Action Comics #9
Action Comics #9
Summary
Action Comics takes a break from the usual escapades of Clark Kent, to bring us a story from Earth-23. Earth-23 Superman, AKA President Superman, is met by inter-dimensional travellers who are being perused by a commercialised Superman “gone wrong”. The issue attempts to explore the philosophical context surrounding the “superman”, while at the same time condemning the ideals of consumerism. In addition, the issue concludes with prospects of more the multiverse being introduced back into the New 52 and there is also a back-up story which too is set on Earth-23.
What I liked
· Something different: I have no problem with one-shot stories which are out of context to the rest of the series. In fact the very purpose of the series being called “Action Comics” does allow for more freedom of story focus, just look at Paul Cornell’s arc which focused on Lex Luthor last year. This is a good issue if you want a story which needs no context going in which resolves itself by the end.
· The Back-up story: This isn’t much praise, because I still thought it was completely pointless (See below), however I do feel that the back-up story utilised the idea of a “President Superman” a lot more than the main feature.
What I didn’t like
· The Writing: Although this issue was not as complicated as Morrison usually writes, it does have an almost dream-like quality to it, where really weird things are happening but people treat them like they are normal. For example, President Superman is fighting Lex Luthor, and then all of a sudden he is in a room with a weird contraption which we are led to believe Luthor built, but at no point in the story does it feel that Luthor cares about his machine, or that Superman cares that Luthor built this machine. Later on in the story we learn about an alternate Clark, Lois and Jimmy who invent a machine which essentially turns though into reality, and, once more, the story never acknowledges how insane a feat that is.
Another problem I have with this story is simply how pretentious it feels. The whole issue is basically a stab at how “selling-out” corrupts a genuinely good idea (which is really ironic with all the selling out DC seems to be doing through self-endorsement DC - *Read Issue bla of bla). This would have been a really cool idea, however it is obvious that it has no real meaning, because the villain who is built upon the corrupt ideals of public demand is beaten by... being punched a lot and shot a bit.
· Multiverse: I have no idea why this issue is set on Earth-23. It seems weird that this is not an Earth-1 (or Prime, or whatever it is called now) story, as nothing about this issue (minus the back-up story) would have played out differently in the main continuity. Moreover, it seems really foolish to introduce Earth-23 in such a blasé manor, when the Earth-2 series is having so much build up. It feels that the Multiverse, which is being teased throughout series like Justice League and Earth-2 as something really important, is being almost abused by Morrison’s obsession with nostalgia and obscure stories.
· Race: It seems of a really low standard to make Superman of Eath-23’s defining attribute (besides being the president), his ethnicity. I am in no way saying that I denounce the idea of changing the cultural backgrounds of alternate-reality characters that makes a lot of sense. What I am denouncing is the idea that this Superman is different to Earth-1 Superman because he has different coloured skin, in other words – using race as a gimmick. If you think I’m being hyperbolic, consider why is it the first thing which is mentioned in this issue?! Besides the back-up story there is nothing presidential about this Superman, so why was this character used?
· The Back-up Story: Although this story was less pretentious than the main story, it was still just as preachy. In this story we see President Superman negotiate peace with a country which condones terror, while at the same time disarming them of their nuclear capacity. At the end of this issue Earth-23 Wonder Woman faces President Superman with a forced dilemma: what happens when Superman does something for the greater good – but the world does not agree. I find it hard to understand how the previous pages of the story reach to this conclusion. Moreover, this dilemma is solved by having a secret identity... which he does! If the world is upset by Superman’s actions, but they are morally correct (which they would be, because that is the point of superman), then they can hate Superman... and so what? I guess the idea is that Superman is both technically committing crime and being the president at the same time, but even then it becomes a bit of a moot point when you factor in the fact that HE IS SUPERMAN!
Verdict
I am sorry to everyone who enjoyed this issue because I did not. This may be because I am not a Grant Morrison fan and if you do appreciate his works I am certain you will love it. However, as a stand-alone issue, I found it to present itself as more complex than perhaps it was, and then make the whole issue redundant at the end by resorting to a fist fight. However, the back-up story was fun, but soured by the forcing of a point which made little sense and seemed only to be there for the sake of being there.
5/10
