Action Comics #1021
Scheduled to arrive in stores: March 25, 2020
Cover date: May 2020
“Metropolis Doom!” – Conclusion
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Klaus Janson
Cover: John Romita Jr.
Variant Cover: Lucio Parillo
Reviewed by: James Lantz
Shuster Park and much of Metropolis is in ruins. The Legion of Doom is on the verge of victory. Both Lex Luthor and Leviathan have set their plans in to motion. Red Cloud is strangling Superman. His allies in the Justice League, Teen Titans and Young Justice will need everything at their disposal to defeat the forces of darkness. Otherwise, Metropolis and the entire world could be doomed for all eternity.
Red Cloud has had a change of heart, having joined the Justice to fight the Legion of Doom. Conner Kent is still an unknown factor for Luthor and Brainiac. The battle between good and evil rages on when Leviathan makes the Legion of Doom disappear without even raising a fist to fight. He has moved on to the next phase of his plans while clean up and rescue efforts go on. Meanwhile in the aftermath of Superman revealing he is Clark Kent, Marisol Leone and Robinson Goode will grab what they can to grab whatever they can control.
Story – 5: While it does feel rushed a little as an individual comic, this chapter is an entertaining conclusion to this serial when read together with the previous issues. This happened from time to time in Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man. Single books read like he needed to make a deadline at that moment, but reading overall story arcs made it better. Do what’s been called binge reading nowadays to get a better idea of what Bendis has done for Superman. You’ll be glad you did.
Art – 4: The art has improved, and Romita’s Superman does look better. Yet some of the maskless faces such as Brainiac seem rushed and a little off. However, Romita is still one of the best in comics in spite of the flaws in his recent work.
Cover Art – 4: Like the interior art, this is an improvement. The dialogue balloons could have been replaced with a cover blurb though.
Variant Cover Art – 5: Why isn’t this artist in more comics? His work is incredible, and so is this cover.
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I haven’t been able to go pick up the latest Superman titles due to what’s been going on, but from the looks of these images, I don’t know. Something about each cover art looks really off. The way Superman and the other superheroes look, look really strange to me. The second cover art looks like Superman just washed his hands and he can’t find a towel or air dryer. And what’s with the square belt buckle?
The art is really all over the place even by JRJr. usual standards.
The less said about Bendis’ run, the better imo. Call me when he’s off all Superman titles.
Just wake me when JRJr is no longer on *any* Superman comic.
It’s like being stuck in the Nu52 era all over again yet somehow worse.
It will never cease being funny to me that you consistently rate this scribbling so high and repeatedly call him one of the best artists working today right after telling us how bad he does at just about every aspect of drawing. I commend you on your trolling game sir.