{"id":33308,"date":"2025-07-12T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-12T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=33308"},"modified":"2025-07-10T16:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T16:35:03","slug":"action-comics-80-years-of-superman-the-deluxe-edition-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2025\/07\/12\/action-comics-80-years-of-superman-the-deluxe-edition-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman the Deluxe Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Jerry Siegel<\/strong> & Joe Shuster<\/strong>, Fred Guardineer<\/strong>, Don Cameron<\/strong>, Mort Weisinger<\/strong>, Jerry Coleman<\/strong>, Otto Binder<\/strong>, Edmond Hamilton<\/strong>, Len Wein<\/strong>, Cary Bates<\/strong>, Marv Wolfman<\/strong>, John Byrne<\/strong>, Roger Stern<\/strong>, Joe Kelly<\/strong>, Grant Morrison<\/strong>, Paul Levitz<\/strong>, Mort Meskin<\/strong>, Ed Dobrotka<\/strong>, Fred Ray<\/strong>, Wayne Boring<\/strong>, Al Plastino<\/strong>, Jim Mooney<\/strong>, Curt Swan<\/strong>, Carmine Infantino<\/strong>, Gil Kane<\/strong>, Dick Giordano<\/strong>, Kerry Gammill<\/strong>, Bob McLeod<\/strong>, Ben Oliver<\/strong>, Neal Adams<\/strong> plus Many & various (DC Comics)
\nISBN: 978-1-4012-7887-8 (HB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

This book includes Discriminatory Content<\/strong> produced in less enlightened times.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fact (if such mythological concepts still exist): the American comic book industry would be utterly unrecognisable without the invention of Superman<\/strong>. His unprecedented adoption by a desperate and joy-starved generation quite literally gave birth to a genre if not an actual art form. Within three years of his June 1938 debut, the intoxicating blend of eye-popping action and social wish-fulfilment which hallmarked the early Man of Steel had grown to encompass cops-and-robbers crime-busting, socially reforming dramas, science fiction, fantasy, whimsical comedy and, once the war in Europe and the East embroiled America, patriotic relevance. He\u2019s also been regular blockbuster business in his many and varied screen interpretations, too.<\/p>\n

In comic book terms, though, Superman is master of the world, having utterly changed the shape of a fledgling industry and modern entertainment in general. There were newspaper strips, radio & TV shows, cartoons, games, toys, mountains of merchandise and those movies mentioned. Everyone on Earth gets a picture in their heads when they hear his name.<\/p>\n

It all started with Action Comics<\/strong> #1 and continues to this day, so this bold compilation (presumably soon to be superseded by a 90th<\/sup> Anniversary edition) celebrates the magic, not just with the now-traditional re-runs of classic Superman tales, but with informative articles and fascinating glimpses of some of the other characters who shared the title with him. This epic album gathers material from Action Comics<\/strong> #0, 1, 2, 42, 64, 241, 242, 252, 285, 286, 309, 419, 484, 554, 584, 655, 662 & 800, opening with writer\/DC publisher Paul Levitz\u2019s Introduction<\/em>, a fond Foreword<\/em> from Laura Siegel Larson and Jules Feiffer\u2019s scene-setting, context-creating essay \u2018The Beginning\u2019<\/em> before the immortal pictorial wonderment commences.<\/p>\n

Most early tales were untitled, but for everyone\u2019s convenience have been given descriptive appellations by the editors. Thus, after that unmistakeable, iconic cover and a single page describing the foundling\u2019s escape from exploding Planet Krypton<\/em> (also explaining his astonishing powers in 9 panels), with absolutely no preamble \u2018The Coming of Superman\u2019 <\/em>by Jerry Seigel & Joe Shuster introduces a costumed crusader – masquerading by day as reporter Clark Kent<\/em> – averting numerous tragedies. As well as saving an innocent woman from the electric chair and roughing up a wife-beater, the tireless crusader works over racketeer Butch Matson<\/em> – consequently saving suave and feisty colleague Lois Lane<\/strong> from abduction and worse since she is attempting to vamp the thug at the time!<\/p>\n

