With the DC Universe’s biggest spy organizations taken out, Superman and Lois Lane are working to find out whodunit, as writer Brian Bendis brings back some familiar faces.
Action Comics 1011
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils and Inks by Steve Epting
Colors by Brad Anderson
Earlier in his “LEVIATHAN RISING” story, we saw Talia al Ghul, disguised as attorney Kate Spencer, confront DEO head Mr. Bones before the DEO got blown up. It was a nice callback to Kate Spencer’s pre-Flashpoint life as an agent of the DEO known as Manhunter. Here, though, Bendis pulls the trigger on bringing Manhunter back, as the Special Crimes Unit, headed by Maggie Sawyer, comes after Spencer, thinking she was the one responsible.
Sawyer even calls Spencer “Manhunter lady” before Spencer leaps out her window in full costume.
Manhunter and Maggie Sawyer aren’t the only characters that Bendis brings back into prominence in the latest issue of ACTION COMICS. As the issue comes to a close, we see a figure in a hospital bed that turns out to be Jim Harper, the cloned hero known as Guardian, being offered a spot within Leviathan by an even more mysterious figure.
Whatever anyone thinks about Bendis, his work on ACTION COMICS has been simply amazing, and if he continues bringing back all these comic book characters who were essential supporting characters when I first started reading Superman comics, he may become my favorite writer of all time.
Meanwhile, Superman, Lois and Jimmy are at the Fortress of Solitude debating whether they should use the intel on Spyral given to them by Tiger in a story to blow the whole thing wide open. Debating journalistic ethics and best practices are always a way to win points with me, so getting a focus on some Daily Planet characters is also a lot of fun.
This is, of course, all in the service of promoting the EVENT LEVIATHAN story arc that’s going to take up a good chunk of the summer. After this issue, if I had any doubts at all they’re all gone. I’m really looking forward to this now.