Review: Action Comics #1023

 Action Comics #1023 came out this week and was a standard middle chapter in an arc, this one being The House of Kent. The pieces are in place. Conner has joined the family. The Invisible Mafia is not so invisible. Everyone knows Clark is Superman. That's some turmoil. A middle chapter should nudge the story along but also let us know what the stakes are. And this issue does that in a big way.

We have seen throughout writer Brian Michael Bendis' run that The Red Cloud is a serious threat. In this issue, we see she is a deadly threat. It has been interesting to follow the story of Robinson Goode who has gone from young hotshot reporter to supervillain in training to demonic presence willing to leave a wake of dead bodies behind her.

And Bendis does a good job hearkening back to prior elements of this Invisible Mafia story, giving us a little bit of closure. He also has to balance a story with one Superman and two Superboys. Conner is a bit gruff in this issue, maybe a bit grittier than I am used to. But it is a good balance in comparison to Jon, returned from the squeaky clean future.

The art is by John Romita Jr. Overall, the work is standard Romita work. There are lots of scenes with Red Cloud with fog and tendrils. Romita just doesn't jibe with me. But there is nothing terrible about the work.

On to the book!

Review: Action Comics #1019

Action Comics #1019 came out this week and surprisingly there was very little Superman in this issue. Instead we get a sit-down and ultimately a team-up between two of the heavy hitters squaring off against the Man of Steel. As the cover says Luthor AND Leviathan now stand together against Superman.

Now one thing I have openly questioned on this site is my confusion around the DCU timeline right now. The Legion of Doom teaming up with Perpetua and trying to rewrite the universe? The Batman Who Laughs infecting heroes and trying to bring a satellite into our universe? Event Leviathan? How could they all be happening simultaneously? And if not simultaneously than in what order?

Writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us some answers in this issue. Event Leviathan happened while Lex was working with Perpetua. The current climax of that story in the Justice League is happening now.

Now people know how invested I was in the Event Leviathan mystery. And while the reveal wasn't who I thought, I have come to like Leviathan as a villain. He is trying to do good; he just is using the wrong means to get there. In this issue, I love how completely unimpressed he is with the Legion of Doom members. Who cares if they are trying to bring down the universe. He has his mission and he is sticking to it.

The one down side to this issue? The art. I know I am not a fan of John Romita Jr. But in this issue, his art is pretty painful. In particular, he should shy away from drawing animals or were-creatures. His Grodd and Cheetah look pretty rough.

On to the issue.

Review: Action Comics #1016

Action Comics #1016 came out this week, wrapping up the quick visit to Metropolis by Naomi while ratcheting up the Invisible Mafia storyline. As has been the norm with this book, there were great moments and snappy dialogue. This also, like last issue, showcased the difference in Superman and Batman regarding new heroes and advice. In many ways, this was just a sort of primer on Naomi for all those who have missed out on her solo comic.

The growth in the character of the Red Cloud and the subsequent fallout with the Invisible Mafia is the main push in this issue regarding the ongoing plots in the DCU. Leviathan is barely mentioned. There isn't any 'Legion of Doom' sigils. But what I did find interesting is how this issue shows the citizens of Metropolis and how they respond to super-fights and destruction.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis does a great job capturing the voices of all the characters. In particular, I love his Metropolis denizens and how they all seem to be behind their hero even if destruction occasionally happens.

Artist Szymon Kudranski has to kick it up a notch with his action sequences as it looks like a block is leveled in this fight. But there are plenty of dialogue scenes and close-ups which are rendered well.

Another fine issue. On to the details!

Review: Action Comics #1015

Action Comics #1015 came out this week and was a very entertaining issue which focused on Naomi, the latest young hero in the DCU. But it also added some important details to both the Invisible Mafia storyline and some Event Leviathan information.

For someone like me, who collects Naomi, this issue was a great recap of that title and its hero. I love that book and so seeing Naomi now entering the bigger DCU was a treat. It also hammered home the fact that her origin is a little bit Superman and a little bit Batman, one of the wrinkles I like.

