Action Comics #1020: Only a Pawn in Their Game

Brian Michael Bendis has been on a roll with Action Comics, Event Leviathan, and this week’s Leviathan Dawn. I have been on the fence about Leviathan, but I am finally coming around and loving it. That being said, Bendis’ writing has always been superb and attractively compliments by whichever artist he is working with, mainly Alex Maleev on Event Leviathan and Leviathan Dawn, and John Romita Jr. on Action Comics. 

Romita Jr.’s art is the star of Action Comics #1020. The second half of the issue is sparse in dialogue. Superman plays right into Luthor’s trap just long enough for the Legion of Doom’s guard to fall. Before they can do anything, Superboy shoots himself right into the Legion of Doom’s headquarters with everything he has, and propelling it away from the city. The following pages depict the aftermath of the impact and crash and the Legion of Doom beating Superman. Romita Jr. beautifully captures the turbulence and urgency of the Justice League racing to save Superman.

It is always tough to see a defeated Superman, and Romita Jr. doesn’t pull his punches. Grodd throwing Superman as if he is nothing into Sinestro’s devastating blast felt like a curb stomp. This onslaught ends with Batman and Wonder Woman carrying a defeated Superman off of the battlefield. Leviathan, overlooking it all, says Luthor finally took out Superman, and it really looks that way.

Reading Action Comics #1020 followed by or before Leviathan Dawn is a good idea. Obviously this was planned, but readers will get a greater appreciation for Leviathan. The cover of Leviathan Dawn reads, “He’s outplayed the heroes,” and shows Mark Shaw towered by crumbling chess pieces resembling Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman. Action Comics #1020 shows truly is a game for Leviathan. Leviathan watches Luthor take down Superman on his monitors like it is a game, but readers then learn that Luthor’s plan was just part of Leviathan’s all along. Bendis knows what he’s doing.