‘Action Comics #1012’ (review)

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrated by Szymon Kudranski
Published by DC Comics

This book is a direct tie-in to the Leviathan event currently going on right now.

Bendis has set Leviathan up to be a major threat in the DC Universe. But is the issue any good or is it just a filler issue for the main event Leviathan series?

Well, it’s not bad, but it is a little much to be honest.

There’s just so much going on plot wise.

The opening scene has a familiar group tracking Superman and his whereabouts. They are keeping tabs on him for unknown reasons. They also know about Leviathan and are looking into him as well.

From the start, it feels like Bendis is trying to crowbar in as many stories as he possibly can into this issue.

I love Szymon Kudranski’s work as an artist but it’s so vastly different from the previous issue’s artist, Steve Epting, that it took time for me to adjust.

The next thing after the opening sequence is Lois and Clark in bed in the Fortress of Solitude. They talk for a bit.

The illustrations in this scene are absolutely beautiful.  The dialogue is strong but this scene doesn’t push the story forward that much.

So the issue is slow to start. Then, it switched focus completely as Bendis decides to focus on Daily Planet reporter Robinson Goode. Her trajectory in this issue leads her to Rose (aka as in Rose and Thorn). Ms. Goode does some investigating and interviews Rose.

That’s when things just go haywire.

Suffice to say, the whole issue leads to Leviathan making his presence known. It’s a beautiful last picture on the last page, but it doesn’t feel terribly earned. Maybe something will happen from this in the next issue, but I found this whole thing rather boring.

I do like Szymon Kudranski’s art though. He and Bendis aren’t the best collaborators, but I find his art appealing. Maybe they will find their footing but this issue felt like a boring highlight reel that looked beautiful but had nothing going for it beyond that.

RATING: B-