RETRO REVIEW: Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman

DC Comics; 29.99

In 2018 Superman and Action Comics turned 80 years old. To commemorate the achievement and all that the Man of Steel has contributed to comics and entertainment at large, DC published Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman.

The deluxe hardcover compiles some of the title’s most notable issues, beginning with that June 1938 debut. Printed in chronological order, the book presents more than just a look at good comics. It illustrates how Superman has grown and evolved over the last 80 years. Simple foes made way to complicated enemies as his abilities and mythos evolved and the stakes grew higher and higher. It also shows how comics themselves have gone through phases and trends as seen through one of the most popular characters.

This book is a great gift for any Superman fan or someone who wants to know more about the character. With Action Comics, Superman, Justice League, and the Super family titles, it’d take a very long time to read all of his stories. Here, readers get a taste of the good stuff in a very enjoyable overview of the character.

–Amanda Sheriff