One of the comics that started everything, Action Comics, is looking to cerebrate it’s 100th issue in style.
The comic book, launched in June 1938, featured one of the most iconic comic creations in history: Superman, as a side story. Other characters that we know today; including Lois Lane, Zatara, (Lex) Luthor, Toyman, Brainiac and more came from the pages of the same comic book series. From there Action Comics has gone on to become a Superman-centric comic book, a sort of side companion piece to the regular Superman series. Today, a copy of Action Comics Issue 1 is worth somewhere in the realm of $100,000 for a scrappy copy, to a record $3.21 million for the best known copy in existance: A CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) graded and slabbed (locked in an air-tight hard plastic case) 9.0 copy. Reprinted copies of this book go anywhere from $20 (A 2017 Lootcrate reprint.) to $1,000 (1976 Safeguard promo reprint, graded 9.6).
Fast forward to issue 1000, releasing in April 2018, and DC Comics is looking to pull out all the stops for the upcoming milestone.
The first thing to happen with this issue is that we are going to see the return of the traditional Superman costume. Since the Superman Reborn storyline, we have had a more modern looking functional Superman costume. While this costume looks really close to the traditional costume we all know, it wasn’t the same. So with Action Comics #1000, we are going to see a return to the traditional costume, red underpants on the outside and all.
Longtime Marvel Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis‘s first published work under his long-term DC-exclusive contract will be a backup story in Action Comics #1000, featuring art by DC co-publisher Jim Lee. The issue, which represents the first time a major American superhero comic has reached the 1,000-issue milestone, will be an over-sized extravaganza with a main feature by writer Dan Jurgens, who took over Action Comics with #957 at the start of the Rebirth initiative in 2016; and another by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, who took over Superman at that same time. The rest of the book is a star-studded tribute to eighty years of Superman storytelling. Action Comics #1000 will also feature a story by DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns and Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner.
Finally, there will be 10 variant covers done by many artists over at DC Comics, celebrating the different Superman eras from the 1930s through to the 2000s, and a blank variant cover for you to give to your favorite artist to draw their version of Superman on.
Besides Action Comics #1000, DC will release a hardcover collection, Action Comics #1000: 80 Years of Superman, which will retail at $29.99 and feature over 300 pages, with a blend of new and reprinted content. The new hardcover book that specifically commemorates and celebrates the comic that started it all, Action Comics #1. The comic is the start of decades of amazing stories starring the super-powered Kryptonian, and this new volume will feature a dive into iconic characters and locations like Supergirl, Brainiac, the Fortress of Solitude, and much more. Fans will also have the chance to revisit classic Superman stories from a number of talented creators, coupled with a historical essay by guest editor Paul Levitz.
The Action Comics hardcover will feature two fantastic bonuses for fans, including a poster that includes all 1000 Action Comics covers. The second bonus might be even better though, an unpublished Superman story from the 1940’s that is believed to be from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The story was recovered from the DC files, and this is the first time it has seen the light of day.
Here is the official previews write up of the issue:
ACTION COMICS #1000
Cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Stories and art by an all-star lineup of top talent
Retailers: This issue will ship with ten covers. Please see the order form for details.
Celebrate 1000 issues of Action Comics with an all-star lineup of top talent as they pay tribute to the comic that started it all! From today’s explosive action to a previously unpublished tale illustrated by the legendary Curt Swan to the Man of Tomorrow’s future—this very special, oversized issue presents the best of the best in Superman stories!In 1938, two kids from Cleveland, Ohio – Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel – created a character they thought would represent the best of humanity in a troubled time with few beacons of hope for the future. That character went on to become one of the brightest and most well-known creations in all of pop culture: Superman. And it all began in ACTION COMICS. DC is proud to celebrate the 1000th edition of this seminal title that created the entire superhero genre – bringing joy, hope, and inspiration to Superman fans around the world for 80 years.
FEATURING ALL-NEW ART AND STORIES BY:
BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, JOHN CASSADAY, OLIVIER COIPEL, PAUL DINI, JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ, PATRICK GLEASON, BUTCH GUICE, GEOFF JOHNS, DAN JURGENS, TOM KING, JIM LEE, CLAY MANN, BRAD MELTZER, JERRY ORDWAY, TIM SALE, LOUISE SIMONSON, SCOTT SNYDER, CURT SWAN, PETER J. TOMASI, MARV WOLFMAN …AND MORE!DECADES-SPANNING OPEN-TO-ORDER VARIANT COVERS BY:
STEVE RUDE (1930s), MICHAEL CHO (1940s), DAVE GIBBONS (1950s), MICHAEL ALLRED (1960s), JIM STERANKO (1970s), JOSHUA MIDDLETON (1980s), DAN JURGENS (1990s), LEE BERMEJO (2000s) …PLUS A BLANK VARIANT COVER!PRESTIGE FORMAT • NO ADS • On sale APRIL 18 • 80 pg, FC, $7.99 US • RATED T
