Action Comics #1

Backing up just a little bit more to the very beginning of the Golden Age. Before Batman lurched into the darkness, Superman lifted a car above his head. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the hero was based off mythical heroes and made to fight for justice and against tyranny. His first appearance would be in Action Comics #1 and would be the spark that launched the Golden Age of Comics.

After spending a page on Superman’s origins and his powers, the story immediately shows Superman in action. He busts into the governor’s mansion in order to bring news of the innocence of someone sentenced to death. Following, there’s a few more introductory stories of his exploits.

This might be one of the most iconic covers in comic book history, with Superman lifting a car above his head and smashing it. But that’s not the reason it’s a great cover. What it does in one image is show that Superman isn’t like anything comic book readers of the time have seen before. Previously, they’d only seen either one panel joke covers or an entire strip on the cover.

There isn’t really much characterization though, but it does do well in juxtaposing the spineless cowardice of Clark Kent and the bravado and boldness of his alter ego. Other than that, there’s not much to Lois or the editor in chief of the Daily Star (precursor to the Planet).

As for the story, there’s multiple and the final one is a “to be continued one.” But where it falls short in length, it makes up for it in that the amount given shows that Superman really is in a never ending quest to bring criminals to justice.

Action Comics #1 – 3/5