The New 52 hits UK newsagents with an anthology featuring Justice League, Action Comics and Green Lantern.

At long last, ‘Action Comics’ #1 is here. Which is something, considering the last time that legitimately could be said was in 1938.

‘First Wave’ features a curious mash-up of DC heroes (including a gun-toting Batman) and pulp characters (Doc Savage), as well as throwing in the Spirit for good measure. The first issue is passable, but not terribly exciting.

Paul Levitz is a smart writer of comic books and, on this form, he’s been away from that game for far, far too long…

Death in comic books isn’t often impressive or affecting. It’s rarely even noticeable and it’s so innately reversible, defeatable and manipulatable that it doesn’t have any meaning at all.