Action Comics #844
	Story Title: 'Last Son' (Part 1) Writers: Geoff John, Richard Donner Artist: Adam Kubert Colors: Dave Stewart Letters: Rob Leigh Asso. Editor: Nachie Castro Editor: Matt Idelson SUPERMAN created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

After a rather mediocre three-issue arc (#841-843), Action Comics gets a brand new creative team, starting a new story, one that…uh, is even more depressingly average than the one it follows. I have not watched the movie, Superman Returns and nor do I have any plans of catching up on it anytime in the future. Ever. Still, I do have more than a vague idea about the general plot and characters (looks, behavior, relationships, etc) shown in it.

Why all this? Well, for one new artist Adam Kubert seems to have based his character depictions on the actors in the movie. Right from the ‘S’ on Superman’s belt to the hair style and overall appearance of Clark, it’s like seeing a comic based on the movie, and seeing as I didn’t even go in for the prequel comic tie-ins to SR, I sure as hell don’t want to see those faces brought into the mainline titles. That goes double for that broken glass in a filled to the brim trash-bin look of the crystalline Dump…ahem, Fortress of Solitude.

As for the story, well, it goes something like this. A big freakin’ flattened onion falls from the sky. Supes catches it, only to discover that there is a kid inside it. Can anyone say, ‘Son of Superman’, or better yet, Jason. Damn. If they want to give Supes a kid, why don’t they do it the old-fashioned way? Have him take Lois to his Fortress and have them go at it until he knocks her up good and well, genetic compatibility notwithstanding. Better yet, have him do it with that supposed cousin of his. I bet she’d be up for it.

After Two-Bit Lackey Woman, sorry, the new-old, working for a foreign power, Wonder Woman, Superman is well on his way to becoming the second character who’s Post-IC, New Earth incarnation I am fast turning away from. What’s next? Having Batman do the friggin’ Batusi? (From the 60s TV show)

Oh, almost forgot, the issue ends with Supes stealing/breaking free the kid from a government convoy (in disguise of course) and bringing the punk to his parents’ farm, the same parents who are not his anymore (as it seems from the first couple of pages).

Conclusion: A disappointing start to a much-touted 'Big Name' creative team.

RATING: 6.5/10 (Almost 7)