Action Comics #1 Preview: Superman Has Zero Tolerance for Crime

Gosh i love the new costume. I hated the red under where thing.

@Jekylhyde14 said:

It was ONLY Quitely's art? Morrison's scripting and panel descriptions had NOTHING to do with it? And how much more personality can Morrison give Superman judging from that Action Comics #1 preview? He's got him torturing corrupt businessmen  and taunting cops. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't make anyone like something they don't connect with. My original point was that it was unfair to say that Grant is bad at writing characters. He's always taken risks with his characters. He writes transvestite magicians, cranky men with robot bodies, and a Batman who isn't constantly brooding. His characterizations are bold, stretch him as a writer, and force the reader to deal with different types of people. The bad characterization label that's been laid on him seems, to me, to stem from people who just want to read the same kinds of characters over and over again. 

I don't know how Morrison writes. Most writers seem to, at the most, do basic layouts. The hunch to Clark Kent's back when he's walking across the street with Lois, the slightly rumpled suit, these are details that Quitely put on the page, and they create the characterization. When he's standing in front of the mirror of truth and fidgeting with his glasses, that's the art, and I don't think it's Morrison's script.  I think Quitely put more character on the page in All Star Superman than Morrison did.  You disagree. We can survive this.

It was ONLY Quitely's art? Morrison's scripting and panel descriptions had NOTHING to do with it? And how much more personality can Morrison give Superman judging from that Action Comics #1 preview? He's got him torturing corrupt businessmen  and taunting cops. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't make anyone like something they don't connect with. My original point was that it was unfair to say that Grant is bad at writing characters. He's always taken risks with his characters. He writes transvestite magicians, cranky men with robot bodies, and a Batman who isn't constantly brooding. His characterizations are bold, stretch him as a writer, and force the reader to deal with different types of people. The bad characterization label that's been laid on him seems, to me, to stem from people who just want to read the same kinds of characters over and over again. 

@Jekylhyde14 said:

I've always thought his Superman was right on the money and closer in characterization to what he should be than the Post-Crisis version of the man. Grant obviously concentrates more on creating interesting plots than making his stories character driven with things like "how will Superman react to Perry White's cancer" or "how will Lois maintain her feminist identity while being married to Clark," but, honestly, that's why I like him. It makes his writing unique and I still get a feel for who the characters are in every situation. Do we really need Stan Lee character development in every superhero book? 

I feel like Quitely's art creates the "golden-age" characterization in All Star Superman. The layouts, liberal (but not exclusive) use of smaller panels and wide shots of full height characters in panels, that sort of thing. Morrison's glacially paced puzzle-box story is perfect for that context as well. Superman has rarely been criticized for having much of a personality anyway.  We don't need Stan Lee in every book, that's why there's more than one comic book company left today.  Maybe I'm a little grumpy from having just read all of Morrison's Batman stuff from Batman & Son through Batman & Robin including Final Crisis. If I NEVER read another book by Morrison, I think I would die happier than I am right now. I understand the technical brilliance of it, I can understand how someone else might like it, I also don't want to read it anymore ever. To steal from Tony: "it's good but not great." And as when he says it, when I say it, I mean that I don't want to read it and I think it's awful but I know that if i just come out and say that then people will take it badly so I'll just say it's not great instead of saying it's bad. (But I think Morrison's writing is bad).  Maybe it's too harsh. Hopefully the book is good for someone.

@Benuben: I'm sure it will all roll back to that, but till then he can punch cancer in the face, shake down politicians for their milk money and eat Batman's suit. It's going to provide a morals on advantage in the battle threads. In fact, Superman threads won't be called anything as neutral as "Superman versus pre-Flashpoint Mongul," but "Superman punches pre-Flashback Mongul in the face" where people will simply agree that it's good.

I've always thought his Superman was right on the money and closer in characterization to what he should be than the Post-Crisis version of the man. Grant obviously concentrates more on creating interesting plots than making his stories character driven with things like "how will Superman react to Perry White's cancer" or "how will Lois maintain her feminist identity while being married to Clark," but, honestly, that's why I like him. It makes his writing unique and I still get a feel for who the characters are in every situation. Do we really need Stan Lee character development in every superhero book? 

