Editing Action Comics (section)

===The Modern Age===
Following the events of ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'', writer/artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] relaunched the Superman franchise in ''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]'' limited series in 1986.<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 221: "In the six-issue miniseries entitled [The] Man of Steel, the mammoth task of remaking Superman fell to popular writer/artist John Byrne...The result was an overwhelming success, popular with fans both old and new."</ref>  ''Action Comics'' became a [[team-up]] title with issue #584 (January 1987) featuring Superman and the [[Teen Titans|New Teen Titans]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= [[Dick Giordano|Giordano, Dick]]| story= Squatter| title= Action Comics| issue= 584| date= January 1987}}</ref> Other costars during this period included the [[Phantom Stranger]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= And the Graves Give up Their Dead ...| title= Action Comics| issue= 585| date= February 1987}}</ref> the [[New Gods]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= The Champion| title= Action Comics| issue= 586| date= March 1987}}</ref> the [[Etrigan the Demon|Demon]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Cityscape!| title= Action Comics| issue= 587| date= April 1987}}</ref> [[Hawkman]] and [[Hawkwoman]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= All Wars Must End Part Two| title= Action Comics| issue= 588 | date= May 1987}}</ref> the [[Green Lantern Corps]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Green on Green| title= Action Comics| issue= 589 | date= June 1987}}</ref> the [[Metal Men]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Better Dying Through Chemistry| title= Action Comics| issue= 590| date= July 1987}} and <br>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= [[Ross Andru|Andru, Ross]]| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Element 126| title= Action Comics| issue= 599| date= April 1988}}</ref> [[Superboy]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Past Imperfect| title= Action Comics| issue= 591 | date= August 1987}}</ref> [[Big Barda]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= ...A Walk on the Darkside| title= Action Comics| issue= 592| date= September 1987}}</ref> [[Mister Miracle]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= The Suicide Snare| title= Action Comics| issue= 593| date= October 1987}}</ref> [[Booster Gold]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= All that Glisters| title= Action Comics| issue= 594| date= November 1987}}</ref> the [[Martian Manhunter]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= The Ghost of Superman| title= Action Comics| issue= 595| date= December 1987}}</ref> the [[Spectre (comics)|Spectre]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= Byrne, John; Williams, Keith| story= Hell is Where the Heart Is...| title= Action Comics| issue= 596| date= January 1988}}</ref> Lois Lane and [[Lana Lang]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= [[Leonard Starr|Starr, Leonard]]; Williams, Keith| story= Visitor| title= Action Comics| issue= 597| date= February 1988}}</ref> [[Checkmate (comics)|Checkmate]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Paul Kupperberg|Kupperberg, Paul]]; Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John| inker= [[Ty Templeton|Templeton, Ty]]| story= Checkmate| title= Action Comics| issue= 598 | date= March 1988}}</ref> [[Wonder Woman]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= Byrne, John; [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]]| inker= Pérez, George| story= Different Worlds| title= Action Comics| issue= 600| date= May 1988}}</ref> and the [[Man-Bat]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= [[Mike Mignola|Mignola, Mike]]| inker= Mignola, Mike| story= The Dark Where Madness Lies| title= Action Comics| issue= 600| date= May 1988}}</ref>  The first ''Action Comics Annual'' was published in 1987 and featured Superman teaming with [[Batman]] in a story written by Byrne and drawn by [[Arthur Adams (comics)|Arthur Adams]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Byrne, John| penciller= [[Arthur Adams (comics)|Adams, Arthur]]| inker= Giordano, Dick| story= Skeeter| title= Action Comics Annual| issue= 1| date= 1987}}</ref> A [[DC Comics Bonus Book]] was included in issue #599 (April 1988).<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/44278/ ''Action Comics'' #599] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

From May 24, 1988&nbsp;– March 14, 1989,<ref name="GCD-Weekly">{{gcdb series|id= 3564|title= Action Comics Weekly}}</ref> the publication frequency was changed to weekly, the title changed to ''Action Comics Weekly'', and the series became an anthology.<ref name="Standard">{{Cite book|last1=Miller|first1= John Jackson|author-link1=John Jackson Miller|first2= Maggie|last2= Thompson|author-link2= Maggie Thompson|first3= Peter|last3= Bickford|first4= Brent|last4= Frankenhoff|author-link4=Brent Frankenhoff| contribution=Action Comics| title=The Comic Buyer's Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books | edition=Fourth | publisher=Krause Publications|date=September 2005|location= Iola, Wisconsin| isbn=978-0-87349-993-4|pages=35–44}}</ref> Prior to its launch, DC cancelled its ongoing ''[[Green Lantern (comic book)|Green Lantern Corps]]'' title and made [[Hal Jordan|Green Lantern]] and his adventures exclusive to ''Action Comics Weekly''.

