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2015 Comic Book News Archives

June 17, 2015: Special Edition NYC - Greg Pak "Action Comics" Video Interview

Action Comics #41 By T.A. Ewart (aka liheibao)

Special Edition was designed to be a con that featured, of all things, comic books, instead of the grand parade that most comic cons have become. This year, that's a good thing, as with the changes happening to Superman, having a sense of what dealers think of the freshly minted, Truth, storyline is something to note, as dealers represent the link between comic book readers and comic book publishers. Some of the bigger comic book shops from the area represented, like Midtown Comics, John Hanley's Universe, Robbie's Comics, and Saint Marks. What was of note was that none of the major or minor dealers had any spotlight for Superman. Truth is, despite any personal feelings about it, a story that is looking to do something big, something to move the needle with readers. To do that, the book needs to be pushed by dealers. That wasn't the case at Special Edition.

Action Comics #41 had been released, however, it wasn't on display as other "hot" books were. One dealer was selling a plethora of wanted comics: first appearances, first issues, and key storylines, all modern book as well. He had Action Comics #40. When I asked as to Action Comics #41, wondering if he didn't have any because it sold out or otherwise, he responded that it wasn't a book that made the cut. He noted that readers were stand-offish to the issue, questioning why Superman was in a different outfit in Action Comics, while still caped in Justice League. It's a bit of resistance that can be overcome, but enough initially that the book doesn't get the push for this dealer.

Another dealer commented that the New 52 had good ideas, and that he liked the idea of Lois Lane being a villain for Superman by revealing his secret identity. However, he felt not enough was being done to bring all readers to the table, and Truth wouldn't be the storyline to do so. The direction asks too much of readers who are already disaffected, and those are the ones who need to be brought back. When asked why creators have such a challenge with Superman, the dealer responded that if writers couldn't generate stories to tell about an alien with super-powers trying to fit in with the rest of us, they were in poor shape to start.

When I did find Action Comics #41, it was being sold by the author, Greg Pak. I bought a quartet, had them signed, and scheduled an interview, which can be viewed below, but first was the DC Comics panel, which was an unintentionally comic affair. It was a topless area, and DC competed with another panel in terms of being heard. At one point the presentation computer lost power, which was followed by a panel member being serenaded "Happy Birthday"... by the adjacent panel. Greg Pak spoke on his contribution to the Truth storyline. He stated that Superman, under Pak is on a journey and Truth is another part of it. However, Superman #41 hasn't been released, and as the story begins with the aforesaid, Pak's work is ahead of the charge, leaving him to explain without explaining.

Pak is working with lemons here, having read Action Comics #41 and Batman/Superman #21, and is shouldering the burden of a tale that stems from a book, that he isn't a creator on. The absence of Superman #41 is significant, as it sets-up the entire storyline, and is missing action three weeks after Action Comics #41. All that does is leave readers with lingering, nagging questions, for a story that already prompts enough, sight-unseen.


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