Mild Mannered Reviews - Action Comics
Action Comics #1062
Scheduled to arrive in stores: February 13, 2024Cover date: April 2024
"I, Bizarro" - Part Two: "Live Bizarro or Die"
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: John Timms
Cover: John Timms
Variant Covers: Jorge Jimenez, Ricardo Federici, Babbs Tarr, Paolo Rivera
Reviewed by: Marc Lax
Click to enlarge
Metropolis is in chaos after Bizarro magically turned everyone in the city into Bizarro-like beings. Bizarro Lois and Bizarro Superman have a rendezvous on top of the Daily Planet building. Lois wants to get a "divorce" all over again but Superman suddenly snaps out of the Bizarro conversion. Superman tries to help but it becomes overwhelming and he has to fight hard not to revert back to Bizarro. If that's not enough, Bizarro is talking to Superman inside his head. Days pass and Metropolis is a mess. Batman is helping stem the tide along with Blue Devil and Constantine. We then flashback to a few weeks earlier when the citizens of Metropolis are seen laughing at Bizarro as if he's a joke villain, not taking him seriously. Turning them all into Bizarros was his revenge. Back in the present Superman converts back into Bizarro blowing away (killing?) some of the people of Metropolis with his heat vision. Superman reverts back to his self, trying to plead with Bizarro to stop all the chaos, but to no avail. Superman only has one choice. To deal with a maniac he needs help from a maniac. Enter a converted Joker!
Story - 3: I'd like to rank this a little higher but I had a few problems. With Metropolis in total chaos how could there not have been more casualties? Yes, Superman is working very hard to stop the fighting but even he can't be in two places at the same time. At least not in this story. At the beginning of the issue, after he reverts back, he seems to save all of those people (with no thanks to them) at the last possible second. Again, he is Superman, but that guy who jumped off the bridge should have been deep in the ocean by then. This may sound like nitpicking, but there are scenes throughout the book that just don't seem to make sense. Did Superman kill those people with heat vision after turning back to Bizarro? Sure looks like he did. I'm not getting into the whole Superman kills/Superman shouldn't kill debate but that was just out of nowhere and when he reverts back to Superman he's not fazed by it. I know he's trying to stop the madness and he's tired and desperate but there's nothing that tells us how he feels about that moment. He appeared to kill a dozen people. Aren't there some repercussions? We may find out more as the story continues but so far I'm not loving Aaron's take on Superman. The story is entertaining, and there may be a satisfying conclusion, but it just seems out of step for the Man of Steel. Not to mention the citizens of Metropolis. Standing there laughing at one of Superman's most dangerous foes like he's a clown in a circus? This is a great idea for a Bizarro story but so far it hasn't really delivered.
Art - 4: Timms' art has been the high point of the story so far. I enjoy his portrayal of Superman and the very chaotic look of "Bizarro" Metropolis. Looking forward to his next issue.Cover Art - 4: Just a portrait but still a great image of Bizarro.Black History Month Variant Cover Art - 4: Nice image of Natasha Irons. And her big hammer!Variant Cover Art - 4: Jorge Jimenez draws a wonderful image of a larger than life Superman contemplating the universe.Variant Cover Art - 3: Federici has an interesting take on Bizarro but not my cup of tea.Variant Cover Art - 3: Yet another unique take on Bizarro appropriately upside down.
Variant Cover Art - 5: Wonderful Silver Age drawing of Superman and company. Love it!Mild Mannered Reviews
2024
Note: Except for digital first releases, the month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.January 2024
- Action Comics #1059
- Superman #8
- Steelworks #6
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #21
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #1
- Superman: Lost #8
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #2 [of 7]
- Titans: Beast World #1
- Action Comics #1060
- Action Comics 2023 Annual #1
- Superman #9
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #22
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #2
- Superman: Lost #9
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #3 [of 7]
- Titans: Beast World Tour Metropolis #1
- Titans: Beast World #2
- DC's 'Twas The Mite Before Christmas #1
- Action Comics #1061
- Superman #10
- Kneel Before Zod #1
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #23
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest 2024 Annual #1
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #3
- Superman: Lost #10
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #4 [of 7]
- Titans: Beast World #3
- Titans: Beast World #4
- Titans: Beast World #5
- Titans: Beast World #6
- Action Comics #1062
- Superman #11
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #24
- Kneel Before Zod #2
- Sinister Sons #1
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #4
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #5 [of 7]
- Action Comics #1063
- Superman #12
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #25
- Kneel Before Zod #3
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #5
- Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #6 [of 7]
- APE-ril Special #1 [(One Shot)
- Action Comics #1064
- Superman #13
- Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1 (One Shot)
- Batman/Superman: World's Finest #26
- Kneel Before Zod #4
- Superman '78: The Metal Curtain #6
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