Action Comics # 1 2011 First Printing VF/NM

Action Comics #1 is a historic relaunch issue published by DC Comics on September 7, 2011. Spearheading DC's line-wide "The New 52" initiative, it marked the first time Action Comics was renumbered back to #1 since its original 1938 debut. The issue resets Superman's continuity, offering a gritty, energetic, street-level reimagining of his early days as a hero in Metropolis.

The Plot & Storyline

The main story, titled "Superman Versus the City of Tomorrow," establishes a radically different version of the Man of Steel:

• The Social Crusader: Long before he has the trust of the world, Superman is a populist hero fighting systemic corruption. The comic opens with him dangling a corrupt, wealthy businessman named Glen Glenmorgan over a high balcony to force a confession for exploiting working-class citizens.
• The Police Hunt: Because of his vigilantism, the Metropolis Police Department and the military view Superman as an unregistered, lawless threat. The authorities surround him, but he easily leaps away to escape.
• The Blue-Jeans Champion: Rather than a godlike alien in a pristine suit, this young Clark Kent lives in a rundown apartment and operates in a simple costume: a blue Superman T-shirt, a short red cape, work boots, and blue jeans.
• The Lex Luthor Contract: Realizing traditional weapons can't stop the wall-crawler, General Sam Lane hires a brilliant, ruthless consultant named Dr. Lex Luthor to design a trap to capture the alien anomaly.
• The Train Catastrophe: The issue culminates in a high-speed disaster where a driverless Metropolis mag-lev train is sabotaged. Superman exerts every ounce of his raw power to physically stop the train, leaving him unconscious and vulnerable enough for the military to finally capture him.

Creative Team & Style

• Creators: The groundbreaking relaunch was written by comics visionary Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman) and beautifully illustrated by artist Rags Morales (Identity Crisis).
• Tone: Morrison deliberately stripped away the cosmic, invulnerable nature of modern Superman to channel his original 1938 Golden Age roots. This Superman cannot fly yet (he can only "leap tall buildings"), can bleed under extreme force, and possesses a sharp, witty attitude focused on protecting the oppressed.

Collectibility & Variants

As the cornerstone issue of the entire New 52 line, this book was a massive commercial success and possesses numerous printings:

• Cover A (Standard): The widely distributed comic-shop edition illustrated by Rags Morales, showing a denim-clad Superman dynamically running from police helicopters.
• Jim Lee Variant: A highly collectible, clean alternative cover featuring a pencils-and-ink portrait of the new-era Superman drawn by DC legend Jim Lee.
• Later Printings: Due to massive market demand, this issue went through up to five distinct printings, with later editions adding unique color borders or changing the cover art layout.