- "So... we've established that torture is a very bad thing. Let's take it to 300,000 volts at 10 amps. And then I want to talk to it."
- ―Lex Luthor
"In Chains" | |
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Action Comics | |
Title: | "In Chains" |
Volume: | 2 |
Number: | 2 |
Cover price: | $3.99 |
Cover date: | December, 2011 |
Publisher: | DC Comics |
Credits | |
Chief: | Bob Harras |
Ex. Ed: | Bobbie Chase |
Writers: | Grant Morrison |
Pencilers: | Rags Morales; Brent Anderson |
Inkers: | Rick Bryant; Brent Anderson |
Cover artists: | Rags Morales; Ethan Van Sciver |
Cover inker: | Rags Morales; Ethan Van Sciver |
Colorists: | Brad Anderson |
Letterers: | Patrick Brosseau |
Associates: | Wil Moss |
Editors: | Matt Idelson |
Navigation | |
Previous: | Action Comics #1 |
Next: | Action Comics #3 |
"Superman in Chains" is the second issue of the second volume of the ongoing comic book series Action Comics by DC Comics. This issue was written by Grant Morrison with artwork by Rags Morales & Brent Anderson and inks by Rick Bryant & Brent Anderson. The cover art illustration was rendered by Morales and colorist Brand Anderson. Anderson also did the regular coloring for the issue and it was lettered by Patrick Brosseau. Matt Idelson is the editor on the issue with Wil Moss as associate editor. The issue shipped with a December, 2011 cover date and carries a cover price of $3.99 per copy (US).
Synopsis[]
The United States Army, under the command of General Sam Lane, have captured Superman and are studying him as part of their Steel Soldier Program. Lex Luthor is present as a civilian consultant, and speaks at length about his contempt for alien life. They torture Superman with electro-shock devices, and though it is painful, Superman quickly recovers. One of the scientists, John Henry Irons, is outraged over the use of torture on a civilian, though Luthor contests that Superman is not an Earthling, and therefore does not benefit from the same rights as one. Angered, Irons quits his position at the facility.
Lois Lane arrives at the front gates and name-drops her father, General Sam Lane, forcing the guard to summon him. Lois accuses Lane of harboring Superman and she is armed with a stack of evidence proving that he is not a threat. Lane denies his daughter's claim, but takes her files from her as classified material.
Lex Luthor continues to blather on about how Superman is just an alien bullet that was pointed at Earth, giving Superman enough time to recover his strength. Using his heat vision, he fries the circuitry in the command center, then breaks free of his bonds.
He darts around the facility, and comes upon the Kryptonian rocket that first brought him to Earth. The rocket begins emitting random words at him in Kryptonian. Superman breaks free of the facility and super-leaps away.
Sam Lane's second-in-command, John Corben, goes into a room containing a power armor. He is ready to do what it takes to re-capture Superman.
Later, Lex Luthor is being driven across a bridge in his limousine. He is communicating with some unseen presence that has taken an interest on things involving Superman.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Brainiac (Behind the scenes only)
- Lex Luthor
- Sam Lane
Minor characters
Organizations
Races & Animals
- Coluans (Behind the scenes only)
- Humans
- Kryptonians
Locations
Items
Vehicles
- Brainiac's ship
- Dirigible
- Jeep
- Kryptonian rocket
- Limousine
- School bus (In a photograph only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- Superman was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. He first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June, 1938 in a story called "Superman, Champion of the Opressed".
- This series is rated T+ for Teen.
- This issue shipped to retailers on October 5th, 2011.
- This issue is UPC barcode number 761941306377 00211.
- This issue shipped with a variant cover illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver.
- This issue shipped with a black and white sketch variant cover of the Rags Morales cover.
- The military project that Sam Lane is in charge of is called the Steel Soldier Program. Like other similar organizations that have preceded it, it is inspired by the Super Soldier Program from Marvel Comics, which turned scrawny little Steve Rogers into the ultra-swole Captain America.
- This is the first appearance of the New 52 versions of John Corben, John Henry Irons, and Professor Emmett Vale. In Pre-Flashpoint continuity, John Corben became the cybernetic villain known as Metallo, and John Henry Irons became the armored super-hero known as Steel.
- Lois Lane is wearing a Keystone City sweat shirt in this issue.