Superman Reaches an 80th Anniversary Milestone in ACTION COMICS #1000

Tuesday, April 17 2018 08:59

Superman Reaches an 80th Anniversary Milestone in ACTION COMICS #1000

Written by James Zahn

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Superman Reaches an 80th Anniversary Milestone in ACTION COMICS #1000

It was on April 18, 1938 that the world first discovered the exploits of Superman - the iconic creation of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first hitting the public eye on the cover of ACTION COMICS #1 (cover dated June). Some four decades later, the "last son of Krypton" would come to life on the big screen with the release of 1978's Superman: The Movie, fueling kicking off another generation of heroics that caught the eye of many - myself among them. While my childhood was filled with superheroes, it was Superman that really grabbed me and pulled me into the medium where it all began - comics. Specifically, it was John Byrne's 1986 mini-series, The Man of Steel that did it (a series I've since shared with my daughters), and for the Christmas of 1987 I asked for one thing: the collected trade paperback edition, which I received and still have. Byrne's run on Superman introduced me to the countless spinoffs and made me a regular reader of Action Comics during an era where you had to buy three books (Superman, Action Comics, Adventures of Superman) to follow a complete story arc. From there I discovered the back issue bins, eventually delving into the five decades of storytelling that came before. Fast-forward another three decades and Superman is turning 80 - and as part of that celebration, Action Comics becomes the first superhero title to reach an incredible milestone - the publication of its 1000th issue.

ACTION COMICS #1000 Press Kit

ACTION COMICS #1000 hits comic shops on April 18, 2018 - exactly 80 years after Superman first hit newsstands, and my friends at DC Comics recently sent me a package that the kid version of me would've never believed. The giant-sized edition of Action Comics #1000, complete with reflective cover and stories from a host of talent past and present; ACTION COMICS: 80 YEARS OF SUPERMAN (Deluxe Edition) - a 384-page hardcover that looks back on eight decades of Superman with reprinted stories, essays, tributes and stories from a ton of literary talent plus a never-before-published story by Jerry Siegel with art from the Joe Shuster Studio; an ACTION COMICS #1000 T-Shirt featuring the art of DC Publisher Jim Lee; and... a pair of COMMEMORATIVE SUPERMAN RED TRUNKS. Indeed, after a long absence, #TheTrunksAreBack, and DC tossed a pair in the box!

The books are a fantastic tribute to a character that can inspire hope, yet be completely badass - one that through numerous cycles of reinvention is still an unmistakable symbol of "truth, justice and the American way." Whether you're a longtime reader, an old-school fan looking to dive back in, or someone who's never actually read the comics, ACTION COMICS #1000 is the perfect spot to get involved as Superman begins a journey into the next 80 years.

Check out the Comic Shop Locator to find a local comic shop near you!

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James Zahn

James Zahn is best-known as The Rock Father™, a media personality, commentator, adventurer and raconteur. He is the Owner, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of THE ROCK FATHER™ Magazine. In January, 2019, after nearly a decade of publishing The Rock Father™ Magazine, he joined Adventure Media and Events as Senior Editor of The Toy Book—the leading trade publication for the toy industry since 1984, as well as The Pop Insider — a destination for all things pop culture, and The Toy Insider — the leading consumer guide for toys and games. He is also editor of The Toy Report, a weekly newsletter published by The Toy Book each Thursday. Zahn has over 27 years of experience in the entertainment, retail and publishing industries.

He regularly serves as a Brand Ambassador and spokesperson for several Globally-recognized pop culture and lifestyle brands in addition to consulting for a number of toy manufacturers.

Creatively, James has directed/edited music videos, lyric videos, and album trailers for bands such as FEAR FACTORY, has appeared as an actor in feature films and commercials, written comic books, and performed in bands. He currently serves as an artist manager and video director for PRODUCT OF HATE, whose debut album was released by Napalm Records in 2016, distributed by ADA/Warner Music in the U.S. with Universal Music handling global. A new album has been completed and is set for release this year.

Zahn and/or his work have been featured in/on CNN, NBC, ABC, WGN, CBS, GCTN, G4, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Reuters, BusinessWire, Fangoria, Starlog and more. He's appeared as a music expert on CNN's AC360 alongside Anderson Cooper, and has been interviewed by Larry King. In the past he served as a writer for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family and PBS KIDS, penned articles for Sprout and PopSugar, and was a contributor to Chicago Parent.

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