Action Comics #15 Review
***SPOILER FREE REVIEW
Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics has been mostly superb. While much of his run has been a deep, nonlinear, if sometimes confusing experience, we begin to see the curtain pulled back on Morrison's run in this issue, as Morrison's time on this title is coming to its end. Luckily, what we get in this issue is an excellent blend of dialogue, action and plot progression.
This issue is highly nonlinear, both in its storytelling, as well as its actual literal timeline. It makes for a highly complex, if not slightly complicated read (I had to read it twice). However, all the time you put into this comic as a reader is highly worthwhile, Morrison's run on the comic is really paying dividends, with reveals on the Little Man and just about everything else that has come up during Morrison's run on Action Comics. Morrison, This is a comic that will hit you on multiple emotional levels.
Rags Morales (with Brad Walker's able pencils) produces one of the best looking issues of the current run of Action Comics. Much of the artwork helped to draw out and enforce the emotions of the comic, from fear to happiness and all the emotions in between. The action sequences are filled with energy and easy to follow, and each of the different settings have slightly different art styles that establish the tone and emotionality of each panel.The inking team of Hennessy and Propst do an excellent job, applying various levels of crosshatching, shadows and just the right amount of thickness to their lines to really make the art look great. Brad Anderson's colors round out the picture, using appropriate hues and brightness/darkness to his colors that really bring aid in setting the tone in every panel. Steve Wand's Lettering even deserves a mention, as he brilliantly juggles several different fonts, word balloon styles and even colors to his dialogue boxes. The art on this particular issue is superb, and worth the price of admission on its own as it helps to tell Morrison's story superbly.
I'd be amiss if I didn't mention the backup. I've really been digging the last few backups since we got the Krypto backup in Issue #13, and Sholly Fisch writes another solid backup piece, fleshing out an important part of the main feature. It reads like a children's story, but in an endearing and emotional way. The idea that the backup is a children's story is especially developed by Sprouse's pencils, Story's Inks and especially Bellaire's colors in charming and very well done art. Much like the main feature, the back up has some weighty emotional aspects to it as well, and will leave the reader feeling empathetic.
Overall, I'd highly recommend this issue. In fact, the last few issues of Action Comics have been homeruns, and this issue continues the trend. The confrontation between Superman and Little Man is a highly compelling story that is totally worth your $4. I can't recommend this issue enough!
