DC Comics reviews 10/23/19 – Action Comics #1016, Detective Comics #1016

Action Comics #1016

So far there’s no concrete evidence to support the notion that Brian Michael Bendis has been sent over by Marvel to sabotage DC Comics, but the case is building. Action Comics #1016 was another tough read as Bendis finds another hero to take the spotlight from Superman.

Bendis writes in this rapid fire, constantly distracted tone that he probably thinks sounds authentic to how people talk but on paper it reads scattershot and unfocused. In one panel a child actually says “might be from the rumored Young Justice reboot.” Children don’t talk like that outside of Bendis-speak.

Passersby are recalling Superman’s clash with Red Cloud. Similar to Superman and Event Leviathan, Bendis rarely writes action scenes in the moment preferring to recap them through other people’s accounts.

Sifting through the taxing dialogue the gist of the issue is Red Cloud was kicking Superman’s tail until Naomi came to save the day. Bendis is making a good faith effort to make Naomi into a player, but his end game is too transparent.

Syzmon Kudranski’s art still doesn’t feel like the best fit for Action Comics and handling superhero action in general. Kudranski’s realistic style would fit smoother with a Lois Lane or a potential Question series. The action scenes here never feel that high stakes or urgent and Bendis’ storytelling doesn’t help on that front either.

Action Comics was Bendis’ stronger of his two Superman titles, but right now they’re both badly in need of a creative overhaul. DC likely won’t move on from Bendis headlining its flagship character for a while and there’s dwindling hope Bendis knows how to sustain any kind of longterm success on the Superman books.

Rating: 2 out of 10