Action Comics #1
Written by Linkara Monday, 01 November 2010 21:29
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Comments (215)
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11.01.2010 - 21:44 | KingGramJohnson
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11.02.2010 - 05:06 | RiddlemasterYeah, he was a lot different back then. He was a dick! Much different then the boyscout he is today.
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11.01.2010 - 21:34 | crystalking18
Now THIS should be interesting!
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11.02.2010 - 15:21 | axlryder
OHHH YEAAAAH!
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11.01.2010 - 21:37 | Fanofyou
WOW! Superman was a real isolationist jerk!
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11.01.2010 - 21:42 | oshunanat
Love the idea for the theme!
And seriously, knowing the context for some of these characters really sheds a whole new light on them, doesn't it?
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11.02.2010 - 14:55 | hannibalbrown
Please do a Captain Marvel Origins SHAZAM!!!
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11.01.2010 - 21:46 | FullmetalNinja25
Even in his first issue Superman acts like a dick.
Great review Lewis! Love the return of the "I AM A MAN!" punch. :D
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11.01.2010 - 21:59 | ThatDudeInTheUshanka
If you read them Golden Age comics are at best closer to the bronze age in terms of mood at worst you have detective comics #1 where batman murdered atleast one man a line bruce (pretty sure AzBats did) never crossed even at the height of the dark age.
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11.02.2010 - 05:13 | AlucardsQuest
Batman didn't appear until Detective Comics #27. And canon or not, it's part of Batman's history that he killed criminals without remorse.
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11.02.2010 - 21:13 | BluesThat's not true. Batman felt remorse and hardly ever killed. When he did, it was usually monsters, like mutated brainless creatures and Vampires.
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11.01.2010 - 22:00 | Kimarous
I half-expected a Majora's Mask reference with the whole clock thing. Y'know... "Night of the Last Day: Six Hours Remaining" or however it goes. Video timing joke was still funny, though.
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11.01.2010 - 22:10 | KingGramJohnsonI half expected a "24" reference with the clock. That would have been awesome too!
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11.01.2010 - 22:00 | ThatDudeInTheUshankaHey Linkara this isnt related but have you read the fallout comic that they released and if so how is it?
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11.01.2010 - 22:22 | Kinsore
yeah Superman was a jerk in the old days... here's proof.
http://superdickery.com/ index.php? option=com_content& view=category& layout=blog&id=28& Itemid=45
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11.01.2010 - 22:52 | Jackass Mask
I guess we should all fear that one day we will be walking down the street, or sitting at home, and we will hear a sudden shout of a man proclaiming his gender. Then, a hand will reach through the very fabric of reality to pull us to a place unknown filled with evil cyborgs, multi-dimensional villains and, worst of all, really bad comics!
As for Superman, it's really interesting to look back on the very beginnings of such an iconic figure. It seems silly now when we see the Superman of today compared with his earliest version, especially the leaping. It just goes to show that, given enough time, even something a little silly can become truly great.
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11.02.2010 - 19:11 | CrazyEyes
Dreading? Are you kidding? That would be AWESOME! :D
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11.03.2010 - 18:51 | aunt_zeldaSeconded!
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11.01.2010 - 22:55 | SpeedyEric
I love that intro for Secret Origins Month. It was 1,938 different flavors of EPIC.
4:22- Action Comics #1 IS reprinted, and I found this out while scimming through a copy of The Superman Chronicles Volume 1. It can be found at any comic shop of book store near you.
7:52- Yeah, I find that weird, too.
10:12- WOW, there really IS 9 minutes left of this episode. Great editing, Lewis. ;)
12:10- XD Great one, guys.
I can't tell you guys how much I was laughing during the Superman hopping joke.
ALso, Zatara is the father of Zatanna.
19:19- You two make a great couple. Seeya next week.
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01.16.2011 - 03:16 | snakes34254:22: Action Comics #1 was a serial comic, the only part of the comic that has been reprinted is the Superman Story, the other stories haven't so the reprints are incomplete
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11.01.2010 - 23:02 | Crossover Princess
My best friend saw this episode before me... which is weird because because I'm the one that introduced him to Atop the 4th Wall...
But I have to say, the bit with Pulling in Iron Liz was great I don't know why but I love the joke "Where was I?" or "Where did you you come from", "I don't know..." that was really funny.
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11.02.2010 - 11:28 | SpeedyEricI'm guessing your friend first saw this episode on Blip, because they are put on there before the AT4W site and TGWTG.
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11.01.2010 - 23:09 | August M.
Amazing how Superman started out. Great review.
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11.01.2010 - 23:47 | Rurik
Aww, I was hoping you two were going to kiss.
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11.02.2010 - 23:45 | saint23thomas
I was kind of expecting that myself, but the extended scene at the end sort of explains, in a pretty funny way, why that didn't happen.
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11.02.2010 - 00:01 | Jezzy54
It's a little weird looking back at Superman's first appearance knowing Golden Age Superman would later be killed by a psychotic parallel version of himself and resurrected as a Black Lantern.
By the way Linkara, they actually do have reprints of the really early comics in paperback. I think it's called Superman Chronicles, and they also have ones about Batman, Hal Jordan and probably Wonder Woman.
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11.03.2010 - 17:07 | ZeldaTheSwordsmanHe wasn't asking if there was a reprint. He was asking, "Didn't the person who scanned this have ACCESS to a reprint for the cover?"
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I'm really looking forward for the rest of secret origins month, and I'm hoping for maybe some more backstory for the Linkara character. We did just get the secret origin of the magic gun, after all.
