Action Comics Annual #2
Action Comics Annual #2 serves as the narrative and mythological centerpiece of the 1989 'Superman: Exile' storyline, delivering the first appearances of both the Eradicator — a 200,000-year-old Kryptonian artifact whose influence would reshape Superman's world for years — and the Cleric, an alien missionary whose tragic history with Krypton recontextualized why Kryptonians could never leave their doomed planet. The issue introduced a dark, ingeniously constructed backstory for Krypton's extinction that tied directly into later major storylines including 'Day of the Krypton Man' and the post-'Death of Superman' 'Reign of the Supermen' arc, making this annual far more than a peripheral tie-in. It also marks a landmark creative moment as George Pérez's formal debut as writer on Action Comics, bringing a collaborative all-star artistic lineup to what is genuinely one of the most consequential annuals of the post-Crisis Superman era.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The annual was on sale April 13, 1989, under editor Mike Carlin and assistant editor Renée Witterstaetter, slotting in as Part 9 of the 13-part 'Superman: Exile' arc. The lead story, titled 'Memories of Krypton's Past,' was scripted by Roger Stern with pencils by Kerry Gammill and inks by Dennis Janke; the broader 48-page package also featured artwork from Jerry Ordway, Mike Mignola, Curt Swan, and George Pérez, who also contributed a personal prose piece discussing how he joined the Superman creative team. The Eradicator concept was Stern's creation, though the device's mythology was subsequently deepened by Dan Jurgens and others in the Triangle Era that followed. The issue also included new Who's Who in the DC Universe profile pages for Matrix and Cat Grant, penciled by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of the Eradicator: a 200,000-year-old Kryptonian artifact created by the ancestor Kem-L to genetically bind Kryptonians to their planet and eradicate alien influences — the device that would later evolve into a humanoid hero and feature prominently in the 'Reign of the Supermen' arc.
- First appearance of the Cleric: an ancient alien missionary who once preached on Krypton, unwittingly precipitated the anti-cloning movement tied to Krypton's destruction, and kept the Eradicator for two hundred millennia before passing it to Superman.
- First appearances of Cellkeeper 385 (a Warworld prisoner also called 'Blurpy') and Gladiator Attendant Lentra, a four-armed telepath and Warworld prisoner.
- The issue is Part 9 of the 13-part 'Superman: Exile' storyline; it continues from Adventures of Superman #454 and leads directly into Superman (Vol. 2) #32.
- The Eradicator was created by writer Roger Stern; the lead story was scripted by Stern with pencils by Kerry Gammill; the full 48-page package featured art contributions from Jerry Ordway, Mike Mignola, Curt Swan, and George Pérez.
- George Pérez makes his debut as Superman/Action Comics writer in this issue and includes a first-person editorial piece about joining the Superman creative team.
- The issue includes in-continuity Who's Who profile pages for Matrix and Cat Grant, with art by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding.
- The main story was reprinted at least nine times, including in the Superman: Exile trade paperback (1998), Superman: The Secrets of the Fortress of Solitude (2012), The DC Universe by Mike Mignola (2017 and 2018 editions), and the Superman: The Exile and Other Stories Omnibus (2018).
Cast · 40 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Superman fights and defeats Mongul's gladiators. The Cleric has an artifact from Krypton that he has been holding until the right person comes along.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).