Are you currently reading
Action Comics starring
Lex Luthor? If not, shame on you! You’re missing out on one of the best superhero on-goings currently hitting shelves. Yes, I’m serious. Ever since
Paul Cornell and
Pete Woods stepped up to the creative plate to shine the spotlight on
Metropolis’ always lovable ego-maniac, Lex Luthor,
Action Comics has been absolutely stellar. It beats the pants off that drawn-out
New Krypton saga, and makes for a great indirect sequel to
Blackest Night--following Lex Luthor on a quest to once again harness the power he felt while wielding a Lantern Power Rings.
First and foremost, what makes Action Comics standout is Paul Cornell’s amazing handle on the character of Lex Luthor. He’s still the arrogant, self-centered man on a power trip we’ve always known (and loved), yet Cornell is able to snugly inject his spot-on humor and wit into a serious Lex Luthor story and make it work, flawlessly. For example: Lex Luthor owning and making love to a
robot Lois Lane. It might raise some serious psychological red flags, but this also, quite literally, shows how much Lex Luthor yearns to be
Superman. He not only
needs to be
God of Metropolis, but he
must also possess Superman’s girl.
Most importantly, for a series starring one of the DC Universe’s greatest villains, Paul Cornell is able to make Luthor come off as a sympathetic anti-hero, not the cold, calculating narcissist we often see him as. He’s portrayed as a man with purpose and drive, yet very defensive in order to hide his laundry list of imperfections. That just sounds human to me. While the plot might be anything but
grounded, Action Comics remains one hell of an interesting character study of Lex Luthor. It may even turn out to be one of the best ever.
I also have to say, it’s good to finally have
action back in my Action Comics. I think we can all agree the New Krypton saga--for those that were able to push through it all--was overly long and boring, lacking any real payoff for the years and dollars we invested in the story. Yet, in just six short issues, Paul Cornell and Pete Woods have put Lex Luthor through a psychological attack by
Mr. Mind, a fistfight with
Deathstroke, a run-in with
Gorilla Grodd’s best “combat spoon,” a corporate takeover by the immortal
Vandal Savage, and finally, a near death experience hosted by Sandman’s
Death, herself. Action Comics, for the last six months, has been an idea factory. You want bang for your buck? Well, here it is!
Sadly, I don’t believe Paul Cornell and Pete Woods have much time left on Action Comics. Their story is finite, and I’m under the impression it’s coming to a close soon. Honestly, I have not missed Superman one bit in his debut series. Action Comics starring Lex Luthor has been a breath of fresh air that I welcomed, and now I don’t want it to slip away. Maybe a letter to DC is in order, one where I throw an eloquently written hissy fit, acting like a child who refuses to leave the store until his parents give in to his demands.
But you can do your part too! If you haven’t checked out Action Comics by Paul Cornell and Pete Woods, do yourself a favor and pick up what’s out there thus far (Action Comics #890-895, Action Comics Annual #13). You won’t be disappointed. But if you are, beware of Grodd’s combat spoon, cause it’s coming for you. I’m a man of my word.