The mysterious Man of Steel makes a big impression on her by then outing a lobbyist for the armaments industry bribing Senators on behalf of greedy munitions interests fomenting war in Europe…<\/p>\n

To say the editors were amazed by Superman\u2019s popularity was a gross understatement. They had their money bet on a knock-off Mandrake the Magician<\/strong> crafted by veteran cartoonist Fred Guardineer as graphic top dog. Here, Zatara: Master Magician<\/em>\u2019s mystic\/illusion powers are fully demonstrated in \u2018The Mystery of the Freight Train Robberies\u2019<\/em> but it\u2019s still a run-of-the-mill, rather sedate affair when compared to the astounding exploits of the Caped Wonder.<\/p>\n

Next up is a sneak peek at \u2018The Ashcans\u2019<\/em>: unused and alternative illustrations that didn\u2019t make that crucial first cut, after which Action<\/strong> #2 (with a Leo O\u2019Mealia generic adventure cover) supplies the conclusion of Superman\u2019s first case as \u2018Revolution in San Monte\u2019<\/em> finds the mercurial mystery-man travelling to the war-zone to spectacularly dampen down hostilities already in progress…<\/p>\n

\u2018The Times\u2019<\/em> by Tom DeHaven deconstructs the mythology of the title before Fred Ray\u2019s Superman cover (November 194)1 introduces Action<\/strong> #42\u2019s \u2018The Origin of the Vigilante\u2019<\/em> by Mort Weisinger & and incredible Mort Meskin. This spectacular western-themed hero-romp proves the anthology title had plenty of other captivating characters to enchant audiences…
\n\"\"
\nAC<\/strong> #64 debuted \u2018The Terrible Toyman\u2019 <\/em>(Don Cameron, Ed Dobrotka & George Roussos), wherein an elderly inventor of children\u2019s novelties and knick-knacks conducts a spectacular campaign of high-profile and potentially murderous robberies, with Lois as his unwilling muse and accessory, and is followed by a little tale of serendipity as Marv Wolfman harks back to his early days and explains \u2018How I Saved Superman\u2019<\/em>. That\u2019s followed by a genuine lost treasure as \u2018Too Many Heroes\u2019<\/em> offers an unpublished 1940s Superman tale – credited to Siegel & Shuster – rescued from destruction and obscurity. What a gift!<\/p>\n

David Hajdu exposes the allure of the alter ego in \u2018Clark Kent, Reporter\u2019<\/em>, after which we jump to June 1958 and the beginning of the Silver Age. Action Comics <\/strong>#241 cover-featured \u2018The Key to Fort Superman\u2019<\/em>: a fascinating, clever puzzle-play guest-featuring Batman<\/strong>, scripted by Jerry Coleman and limned by Wayne Boring & Stan Kaye as an impossible intruder vexes the Man of Steel in his most sacrosanct sanctuary. One month later Otto Binder & Al Plastino introduced both the greatest new villain and most expansive new character concept the series had seen in years.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Super-Duel in Space\u2019<\/em> has evil alien scientist Brainiac<\/em> attempt to add Metropolis to his collection of miniaturised cities in bottles. As well as a titanic tussle in its own right, the tale totally changed the Man of Steel\u2019s internal mythology: introducing Kandor<\/em>, a city packed with Kryptonians who all escaped the planet\u2019s destruction when Brainiac abducted them. Although Superman rescues his fellow survivors, the villain escaped to strike again, and it would be years before the hero could restore Kandorians to their true size.<\/p>\n

After some intriguing and noteworthy test-runs, a future star of Superman\u2019s ever-expanding universe launched in Action Comics<\/strong> #252. \u2018The Supergirl from Krypton!\u2019<\/em> (May 1959), saw Superman discover he has a living relative in cousin Kara<\/em> Zor-El<\/em> who had been born on a city-sized fragment of Krypton, which was hurled intact into space when the planet exploded. Eventually Argo City<\/em> turned to Kryptonite like the rest of the detonated world\u2019s debris, and her dying parents repeated recent history as, observing Earth through their scopes, they despatched Kara to safety as they perished.<\/p>\n

