Review: Action Comics Vol. 2- Leviathan Rising

Quick Summary

Pros: The volume immediately introduces a mystery that remains highly interesting throughout the read. The conclusion builds excitement for the future. Small moments of brevity add some fun to an otherwise serious book. The artwork is mostly positive.

Cons: Sometimes the brevity borders on silly and unrealistic. 

Overall: This collection is a great read on its own and an even better read as part of this ongoing series. The bulk of the book centers around a well-executed and highly interesting mystery. This mystery is then combined with some solid artwork and some fun bits of writing to create a book that is positive nearly all the way through. Anyone intrigued by the premise from the previous volume or who is looking to read Event Leviathan should consider picking up this book.

Story

Action Comics Vol. 2: Leviathan Rising, by Brian Michael Bendis, uses the momentum from the first volume to launch a new and exciting narrative. This volume introduces the mystery of Leviathan’s rise and does so in a way that garners some serious attention. The volume is a whirlwind of happenings where the purpose and perpetrators are almost entirely unclear. This creates a mystery that is engaging in the present while also successful in building anticipation for the future. Plus, the volume still manages to take some time out to just have fun. All in all, this is a solid read and a great way to get excited for Event Leviathan.

(spoilers start here)

The majority of Leviathan Rising is a mystery. Over the course of the read, the world’s most powerful intelligence organizations are hit by a seemingly unstoppable and all-powerful force, yet the architects and purpose behind these attacks remain unknown. Readers are aware Leviathan is pulling the strings but that is about the width and breath of the knowledge available here. This turns the read into a devilishly addictive mystery, as each event that unfolds makes readers want to read more and more.

The volume then ends on a cliffhanger that drives this point home even further. The last chapter is an Event Leviathan special issue that finally gives readers a chance to see Leviathan’s leader, even if they still have no idea who he is. If I wasn’t excited about reading Event Leviathan before, reading this book did the trick.

What makes this entire narrative even more enjoyable is the fact that the Bendis is clearly having some fun with it. The volume has Jimmy Olsen worried about having dated a “lizard person”, has a Superman and Lois Lane go undercover as secret agents, and simply includes plenty of great banter between a variety of characters. While there are points that may feel almost silly in the way they approach this, the volume never downright abandons its serious premise.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in Leviathan Rising is not quite as striking as the artwork in the previous volume but is still very appealing and is probably better than most mainstream comics. Steve Epting’s work is detailed, well-laid out, and generally attractive. It has a realistic approach that, when paired with Brad Anderson’s realistic colors, helps emphasize the serious tone found throughout this narrative. I also particularly appreciated the variety of characters and locations seen throughout this book. Epting’s work ends up looking great whether depicting main characters, like Superman and Lois, or the random assortment of secondary characters, like Adam Strange and Director Bones; the same holds true with scenery, which looks as good in Metropolis as it does in Japan. Overall, the artwork here works out and is a complement to the storyline.

Continuity

Action Comics Vol. 2: Leviathan Rising continues the story from Action Comics Vol. 1: Invisible Mafia (Review).

The story here continues in Action Comics Vol. 3: Leviathan Hunt (Review). In addition, the volume’s final chapter leads directly into the Event Leviathan (Review) event.

This volume also references other comic books, detailed below:

• The history behind Nightwing (Reading Order), Huntress (Reading Order), and Tiger’s involvement in Spyral is mostly detailed across the Grayson series. This series starts with Grayson Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral (Review) and ends with Grayson Vol. 5: Spiral’s End (Review).
• Several photographs, seen throughout this volume, show a high-rise building exploding. This explosion occurred at the beginning of the Year of the Villain (Review) event.
• A picture of the Justice League (Reading Order) fighting Starro is seen in the Superman: Leviathan Rising Special #1. This picture is from the Justice League’s first appearance in The Brave and the Bold #28, collected in Justice League of America: The Silver Age Vol. 1.
• The last chapter of this volume is a direct tie-in to Event Leviathan (Review).