The rest of these issues featured rotating serialized stories of other DC heroes, sometimes as try-outs that led to their own limited or ongoing series. Characters with featured stories in the run included the [[Black Canary]], [[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk]], [[Captain Marvel (DC Comics)|Captain Marvel]], [[Catwoman]], [[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]], [[Dick Grayson|Nightwing]], the [[Phantom Lady#Dee Tyler|Phantom Lady]], the [[Phantom Stranger]], the [[Secret Six (comics)|Secret Six]], [[Roy Harper (comics)|Speedy]], and [[Wild Dog (comics)|Wild Dog]]. Titles spun off from ''Action Comics'' at this time included a Catwoman miniseries and a Blackhawk ongoing, in both cases by the same creative teams that worked on the weekly serials.  During and after ''Action Comics Weekly'''s run, two ''Green Lantern Special''s were published in late 1988 and the second in spring 1989, the latter special wrapping up the storylines from the Green Lantern serials in ''Action Comics Weekly''. Each issue featured a two-page Superman serial, a feature that, according to an editorial in the first weekly issue, was intended as a homage to the Superman newspaper strips of the past.

The final issue of the weekly was originally intended to feature a book-length encounter between [[Clark Kent]] and [[Hal Jordan]] by writer [[Neil Gaiman]].<ref name=NG>{{Cite comic | Writer=Gaiman, Neil | date=November 2000 | story=Introduction | title=Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame}}</ref> While Gaiman's story primarily teamed up Green Lantern and Superman, it also featured other characters from ''Action Comics Weekly'', including the Blackhawks (in flashback), Deadman, and the Phantom Stranger. The story ran counter to DC editorial policy at the time as it portrayed Hal Jordan and Clark Kent as old friends who knew each other's secret identities. This was not considered canon in 1989 and Gaiman was unwilling to change this aspect of the story (as each serial in ''ACW'' was edited by different editors, continuity was not being maintained by DC editorial).<ref name=NG /> The story was pulled and a different story, written by [[Elliot S. Maggin]], was run. Gaiman's story was finally published as a one-shot in ''[[Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame]]'' in November 2000.

The ''Action Comics Weekly'' experiment lasted only until the beginning of March 1989 and after a short break, issue #643 (July 1989) brought the title back onto a monthly schedule.<ref name="Standard"/>  Writer/artist [[George Pérez]] took over the title<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[George Pérez|Pérez, George]]| penciller= Pérez, George| inker= [[Brett Breeding|Breeding, Brett]]
| story= Superman on Earth| title= Action Comics| issue= 643| date= July 1989}}</ref> and was joined by scripter [[Roger Stern]] the following month.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Roger Stern|Stern, Roger]] | penciller= Pérez, George| inker= Breeding, Brett| story= Doppelganger| title= Action Comics| issue= 644| date= August 1989}}</ref>

As writer of the series, Stern contributed to such storylines as "Panic in the Sky"<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 253: "In this seven-part adventure...writers Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Roger Stern, and Louise Simonson, with artists Brett Breeding, Tom Grummett, Jon Bogdanove, and Bob McLeod assembled many of DC's favorite characters to defend the world."</ref> and "[[The Death of Superman]]". He created the [[Eradicator (comics)|Eradicator]] in ''Action Comics Annual'' #2<ref name="dc-ency">{{Cite book| last = Wallace| first = Dan| contribution = Eradicator | editor-last = Dougall| editor-first = Alastair| title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia| page = 116| publisher = Dorling Kindersley|date= 2008|location= London, United Kingdom| isbn = 978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref><ref name="actionannual2">{{Cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger| penciller= [[Curt Swan|Swan, Curt]]| inker= Breeding, Brett| story= Memories of Krypton's Past| title= Action Comics Annual| issue= 2| date= [May] 1989| publisher= DC Comics}}</ref> and later incorporated the character into the "Reign of the Supermen" story arc beginning in ''The Adventures of Superman'' #500.<ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: " The issue also featured four teaser comics that introduced a group of contenders all vying for the Superman name...The Eradicator returned in a preview tale by writer Roger Stern and artist Jackson Guice."</ref> The Eradicator then took over ''Action Comics'' as "the Last Son of Krypton" in issue #687 (June 1993).<ref name="action687">{{Cite comic| writer = Stern, Roger| penciller= [[Jackson Guice|Guice, Jackson]]| inker= [[Denis Rodier|Rodier, Denis]]| story = Born Again| title = Action Comics| issue = 687| date = June 1993}}</ref>

Stern wrote the 1991 story wherein Clark Kent finally revealed his identity as Superman to [[Lois Lane]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Stern, Roger | penciller= [[Bob McLeod (comics)|McLeod, Bob]]| inker= McLeod, Bob| story= Secrets in the Night| title= Action Comics| volume= | issue= 662| date= February 1991| publisher= DC Comics| page= | panel= }}</ref><ref>Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 249: "With their nuptials looming, Clark thought it was time to reveal his dual identity to the love of his life, in this landmark issue by writer Roger Stern and artist Bob McLeod."</ref>

[[File:Action Comics 800.jpg|thumb|right|Cover of ''Action Comics'' #800 (April 2003), a modern take on the cover of ''Action Comics'' #1, art by [[Drew Struzan]]]]

Several major Superman storylines crossed over with ''Action Comics'' including "Emperor Joker" in 2000<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 296: "A nine-part saga that stretched over all the Superman titles."</ref> and "[[Our Worlds at War]]" in 2001.<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 300: "The multi-part story 'Our Worlds at War' dominated the Superman books for the August and September [2001] cover dates."</ref>  John Byrne returned to ''Action Comics'' for issues #827–835 working with writer [[Gail Simone]] in 2005–2006.

