Action Comics Vol. 1 #674

Serving as a prologue to the Panic in the Sky! Superman focused storyline, Action Comics Vol. 1 #674 sets up quite a mystery before the event gets started. It sees two different Superman, one on Earth fighting Intergang and another in an alien planet who gets into a fight in a bar. The fight in the bar gets the attention of a warrior who has fought Superman before and thus wants a rematch, though this Superman doesn't remember him or much of his past. Their fight catches the attention of a new leader to Warworld, revealed to be Brainiac, they get captured and this Superman is revealed to be a shapeshifting creature that then takes on the form of Supergirl. Without any memory of who Supergirl is supposed to be and what Brainiac is, she sides with him in his plan to invade Earth and battle Superman. Being an issue that's mostly about setting up a larger storyline, this comic does a good job thanks to Roger Stern's writing. Even though it's obvious which Superman is the real one, Stern remains committed to the writing and keeps it fresh and the dialogue engaging. The artwork is good, though not entirely great as Bob Mcleod and Denis Rodier have really great designs, especially for the alien bar, while the coloring from Glenn Whitmore adds to the detail. But there are a few panels where the backgrounds are just empty white voids with no detail around the characters. If Action Comics Vol. 1 #674 is just a prologue, then this is a well made prologue that hooks you into the larger story at play. Over all: 98%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:

1. Hulk Vol. 5 #1

2. The Yellow Kid

3. Action Comics Vol. 1 #674