Comic Review: Event Leviathan (2019-) #6

Event Leviathan (2019-) #6

DC Comics

Writer: Brian Micheal Bendis

Artist: Alex Maleev

Now that Event Leviathan is over, I can see that much of my skepticism and ambivalence towards it were due to my own misunderstanding of its goal. This is not the end of the Leviathan plot; it’s simply the first big step. It’s about the simple question “Who is Leviathan?” This realization has sort of recolored my perspective on the book, and though it’s still flawed, I quite like it. 

This issue’s greatest strength is in the reveal of Leviathan’s identity. Notice that it the identity itself, but the actual reveal. It works and is satisfying because there is an absolute answer to the question. There’s no cop-out or ambiguity to it. He’s not a new character that the reader couldn’t have possibly guessed, and there’s no cheap reveal that Leviathan is actually just a pawn of the real Leviathan. I was totally expecting something like that, and the lack of it is a pleasant surprise.

On the flip side of that, this character is one I’m personally blind to. I have next to no familiarity with him, and as such, it wasn’t overly shocking. I recognize that this an issue entirely specific to myself, but I’d be lying if I said it blew my mind. With that said, the character as he’s presented in this series is stellar. His motivations aren’t entirely unique, but his personality and plan are. For the entire miniseries to be focused around him (and in the foreseeable future of Action Comics), he is appropriately interesting. I’m genuinely excited to see more of him. 

This is a Bendis book, and as you may expect, there are a lot of talking heads. I tend to think he’s very good at this kind of thing despite the fact that it shouldn’t work in comics. However, this issue puts a pretty fun spin on that with a sequence involving sign language that I quite enjoy. It’s ultimately still talking heads, but it feels more unique and places more of an emphasis on Maleev. 

While I sometimes questioned the direction of the story, Maleev’s talent was never part of that question. The guy is a genuine talent and every panel he draws is a joy. His unique style suits the tone of this book so well, and his long relationship with Bendis brings out the best in both of them. If I have one complaint with his art in this issue, it’s that the characters who don’t wear costumes (Talia and Lois) aren’t the easiest to differentiate. It’s a common problem in comics, and Maleev is certainly not the worst offender. It crops up in a few panels here and there but is not too distracting. 

Event Leviathan #6 is a satisfying end to this chapter of the Leviathan plot. I haven’t loved every issue, but due to Maleev’s art and Bendis’ commitment to the reveal, it all feels worth it in the end. It’s not without flaws, but it’s ultimately a success. I find myself looking forward to seeing more of Leviathan.

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