Soon appearing in Action Comics, Natasha Irons' new Steel design is given the spotlight on a Black History Month variant cover.
Illustrated by artist Khary Randolph for Action Comics #1052 and released as a part of DC's February 2023 solicitations, the issue's variant cover shows off the new design made for Natasha by artist Dan Mora. Instead of her usual metal suit, the new costume adds a sweatshirt-style hood that sports the Superman shield across the torso and shoulders. The cover shows Natasha geared up while her father -- John Henry Irons, aka the original Steel -- floats in the air behind her.
ACTION COMICS #1052
- Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, DAN JURGENS, and LEAH WILLIAMS
- Art by RAFA SANDOVAL, LEE WEEKS, and MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
- Cover by STEVE BEACH
- Variant cover by CLAYTON HENRY and MARCELO MAIOLO
- Variant cover by RAFA SANDOVAL and MATT HERMS
- Variant cover by LEE WEEKS
- 1:25 variant cover by JORGE FORNÉS
- 1:50 foil variant cover by STEVE BEACH
- Black History Month variant cover by KHARY RANDOLPH
- $4.99 US | 48 pages | Variant $5.99 US (card stock)
- ON SALE 2/28/23
- METALLO ATTACKS!
- The crown jewel of Superman’s new Metropolis is in ruins, and the increasingly violent Blue Earth movement is keeping the entire Super-Family on their toes. Meanwhile, Metallo’s powerful new body is evolving in unforeseen, horrific ways. As Metallo’s life and sanity continue to unravel, he sets out to capture the only person who can help him: John Henry Irons. It’s Steel versus Metallo as the new era of Action Comics continues!
The new designs for Natasha and several members of the Super-Family were unveiled by DC at New York Comic Con 2022. While Natasha is getting a hoodie, other character designs done by Mora show that Superman Jon Kent, Supergirl Kara Zor-El, Superboy Conner Kent and Super-Man of China Kong Kenan will each be getting new outfits that trade in their capes for leather jackets (a normal look for Conner). Jon Kent will be getting his very own Electric Blue look as well, while Mora has also illustrated designs for Superman Clark Kent and Lois Lane's newly adopted, superpowered children, Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra.
DC's Plans for Black History Month and Superman, Explained
Randolph's variant for Action Comics #1052 was previously released by DC when the company announced its plans for Black History Month alongside scheduled projects arriving from Milestone Comics. Randolph's cover is one of many variants releasing for issues coming out in February, including The Flash #792, I Am Batman #18, Black Adam #8, Lazarus Planet Omega #1 and Wonder Woman #796. Additionally, DC will release an anthology one-shot for Black History Month, DC Power: A Celebration #1, which is set to spotlight Black heroes like Cyborg, Green Lantern John Stewart, Vixen, Aqualad and more.
Natasha Irons was created by Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove and Chris Batista in 1994, first appearing in Steel #1. Her increased involvement with the Super-Family in Action Comics is the result of a format change for the title and a shakeup for DC's Superman-related series. Previously, DC published Action Comics as a Clark Kent-focused title while Jon Kent starred in Superman: Son of Kal-El, but come 2023, Clark Kent will star in a new Superman ongoing series, Jon will lead the Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent miniseries and the Super-Family's members will play prominent roles in Action Comics.
Action Comics #1052 is written by Phillip Kennedy, with backup stories written by Dan Jurgens and Leah Williams. The issue features interior artwork by Rafa Sandoval, Lee Weeks and Marguerite Sauvage, with main cover art by Steve Beach and variant cover artwork contributed to by Randolph, Clayton Henry, Marcelo Maiolo, Sandoval, Matt Herms, Weeks, Beach and Jorge Fornés. The issue is set to go on sale Feb. 28, 2023 from DC Comics.
Source: DC Comics