TITLE: Action Comics Issue #600
YEAR: 1988
COMPANY: DC Comics
Story & Breakdowns: John Byrne
Finishes: George Perez
Colors: Tom Ziuko
Letterer: John Costanza
Editor: Mike Carlin
Assistant Editor: Renee Witterstaetter
The year was 1988 and Action Comics would reach its 600th issue before being renamed to “Action Comics Weekly” with issue #601 and would continue being a weekly until issue #642.
But to kick off the Golden Anniversary Issue commemorating Superman’s Golden 50th Anniversary (1938-1988) and this 600th issue of “Action Comics”. This 80-page issue focuses on Superman/Wonder woman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor and even Man-Bat.
But of course, while not featured prominently, the fact that people see Superman kissing Wonder Woman immediately captured one’s attention.
The issue begins with Superman kissing Wonder Woman (who was not even prepared for the kiss).
The two admit that they have been thinking about each other and both wondering if they should be together and even calling each other by their real name.
But as the two fly, Wonder Woman receives a distress call from Hermes and as she flies into a paradox, Superman follows but realizes that his powers are not working well as the paradox has him going the opposite direction and things are not going as well as he expected.
And the one behind it is Darkseid, who plans to use both Superman and Wonder Woman and torment them.
As for Lois Lane, she becomes jealous when a Boston newspaper prints an article about Superman and Wonder Woman in love and she is quite disturbed by it.
As for Lex Luthor, he arranges a meeting with Sergeant Turpin and tries to blackmail her but when he starts getting sick, he goes to his doctor who tells him that his kryptonite ring is poisoning his body.
For Jimmy Olsen, as Superman comes to the aid of a tanker out of control, when Superman gets close to the tanker, he is able to stop it but he becomes suddenly weak and can’t breathe and in full of pain. He asks Jimmy Olsen to help him and get help.
And as Jimmy puts him in a cave, the next storyline features Man-Bat returning to his home (the cave) where Superman is currently resting. Will this be a battle between a weakened Superman and Man-Bat?
Overall, this 600th anniversary issue is quite entertaining but moreso for the kiss that Superman and Wonder Woman share. It’s one of those things that people have wondered about. Talked about. And sure enough, John Byrne and George Perez made it happen. And while other alternate reality storylines have covered a Superman/Wonder Woman relationship, if anything, this issue delves into it and for both characters come full realization, that is if they are right for each other?
I was not surprised by Lois Lane’s reaction (as one can expect her to become jealous) and as for Lex Luthor experiencing kryptonite poisoning, another one that I wasn’t too shocked about.
If anything, I liked how this issue was able to tackle a storyline for each character. As “Action Comics” would go through a major change with the next 45 issues as it goes to a weekly comic book series and other characters would then receive a spotlight in Action Comics.