One of the most iconic interpretations of Superman is the 1978 live action film, starring the late Christopher Reeve as the Metropolis Marvel. The film was written by Mario Puzo (same man who wrote the 1969 novel The Godfather, which would be adapted into a trilogy of films), and directed by the late Richard Donner. Using the motto "versimilitude", Donner helped craft a Superman that was not only beloved, but also plausible. The film would go on to be critically acclaimed and a box office smash. It would presage the massive popularity of superhero movies, including the MCU.
In the 1990s, a young man named Geoff Johns was one of Donner's assistants. John would go on to be a powerhouse writer for DC Comics, writing characters like Flash and Green Lantern, as well as the Justice Society. Appropriately enough, Johns would also get to chronicle the adventures of Superman in 2006. In 2006, Johns would write a run of Action Comics alongside artist Adam Kubert...and co-writer Richard Donner. Yup, Donner and Johns collaborated on the comic that introduced the Man of Steel to the world. So, did their run start strong? Let's find out by looking at Action Comics #844!
The cover is an Adam Kubert piece and...I admit, I'm not exactly fond of it. It depicts a frowning Superman in a sepia wash, and it feels...rather flat to me.
"Last Son, Part 1"
Writers: Geoff Johns, Richard Donner
Penciler: Adam Kubert
Inker: Adam Kubert
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editors: Nachie Castro, Matt Idelson
Executive Editor: Dan DiDio
The story begins at Superman's Fortress of Solitude. The Man of Steel places a crystal into a console so he can talk to his father Jor-El...well, a simulation of the man.
Well, the nods to Donner's Superman films are already there. The two discuss Superman living among humans briefly. We then shift scenes to the Daily Planet. Perry White is none too happy with Jimmy Olsen's photography work in covering a battle between the Man of Tomorrow and Gorilla Grodd, one of the Flash's regular villains. Clark Kent (he was in the issue standing up for Jimmy), picks up the sounds of someone reacting to something in the sky. Subtly using his telescopic vision, he sees what looks like a UFO coming down.
Superman flies out to investigate the UFO. The Metropolis Marvel is able to stop the UFO. And he finds something surprising in it...a young boy. Later on, we look in on a Metropolis headquarters of the Department of Metahuman Affairs. Superman discusses the boy with its head, Sarge Steel. They're unsure where the kid is from, until he shows some incredible strength.
Not just that, he's speaking Kryptonese. And he's hungry.
The boy and Superman talk over a sandwich, thanks to Superman knowing his mother tongue. The DMA assure the Man of Steel that he'll be safe overnight, and Superman promises the boy he'll be there in the morning when he wakes up.
That night, Clark pays a visit to his beloved wife Lois Lane, with a gift of Chinese food. She was working on an article about the crash. The two talk, Superman noting the parallels of his and the boy's arrival on Earth. It leads Clark himself to wonder...would that have been him? If he had landed in a major city instead of the Kent farm? Superman knows he's from Krypton. He demonstrated super strength. He spoke the language. And it's not implausible that he's from there. After all, Supergirl also is around. They discuss taking the boy in, but Lois shuts it down because of their jobs.
The next day, Superman goes over to visit the boy. He flies over to the lab where he is kept, only to find the place is completely empty. And that makes Superman...upset. Over in Washington, DC, Sarge Steel is presiding over a meeting at the DMA headquarters (implied to be at the Pentagon). They theorize that the ship appeared out of hyperspace, as its predicted flight trajectory would have caused to blast through the Moon. Sarge is told he has a visitor, and he insists on...talking to him.
The thing Superman easily bends the muzzles of the guards' assault rifles, making them useless. He then grabs Sarge Steel and smashes him against the wall. Not enough to hurt Sarge, of course. Much. Yeah, Superman is one of the nicest people in the entire DCU, but it's not wise to make him mad.
Superman demands to know where the boy is. Sarge explains their tests confirmed he was Kryptonian, so he was moved somewhere more secure...and Sarge thought Superman knew about it.
We get a brief segue to Lex Luthor in his lab, reading the article Lois Lane wrote about the boy landing. Luthor sees an opportunity here...
In an unknown location, a convoy is transporting the boy. A small metal ball rolls up to it, releasing smoke. One of the truck's doors is blown and kicked open, and the boy is taken. The next day at the Kent Farm, Jonathan and Martha Kent get a visitor.
Yup. It's our man Clark. He wants to know how the Kents got away with passing him off as their son...because he wants to do the same for the kid here.
I enjoyed this comic. I had to admit, back when I first had heard that Donner was going to be involved in writing Superman, I remember being curious. I also remember that there was quite a bit of hype for this. Sadly, I never got to read it in floppy form. But I found the trade in a Barnes and Noble, so I had to have it. I think Donner and Johns made a very strong start to the "Last Son" storyline. The future Chris Kent's arrival parallels Superman's, and it allowed the exploration of the idea of what happened if he landed in a city instead of the Kent farm. If it happened to Clark, he likely would have ended up a test subject as well.
I also liked the scenes with Lois and Clark discussing the boy and the little aside with Luthor. You bet Lex would see the arrival of another Kryptonian as something not only to be concerned about, but as something he can use against Superman. Say what you will about Geoff Johns, but as this and his writing of Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes showed, he gets Superman in my opinion.
Adam Kubert turns in some good artwork, but I admit, I was thrown off by the layouts. Some pages of this comic have panels arranged in a way that required one to read across two pages. It can mess with you a bit. His art is also a bit scratchy in some ways. Still, it does the job.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2013 trade paperback Superman: Last Son of Krypton. It's an underrated story. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get vaccinated! See you next time!
