Action Comics #848 - DC

This issue is a story about the year that Superman didn't have his powers. During that time a new hero (?) emerged. But it seems as if he's forcing his beliefs on others. Basically what happens is some massacres in Nyasir. This new hero (?) comes in to their country, to protect the faithful ones, and when attacked by the govt. soldiers, sends out this pulse-wave that destroys everyone and everything, except for those that he protects. So while Clark didn't have his powers, there were a couple of these massacres. Now that he's got his powers back, he's decided to look in to them. He's devastated by the destruction he finds. So he follows the trail back, and it leads to Valley Falls, Colorado. A small rural town that reminds him an awful lot of Smallville. What he finds is a very religious and faithful community. Rather than just barging in, he decides to do a little investigating as Clark Kent. There's a church that was bought in 1949 by Matthew Hightower, who then founded a new denomination. He's 85 years old, and he still runs the church. He talks to Clark openly, but Clark is convinced that he's hiding something. He also sees the boy that did the destruction in Africa, but decides not to confront him. It turns out that the church is sending missionaries to Africa, to try to convert them to their faith, and the minister appears to be sending this boy over to protect them. But he's not in complete control of his powers, and after the destruction that he's caused, he's very repentant and confused. But the minister seems to hold a pretty strong sway over him. He sends him over again to avenge the deaths of some of their followers, but this time Superman is there to meet him. It'll be interesting next issue to see how their powers conflict. Nice story by Fabian Nicieza. And I was actually quite surprised by the art. When I saw on the cover that it was Allan Goldman and Ron Randall that did the artwork, I really didn't expect much. Also because I really didn't like the Brad Walker cover. But on the inside, I was actually surprised at how good the art was. Overall it was a very nice issue.