Action Comics #861

We have reached part four of the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" arc and the paces slows down a bit for some exposition. The pacing over the first four issues has run hot and cold with the feeling that Geoff Johns may be stretching this into six issues. As a stand alone issue, this issue provides more background and catching up than action. The cover is a bit misleading and doesn't really match what is happening inside the book. Johns really has Superman's voice down and the Legion's reaction when Superman steps into an argument is quite good. Of all of them, I like Johns' Polar Boy the best. Artist Gary Frank continues to do some good work here. The "dead eye" critique mentioned in my last review is somewhat addressed here. It is interesting that Frank's Braniac-5's eyes are full of life while his Superman sometimes get that dead/crack head stare going.

If you've been wondering what is going on with Braniac-5 and what the plan is, this issue begins to answer those questions. It looks like next issue may go into the background of the JLE with part six providing the action-packed climax.