Event Leviathan #5: All Together Now

Event Leviathan #5 had me on the edge of my seat. Actually, even writing about Event Leviathan #5 has me on the edge of my seat. What a great issue! Everything we know is thrown away for the most part, but not in a cheap way. All of this buildup is going to have an incredible payoff. If the last issue is put together as well as #5 then I will be extremely satisfied. Having Constantine and other magic figures was such a great change of pace from Batman and company. Two vastly different groups both working tirelessly to discover who Leviathan is.

Their hunch is really interesting: Sam Lane. Their confrontation led to some incredible panels cutting between Sam, breaking news on a television, and of a vulnerable Lois which reminds readers that most of these characters are human. Throughout the issue she repeatedly says that she needs Superman. When she really needs him, Superman is face to face with Leviathan. The Destiny Hunter looking figure now looks like a mix between Ultron and the Night King (which is pretty cool). Their dialogue with Superman left me when goosebumps, which perfectly narrated the panels featuring Batman, Robin, Green Arrow, and Manhunter. The cuts back and forth between Leviathan/Superman and Batman and company are proof that Bendis is a near masterful writer. The writing cannot do all of the work. Maleev continues to blow me away with his art. I am a huge fan of his color choices. A lot of this series has been in the shadows yet Maleev fills his pages with colors that perfectly fit the scene. He uses a variety of different styles but somehow stays completely consistent with characters. I am not sure if Bendis’ writing would be this compelling with another artist.