Action Comics #1023: Red Cloud Unbound

At the start of every Action Comics, I am usually unsure if I am going to like it. By the end every time, I love it and can’t figure out why I thought I wouldn’t. Bendis and Romita Jr. are having a blast with this run, and I am having a ball reading it. The one drawback to this issue is that things are starting to feel crowded. I would not jump to saying that this is a bad thing because I’m sure Bendis is crowding the book for a reason. One thing I really enjoy about this current arc is the familiarity of Romita Jr.’s art. Though sometimes crude, Romita Jr.’s art is simple but undeniably unique. It is no wonder that Bendis and Romita Jr. wanted to work with each other again on a Superman book. This issue felt like they were just having fun.

Red Cloud really is starting to look like a danger to Superman. The Supermen rush to stop Red Cloud from killing Lois and Jimmy. What is funny is that Jimmy knows Red Cloud is Robinson Goode right away. The interaction between Lois and Jimmy is one of my favorite moments in Bendis’ Action Comics run. Lane says, “Jimmy how could you possibly guess that was Robinson Goode, and Jimmy replies, “It looks and sounds just like her.” Then Lane says, “You’ve known Superman your whole life and never figured out he was Clark Kent?! You know her a month and you could tell she was that?” I love the obliviousness of characters in comic books. I love that the only thing separating Clark from Superman is glasses, so it is hilarious when Jimmy can see that Red Cloud is Goode. To make things even funnier, Jimmy continues, “I still don’t think that’s Clark! I still don’t see it!” Jimmy is often used as comedic relief, and Bendis nailed it out of the park in this exchange.

It seems like Red Cloud can easily hold her own against Superman, but I don’t know about three. She always seems like something is holding her back. Ms. Leone is probably the one holding her back. An interaction between the two really captured the tone of Red Cloud’s eagerness to take down Superman. Ms. Leone even comments on Red Cloud going after Superman’s son, showing that Red Cloud is reckless and should pick her fights. Red Cloud says, “Difference is we fight dirtier…” followed by Leone saying, ‘He’s Superman.’‘ Red Cloud continues, “Exactly, he can’t fight this fight,” and Ms. Leone replies, ‘But, he’s not playing by his old rules anymore.” If Red Cloud breaks away from Ms. Leone, then I am really excited to see what she can do without anyone holding her back. She might even be able to take down three Supermen like nothing.