This April will see the release of the landmark one-thousandth issue of Action Comics, the longest continually-published comic book of its kind in history and the series that introduced Superman to the world. The new issue will feature not only the DC debut of acclaimed writer Brian Michael Bendis but also the return of Superman’s trademark red trunks.
“Action Comics #1000 represents a watershed moment in the history of not just comic books, but entertainment, literature and pop culture,” said co-publisher and artist Jim Lee. “There’s no better way to celebrate Superman’s enduring popularity than to give him a look that combines some new accents with the most iconic feature of his classic design.”
Available at comics retailers and digitally on April 18, Action Comics #1000 has a 10-page Superman story written by Bendis with art by Lee, plus two 15-page stories from two of DC’s current and most popular talent teams: Superman writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Pat Gleason, as well as Action Comics writer and artist Dan Jurgens.
“The one-thousandth issue of Action Comics is an incredible milestone in pop culture and a testament to the vision of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster,” said DC publisher Dan DiDio. “Without this book, along with Siegel and Shuster’s fertile imaginations and boundless creativity, the superhero’s place in literature may have been wildly different, if not altogether nonexistent.”
This must-have collector’s item comic book will also feature previously-unpublished art from Curt Swan, whose dynamic, iconic style many consider the definitive look for the Man of Steel throughout comics’ Golden and Silver Ages. Acclaimed DC writer Marv Wolfman will script a story based on this never-before-seen content. In addition, the comic will include a collection of memorable bonus stories from some of the most celebrated names in comics and entertainment.
Contributors to this once-in-a-lifetime issue include legendary Superman movie director Richard Donner and New York Times best-selling writer Geoff Johns, with art by Olivier Coipel. Other contributing creative teams will include Paul Dini with José Luis García-López; Tom King with Clay Mann and Jordie Bellaire; Brad Meltzer with John Cassaday and Laura Martin; Louise Simonson with Jerry Ordway; Scott Snyder with Tim Sale and more to be announced.
This celebratory comic book is just the beginning; this milestone will be recognized across the DC superhero line for the month of April with a series of Superman-themed variant covers and even more to come.