Landing on Earth, she met Superman and he created the cover-identity of Linda Lee<\/em>, hiding her in an orphanage in small town Midvale so that she could master her new powers in secrecy and safety. Larry Tye\u2019s \u2018Endurance\u2019<\/em> discusses longevity and political merit before we return to Superman\u2019s official Action Comics<\/strong> co-star throughout the 1960s…<\/p>\n

Hogging the cover (by Super-stalwarts Curt Swan & George Klein) the simpler times of practicing in secret ended as a big change in the Maid of Might\u2019s status occurred. When her new adoptive parents learned of their new daughter\u2019s true origins, Superman allowed cousin Kara to announce her existence to the world in 2-part saga \u2018The World\u2019s Greatest Heroine!\u2019<\/em> (#285 February 1962) and \u2018The Infinite Monster!\u2019<\/em> (#286, March). Here Siegel & Jim Mooney detail how Supergirl becomes the darling of the universe, openly saving planet Earth and finally getting the credit for it.<\/p>\n

Those long-standing TV connections were exploited in Action Comics<\/strong> #309 (February 1964) for hoary secret-identity save plot \u2018The Superman Super-Spectacular!\u2019<\/em> as a telethon posed a puzzle for the always overbooked Man of Steel. Written by Edmond Hamilton and illustrated by Swan & Klein, it sets up a scene where the Action Ace can use none of his usual tricks to be both Superman and Clark simultaneously, and delivers a truly shocking and utterly era-appropriate solution…
\n\"\"
\nHurtling forward to December 1972 and Action<\/strong> #419 we meet a surprisingly successful back-up feature created by Len Wein, Carmine Infantino & Dick Giordano. \u2018The Assassin-Express Contract!\u2019<\/em> introduced Christopher Chance<\/em> as the Human Target<\/strong>, hiring himself out to impersonate endangered individuals such as the businessman \u201caccidentally\u201d sitting in the sights of a hitman, thanks to a disgruntled employee dialling a wrong number…<\/p>\n

From a period where Golden Age stories were assumed to have occurred on parallel world Earth-Two, \u2018Superman Takes a Wife\u2019<\/em> first appeared in 40th<\/sup> Anniversary issue #484 (June 1978). Here Cary Bates, Swan & Joe Giella detail how the original 1938 Man of Tomorrow became editor of the Metropolis Daily Star in the 1950s and married Lois Lane. Thanks to villains Colonel Future<\/em> and The Wizard<\/em> who had discovered a way to make Superman forget his own existence, only she knew that her husband was once Earth\u2019s greatest hero…<\/p>\n

More meta-realistic meandering led to \u2018If Superman Didn\u2019t Exist\u2019<\/em> (by Marv Wolfman & Gil Kane in Action<\/strong> #554 (April 1984) which posits an alien-subjugated Earth deprived of heroes until two kids with big dreams invent one…<\/p>\n

In 1985 DC Comics rationalised, reconstructed and reinvigorated their continuity with Crisis on Infinite Earths<\/strong>. They also used the event to regenerate key properties at the same time. The biggest gun they had was Superman <\/strong>and it\u2019s hard to argue that the change was not before time. The big guy was in another slump, but he\u2019d weathered those before. So how could a root and branch retooling be anything but a pathetic marketing ploy that would alienate the real fans for a few fly-by-night Johnny-come-latelies who would jump ship as soon as the next fad surfaced? This new Superman was going to suck…<\/p>\n

But he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Public furore began with all DC\u2019s Superman titles being \u201ccancelled\u201d (actually suspended) for three months, and yes, that did make the real-world media sit-up and take notice of the character everybody thought they knew for the first time in decades. However, there was method in this seeming corporate madness.<\/p>\n