On top of that, her interaction with Superman cements that writer Brian Michael Bendis has Superman's voice down pat. Between his helping Naomi here and his inspirational turn in Superman #15, this has been one heck of a month for the Man of Steel.

But this is more than a primer on Naomi. The Red Cloud side plot continues to plod along. And a huge juicy clue about the identity of Leviathan was dropped here. Remember though, this is my review post. The clues will be reviewed next week. But I am starting to have some resurgent confidence about my Leviathan Theory. Maybe this time I'm right.

This is my favorite issue so far from artist Szymon Kudranski. This issue has him drawing pages from Naomi's point of view. It has quiet moments and battle moments. And it has his usual elan about page layout and panel borders. Strong stuff here. On to the book itself!

Review: Action Comics #1012

Action Comics #1012 came out this week and continued the tremendous momentum that Brian Michael Bendis has been bringing to the title in recent months. Yes, Event Leviathan is a huge story involving the Superman family and the DCU as a whole. But Bendis shows that life goes on for most people. So this issue shows that even with Leviathan is looming over everything like a shroud, crime and day jobs are still happening. These sort of issues enrich a universe, making it feel more realistic and three dimensional.

This issue also brings in an updated Rose and Thorn, a character who occasionally crossed my path in the Bronze Age, but not enough to have me feel attached or very knowledgeable about her. This hew version seems a bit more addled than the original, and more violent than I recall. Her pending story is very interesting.

But the real revelation in this issue is the new artist Szymon Kudranski. Kudranski has a great sense of  'cinematography', taking advantage of the medium by overlaying pictures, bringing in fascinating panel borders, and switching from the bright lights of the Fortress to the blood soaked bars of Metropolis. In particular the Thorn scenes have a bit of Michael Lark sensibility, reminiscent of Daredevil.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1006

Action Comics #1006 came out this week and was another solid issue in the Brian Michael Bendis run of this book. It has action. It has character moments. It has big plot progression. It has subtle visual storytelling and gorgeous art by Ryan Sook. It has a huge nod to the past. It has just about everything ... except Lois Lane.

All along Action Comics has been my favorite book for the Bendis era. Much of that arises from the main plot that organized crime has quietly been running Metropolis, a fascinating idea for a Superman book. It also has a ton of Daily Planet time and that always works for me. And this issue is sort of a template for those high points.

Add to that Sook's work. Ryan Sook just sings off the page. You really need to linger on the page and take it all in. From expressive work to page construction, Sook is just a genius. I know his time on the book is done. I hope he comes back in some form at some point. I miss his work already.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics #1005

Action Comics #1005 came out this week and was a crackling good time. This issue was a perfect sort of middle chapter for what we have been reading here, pushing forward all the plot threads organically, giving us new information, and making me want more. From its inception, Action Comics has been my favored Brian Michael Bendis super-book and issues like this is why. After last month's Lois problems, this issue righted the train.

Certainly Superman/Clark has a huge presence. He is the straw that stirs the drink. But the real power of Action is the supporting cast. From the individual mob leaders in the Invisible Mafia to the Planet staff, everyone builds on everyone else.  I want to learn more about these people and their motivations. I want to know the answers to the mysteries we have been teased with. This is an ensemble book with a superstar center and I love it.

Of course, the book is profoundly helped by the achingly fantastic art of Ryan Sook. Sook's stuff just leaps off the page. From the action sequences to shadowy crime meetings to seedy clubs to swanky affairs, Sook's page layout, panel design, and figures are about as perfect as you can get. I know he is working on some secret future project with Bendis but I need him on the super-books now and then. How about he is the perrenial Annual artist?

And I usual am horrible about not mentioning the rest of the artistic team, something I need to remedy. Brad Anderson's colors also help tell the story. The psychedelic colors of the opening scene evoke the 60's/Ditko-ness of it all. The bright colors in the posh party stand in contrast to the inkiness of the mob meeting held in darkness. And the letters by Josh Reed, especially the sound effects, add to the action.

Okay, enough gushing. On to the details.