Action Comics #1000 Review: A Touching Superman Tribute Features Bendis’ DC Debut

There are few characters in fiction as enduring, iconic, and inspiring as Superman. Since his introduction to popular culture back in 1938, the character has seen countless different costumes, creative teams, love interests, villains, and friends. Still, Superman remains relevant. He continues to be the symbol of “truth, justice, and the American way.” Sure, that’s a corny and maybe even outdated adage. Maybe Superman is a little corny and outdated too, but that’s okay. That’s what we need him to be. The character has endured so long because we will always hope a perfect hero like him will save us. This sentiment seems to be the unifying message of the stories featured in Action Comics #1000.

Each story attempts to pay tribute to Superman from a unique perspective. Some are more successful than others, but there certainly isn’t a “bad” story among them. They each manage to hone in on specific aspects of the character and his history. This results in some satisfying but inconsequential tales. Of course, the major draw to this issue will be the teaser for The Man of Steel, Brian Michael Bendis’ upcoming six-part event.

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The Man of Steel will be Bendis’s debut at DC comics. The tease we get here is very enticing. Superman will be facing a very real threat that is backed by Bendis’s humorous and harrowing writing. His voice is the breath of fresh air that the character needs. That effect is only amplified when coupled with Jim Lee’s artwork. Being a teaser, this certainly raises more questions than it answers. It will, however, give Superman fans plenty to look forward to.

There are more standouts to be found in this issue. DC held nothing back, allowing its top writers to take a crack at the character. Scott Snyder, Geoff Johns, and Dan Jurgens all offer touching and insightful looks at Superman, his relationships, and his legacy. However, the stand-out here may just be Never-Ending Battle. Written by Peter J. Tomasi, this simple look back at major events in the character’s history will make you nostalgic even if you’ve never read a single Superman story. This is largely due to Patrick Gleason’s beautiful artwork. It is one of the few stories in the collection that manages to honor Superman without beating you over the head with a moral. It’s a refreshing and appropriate look back.

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Not all the stories here are quite so impactful. They are, however, a lot of fun. Even The Game, which sees Superman sit down with Lex Luthor for a quick game of chess, brings some levity to a relationship that has been all-too dour in recent memory. Though the depictions of the characters in this story are shallow, writers Paul Levitz and Neal Adams certainly know how to show the readers a good time.

Even if you’re not a huge Superman fan, this issue is definitely worth picking up. In a way, it not only celebrates The Man of Steel, but superheroes and comics in general. There’s no better way to celebrate Superman’s birthday.

Final Score: 9/10

10 Characters Who Should Appear In The ‘Nightwing’ Movie

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So Michael Cera’s appearance as Dick Grayson in The LEGO Batman Movie wasn’t enough for all you Nightwing fans, huh? Well, Warner Bros. is listening and has decided to give Heroic Hollywood’s number one sidekick his own movie. The LEGO Batman Movie helmer Chris McKay has been named the director of a Nightwing movie no one saw coming. Nightwing’s place in the DC Extended Universe is up in the air. How long ago did he quit being Robin? Are he and Batman speaking right now? Why wasn’t he mentioned in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice?

While the movie will likely answer all those questions, I expect it will also serve as an introduction to a different corner of the Batman universe. Batman might be in it for a scene or two, but the movie will need a supporting cast to help Nightwing appear as the kickass, sociable character he is. Bruce Wayne has got the brooding down, but former circus performer Dick Grayson knows how to have fun in a way his mentor doesn’t.

Hit Next to find out which ten characters should appear in the Nightwing movie.

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Deathstroke #30 Review: The Batman Provokes The Terminator

After his appearance in the post-credits scene for Justice League, we have all been dying to see Deathstroke go head-to-head with Batman on-screen. Sadly, production on Matt Reeves’s The Batman has been pretty quiet, and the rumor is that Deathstroke is no longer planned for the solo-film. Luckily, Christopher Priest’s Deathstroke series is here to give us a taste of what we’ve been wanting to see.

Deathstroke #30 is the first entry of the six-part story arc that will see The Terminator square off against The Dark Knight. So, much of this issue carries the burden of setting up the conflict between the two. The setup does feel a bit rushed; we find Batman working very quickly to piece together a mystery that should have a much more emotional impact than we can see here. It’s a Deathstroke-centric series, but for the majority of the issue, he’s not the focus. Sadly, the characterization of Batman winds up being this story’s greatest weakness.

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The central conflict is the discovery that Batman may not actually be Damian Wayne’s biological father. A DNA test seems to confirm that Deathstroke is, in fact, the current Robin’s father, and Batman is determined to find out for certain. However, Bruce’s feelings on the matter are still unclear. This is a particularly dour take on the character, but here he seems to be missing a sense of outrage or insecurity. Damian and Bruce’s relationship has developed into a very strong emotional bond over the years. When Bruce makes the discovery, his reaction doesn’t reflect that. It should also be noted that Damian himself is nowhere to be found in this issue, which is frustrating but understandable considering the page restraints, and much of this complaint is forgotten by the end of the issue.

The final panels of this book will absolutely get you pumped for the next five installments. Carlo Pagulayan’s art in these last few pages perfectly builds tension between Batman and Deathstroke. He does a great job emoting the characters to the point where you can get a clear sense of tone as your reading dialogue. Pagulayan’s interpretation of Greg Capullo’s Batman costume looks absolutely gorgeous on the page. Similarly, his Deathstroke is a colorful and timeless rendition that pops next to Batman.

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While this introduction is uneven, it’s still a good read. However, going forward this series will need to capitalize on all this setup in a big way. Now that the heavy lifting has been done, this story arc will have the chance to expand its emotional focus. We need to see Batman dealing with this blow to his relationship with Damian and how this affects Deathstroke. It’s also important to focus on the character of Damian and his dynamic with his two potential fathers. The opening, which features a very interesting exchange between Alfred Pennyworth and William Wintergreen is a fun addition that will hopefully be explored further as the series progresses. The seeds have been planted, but while it’s an enjoyable read, what follows will need to be more narratively focused and character-driven.

Final Score: 7/10

7 Great Deathstroke Stories That Could Inspire The Movie

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Now that fans know Deathstroke will be getting his own movie directed by The Raid’s Gareth Evans, it’s time for everyone to brush up on their Slade Wilson knowledge. Deathstroke is DC’s deadliest assassin and one of the smartest tacticians in the world, as well as the oldest foe of the Teen Titans. He’s even taken on the whole Bat-family single-handedly and escaped, proving just how tough of a fighter he is.

The movie will likely depict him as an anti-hero of sorts, a relatively new status for the character. Throughout most of his history Deathstroke has always been more of a self-interested fighter than a righteous man, but recently he’s developed a conscious and a desire to help people in DC Rebirth. He was even one of the main villains in the Batman: Arkham Origins game, proving that audiences are ready for more Slade Wilson.

Hit Next to learn about seven great Deathstroke stories that could inspire the movie!

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