Eighty years after ACTION COMICS #1 first introduced the world to Superman and launched the entire superhero genre, fans, booksellers and local comic shops are all preparing to celebrate tomorrow’s release of the milestone ACTION COMICS #1000 periodical and ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN hardcover from DC.
ACTION COMICS #1000
ACTION COMICS #1000 is an 80-page, $7.99 blockbuster available at comic retailers and digitally on Wednesday, April 18. With more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered by retailers, it’s expected to be one of the biggest comic books of the year.
“ACTION COMICS #1000 is a celebration of Superman that’s not only for the hardcore comic book fan but for all fans of pop culture,” said DC Publisher Jim Lee. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen the local comic book shop community, from the owners to the customers, rally behind something with the level of excitement that we are seeing for ACTION COMICS #1000. This is truly something special and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on the issue.”
This one-of-a-kind comic book is a must-have for any fan of comics, entertainment or superheroes, with a collection of feature stories by Brian Michael Bendis (in his first published work for DC) with art by Jim Lee, current ACTION COMICS writer Dan Jurgens with Norm Rapmund and the SUPERMAN team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason. A host of comic book and literary talent have also contributed bonus stories to this comic, including legendary Superman movie director Richard Donner and The New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns with art by Olivier Coipel, Brad Meltzer with John Cassaday and Laura Martin, Tom King with Clay Mann and Jordie Bellaire and more, plus a story by longtime DC writer Marv Wolfman based on previously unpublished art from iconic Silver Age Superman artist Curt Swan.
ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN
ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN is available now at all major book retailers for $29.99. This 384- page commemorative hardcover book revisits stories from across eight decades of ACTION COMICS, featuring the debuts of not just the Man of Tomorrow, but also Supergirl, Brainiac, the Fortress of Solitude and more. In addition to the unpublished story by Jerry Siegel and the Joe Shuster Studio, the collection features a foreword by Laura Siegel Larson, the daughter of co-creator Jerry Siegel, in addition to series of essays and iconic Superman stories from literary luminaries like Jules Feiffer, Larry Tye, Gene Luen Yang and others, all edited by former DC Publisher Paul Levitz.
“When ACTION COMICS #1 debuted exactly 80 years ago, it was like capturing lightning in a bottle with the introduction of Superman,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio. “It’s amazing that after all of these years, the characters are not only relevant but are a part of everyday discussions on how the real world needs Superman.”
SUPERMAN TALKS AT GOOGLE
Google recently hosted four top comic book writers and artists, Paul Dini, Dan Jurgens, Brian Michael Bendis and Marv Wolfman as part of their “Talks at Google” series to discuss some of the most notable moments in Superman’s 80-year history and what the future holds for the timeless character. Hear first-hand from Wolfman about the unpublished story he saved from the incinerator as a teenager while on a tour of the DC offices in New York. This story, written by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, with art from the Joe Shuster Studio, will be published for the first time ever in ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN. The talk is available for viewing here.
DIGITAL CELEBRATION
As part of the 80 years of Superman celebration, DC is offering two super digital sales. The “Road to Action #1000” sale features hundreds of ACTION COMICS issues and 13 e-books, including the first appearance of Supergirl (ACTION COMICS #252), as well as Clark Kent’s reveal of his true identity to Lois Lane (ACTION COMICS #662). Another SUPER sale is available with 143 e-books featuring Superman and the Super-family including THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN, SUPERMAN: RED SON, SUPERGIRL VOL. 1: LAST DAUGHTER OF KRYPTON, SUPER SONS VOL. 1: WHEN I GROW UP and more starting at just $5.99. Both sales are currently available on digital retailers, including ComiXology and Google Play, until April 23.
LOCAL AND VIRAL CELEBRATIONS
Fans can take part in the celebration around ACTION COMICS #1000 right in their hometown. Local comic book shops have planned midnight release parties, signings with members of Superman’s past, present and future writers and artists to mark the momentous occasion. Snapchat users will be able to turn themselves into the Man of Steel with a special filter that applies the Superman suit and hair (including his trademark “spit curl”) for photos. In addition, the super filter gives everyone the power of Superman’s heat-vision. For download and installation details, check out the Snapchat website.
DC Entertainment, home to the iconic brands DC (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.
Comic Book ClubComic Book ClubA Live Comic Book Talk Show!
