Action Comics 999: Realize What Matters Most

What Would Superman Do?

Writer - Dan Jurgens, Art - Will Conrad, Color - Ivan Nunes, Letters - Rob Leigh, Cover - Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund & Andrew Dalhouse, Assistant Editor - Andrea Shea, Editor - Paul Kaminski

Initial Reactions

This was a bittersweet issue for me as this is the last full issue by the creative team.  Dan Jurgens' run on this title has been my favorite of everything that has come out since the 2016 Rebirth initiative.  In fact, it was Action Comics that got me back into reading single-issue comics again.  Like their counterparts on Superman, the entire run has been full of heart and I know this will go down as a personal favorite run of mine.  As for the issue itself, it excellently encapsulates heart of both Clark and Superman.  If you are emotionally connected to Superman like I am, this issue is absolutely for you!

The Story

The issue opens with Jon opening the door to welcome in his granddad Sam Lane.  A quick catch-up, Sam does not know that Clark is Superman, and therefore that Jon has powers.  Jon mentions that his mom said there was a chance he wouldn't show up, but Sam says that those days are passed. He gives Lois a bouquet of fake flowers, noting their practicality over real ones.  Sam and Lois can't even get through the first full page without re-opening an old argument.  This dispute is over Lois uncovering a covert op that her dad was working on.  They are both fully entrenched in their position, and from the reader's standpoint, both sides are valid.  Jon is clearly upset that their family reunion has so quickly devolved into a shouting match.  The scene ends with Sam saying that it wasn't just the story, but their fundamentally different views on Superman.

Meanwhile, Superman is off-planet, breaking up an Asteroid at the behest of S.T.A.R. Labs so it is not a threat to Earth.  He uses his heat vision to break it up with precision so that he can extract something from it's core.  While he is working on this, he reflects on how nice it is to have an easy day, without all of the craziness that he endured during this entire run.  His thoughts moved on to the House of Zod, and their imprisonment in the Phantom Zone that his father discovered.  Superman notes that he has concluded that it is an inhumane solution for criminals because it is void of everything, and destroys the mind.  Once he cuts through the asteroid, he sees the crystalline contents inside, which is virtually indestructible once it is introduced to Earth's atmosphere.

Back at home, the argument over the merits of Superman continues.  Sam admits that right now Superman is acting in humans' interest, but what if he decides to go rogue?  Jon keeps trying to convince him that Superman would never do that, and from the reader's point of view, he is clearly sticking up for his dad, not just his hero persona.  During the discussion, Lois receives confirmation that Superman neutralized the asteroid threat.  Sam remains unmoved, and Lois dismisses him as being paranoid.  He argues that that is his duty as military, to be ready for all real or perceived threats.  Sam continues by asking why the world should just blindly trust Superman without anyone for him to answer to.

Superman is in the Fortress of Solitude, reflecting on how he was raised, and how fortunate he was.  He contrasts that with Cyborg Superman, who as Hank Henshaw was hit by radiation on their return from a mission to space.  He was the only survivor, losing his wife and friends.  Hank kept only his consciousness and was preserved in the body of a cyborg.  This process completely eroded his humanity, and he has done unspeakable things since.  He was sent to the Phantom Zone, but Superman is now going to release him into a new kind of captivity that aims to restore more of his lost humanity.

Upon his release, clearly Cyborg Superman is angry and ready to fight.  During the skirmish, Superman keeps trying to tell Hank that he wants to offer him a more humane solution, but he doesn't believe him.  Superman admits that he was sent to the Phantom Zone because he thought there were no other options given how dangerous he was.  Once Hank is subdued, Superman lays out his plan.  He shows him the Kryptonian crystal that can project one's memories in a lifelike way.  Superman admits that he cannot release Hank into the world, but through this crystal he holds out hope for rehabilitation.  After all these years, he can spend time with his family, remembering the times before he became a monster.

Superman did a great thing for Hank.  He offered him a way to regain a portion of his humanity.  Certainly he has to serve his sentence, but this solution is much more nuanced and helpful.  We should always strive to treat those in our lives better.  When possible, we need to empathize with people, and try to help them in the most compassionate way possible.  Once again, Superman gives us a shining example of this through his interaction with Hank Henshaw.

Back at the apartment, the fight between Sam and Lois hit a breaking point, and Sam is about to leave.  Jon is devastated as they both watch him walk out.  Just then, Clark stops him, saying that he needs to get something off his chest.  Jon and Lois are wondering if this is the time that he reveals his identity to Sam.  He does not, but instead admits that he has seen this divide between he and Lois for years and that he should have done more.  Sam admits that he was hurt that Clark and Lois never brought Jon to meet him, while Lois said that she was hurt when he never came to visit him.  After this realization, Clark formally reintroduces Sam to Lois, Lois to Sam, and Sam to Jon.  Everyone embraces each other, and they all enjoy a meal together, as a family!

Clark closes out the issue (and Jurgens' run) by saying,

"Every now and then, things work out.  Jon has two grandfathers, both set in their ways.  Both capable of mistakes.  The important thing is knowing mistakes are correctable...when you realize what matters most."

Final Thoughts

I love this conclusion!  It wraps up the core of the Superman character arc that we have been on since the very beginning of Rebirth.  Whether it be how he dealt with Hank Henshaw or Sam Lane, he kept what was important in the forefront.  For Hank, it was restoring his humanity, treating him like a man instead of a monster.  When dealing with those who bully or persecute us, we would do well to act in the same way.  God tells us to love our enemies, and to bless those who persecute us.  Jesus led by example, even forgiving those who nailed him to a cross while he was suffering.

As for our lesson with Sam, family is a strong God-given institution.  When there is a rift in the family, it is devastating.  We see that through Jon's eyes in this issue, but I am sure we can all come up with examples in our own lives.  If there is a divide in your family, I encourage you to seek to reconcile.  Family is a powerful force for good, and having that support system is an enormous blessing.

What did you think of this issue?  I would love to talk about it with you.  You can comment below, or find me @behindthecapes on Twitter, or by liking the Behind the Capes Facebook page.  Also, something new, Behind the Capes has a group called Behind the Capes' Nerd Out Round Table, where we talk about a bunch of geeky stuff.  It is technically a closed group, but anyone can join if they agree to the simple rules laid out in the group.  I would love for this group to grow!