Action Comics #843

Back in Action Part 3: All-Out Action

Kurt Busiek Script/Plot
Fabian Nicieza Plot
Pete Woods Art
Brad Anderson, Colorist
Rob Leigh, Letterer
Cover by Dave Gibbons
Colored by Moose Baumann
Nachie Castro, Assoc. Editor
Matt Idelson, Editor
Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

Our cover is another fun newspaper/tabloid front page. It's a decent enough image, and the text recapping the story is fairly innovative. But I think too much about these things, and I can't help but wonder who took that photo. This image comes from Superman's breakout mission on the Auctioneer's spaceship, and I don't think there were any newspaper reporters up there. But I'm probably the only one who cares about that.

Our story picks up with Superman and a scrappy band of C-list heroes and villains working to escape that spaceship. While they're hard at work, the Auctioneer has been busy capturing even more superheroes across the planet, including the Teen Titans and our own Bart Allen. Eventually, Superman is able to free these other heroes, and they work together to cause as much damage possible to get the Auctioneer's attention.

(Trust me, the Flash is there. He's just reeeaaaalllyyyy tiny.) Their efforts are rewarded, and Superman is able to bargain with the Auctioneer face-to-face. Superman threatens to release all the alien's data across the universe if he doesn't return all the people to Earth and restore the landmarks he took. The Auctioneer agrees, and the day is saved.




That was a nice, quick story that really shouldn't have involved the Flash at all. I think the creators here just jumped the gun a little bit with Bart's inclusion. Based on the rate he's going in his own series, I can't see Bart being willing to help out at all during a planet-wide alien invasion. He'd say Jay can handle it, then he'd go to a bar with Griffin. Man, I'm feeling bitter today. Let's check out the new ads:

Let play out. Let adventure in. Verb.

The Dark Knight like you've never seen him before! Lego Batman.

Small snacks. Powerful flavor. Superman fruit snacks.

Like wow there's so much new stuff my eyes are popping out of my head! Kids' WB! announcing a lineup of mostly failed shows: Monster Allergy, Legion of Super Heroes, Loonatics Unleashed, Tom and Jerry Tales, The Batman, and Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!

Superman/Batman. Monthly.

One element mastered. New challenges await! Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 on DVD.

Six Flags Fright Fest. Find your scream.

Infinite Crisis being released on hardcover.

Heaven hath no fury like the Spectre! Tales of the Unexpected.

In the DC Nation page, Dan DiDio continues his tour of the editorial offices. He says that current Flash editor Joan Hilty is currently working on a "special project" for Vertigo.

Next time, we tackle the comics with a December 2006 publication date, beginning with a quick flashback of Kid Flash in Teen Titans #40.