DC publishes historic 900th issue of Action Comics!

As Writer Paul Cornell and artist Jesus Merino conclude their 'Black Ring' story arc, DC brings in Richard Donner, Gary Frank and Geoff Johns as Action Comics hits the 900 issue mark!

If you've never heard of Superman, you might have been in cryogenic sleep for the past several decades, or your name is Dr. Walter Bishop and you fell victim to your own experiments involving brain surgery. Anyway, the flying hero fighting evil mankind couldn't possibly face on it's own will have a small party this month celebrating it's landmark issue! DC Comics invites you to the party with a special 100 page celebration issue, due April 27th! (right, cover by David Finch).

He may have started out as a simple comic book character but has since grown into a pop culture icon. The 'S' logo on his chest has propably become one of the most prolific symbols of the last seventy years. But not everybody may be privy to the fact that he started out as a character in the first issue of Action Comics, in April 1938.

Action Comics became one of the longest running comic magazines in history, along with DC's other juggernaut 'Detective Comics' (starring Batman), who's currently running Scott Snyder's 'Hungry City' story arc in issue # 875.

Superman, named Kal-El (meaning 'star child'), the last survivor of his home planet Krypton, was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe shuster prior to WWII. Seeing his popularity in Action Comics, publisher National Periodical Publications (as DC was known back then) decided to give their hero his own self-titled monthly series a year later, in June 1939. Superman issue 710, featuring Michael Straczynski's 'Grounded' goes live this April 13.

The first issues of  'Action Comics' (left) and 'Superman' (right) went for $ 0,10 cents each at the time. Mint condition classics are rare these days, only a handfull remain. In 2010, an unknown A grade copy of the premier issue of 'Action Comics' was auctioned for a record $ 1.5 million dollars through ComicsConnect.  This one had layed unnoticed tucked inside an old movie magazine for 50 years. Creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had sold the rights to Superman for $ 130 dollars at the beginning of their careers.

New Superman movie.

Today, Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures announced that Michael Shannon will play Superman's enemy General Zod, in the new upcoming movie 'Superman: Man of Steel' directed by Zack Snyder ('Sucker Punch', 'Watchmen', '300') and produced by Christopher Nolan.

Henry Cavill ('The Tudors') will star as Clark Kent/Superman and Amy Adams will portray Lois Lane. Budget has been set at $175 million Dollars, a little under the 209 million for Bryan Singer's 'Superman Returns' (2006). Diane Laine and Kevin Coster co-star as Kent's parents.
Snyder has stated that anything Superman will do, will be visual effects enhanced CGI. The story will focus on Superman's early days, and will not be linked to previous movies.
General Zod first appeared in Action Comics # 283 (april 1961) and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp. Dru-Zod as he's actually named, was a general in charge of Krypton's military forces and attempted to take over the planet. Zod created an army of robotic duplicates but was sentenced to live in exile in the Phantom Zone.

Before 'Man of Steel' will hit the theatres in December 2012, Christopher Nolan's third and final Batman film will be released on July 20. Entitled 'The Dark Knight Rises' the movie will not feature unused footage of the late Heath Ledger (as rumored). Christian Bale will reprise his role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The Post Gazette confirmed last tuesday that TDKR will be shot this summer on location in Pittsburgh. Nolan's previous Batman film, 'The Dark Knight' (2008) currently holds 7th place in the top ten highest grossing movies to date, crossing the 1 Billion dollar mark.