Action Comics #814 is an issue of the series Action Comics (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2004. It was published on April 14, 2004.
Synopsis for "Another Day at the Office"
Clark Kent gives Lois Lane a phone call while riding a train to work when it is suddenly held up by several hijackers. He stands say something but one of them shoves him through a window and out of the speeding train. Clark changes into Superman as he plummets, and quickly flies back into the train to confront the now anxious criminals. When one of them threatens a passenger, Superman flies him out of the train and scares his accomplices into giving themselves up. After making it to the Daily Planet, Clark tries to see his boss Perry White, who is unavailable. Having time to kill while waiting for Perry to get out of his meeting, Clark takes to the sky as Superman.
Elsewhere, a young mother drives her children on an overpass when she becomes distracted and goes off the road. Careening over the edge, the family prepares to crash land before Superman arrives and catches the vehicle, much to the family's relief. He returns to the office, but Perry is still tied up in his meeting. Unable to work until his boss gives him an assignment, Clark continues to kill time at work until he leaves the office again as Superman. He is flying once again when he hears a boom tube open suddenly in the middle of the street below. Kalibak, Steppenwolf, and Kanto emerge, along with hordes of Parademons, with Kalibak ordering them to spread out and find someone, presumably Superman. Superman flies in and punches Kalibak, reminding him that no one from Apokolips is welcome in Metropolis. Steppenwolf attacks Superman from behind, but he quickly dispatches both New Gods.
Just then, Darkseid himself arrives through the boom tube and Superman throws Kalibak and Steppenwolf at him, but he brushes them off, telling the Man of Steel that he and his minions are there to find Doomsday. He explains that he was training Doomsday to be his perfect weapon until the monster gained intelligence and found his own way off of Apokolips to return to Earth and that he has made his way back and will inevitably return to Metropolis. He asks that when Superman finds Doomsday, that he return the monster. Superman tells Darkseid to leave Earth, but the New God scoffs at the command. Frustrated, Superman punches Darkseid hard, drawing the New God's wrath. As Darkseid charges his omega beams, Superman rounds up all of the Apokoliptans and throws them at Darkseid, using them to absorb Darkseid's blast just as the boom tube closes for good.
At the Daily Planet, Lois and Perry meet and discuss the fact that Clark has been demoted, something everyone is working to keep a secret until Perry breaks the news to him personally. Lois demands transparency from Perry and he asks her to keep a secret just a bit longer until he can find the right time to tell Clark. Later, Clark and Lois talk on the phone and plan a breakfast date. She asks how his day was, and he replies, "Oh, you know, nothing special. Just another day at the office."
Appearing in "Another Day at the Office"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Lois Lane
- Perry White
- Grace
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Julio (Office Manager)
- Doomsday (Mentioned only)
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
Continuity Notes
- Darkseid and Superman mention that Darkseid was holding Doomsday on Apokolips. This happened when Lex Luthor handed the creature over to Darkseid to be imprisoned there in Superman (Volume 2) #175. Doomsday was seen there in Superman Versus Darkseid: Apokolips Now #1. His story continues in Action Comics #820.
- This is one of the many times that Superman and Darkseid cross paths in the Post-Crisis universe. Before this, these events occurred in Superman (Volume 2) #3–Adventures of Superman #426–Action Comics #586 during Legends, Action Comics #600, Cosmic Odyssey #1, Superman (Volume 2) #104, Adventures of Superman #518, Superman: The Man of Steel #116, Adventures of Superman #595, and Superman Versus Darkseid: Apokolips Now #1. They meet again in Superman/Batman #11– #13.
- Superman and Kalibak have faced off before in, chronologically, Adventures of Superman Annual #7, Action Comics #600, Action Comics Annual #3 and Superman: The Man of Steel #116. They next clash in Death of the New Gods #5.
See Also
Links and References
