In March 1939 issue of Action Comics #10 Superman goes undercover to write an exposé on the lousy conditions at the Coreytown chain gang. The prisoners there are physically abused, are nearly starving and have to live "like kettle". Because the governor won't do anything about it, Clark Kent gets himself arrested to get into the prison.

He may be there under a new fake name (probably?) but not only is he wearing no disguise to distinguish himself from Superman whatsoever (well, besides walking about bare-chested for a good length of the story *laugh*), he's also extremely cocky and confident and egging on the cruel superintendent, mocking him all the time. O_O He WANTS to get punished and beaten. There are things he does and says in this comic that would be out-of-character today. And I've no idea how come no one sees he's actually Superman! Their personalities are so alike. Maybe because Superman wasn't that well-known yet at the time?



In the story he is loathed by the Daily Planet staff because they believe he betrayed the trust of an escaped prisoner who asked him for help. Lois calls Clark a "loathsome wretch". But they're all wrong! Clark has a plan!

In order to write the perfect exposé, Mr Kent must go undercover... Oh yeah, he's also wearing plaid. *chuckle* Full story underneath the cut.

( 'It's mighty swell of you to let me sit here nice and cozy while all the others are working hard. Is it possible, superintendent, that you've a secret liking for me?' )

And for dial-up users, direct links to scans:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 cover.

I also thought I'd post this since it's been very quiet on the Superman AND JLA movie front lately:

FIRST RELEASED PHOTO OF BRANDON ROUTH'S WEDDING
We now finally have a scan of the one photo of Brandon Routh's wedding People magazine published in their latest issue. brdwaybebe posted it here and there's a bigger, actual scan of the thing in the comments here. Sooo cute! o.o His hands! The smiles! Just everything. They both look beautiful.

Still waiting for that InStyle mag issue for a bigger coverage and more pics.

Btw, it was said right after the ETOnline article was posted that Kate Bosworth and WB exec Alan Horn in fact did not attend the wedding for some reason. This was reported by People magazine here.

I'm still bummed Horn wasn't there, to be honest. SIGH. Horn attending wouldn't have meant the sequel is on track but it would have been nice, you know? Same with Kate, I'm sad she couldn't make it.
SupermanHomepage is still reporting what ETOnline was saying about the wedding. Iris of BrandonRouth.com confirmed Kate and Horn weren't there, so the info doesn't match up. Some SR fans on forums still think Horn was present and they continue posting about it like it means something.

I'm faster than scans_daily. *chuckle*

Finallyyyy, Action Comics #858 is here and with it a Reeve-like Man of Steel, the new artist Gary Frank and a new storyarc about Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, a superhero group first introduced in the late 50's. He used to be friends with them when he was Superboy, often traveling far into the future (where they come from) to spend time with them. The issue also includes a great flashback to a friendless, lonely young Clark (see scans).

SPOILERS BELOW!! I didn't put up the really big one, though. One of the greatest moments to me was a quick "homage" to a certain scene in a movie... But I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised which one it is! I hope it's not just me, I really think it's a homage and a lovely one. Check it out under the cut! OMG! *flail* I even put up a comparison pic.



( 'Clark Kent gives me the creeps.' )

*flails some more* Loved this issue!

My fave story in Action Comics Annual #10 from this year which was written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner (yay!) and illustrated by Eric Wight, raises an intriguing question that catches one's attention: "Who is Clark Kent's big brother?"

When Clark was still a school boy in Smallville, Pa Kent told him to avoid playing sports with other kids because it could be dangerous and he could harm someone. Clark grew up without a friend who'd really understand him, someone he could show his superpowers to without fear of them completely freaking out. He had to come up with excuses why he's not joining in games. Even pretend he's of a weak disposition.
Still, Clark could not prevent the papers from printing stories about him (a mysterious "flying-boy") and his heroic deeds whenever they spotted him.



The tale begins with a newspaper photo of Ben Hubbard and an article reporting this very "flying-boy" stopped a fire on the man's farm. Clark begins: "Today the paper run some more stories about me... Today Mr Lang swerved his car so he wouldn't hit Pete's golden retriever... Today I got so close to Lana Lang I could smell her perfume..."

( 'I didn't want to be alone. And now I wasn't.' )

Is it just me or does Clark look a bit like Harry Potter in this art? :)

I also wanted to thank everyone who commented on my previous post about the JLA movie news/no MOS news. *hugs friendslist*

Sorry for not posting for a while, I haven't been feeling well and it's been a long week. *yawn* There have been some JLA movie rumours but fans agree they're from attention-seeking "fake scoopers" and I don't want to focus too much on JLA in my journal that's mostly been about Clark Kent so far. No worries. So on we go with more Clark goodness, this time my favourite Superman comic that is also an anniversary issue - Action Comics #800!