Oh what the hell DC?  The reboot wasn't enough, you had to go and turn Superman into fricking Batman? What don't you understand when we say "WE LIKE SUPERMAN AS A BOY SCOUT" DC?! This isn't Superman, this is freaking Batman with super powers.   Shame on you Grant Morrison. 

He's basically how he was in the Golden Age 
 

It's Superman in his early days, it's a new universe. I'm glad they at least changed something for once... but hopefully it won't last.

Any hope for this?  Morrison's All Star Superman was far better than his recent Batman run on the "coherent" scale, but even though his stories are interesting (like the gearwork in an analog watch), his characters are SHITE.

@psychotime Agreed, but in this day of age, heroes need to represent the times. And as iconic as superman is for the past 30 years he came off a little to "old fashioned" and "father like", and for new younger readers of this era the last person they want to look up to is a perfectionist version of their dad. Don't get me wrong I love the old school superman, but this new school version is going to bring in a huge fanbase for DC.

Is it just me or is the Jim Lee variant horrible? Supes' hand is as big as his entire head.

Any hope for this?
 
Morrison's All Star Superman was far better than his recent Batman run on the "coherent" scale, but even though his stories are interesting (like the gearwork in an analog watch), his characters are SHITE.

Supes needs to stop standing in dark corners his red glowing eyes freak me out.

holy shit, I had my doubts but this looks awsome!!

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

I love Grant Morrison, but I do not like that preview at all. That's just not who Superman is. Of course, he may learn humility (and make JL #1 even more pointless), or stay a jerk, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

Ditto.  This is just not the Superman I know and grew up with. Superman, in my eyes, should be the example for everyone. This guy however, just isn't. He may have Superman powers, he may wear the symbol and look like him. But he just isn't Superman to me (yet). Maybe it'll be different later on.

I like it. This may not be the Superman we all know but from what I've seen hear, I think this series is one I'll most likely get each month.

Oh wow...I am so glad they decided to reset the entire DCU to tell the tale of Batman:Year One but swap Bruce for Superman 
yup...DCNU is soooooo worth it now

It's too small to read.

I can honestly see him like a westernized version of Goku from Dragonball now.

So superman is in normal clothes...

Reminds me of Golden Age Supes! So awesome. In one of his first comics, Superman trapped the owner of a mine who'd been cutting corners on worker safety in his mine with the guests at his fancy party. I might have to check Superman out the new Superman out and I have never said that before in my life.

going to be interesting...

I seriously like this and have interest in reading it for as long as Grant Morrison is writing this part of (the new) Superman's life. 
 
I hate the idea of "modernizing" Superman by changing his character and costume (and I really hate the Jim Lee costume). I could go on and on about how I think Superman should always look and feel old fashioned as the grand daddy of the modern superhero. I LOVED All Star Superman and when I first saw the Justice League and George Perez images I was extremely disappointed.
 
But what Morrison is doing here feels just right. This is clearly a younger Superman and is naturally a bit brash, but it's clear that he still has his morals and ideals fueling his mission. I actually like his goofy non-costume here as well. This feels like it's what Smallville SHOULD have been.
 
As long as we see this part of Superman and someone who respects the legacy of the character as much as Grant Morrison is writing it, I can honestly say I'll like this new series.
 
For anyone who hasn't noticed, the interrogation is a reference to the ORIGINAL Action Comics #1 where Superman hassles a lobbyist. Anyone who's read some Morrison work should expect him to reference 50+ year old comics.

I love Grant Morrison, but I do not like that preview at all. That's just not who Superman is. Of course, he may learn humility (and make JL #1 even more pointless), or stay a jerk, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

I love Grant Morrison, but I do not like that preview at all. That's just not who Superman is. Of course, he may learn humility (and make JL #1 even more pointless), or stay a jerk, so we'll just have to wait and see. 

Ditto.  This is just not the Superman I know and grew up with. Superman, in my eyes, should be the example for everyone. This guy however, just isn't. He may have Superman powers, he may wear the symbol and look like him. But he just isn't Superman to me (yet). Maybe it'll be different later on.

