ACTION COMICS #861, #862 VARIANTS

[MattBrady]

Caught DC’s first variant to Action Comics bringing back classic Legion of Super-Heroes artist Steve Lightle with last month’s #860? (Don’t worry of you haven’t – we’ve got it down below). The Legion artist reunion continues with two more variant covers – this month’s variant cover to #861 by Mike Grell and next month’s variant cover to #862 by Keith Giffen.

DC has provided us with first looks to the variants to #861 and #862.

The solicitations for the issues read:

Action Comics #861

Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Gary Frank & Jonathan Sibal; Cover by Frank Variant cover by Mike Grell

"Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes," Part 4! Superman's mission to reunite the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st century continues on the one planet more dangerous than Earth: the cold, knowledge-obsessed world of Colu! But what fate has befallen Brainiac 5? And what are the horrible secrets behind Earth's "new" super-heroes - the Justice League?

Action Comics #862:

Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Gary Frank and Jonathan Sibal; Cover by Frank; Variant cover by Keith Giffen

The penultimate chapter of "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes!" Crushed by the Justice League of 3008 A.D., Superman and the Legion uncover the horrific secret behind the conspiracy against the Man of Steel. But with the League of Legion Rejects a step ahead of Superman's every move, who can finally turn

[BAMJoe]

These look awesome and are a great idea.

[Skyhawk]

Haven't read Action in a while, I might give it a look see.

[gsam4ever]

This series has definitely gotten back on track. The new storyline is classic Johns and Gary Frank's art is great. Hopefully the book will remain on schedule from now on.

[gsam4ever]

Love all 3 covers but it's really nice to see Giffen back on art. I really enjoyed when he was penciling Legion many years ago.

[uscwamer]

That Giffen cover's the same Joe Kubert homage that Pete Woods did on last week's Countdown cover right?

I don't know how i feel about that, but i still like his interpretation.

[wishlish]

When did Keith Giffen re-learn to draw? That piece is really quite cool. I love the Giffen renaissance!

[Kevin T. Brown]

I want the Grell cover......

Damn, that's nice!

[Jerm]

Does anyone actually pay for those extra covers? I remember back in the day when comics would come out with duel covers and I would actually waste the money to buy them, but now to get a variant you are paying 20-25 bucks right off the bat for it. Then when they sell out and do a 2nd or 3rd printing there are more covers right there. I guess I am just jaded from the flood of crap from the 90's like colorform Superman covers that cost an extra 2 bucks....but then again that was still cheaper then the normal price for comics now.

[BoosterGold-]

Nice seeing all three artists doing the Legion again.

We all know Kieth is doing all these projects at DC, and Mike Grell is doing Jon Sable on the Comix website, but what is Steve Lightle doing recently?

Would love to see some more regular covers or regular art from that man.

-Michael C

[Robot H Brian]

The great Al Milgrom inked the Giffen cover?

Man, that looks sweet. It's got a nice, clean Joe Sinnott vibe going on.

[ClayinCA]

As someone whose first Legion comic featured Mike Grell on art, I have to say I love seeing him on the Legion again, even if it's just for one cover...wish I could afford to buy the variant.

Mike Grell is doing Jon Sable on the Comix website

I hadn't heard about this! Details, please??

[musclebound]

It always bugs me that the price on the printed cover of variants is the standard one. For example, AC # 861 clearly says $2.99. Do you reeeeally think it's going to sell for that? Nope. It's $9.95 the same day that it comes out. I know, I know, it's the LCS' prerogative. Just gets to me a bit...

Okay, now back to the conversation about the art on the covers...

[Nathan Scott]

Originally Posted by musclebound

It always bugs me that the price on the printed cover of variants is the standard one. For example, AC # 861 clearly says $2.99. Do you reeeeally think it's going to sell for that? Nope. It's $9.95 the same day that it comes out. I know, I know, it's the LCS' prerogative. Just gets to me a bit...

Okay, now back to the conversation about the art on the covers...

You could probably get it for cover price if you were willing to buy 10 copies of the regular cover.

[Rambo,John J]

This whole storyline is great and all but the 80s version of Legion needs to return.
Heck the 1994 legion reboot i always though was awsome too.

This current Waid/ Shooter Legion is just boring in everyway. from a design standpoint to art and stories. Plus its NEVER ACCECABLE.

Bring back the 80s legion or the 1994 version.

Current LOS blows

[SpyGuy]

Well, I'll look forward to these covers if DC includes them in the trade paperback collection because there's no way I'm paying $10 for a variant cover. Oh, and DC Collections Department? Make each of them a full-page reproduction instead of reducing all three to fit on a single page. Nobody wants to see that nonsense ever again in your reprint collections.

[CParadise]

With this new storyline, Action is one of the best titles published, and definitely in top 2-3 of DC titles published regularly.

[I am MODOK]

Do these generally get collected in the trades? I hope so!

[HartyPotter]

Almost everything pales in comparison to Gary Frank's art, but those look good.

[Rockin' Rich]

But the inking on Gary Frank's pencils is so-so.

The faces look like Jack Chick inked 'em, in fact.

[jedifish]

Mike Grell

Must resist paying for variant cover.

By the way, great Mike Grell/Warlord interview in Back Issue last month.

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by CParadise

With this new storyline, Action is one of the best titles published, and definitely in top 2-3 of DC titles published regularly.

Yeah, this plus the Legion story in JLA/JSA made me realize how much I missed the Legion I grew up with. May have to pull out Legion Archives #11-12 so I can drool over the Mike Grell Legion.

[Spaz_Monkey]

Reading this book makes me ask one question - Is it possible for Johns to do wrong at DC*? Seems like EVERYTHING he does is gold!

*I'm gonna pretend his Avengers run never happened.

[Bucky_Barnes]

I love Mike Grell.

I would highly recommend all his Warlord comics

[s*p rules]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I have not really enjoyed the current Legion storyline. It's really drawn out and suffers greatly from "padded for the trade"-itis; this story could have been better told in a 3 or 4 issue arc. Gary Frank's aftwork is not for me, as I've never been a fan of comic art that includes unneeded lines all over the character's faces. It especially pales in comparison to the excellent art we got from Stuart Immonen. Plus, more than anything, the confusion as to how this Legion is back, especially when it seems like the waid legion team should be this earth's future legion if supergirl was a member, cast a shadow over the whole arc from the get-go. I would have gotten into the story a little more if they explained the two legions before this arc started (I'm thinking that one of the legion's has to be of another earth, but which one?). Or, maybe, it's just "magic" and doesn't need explained! Ha.

I will say this, though: Polar Boy was always one of my favorite Legionnaire as a kid, so I like the fact that Geoff has made him a bad-ass in the arc. Even that variant cover is sweet, although I'm suprised to see Superboy (as played by Casey Affleck) on it.