Comic Review: Superman – Leviathan Rising #1

Superman: Leviathan Rising #1

DC Comics

Writers: Brian Micheal Bendis, Greg Rucka, Matt Fraction, Marc Andreyko

Artists: Yannick Paquette, Mike Perkins, Steve Lieber, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira

Going into Leviathan Rising #1, I had doubts. The creative teams involved are all top-notch, and it follows an Action Comics story I really enjoyed. However, I was expecting this book to be, essentially, a preview. It is, in some ways. What matters, though, is that it isn’t just a preview. This team manages to not just set-up their upcoming books, but also weave one cohesive tale across four different stories with wildly different tones.

What I love most about this issue is just how great Lois Lane comes out of it looking. The Bendis and Rucka stories deal with her the most, and both demonstrate why she’s the best-supporting characters in comics. Her voice is spot-on across both stories, and her portrayal is genuinely compelling. She’s not a damsel in distress or a worried mother. She’s Lois Lane. It’s a Lois that’s been missing for a long time and it finally seems that she’s back.  The Rucka story gives a peek at what to expect in her solo book with Mike Perkins, and it looks very promising. Perkins’ dark and rough style is perfect for the gritty, down-to-earth direction that Rucka is taking. Plus, he draws a great Batman.

On the complete opposite end of things, the Jimmy Olsen story was delightful as well. The Fraction/Lieber team aren’t just perfect for each other, they’re perfect for the character. The tone is strange and lighthearted, and it’s reflected both in the dialogue and the art. However, Lieber steals the show. He hops back and forth between styles effortlessly to pull off certain jokes and sell the comedy. The dialogue on its own, while funny in theory, requires someone with a specific understanding of comedy in comics to make it work. Lieber demonstrates that he doesn’t just understand it, he’s mastered it.

The only story that lost me a bit was the Supergirl one. It’s not bad, but I feel that it leans heavily on the previous issues of her solo book. If you haven’t been reading it, like me, then much of the story’s emotional weight is lost. I don’t much care for the Danvers’ so I don’t find their flashbacks all too compelling. That said, if this means that Supergirl is going to be a major player in Event Leviathan, I’m all for it.

The Bendis/Paquette story is sort of the bread in the sandwich that is this issue. It kicks the issue off, then puts a cap on it at the end. The first part was stellar. It had some amazing dialogue between Leviathan and Leone, and provides some intriguing insights into the world of Superman. The end of that story, however, struck me as odd. The previous stories led me to believe the upcoming books would pick up where the cliffhangers left off, but that’s not the case. The end of this book seems to jump forward in time and wraps up multiple loose ends. Honestly, it almost feels like it was spoiling certain future plot points due to the awkward time jump. I don’t know exactly what to think of it. At the very least, it’s interesting. Yannick Paquette draws the hell out of it, too.

Superman Leviathan Rising #1 is both a great set-up for future stories and a stellar one on its own. Your mileage may vary on certain stories, but as an overall package, it’s very well crafted. It hits you right where all good Superman stories should, and in a few places, you may not expect.