I don't really like superman but ordered action comics 1 for grant Morrison. Glad I did now this looks like a superman I can get on board with

I like Grant Morrison, but I'm not sure he was the right guy to pick for this job - I'm a little conflicted on this one - some of the changes I like - taking him back to his ... roots - he can't fly (yet) just leaps tall buildings in a single bound, and fights for the little guy like in those 30s/40s Action Comics. Some other changes I'm O.K. with (the inevitable resetting of Clark and Lois to not married), and others - not crazy about. The cynical Supes - I don't know - there's already one Batman, and a lot of wannabe Batmans - Superman's positive worldview and faith in the system was one of the great things about that character.

Superman used to be a bald telepathic villain bent on taking over the world according to the wiki. 

@elayem98: I agree.

I'm all in, I know this will be different and I may not agree with everything but I'm still down.

I'm liking this book already.

i liked it alot n cant wait for all of it.......as for ppl who dont i think wat some ppl are forgetting is Superman's still young here,still starting out,you wont expect someone that young to just suddenly start acting like he was a mature 40 yr old to get ppl to like him,right now hes worrying about bringin down the badguys in any form...a little recklessness is a given with any early 20 yr old n as weve seen in the later months solicits that the people aren't warming up to him, its a learning process,he will become the Biggest symbol for hope and justice the world has ever seen but not just starting out,so lets see how Grant plays this out. And since JL#1 im thinking this Supes will have a confidence like no other n im really exited to see wat they do wit him,cuz i think this is gonna be really really good. 
 P.S. - for a description on wat exactly this is goin to be about....from the writer himself,check it out :)  http://www.newsarama.com/comics/grant-morrison-action-comics-110902.html

I like Grant Morrison`s take on the man of steel here ! ( it`s different , it is respecting the intent of the original creators siegal and shuster , all while telling a unque and vastly interesting story ) anyways it almost like what he did for All Star Superman which in and of itself a respectful homage to the 50s/60s kooky ,silly Silver-Age Boy scout Superman that most of us modern readers are somewhat familiar with (and then there is the John Bryne post Crisis Revamp that us modern Readers Are very much too comfortable with but it was and still is well regarded as cool ,inventive ,a much better almost streamline version of the original that came before it and that being the bronze age .) anyways I see this as a Very good ,another well crafted attempt to give the core concept of superman as a back to basic (being his first appearance in the depression era respectfully of course ) as a hero of the people , righting wrongs done to the common man . or what I would call pre- silver age Boy scout we all know and love from super friends and many other things (well then there is Bruce Timm and Paul Dini & friends did a little bit of both in superman the animated series which is a Show I watch a lot on DVD from time to time when I get tired of 80s Action and Slasher Movies or Exploitation pictures . ) to me this the superman I came to respect  when I really started reading superman comics back in my crazy days in High school (it was a hardcover Collection of superman`s earliest exploits ) so 40s Golden Age Superman I am cool with because this variation shows him not as a Jesus type figure he has been built up to be over the years , it shows him as a grounded , a little brash ,but his heart is in the right place hero .  (so that`s my 55 cents ) thanks for reading now I will return you to your regular programing ...

I can honestly see him like a westernized version of Goku from Dragonball now. 
Dark and Gritty? Not even close... he's not even being melodramatic and frowning here:P

Anyone else read these previews with Twisted Sister playing in their head? We're Not Gonna Take It!!!

I enjoy Grant Morrison, and have for some time, but I am not liking the vision of Superman from what I've seen.  Seems he is essentially a super powered Batman from the aspect of how he is interrogating individuals.  If you squint a little, you can almost see Ultraman from Earth 2 in how he's acting.

Everyone stop complaining about how Grant Morrison writing Superman out of character in this preview. He isn't even Superman yet. And he hasn't fully learned how to be a hero yet. He's young and werckless and will eventually learn to control his temper in the future.

Great.

Everyone stop complaining about how Grant Morrison writing Superman out of character in this preview. He isn't even Superman yet. And he hasn't fully learned how to be a hero yet. He's young and werckless and will eventually learn to control his temper in the future.

His foot looks HUGE in the panel hes over the building.

Wow, never thought I'd have respect for the blue boyscout, especially not in jeans and a tee-shirt.