After the "[[One Year Later]]" company-wide storyline, ''Action Comics'' had a crossover arc with the ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' series, entitled "[[Superman: Up, Up and Away!|Up, Up and Away!]]" which told of Clark Kent attempting to protect Metropolis without his powers until eventually regaining them.

The "[[Last Son (comics)|Last Son]]" storyline was written by [[Geoff Johns]] and [[Richard Donner]], the director of the 1978 film ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman: The Movie]]'', and was pencilled by [[Adam Kubert]].  This story introduces the original character, [[Chris Kent (comics)|Christopher Kent]], and adapts the classic Superman film villains, [[General Zod]], [[Ursa (comics)|Ursa]] and [[Non (DC Comics)|Non]] into the regular [[DC Universe]] continuity.<ref name="lastson">{{Cite comic| writer = [[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]], [[Richard Donner|Donner, Richard]]| artist = [[Adam Kubert|Kubert, Adam]]| story = Last Son| title = Action Comics| issue = 844–846, 851, ''Annual'' 11| date = December 2006&nbsp;– July 2008}}</ref> Issue #851 (August 2007) was presented in [[Stereoscopy|3-D]].<ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/364092/ ''Action Comics'' #851] at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

Starting with issue #875 (May 2009), written by [[Greg Rucka]] and drawn by [[Eddy Barrows]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20543 | title=Greg Rucka: Man of ''Action''|first= Jeffrey|last= Renaud|date= March 24, 2009|website= [[Comic Book Resources]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090429085936/http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20543|archive-date=April 29, 2009 |access-date= April 19, 2012}}</ref> [[Thara Ak-Var]] and Chris Kent, took Superman's place as the main protagonists of the comic, while Superman left Earth to live on New Krypton. A [[Captain Atom]] backup feature began in issue #879 (September 2009).

On February 22, 2010, a copy of ''Action Comics'' #1 (June 1938) sold at [[auction]] for $3 million, besting the $317,000 record for a comic book set by a different copy, in lesser condition, the previous year. The sale, by an anonymous seller to an anonymous buyer, was through the Manhattan-based auction company ComicConnect.com.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100222/FREE/100229983 |title=Superman's debut sells for $1M at auction |newspaper=[[Crain Communications|Crain's New York Business]] |date=February 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311214801/http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100222/FREE/100229983 |archive-date=March 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although DC had initially announced [[Marc Guggenheim]] as writer of the title following the ''[[War of the Supermen]]'' limited series,<ref>{{Cite web|first=Alex |last=Segura |url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2009/12/10/dcu-in-2010-marc-guggenheim-steps-in-as-writer-on-action-comics/ |title=DCU in 2010: Marc Guggenheim Steps in as Writer on ''Action Comics'' |work=The Source |publisher=DC Comics.com |date=December 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403105036/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2009/12/10/dcu-in-2010-marc-guggenheim-steps-in-as-writer-on-action-comics |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2012 }}</ref> he was replaced by [[Paul Cornell]].<ref>{{Cite web | first=Alex | last=Segura | url=http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/12/paul-cornell-steps-in-as-new-action-comics-writer/ | title=Paul Cornell Steps in as New ''Action Comics'' Writer | work=The Source | publisher=DC Comics.com | date=April 12, 2010 | access-date=April 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100415050712/http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/12/paul-cornell-steps-in-as-new-action-comics-writer/| archive-date= April 15, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>  Cornell featured [[Lex Luthor]] as the main character in ''Action Comics'' from issues #890–900<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26828 | first=Kiel | last=Phegley | title=Paul Cornell: A DC Exclusive |date= June 22, 2010|website= Comic Book Resources |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100624074613/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26828 |archive-date=June 24, 2010 |access-date= April 19, 2012}}</ref> and [[Death (DC Comics)|Death]] appeared in issue #894, with the agreement of the character's creator, [[Neil Gaiman]].<ref name=cbr27068>{{cite web | first=Kiel | last=Phegley | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27068 | title=Lex Luthor Faces Death | website=Comic Book Resources | date=July 8, 2010 | access-date=July 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100710092338/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27068| archive-date= July 10, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>  In April 2011, the 900th issue of ''Action Comics'' was released. It served as a conclusion for Luthor's "Black Ring" storyline and a continuation for the "[[Reign of Doomsday]]" storyline. The final issue of the original series was ''Action Comics'' #904.