Action Comics #855

posted by JediSheltie @ 7:17 PM

August 28nd One Comic Comic RoundUp

Think of this as "rounding down" to one.

Action 855

Disclaimer: Overall there's so much about the setting of this issue/arc that trips my personal "Superman prejudices" that I won't even begin to call this a fair review.

Almost surprised me when I got this issue. Forgot that this "Donner" guy was still working on this comic. The giant floating holographic head reminded me pretty quickly he was. Really, what's up with the head? Though I find Donner a perfectly respectable director, he and I disagree on a few things, and one of them is the need for giant holographic heads. This guy have daddy issues or something?

If he does, we're about to talk a big walk through them, as not only does the floating holographic head of Jor-El make it's obligatory appearance in this first issue of the new "Escape from Bizzaro World" arc, the story itself centers on the kidnapping on Johnathan Kent by Bizzaro. Thus the whole "escape" thing. Yes, out there in the space of the main "New Earth" universe is a big square planet filled to the brim with vintage Silver Age wackiness.

I have mentioned in the past there's many things about the Silver Age I feel should remain there, and I have to count Bizzaro World as one of them. Basically, Johns and Donner are working at a distinct disadvantage when trying to sell me on this idea. Did they succeed? Once again I'll come down with an extremely non-committal "it's okay." Seriously, I know it could have been a lot worse, and I really can't think of any constructive ways to make it much better.

Thankfully they've taken the track of trying to bring some Modern Age sensibility to a old Silver Age concept, unlike Morrison in the All-Star series. Bizzaro world is a dank, gray place that is not the happy-go-lucky, carefree idiot utopia most commonly seen in the Silver Age. We don't learn much about how it came to be in this first issue, only that it exists and Bizzaro has imprisoned Johnathan Kent there. Clark spends most of his time on world in this first issue dealing with those little "cultural idiosyncrasies" of the local population, before getting into a smash up with Bizzaro.

Bizzaro and the world are mostly scripted in the "backwards talk" form, though I think it sliped into "simpleton" mode a few times for editorial convenience. Bizzaro is number one criminal, etc. Always gives me a headache, honestly. Leob's use of the character in Superman/Batman was almost infuriating sometimes, and Johns/Donner don't do much to improve my opinion of this character's particular linguistics.

My hope is that this plot will be a good way to all Clark some deeper reflection on his relationship with his father and how that differs slightly from his relationship with a giant floating holographic head. Remains to be seen, though, as there wasn't much of that in this issue.

Art by noted "Goon" artist Eric Powell fit the "Bizzaro" concept well. His mildly exaggerated art style captures the kind of twisted reality that encompasses Bizzaro world and the residents without sacrificing too much with the "normal" characters. I still prefer more realistic art styles, but I can certainly see why Powell was chosen for this arc. I presume he can also turn in work on time, as well, another stellar reason to choose him, I presume.

Well, even though I want to go back and rewrite this to be even more negative, I'll let it stand. Not really too bad for a heavily prejudiced review, I think. Then again, I could be biased...