Yeah, this comic was helleva different to the Superman we're used to, and compared to today's Superman this one's pretty lame and, yes, a bit of a dick. Still, he must have been awesome to the comics readers in 1938, what with singlehandedly launching a genre and sparking a cultural phenomenon. All in a day's work for The Man Of Steel, I guess.
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11.02.2010 - 00:24 | Robert the Kid
a great pick as always.
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11.02.2010 - 00:35 | Dansdaughter
I'm not much of a superman fan dunno why maybe it's the games I've played that traumatized me but it was nice to see his original origin
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Wonderful thing to watch once my morning freed up on my birthday. You do a heckuva job keeping me laughing and entertained.
Also, anyone else notice that in the comic, the scene from the cover is missing the third guy, the one in green?
Also, to answer the question that you asked not to answer: LOLBDSM.
That's all, Highlord Fox out.
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11.02.2010 - 00:48 | TragicGuineaPig
He's on the side of Law & Order?
Quick! Get me Detective Briscoe!
Actually, the Tigress looks more like a bumblebee.
http://i34.tinypic.com/ jhyji8.jpg
And where did Liz come from? From you punching the walls of reality, of course!
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11.02.2010 - 00:45 | SeraphemWOW, This month is going to be great. can't wait to see who else you do.
Also, love the new opening.
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11.02.2010 - 01:08 | DMasterIt's on his blog if you're really curious.
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Wow. The first Golden Age comic. That's awesome. How I've missed the "I am a MAN!"
Loved the Kool-Aid joke at the end. *Busts through a steel door* OH YEAH!
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11.02.2010 - 00:59 | DanManAh, Superman...
Reminds me of the SUPERMAN IV Movie review you did with NC
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Man, every time I hear that song, I think of "John Williams Is the Man."
Other than that, I actually read that one online. I forgot the link, so I can't provide it. you can however google it. BTW, you guys do make a nice couple, unless she's your sister, then forget I said anything. Also, did anyone else notice that the Superman story was used in other versions of Superman?
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I really like when you do tis kind of reviews, its so much fun to watch, and educational! (I refuse to use the word funucational though) XD
I'm very exited about this month, what will the next be?
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11.02.2010 - 01:22 | DrZock
I was kinda surprised you didn't make a "Soultaker" reference with the clock thing, Linkara. One quote in particular stands out to me as being just perfect:
"Stop showin' the clock already! Ya spent that nickel."
As for Secret Origins month, I'm quite excited by the idea. I just love learning this kind of stuff. I can't wait to see how you riff off of Batman's first appearance (provided you make a video for his debut) wherein he SHOOTS AND KILLS a gangster named "Monk". That oughta be good.
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11.02.2010 - 01:31 | BookwormNerd
Kind of lame, but I had a laugh when I saw the Physics of Superheroes book. XD I've got that book sitting around my house too... Somewhere.
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11.02.2010 - 01:43 | DragonsDusk
That was fun, wonder who else we'll get this month.
So when dude Sups make the transition to flying versus the jumping?
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It's actually quite surprising how decent and appropriate this first issue is, considering how incredibly long ago it was made. Like you mentioned, Linkara, there are aspects of the story that are established very early, such as Superman/Lois and the Mild-Mannered stuff. It's kind of strange that the comic is very proud and conceited about itself near the end, calling Superman the "most sensational strip character of all time," considering it's the very first strip ever, but somehow, this boisterous boast is arguably accurate. Most comic books start out pretty lame, but Superman was startlingly trailblazing. It serves as a great base for the 70+ years that the character has gone through, and shows why, with a bit of evolution, Superman is so revered. It was very interesting to see something so old hold up to modern standards so well, especially since Superman might be considered the earliest suited superhero to ever exist. When you look at Batman, he has developed far, FAR beyond his early beginnings, but I love how Superman has stayed true to his original 1930's story (minus flying), and he is still one of the most beloved superheroes ever. I'm not the biggest Superman fan--I'm more of a Marvel guy myself--but this was great hindsight into the origins of Superman. Keep up the good work! :)
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11.03.2010 - 07:55 | Clytemnestra
I agree with Jekefka. I know that this was all in good fun with making fun of some of the bizarre Golden Age aspects of this story, but what I mostly took away from this story was how much it stands up still today. It's really fun writing and not nearly as clownish a plot as we sometimes do see!
Plus, the tagline at the end was right. Superman did take over the world in his own way!
Thanks for bringing us this comic, Linkara.
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11.02.2010 - 01:53 | Zekermeme
Oh, I hope we get to see Amazing Fantasy #15...
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11.02.2010 - 01:56 | DarthThought
Wow....and i thought Silver Age was weird
Little known fact linkara can pull cute girls from other dimensions with his "I am a Man" punch so hold on to your girlfriends(i jest i jest, though seriously when you did that i thought to myself "KISS HER YOU MORON")
I'm sorry one thing bothered me throughout the review, why the heck is the S a different color?! am i the only one seeing that, or is it even an S
I've got to go to your site again and see what you're doing for the rest of the month, looking forward to it!
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11.02.2010 - 12:03 | Divide By Zero
That bit with Liz was just adorable.
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11.02.2010 - 21:48 | groupthinker1984That would not be the last instance of difficulty with Superman's color scheme or design. I've even seen early merchandise for the man that featured a mostly yellow costume and a blue cape (and no thats not a Sentry joke, they actually make a Superman toy that looked like this.)
And of course, if you look at some of the early promotional art, Superman's chest shield looks a lot more stylized like a family crest (ironic considering the eventual decision to make his chest icon his family crest after it had been standardized to what we are familiar with.)
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It's amazing to see (for me, it's the first time) the differences between the 1938 Superman and the one we know in modern times. Thank you, Linkara for this eyeopening journey to Superman's original origin!