Surprisingly most of the artists in this issue aren't my favourites, it's the stories, the spirit of Superman and people's love for him again that drew me in. Just my kind of thing and a great read for anyone new to Superman comics. You don't want to pass this one up.

#800 is a touching look at Superman's positive influence in people's lives, be it through old and magnificent Fleischer Superman cartoons, the old Superman radio show, Superman: The Movie, Christopher Reeve, comics, etc. The people in #800 are like you and me who have followed his adventures in different mediums. They're not people of Metropolis/Superman's own universe but real-life individuals. I honestly had tears in my eyes by like page 3 already. The magic, the sincerity, the wonder and joy... It's all there. Now these are the accounts by people I can relate to.
Even if you don't usually like superhero comics, I'm pretty sure you'll like this. I'd give Action Comics #800 to someone I want to convert into a Superman fan or to at least show them why so many people love him.



Double-sized and packed with over a dozen artists, including Jim Lee, Tim Sale, Alex Ross and others, the issue delivers a good story after a good story that keeps you wanting for more. Lots of 1-page accounts but also a longer one about Clark's journey from a little farm kid from Kansas to the moment he decides to fly across Metropolis for the first time as Superman. Actually, the first time he flies he's still in CLARK KENT clothes minus the glasses and everyone sees him! He's at a major Metropolis event and flies over people's heads to save a crashing plane! There's also a hilarious moment with Clark trying on a "prototype costume" if you could even call it that. Check it out! :)

( 'Ask ten different people what Superman looks like, you'll get ten different descriptions, ten different stories like mine. They'll all have one thing in common, though... He's TOUCHED them, somehow. He's touched us all.' )

To quote the first story: "Thank you for being extraordinary, Superman. Thank you for being."

*sigh*

Action Comics #695 from 1994 has a great Superman/Lois (or Clark/Lois) moment that I want to share. This was after he returned from the dead in the famous Death of Superman arc. Lois and Clark were just engaged for a few months before Superman was killed by Doomsday. Just like in those precious months before the Death, once he returned and could continue with his dual identity, Clark and Lois were often seen kissing passionately.

The only problem was Lois being in a relationship with Clark Kent and obviously could not be seen smooching Superman somewhere in the clouds or on the roof of the Daily Planet.



See what happens on their romantic rendezvous one day when Superman takes the time from his usual rounds in Metropolis to meet her on the roof...

( 'We have to stop meeting like this... Someday.' )

A few issues later Action Comics published a fan letter from a female reader in LA commenting on Lois' SHOES in that very scene:

( 'You can tell this was drawn by men!' )

DC's replies to their fan mail were often a little patronizing and defensive. *shakes head* Both the positive and negative feedback is very fun to read, especially from decades past. I'll never forget the one by a girl in 1972 calling Clark Kent "sexy" (when Kurt Swan drew him and he drew him splendidly). It's so true! Must post scans of that.

In the current Action Comics #855 (another issue with Richard Donner on the team!) we have a 2-page flashback to a moment in Clark's boyhood on the farm. Clark is watching other boys playing football from afar, using his "telescopic vision" to follow the game. Like many times before, it seems, Pa Kent tries to tell poor Clark why he can't play games with other children.



( 'I can see for MILES.' )

I'm bringing more icons, this time 11 veeeery old-skool Superman, Clark and Lois! These come from Action Comics #1 and #7 that appeared in 1938. Can't get cooler than that.

01. 02. 03.

( 9 more icons! )

Enjoy! :o) Please comment if you're taking any and thank you!

I was wondering which Superman comic scans to put up next (sooo many I want to post) and then I remembered this great issue about Superman celebrating New Year's in each time zone as he travels the world.

It's another of my fave comics where the art did not impress me when I first read the stories but over time I grew to appreciate it, especially when the stories are so heart-warming and so Superman that the way the comic is drawn becomes less important. 4 pencillers, 5 inkers and 1 colorist worked on this issue and every story was done by a different artist.



Action Comics #810 is one of those lovely and touching issues showing us how people around the world feel about Superman and that he takes time for an individual in need no matter how "trivial" their problem may be in the grand scheme of things. In this case, he helps wherever he can to make New Year's special to those who have sent him letters and asked for him, be it by providing nifty fireworks and playing in the snow with a group of Japanese orphans or helping a woman in Greenland deliver a baby. Spending time with Lois and visiting Ma and Pa in Smallville is a top priority, too, of course.

To celebrate every hour in a new time zone (25 time zones in one night!), even Superman has to be super fast to make it! The first stop is London and him and Lois fly over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to watch the fireworks...

( 'Just when you think there aren't any more fringe benefits to being Mrs. Superman... This is incredible.' 'You should see Sydney. Enough to make you cry.' )

*sigh* Superman is a great guy.