October
27 Action Comics #844

Creators: Geoff Johns and Richard Donner, writers; Adam Kubert, artist
DC Comics, color, 32 pages, $2.99
So? There's lots of familiar sfuff in this comic, which is nominally about a mysterious ship that lands and reveals a young boy who happens to be from Krypton, but its real appeal is in its ties to the much-loved 1978 film "Superman: The Movie." The connection is Richard Donner, who directed the first film and part of its sequel before he was fired from the project and  "Superman II" was finished by Richard Lester. In the intervening years, Donner's film has become a touchstone for fans of superheroes and their movies and it was the primary influence on Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns." Fans are getting a big dose of Donner's Man of Steel, with the director's cut of "Superman II" coming to DVD next month and this comic book project, which is the first new Superman story Donner has worked on in more than 25 years. And fans of Donner's film, the character of Superman and the comics of today will be very, very pleased with the result. The dialog in this issue replicates the snappy patter and chemistry that made the original film work. It does this so well, it's hard not to hear the voices of the original cast members speaking the lines as you read the book. But even more interesting is the portrayal of Superman himself, who is decisive, bold, compassionate and determined to do the right thing. That's the Superman fans saw and admired in Donner's film, but one who's been harder to find in the pages of the comic books through the years. It's an excellent reminder of what made the character so exciting and enduring in the first place. Kubert does an excellent job with the art, which is stylish and dynamic without sacrificing clarity or storytelling. There's a pair of two-page spreads and splash panels that are used particularly well, and the storytelling is balanced between large, open pages and pages that feature as many as 9 or 10 panels. The result is a very satisfying, entertaining and accessible read that's hard to put down and impossible to see as the sequel that never was. Grade: A