The missing mainstays were replaced by a 6-part miniseries running from October to December 1986. Entitled Man of Steel<\/strong> it was written and drawn by Marvel\u2019s mainstream superstar John Byrne and inked by venerated veteran Dick Giordano. The bold manoeuvre was a huge and instant success and the retuned Superman titles all came storming back with the accent on breakneck pace and action. Superman had always enjoyed brief or lengthy partnerships with other if lesser heroes and Action Comics<\/strong> was confirmed as a team-up vehicle for the Man of Steel. Issue #584 had a January 1987 cover-date and featured a case fighting with and beside the Teen Titans<\/strong> as the young heroes had to battle an apparently out-of-control Caped Kryptonian with a \u2018Squatter\u2019<\/em> secretly riding in his head\u2026<\/p>\n

Following a gentle cartoon \u201croasting\u201d by Gene Luen Yang in \u2018Supersquare\u2019<\/em>, Roger Stern, Kerry Gammill & Dennis Janke review \u2018Ma Kent\u2019s Photo Album\u2019<\/em> (from AC<\/strong> #655, July 1990) offering some insights into growing up different before a major turning point began…<\/p>\n

As years passed, Lois and Clark gradually grew beyond professionalism into a work romance but the hero had always kept his greatest secret from her. That all changed after the Man of Tomorrow narrowly defeated mystic predator Silver Banshee<\/em> and decided no more \u2018Secrets in the Night\u2019<\/em> between him and his beloved (by Stern & Bob McLeod: #662, February 1991).
\n\"\"
\nAction<\/strong> #800 (April 2003) offers a reverential examination of the ongoing myth thus far as \u2018A Hero\u2019s Journey\u2019<\/em> combines a Joe Kelly script with art from Pasqual Ferry, Duncan Rouleau, Alex Ross, Tony Harris, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Bullock, Ed McGuiness, J.H. Williams III, Dan Jurgens, Klaus Janson, Killian Plunkett, Jim Lee, Tim Sale, Lee Bermejo, Cam Smith, Marlo Alquiza & Scott Hanna: cherry-picking unmissable moments from a life well lived…<\/p>\n

In 2011, DC again rebooted their entire line and Superman was reimagined once more. \u2018The Boy Who Stole Superman\u2019s Cape\u2019<\/em> by Grant Morrison & Ben Oliver comes from Action Comics<\/strong> #0, (November 2012), focussing on a decidedly blue-collar champion just learning the game and painfully aware of the consequences if he makes a mistake, before we wrap up the celebrations with April 2018\u2019s \u2018The Game\u2019<\/em> by Levitz & Neal Adams. Here primal archenemies Superman and Luthor face off for another round in their never-ending battle…<\/p>\n

Before the curtain comes down, there\u2019s still more unbridled joy and rekindled memories as \u2018Cover Highlights\u2019<\/em> resurrects stunning examples from the Golden<\/em>, Silver<\/em>, Bronze<\/em>, Dark<\/em> and Modern<\/em> ages of the Man of Tomorrow, as well as the very best of Action Comics<\/strong> \u2018Now\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n

Should you be of a scholarly or just plain reverential mood you can then study the copious \u2018Biographies\u2019<\/em> section so you know who to thank…
\n\"\"
\nExciting, epochal and unmissable, this is a book for all fans of superhero stories and the man who started them all.
\n\u00a9 1938, 1941, 1943, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1972, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 2003, 2012, 2018 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, Fred Guardineer, Don Cameron, Mort Weisinger, Jerry Coleman, Otto Binder, Edmond Hamilton, Len Wein, Cary Bates, Marv Wolfman, John Byrne, Roger Stern, Joe Kelly, Grant Morrison, Paul Levitz, Mort Meskin, Ed Dobrotka, Fred Ray, Wayne Boring, Al Plastino, Jim Mooney, Curt Swan, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, Dick Giordano, Kerry … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman the Deluxe Edition”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[191,10,383,75,76,255,332,394,344,154,345,272,127,107,9,11,99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventure","category-batman","category-carmine-infantino","category-crime-comics","category-dc-superhero","category-environmentalism","category-gil-kane","category-human-target","category-jimmy-olsen","category-legion-of-super-heroes","category-lois-lane","category-neal-adams","category-nostalgia","category-science-fiction","category-superman","category-teen-titans","category-westerns"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-8Fe","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33308"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33315,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33308\/revisions\/33315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}