From Evernote: |
Action Comics #18 Review |
It seems unlikely that Grant Morrison's final Action Comics arc will go down in history as one of the greats. I had a pretty positive impression of the series last month when I went back and restarted the arc. Returning this month to finish the adventure, I dealt with the same problems I've been facing since the beginning of the arc. Telling a story about the 5th dimension was guaranteed to be a tricky affair. It's also right up Morrison's alley, so it shouldn't be a surprise that we get to explore the idea in full detail. The problem, unfortunately, is that it's so confusing, it's not very interesting. When the story clicks, it's great. A good example is in the conclusion of the arc in which there is a finale to the 5th dimension fable started earlier in the series. It's wacky, but sensible within the context of the 5th dimension that had been established previously. Back on Earth, however, things are just a mess. We have heroes popping in and having confusing conversations on one page, jumping to another group of heroes on another page, and then back to Superman on yet another page. It's not until everything comes to a close that it gets enjoyable again.
In the end, this was probably just too ambitious a project. I'm 100% in support of trying new things and going places that have never been explored before. I'm not sure Morrison put as much time into the structure of the story as he wanted or what. In the end I didn't really enjoy the arc tremendously. I'm excited to move on to a new team though!
ROB'S TAKE- Robert is being kind. There is nothing redeemable about this arc, and I truly wish Morrison had just stepped away from a title he revitalized and let others move forward. I was excited when the 5th dimension storyline started, having hopes that Morrison would recapture a little of the 1950s Superman magic the way he had with the Batman titles from time to time.
In the end, I don't think Morrison was ever as interested or dedicated to Superman the way he was Batman. The result is that we get a Superman that comes off schizophrenic depending on what title you read. You are rarely convinced that the Kal-El in Superman is the same one you're seeing in Action Comics or even Justice League. Morrison was the flag bearer for the Batman books and other writers willing followed his lead. Not so for the Kryptonian. Hopefully, Morrison's exit from the series will usher in the new era of Superman that the New 52 promised.
ROB'S TAKE- Robert is being kind. There is nothing redeemable about this arc, and I truly wish Morrison had just stepped away from a title he revitalized and let others move forward. I was excited when the 5th dimension storyline started, having hopes that Morrison would recapture a little of the 1950s Superman magic the way he had with the Batman titles from time to time.
In the end, I don't think Morrison was ever as interested or dedicated to Superman the way he was Batman. The result is that we get a Superman that comes off schizophrenic depending on what title you read. You are rarely convinced that the Kal-El in Superman is the same one you're seeing in Action Comics or even Justice League. Morrison was the flag bearer for the Batman books and other writers willing followed his lead. Not so for the Kryptonian. Hopefully, Morrison's exit from the series will usher in the new era of Superman that the New 52 promised.
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