the issue number counts from the 1938 and 2011 volumes of Action Comics. It was originally released on a twice-monthly schedule.
Jurgens' run spanned from issue #957 to issue #999, and served as a continuation of the comic book series Superman: Lois and Clark, which featured the pre-New 52 Superman living in the current DC universe alongside his wife, Lois Lane, and their son, Jon Kent. In contrast to Superman (2016), stories in Action Comics featured more of the city of Metropolis and of Superman's wider supporting cast; this series also featured the lead-up to the crossover event Superman Reborn, which resolved the problem of different Superman incarnations. Jurgens' run ended with a one-shot Action Comics Special, followed by a short story included in issue #1000.
Brian Michael Bendis' run spanned from issue #1001-1028, following a short story in issue #1000 and the six-part limited series The Man of Steel (2018). The series reverted to a monthly publishing schedule, as Bendis was writing both Action Comics and Superman (2018) simultaneously: Action Comics featured the more Earth-bound stories involving crime and espionage, with tie-ins to the limited series Event Leviathan.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run spanned from issue #1029-1060, beginning with The Warworld Saga. This was immediately followed by Kal-El Returns, a crossover with Superman: Son of Kal-El. With the Dawn of DC relaunch initiative, the final ten issues of the run became giant-size with various backup stories.
This was followed by Superman Superstars, where famous comic creators would get their chance to finally pen a Superman book: participating writers included Jason Aaron, Gail Simone, John Ridley and G. Willow Wilson. The DC All In relaunch came in the middle of this era, beginning with issues #1070-1081 switching to a weekly publishing schedule for Mark Waid's twelve-part story Superman Phantoms.note Superman Superstars branding wasn't included on the covers for issues #1070-1081, but was included on the Phantoms trade paperback collection.
Mark Waid returned to the series with issue #1087, beginning with the Summer of Superman initiative, and is its current ongoing writer.
Storylines in this run that have their own pages:
- #957-999: Dan Jurgens's run
- #975-976: Superman Reborn
- #985-992: The Oz Effect
- #993-998: Booster Shot
- #1001-1028: Brian Michael Bendis's run
- #1022-1028: The House Of Kent
- #1029-1060: Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run
- #1030-1046: The Warworld Saga
- #1047-1049: Kal El Returns
- #1061-1086: Superman Superstars
- #1061-1063: I, Bizarro
- #1064-1066: House of Brainiac tie-in
- #1067-1069: Challenge from the Stars
- #1070-1081: Superman Phantoms
- #1082-1084: John Ridley's run
- #1085-1086: G Willow Wilson's run
- #1087-present: Mark Waid's run
Action Comics (2016) provides examples of:
- Continuity Cavalcade: The Peter Tomasi story "Never-Ending Battle" from #1000 has Vandal Savage trapping Superman in a device that weaponizes Hypertime, forcing him to experience multiple incarnations of his life in an endless time loop, such as the early Golden Age adventures, Superman and the Mole Men, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Superman: The Animated Series, and more.
- Variant Cover: #1000 takes it up to eleven as there are eight covers depicting Superman in the style of each decade: Steve Rude (The '30s), Michael Cho (The '40s), Dave Gibbons (The '50s), Michael Allred (The '60s), Jim Steranko (The '70s), Joshua Middleton (The '80s), Dan Jurgens (The '90s)note Since Jurgens was the artist during that period, DC basically told him "You do you, Dan." and Lee Bermejo (The Noughties).
- The Bus Came Back:
- Character design and synopsis seems to hint that the Doomsday that appears is actually the beast that killed the post-Crisis Superman.
- The series has the return of the Superman Revenge Squad, including a freshly restored Cyborg Superman, along with Blanque, Mongul, The Eradicator, Metallo and General Zod.
- Mr. Mxyzptlk returns in Superman Reborn, having been absent since Countdown to Final Crisis.
- And soon after that story, the next story arcs in Action Comics and Superman feature the return of Pre-Flashpoint versions of Manchester Black.
- Issue #993 sees the return of Booster Gold to the DCU.
- Deus ex Machina: Mr. Oz is directly responsible for capturing Doomsday.
- Foreshadowing: At the end of issue #976, someone is waiting on Mars. Guess who exiled himself there in Watchmen?
- He's Back!: Issue #976 features the return of the real Superman (in a costume closer to his classic one, no less), formed by the New 52 and pre-Flashpoint versions of him fusing into one.
- Mind Screw: Clark Kent shows up during the battle between Lex and pre-Flashpoint Superman in Action Comics #957. Is it any surprise it turned out to be ole Reality Warper himself, Mr. Mxyzptlk?
- Save the Villain: The end of Action Comics #958 has Superman with the prospect of saving Lex Luthor from Doomsday. Mr. Oz treats it like a What You Are in the Dark moment.
- Sudden Sequel Heel Syndrome: Lor-Zod, aka Chris Kent is reintroduced in Action Comics as the Evil Counterpart to Superboy.
- Wham Shot:
- Action Comics #957 ends with the original Doomsday attacking, green containment suit and all. If that weren't enough, Clark Kent also appears - confusing Lex, Superman, Lois and Jon.
- Mr. Oz frets at the end of Action Comics #976 about how that guy on Mars will react to the "real" Superman returning.