Action Comics #23

It's a fun issue with very few flaws. Keep on trucking DC, you're treating Superman well! Read Full Review

Despite its missteps and overall rushed attitude, Action Comics #23 is a solid issue. The artwork and the Knights alone are enough to make this comic a purchase at the end of the day. However, seeing the introduction of an old rogue revitalized in the back-end issue also adds to the comic in a very creative way. Read Full Review

That embodies the true core of Superman. Action #23 doesn't really break new ground in Superman's story or do anything too novel. It establishes a powerful threat that only Superman can stop and shows him stopping it while not cutting any corners along the way. There's no shortcuts. There's no cut-and-paste. Superman does things the right way and that's all there is to it. That's what makes Action #23 a satisfying Superman story. While less durable characters like Batman still has a place in modern mythology, there will always be room for living embodiments of an ideal like Superman. Read Full Review

Look, it is a silly two part story, done and I am sure quickly forgotten. I don't know if we will ever see the Pax Galactica again. And the action in the most part is over the top. Maybe I am looking for too much here. Maybe I should enjoy this for the cotton candy that it is. But some of the images seem and dialogue seem off. Read Full Review

This particular arc on "Action Comics" is not shaping up to be an especially memorable one. In defence of Scott Lobdell, however, he inherited a bad situation. For the next couple months he is essentially acting as DC's pitch hitter for Superman, and he gave them what they wanted: a not terrible Superman story. It's unfortunate that his way of doing that was by moving the setting to the present and linking it to the "Superman" title, instead of allowing "Action Comics" to have its own unique feel. Read Full Review

Superman is pompous and sarcastic, yet never endearing, while the space knights all talk like they are Americans pretending to have medieval accents at a Renaissance Fair. The narrative goes from one extreme to another: Superman throws the first punch, the aliens go from hating to loving Superman in the blink of an eye, and the villain -- who actually has a cool origin -- winds up being all smoke and no fire. Scott Lobdell also uses this issue to bring up Superman's weakness to magic, but he more just notates it instead of exploring it in any meaningful way. Read Full Review