Action Comics #1018
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by John Romita Jr
Inks by Klaus Janson
Colors by Brad Anderson
Letters by Dave Sharpe
The Rundown: Red Cloud’s history comes into focus as she witnesses the Man of Steel face the fight of his life.
As the battle for Metropolis rages with Superman and the rest of the Justice League fighting the Legion of Doom, Red Cloud watches the events with regrets over the role she played.
The saga of Robinson Goode is explained as the intrepid reporter chases a lead at STAR Lab about illegal experiments and finds herself the victim of those experiments and the scientists trying to cover up what they are doing. She emerges with new powers and takes her revenge.
At the same time, Superman fights Lex Luthor under the gaze of Fire Chief Moore who Superman has decided to confide his secret in before revealing it to the rest of the world. When Superman goes off to fight the Legion after leaving her with the news, he finds that Lex has picked up a new ally in Leviathan.
The Story: Bendis is bringing together all of his story lines together in a way that works in this issue. Giving Red Cloud a backstory, incorporating Fire Chief Moore’s relationship with Superman and teaming Leviathan with Luthor gives some bonus drama to the story that has been a little all over the place at times. It’s gratifying to see Bendis focus the story more and I am actually intrigued to see how he wraps this story up and what direction he takes Superman in the new year.
The Art: John Romita Jr. always brings something special to the art and this issue is no different. The action is big, bold and filled with details. The characters look awesome and the world is rich and captures the eye.