This historic issue has finally arrived, Action Comics #1000 is officially available for purchase. This heartwarming and entertaining issue is packed with a heavy appreciation for the 80 years of history Superman has maintained. We would recommend this comic to everyone, even those who have never read a Superman comic book. However, there are a number of references, throughout the issue, which may not be understood by everyone.

In order to truly make this comic accessible to everyone, we are attempting to break down every reference Action Comics #1000 makes. Some of these references are common knowledge among comic fans but may be unfamiliar to non-comic readers, while other references may befuddle even hardcore readers. Either way, we hope this breakdown helps further your appreciation for this comic and dispel any confusion you may have.

From the City Who Has Everything

Superman’s marriage to Lois Lane happened back in 1996 in Superman: The Wedding Album. Though their marriage was retroactively deleted for a number of years, it came back into the comic book landscape upon the release of Convergence.

Superman’s son is a more recent addition to the world of comics. Lois Lane gave birth to Johnathan Kent back in the Convergence: Superman series, a story now collected in Convergence: Flashpoint Book One.

Never-Ending Battle

An Enemy Within

The final page of this story contains artwork originally from Superman: The Secret Years #2, which is indicated by a note in this issue. Besides the artwork, the two stories have little in common.

The Car

This chapter appears to tell the aftermath of the story found in Action Comics #1, the first ever appearance of Superman. The cover of Action Comics #1 also reflects the state of the “car” seen in this chapter.

The Fifth Season

This chapter does not appear to specifically reference any other stories.

Of Tomorrow

The death of Superman’s parents is brought up in this chapter. Action Comics #17, collected in Action Comics Vol. 3: At The End Of Days, shows that the couple died in a car crash.

Five Minutes

This chapter does not appear to specifically reference any other stories.

Actionland!

The robots Superman fights in this chapter were made famous by “The Mechanical Monsters”, an episode of the 1940s Superman cartoon series.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

This chapter does not appear to specifically reference any other stories.

The Truth

This chapter brings up the fact that Superman has not been wearing his famous “shorts” for a long time. Superman stopped wearing his “shorts” in nearly every comic published after the DC Universe was rebooted in Flashpoint (Review).

Hopefully our breakdown helps enhance your appreciation for this wonderful comic book. We tried to be thorough with our analysis but it is certainly possible that we missed something. If you believe this to be the case, comment below or contact us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest and we’ll make sure to correct it. Also, free to follow us on those accounts for more breakdowns like this

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