Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1 hits your local comic book store today, and the 80-page issue tries to build suspense with the written talents of Marc Andreyko, Greg Rucka, Matt Fraction, and Brian Michael Bendis, but fails to develop the mystery enough to sink its hooks in the reader.
On the other hand, the artistic side of the book with Yanick Paquette, Mike Perkins, Steve Lieber, Eduardo Pancica, and Júlio Ferreira delivers a book that is worthy of your time. Paquette’s panel layout is one of the standouts, with the artist taking a unique design to his splash pages.
Fraction and Lieber’s Jimmy Olsen tale is the most memorable from an insane point of view. The story is fun, light-hearted, and captures your attention. Rucka and Perkins cover Lois Lane with grit and grime, it will be exciting to see where the duo takes the character.
If you’re a first-time reader or haven’t picked up a Superman book in a while, it may be helpful to go back and start at the beginning of Bendis’ run on Superman. The motivations of certain characters seem vague and bit more backstory would be helpful.
In a week that features Heroes In Crisis #9 and Batman: The Last Knight On Earth #1, Bendis needed to bring his A-game and Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1 comes off flat. If you are a fan of Superman, then this book is for you. If you are on the fence about the character, there is nothing in the 80-pages that will sway you either way. Bendis should have taken more chances with this issue, because when you charge $9.99 for a book, you need to deliver. Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1 reminds me of Adventures of Superman #500 and the return of the Supermen. There is excitement for the issue but I’m not sure why yet. Event Leviathan comes in two weeks, giving Bendis another chance to sway the reader’s excitement.
Do you have Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1 on your pull list? Comment below with your thoughts.
About SUPERMAN: LEVIATHAN RISING SPECIAL #1
An all-star roster of writers and artists highlight the new threat of Leviathan, but also tees up new ongoing series for Jimmy Olsen by writer Matt Fraction and artist Steve Lieber, and Lois Lane by writer Greg Rucka and artist Mike Perkins, coming in June! As Leviathan enacts a plan to take down Superman, it’s up to Lois, Jimmy and the heroes of the DC Universe to rescue the Man of Steel.
