DC Comics Prepares To Celebrate 1000th Issue of 'Action Comics'
Comic book publisher DC Comics will celebrate a milestone in April. Action Comics, DC's cornerstone comic book, will publish its 1000th issue.
A Creative Bullpen
DC Comics is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate Superman's 80th anniversary. Several significant creators are expected to create stories highlighting the Man of Steel's 80 years in super heroics.
Longtime Avengers and Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis will make his DC Comics debut writing a Superman adventure with DC Comics' co-publisher Jim Lee. DC Comics' chief creative officer Geoff Johns will reunite with his mentor and Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner to co-write a story. Illustrator Oliver Coipel will draw that adventure.
Other teams announced for the 1000th issue include New York Times Best Selling Author Brad Meltzer, John Cassaday, and Laura Martin, fan-favorite DC Comics writer Scott Snyder and Tim Sale, and longtime Superman creators Louise Simonson and Jerry Ordway.
Current Action Comics creator Dan Jurgens and Superman creative team Peter J. Tomasi and Pat Gleason are also expected to contribute stories for the milestone issue.
A Lost Tale
To commemorate Action Comics' significant issue, DC Comics is also planning to release a giant book that features some of Superman's classic adventures. Some of the stories that will be a part of this book include Action Comics' first issue, which marked the first appearance of the Man of Steel.
In addition to some of Superman's most famous tales, Newsweek also revealed that DC Comics would also include a never-before-seen story from Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. According to the news magazine, the story called "Too Many Heroes" was published around 1945.
DC Comics And Films Update
While DC Comics continues to celebrate Superman's 80th anniversary, there will be other milestone moments to keep an eye on from the publisher.
Screenwriter John Ridley's comic event, The Other History of the DC Universe, will showcase Superman's critical moments through the eyes of several minority characters. Ridley has selected John Stewart, the first African-American Green Lantern, Vixen, Supergirl, Gotham City Police Department detective Renee Montoya, Katana, and Extraño -- who was DC Comics' first LGBT character, to headline the series.
The Other History of the DC Universe is expected to come out later this year. As of this story's publication, DC Comics has not named the creative team who will draw Ridley's story.
Over at DC Films, 2018 will be a crucial year for Walter Hamada. The new DC Films president will oversee the DC Comics' characters transition from comic book to the silver screen. Hamada's hiring comes after a major company reorganization following Justice League's box office disappointment.
Action Comics #1000 and the commemorative book are expected to be released on Apr. 18.
