The Difference Between Action Comics & Superman in Dawn Of DC

Phillip Okay Johnson has been speaking to Gregg Katzman of CBR in regards to the upcoming Dawn Of DC publishing initiative at DC Comics, amongst many different DC Comics creators. He is writing Action Comics, however how does that differ from the opposite Clark Kent Superman month-to-month ebook from Josh Williamson and Jamal Campbell? Phillip Okay Johnson states, “Now that the other Superman title is back with Josh and Jamal, Action Comics is about keeping the focus on Metropolis, the super-family, and trying to apply a lot of world-building — the kind of world-building that people responded to so well on The Last God at Black Label and also in the “Warworld Saga.” People really seem to like when the world gets bigger and older, but also newer, and when you see these corners of the DC Universe get fleshed out and blown out into this much richer thing. I mean, it’s still, first and foremost, a Superman book, of course, but I’m also trying to develop the house of El a little more. We’re trying to develop Metropolis a little more. I’ve always wanted this way before I got this gig back when I was just a kid. I’ve always wanted Metropolis to be as distinct in an instant, just from a glance, as Gotham was. Metropolis is supposed to be the city of tomorrow. There have been different takes on that over the years. Right now, we’re bringing in technology from Krypton, from the Fortress, from Warworld,  from the United Planets. We’re going to show the world what’s possible in one city when we all work together with a common goal.”

“Action Comics is about world-building, taking the traditional Superman cast of characters and his rogues’ gallery and making each one deeper and more interesting and complex. Like Metallo — he’s just an image, right? He’s this guy who looks a certain way, and that’s what we know about him. We’re blowin’ him way out and giving them a real depth and history and making him more complex in a way that I think serves the readers very well. That gives Josh and Jamal the space they need to make a proper Superman book.”

“In this other book, we see his whole world get bigger around him. That’s what I want to accomplish in Action. Tying it together with those other books is so rewarding, man. It’s so cool to see the Lexcorp tower with the new design. If there’s any change in one book, we see that change applied in the other book, too. And there’d be a little throwaway comment that pays off something that happened in the other book. As a reader, as a little nerd, I’m reading it like, “Oh, I do know what he is speaking about. That’s so cool!” It’s just so fun to tie all the books together. I’m having an amazing time. If I had to sum it up in one word, I would say world-building.”

While for the Superman ebook, Josh Williamson states “I made Superman as accessible as I could. I tried to make it that if you haven’t read Superman in the last five to ten years, you could pick it up, but if you have been reading it for the last five to 10 years, it’s still acknowledged, it’s still tied in. We had stuff in the first issue that immediately connected to stuff that Philip was doing an Action and that Tom Taylor was doing in Superman, but we tried to engineer and so that was very much for that type of reader. I tried to make it as accessible as possible”

And Chip Zdarsky sees that ebook because the  “perfect answer to your question of how do we appeal to fans who have been around for 50 years, fans were coming in for the first time to the shop to see like, a jumping on point for the entire comic community, Dawn DC. We’re lucky that in DC those two fans want the same things. The classic versions of these characters are incredibly appealing to new fans. Joshua’s book is a great example. If you’re a brand-new fan, and you want to read Superman, you should see a Superman that has Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor,  see that dynamic. You want to see the romance, big twists, big evil — but if you’ve been a fan for 50 years, that’s also what you want.”

Superman. This Is What You Want. This Is What You Get. Here are the 2 orbiting Superman comedian books for the following few months.

SUPERMAN #2 CVR A JAMAL CAMPBELL
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Jamal Campbell
NIGHT OF THE PARASITE! Superman is overwhelmed as Parasite’s new powers are unleashed! Can Superman cease all of Metropolis from being consumed by the power-hungry Parasite or will he want Lex Luthor’s assist to avoid wasting the day? Introducing a brand new antihero—Marilyn Moonlight, the Spirit of Metropolis—who solely operates at evening! Is she buddy or foe to the Man of Steel?! And how does she hook up with Metropolis’s secret previous?
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 3/21/2023

ACTION COMICS #1053 CVR A STEVE BEACH
(W) Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, Leah Williams (A) Rafael Sandoval, Lee Weeks, Marguerite Sauvage (CA) Steve Beach
“No livin’ thing’s supposed to have power like this. No matter how blue your eyes are or how pretty your face is, you’re just as much a monster as me.” War rages on between Metropolis’s two males of metal, Superman and Metallo! As Metallo’s new physique continues to evolve in sudden and nightmarish methods, the voice of his “operating system” has been altering too, testing the bounds of his sanity. Finally, when his alien tech takes on a lifetime of its personal and infects probably the most violent members of the Blue Earth motion, the resultant abominations goal Superman’s biggest power and biggest weak point: his household! Introducing the primary look of the Necrohive! Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 3/28/2023

SUPERMAN #3 CVR A JAMAL CAMPBELL
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Jamal Campbell
SUPERMAN’S LOVED ONES ARE TRANSFORMED INTO RAVENOUS PARASITES! If Superman needs to search out Parasite-Zero earlier than its affect spreads to the entire world, he should take Lex up on his provide to work collectively! Even if it means utilizing one other of Superman’s enemies as bait!
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 4/18/2023

ACTION COMICS #1054 CVR A STEVE BEACH
(W) Various (A) Various (CA) Steve Beach
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, and Dorado Quick Art by Rafa Sandoval, Dan Jurgens, and Yasmin Flores Montanez As Superman and Natasha Irons race to avoid wasting Steel from the newly remodeled Metallo, the Super-Twins are misplaced–and alone–in opposition to the nightmarish risk of the Necrohive! How will Lois and the House of El discover them? Plus, study the surprising identification of the mysterious ghost in the machine behind Metallo’s transformation as he and Superman face one another in an epic rematch for the ages! Plus: A brand new period for John Henry Irons begins in Steel Forged half 1! And Dan Jurgens explores the not-too-distant-past world of Lois and Clark 2 in a daring new interlude!
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 4/25/2023

SUPERMAN #4 CVR A JAMAL CAMPBELL
(W) Joshua Williamson (A/CA) Jamal Campbell
INTRODUCING THE KRYPTONITE KLAW! Superman is weak to Kryptonite, however what occurs when different harmful superhumans are uncovered to it? If Superman needs to cease Metropolis’s latest enemies, he should uncover Lex Luthor’s secret previous!
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 5/16/2023

ACTION COMICS #1055 CVR A SEBASTIAN FIUMARA
(W) Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Dan Jurgens, Dorado Quick(A) Rafa Sandoval, Lee Weeks, and Yasmin Flores Montanez(CA) Sebastian Fiumara
Superman’s true enemy has been revealed: the Cyborg Superman, Hank Henshaw! Everything the Super-Family has constructed stands on a knife’s edge, and Superman and Metallo develop into the unlikeliest of allies as they hunt for Metallo’s lacking sister. Can they forestall the inevitable devolution of Metallo’s thoughts and physique lengthy sufficient to avoid wasting his sister from Henshaw’s monstrous plans?
Retail: $4.99 In-Store Date: 5/23/2023