Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope…It’s another Superman origin/reboot story. While most avid readers have grown chronically indifferent to  Superman origin stories, DC still sees potential and money in retelling “the first Superman story ever”, once again.

This time, with Grant Morrison at the helm, we are reminded why Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s original characterization for Superman was so important, and why it was able to spawn an entire genre of superheroes.

Morrison has chosen to give us a young, charismatic, and slightly reckless Superman that’s very reminiscent of the Superman that the world was introduced to back in 1938. This Superman is not tiptoeing around abstract moral paradigms, nor is he holding back against the elements that he has deemed corrupt. He’s also not as powerful as he will one day be, which gives him the ability to cut loose and retaliate, when fired upon. The choices Morrison makes, in this issue allow, for a more realistic, and exciting story, which maintains a break-neck pace and takes full advantage of Rags Morales’ artistic sensibilities. The art in this issue is simply gorgeous. When our fearless, kryptonian crusader gets hit by a bullet train, you feel the impact pulsating off the pages.

This was an impressive debut for the new Action Comics #1 and I look forward to seeing where Morrison and Morales takes things from here.

I’m disappointed to report that Justice League #1 is nothing more than an exercise in empty and derivative storytelling. Justice League was positioned to usher in a new era for D.C. comics, but, instead, it has served as a false start for the over-hyped reboot event, better known as the  ”New 52″.

While I was not as critical as others were about the “New 52″ DC comics re-launch, I did have concerns. Unfortunately, my fears were realized upon reading the first issue of this “groundbreaking” roll-out. Geoff Johns has failed here by delivering a cliche-ridden, smorgasbord of generic characterizations and groan-inducing sentimentality. The issue only deals with two story-beats, both of which, are ill- conceived.

Right off the bat, we have Batman meeting a douchier than usual Green Lantern.  John’s seems to be trying to create a contrived “buddy cop movie” vibe between Batman and Green Lantern,  but their interactions are so forced that you’re left wishing for a new scene to begin. Be careful what you wish for…because the only other story thread, in this issue, is Cyborg playing football and getting all “lifetime movie” sappy because his dad didn’t show up to his game.  You’ll notice that I have referenced movie archetypes in relation to character types and their behaviors. That’s because Johns’ has piled on the hacky-ness in this issue, by using the most predictable of dialogue devices that are now only reserved for vomit-inducing slasher flicks and Shawn Levy films. I thoroughly enjoyed Johns’ storytelling for runs like “Superman and the Legion of Superheroes” and “Up, Up, and Away!”,  but he has squandered all that good will I had to his work by writing tripe like “Superman: Secret Origin” and this specific issue.

Jim Lee’s art is all that kept me from tearing this issue to shreds and sending it, via first-class mail, back Geoff Johns’  home address.

Superman Beyond is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. This Superman made an appearance on the Batman Beyond animated series, but his character was not fully explored, as he is in this particular issue. There have been many Superman stories that have delved into Superman’s later years. Stories like “Kingdom Come” and “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow” have sought to find the adequate bookend for this iconic character, but  this single issue feels more organic and more apt than both of those stories, combined.

We have the familiar elements that encapsulate “Superman as an old fogey” stories like Lois being dead and  an ill-equipped Justice League, but, here, they are used in a less self-indulgent manner. This story doesn’t harp on the quiet moments  until they have lost all their importance. No, Tom DeFalco handles the story with care, but maintains a pace that never fails to keep things interesting. While the villain, Armorgeddon, is clearly a Sandman(as interpreted by Spider-Man 3) rip-off, his characterization is handled in a much better fashion. Armorgeddon’s rage is understandable and he poses a respectable threat to the Man of Steel(no easy feat).

I think that Superman Beyond #0  will be revered as a classic Superman issue, in the vein of “What’s so funny about Truth, Justice, and the American Way” and “For the Man who has Everything”.  I’m glad to be the first to put it in that company.