Action Comics #1023

By the end of the issue, it's clear that the Super-family is in the middle of a power struggle unlike what they're used to, but they're thinking outside of the box on how to handle it. Which is refreshing. Read Full Review

Bendis' Superman is a lot more unpredictable than the character usually is, and it feels like this is the first shot in a war that's going to get nasty. Read Full Review

John Romita Jr. makes some interesting choices with the composition of the art and there are some panels that showcase the true menace of the character of Red Cloud. While a lot of the action works visually, the characters lack depth and there are some close ups that are confusing when trying to differentiate between Clark, Jon and Conner. Read Full Review

So the arc proceeds. The stakes are known. And this looks like a brawl with the fate of the city on the line. Time for some Supergirl!! Read Full Review

Action Comics #1023 (Bendis, Romita Jr., Janson, Anderson) is a fun issue with a couple of great moments that reminds you how well Bendis and Romita Jr. work together. Read Full Review

The Red Cloud thinks she has Lois and Jimmy on the ropes until two dimensions worth of Kents blow into town. Read Full Review

Action Comics #1023 is a good issue that, unfortunately, shows off the creative team's weaknesses. Bendis drags the middle of the book out with a whole lot of repeated dialogue. A lot happens, but very little of it has any real weight. Romita Jr.'s art has some of the problems that have plagued his work, with indistinct line work and some strange lack of details in a few places. There's still a lot to like about this issue, and it's entertaining, but it does have some problems. Read Full Review

Action Comics remains a disappointment as both Bendis and Romita seem to flail unsure of what and how they want to tell this story. Read Full Review

While the majority of page space in Action Comics #1023 is more or less enjoyable with the extended Kent family facing a problem together and the Invisible Mafia getting much needed exposure, the issue really falls flat as the Red Cloud lacks any real depth and Superman's actions at the end of the issue just don't fit the character we. Two years into Bendis's run, this is probably about the best one can hope for. The title is too mired in erratic characterization and overextended storylines that don't always have a satisfying payoff. There are moments, but they hold little depth. Read Full Review

'Action Comics' #1023's plot is so overbearing, Brian Michael Bendis has cut off the circulation to the charm and heart he's so often capable of pulling off. Read Full Review

You know that a story has gotten overly convoluted when you have to rely on a fairly extensive, full-page (and then some) recap in order to make sense of the issue in hand and that's where we are in Action Comics #1023. Read Full Review

Red Cloud is pissed and now it's an all-out war between the Superman Family and the Invisible Mafia, but who knows what that actually means since we really know nothing about the Invisible Mafia still and with Bendis writing terrible versions of our heroes.  The art in this issue was........ something I hope to never see in DC Comics again and the story was just so ridiculous that it felt more like a fever dream than an actual progression in a story. Read Full Review

Brian Michael Bendis' "The House of Kent" storyline is really collapsing in on itself, and we're only two parts in. Read Full Review

Overall, this is a missed opportunity and it is apparent on each and every boring page. Read Full Review

cincyfan

Sep 10, 2020

The story isn’t bad though it wasn’t on par with the last issue however once again the artwork is awful

Darrow

Jul 25, 2020

Story isn't bad ( it isn't good too.) but art.... it's so so BAD. All panels are ugly. When I compare this with Reis Art, I realize how much it's BAD. Romita please go. Back to marvel and work there Or do not work at all.

Comics Code Authorities

Aug 14, 2020

This issue was actually better than the last few, but that's not saying much. Here's a message for Bendis regarding Red Cloud and the Invisible Mafia-When you finish this story KILL THEM ALL OFF! I was sick of them by issue #1003, and now I never want to see these pathetic excuses for enemies again. And a tip: Stick to Marvel books with the Marvel-style gimmicks. Bendis plans to leave Superman soon. I don't know How soon, but just bear with a few more issues....And hope we get better writers next....

USAVenom

Jul 22, 2020

I didn't like this at all. Action Comics is going nowhere with this boring plot and horrible art from JRJR.

Swanktub

Jul 22, 2020

Bendis should not have both Action Comics and Superman. The whole point of having two books about the same character is so that there can be two different takes on the same character in case you're not into one. The only difference between Bendis' AC and Superman is that Action Comics has worse art than the flagship book.

Briton

Jul 23, 2020

There was a time when Bendis' writing seemed fresh and interesting. That was long ago, and now it is stale and excruciatingly poor. It is high time he got out of comics.

Watchtower022

Jul 24, 2020

There’s some semblance of plot here. I don’t think the story arc is over all a terrible arc until Bendis’s bad dialogue and JRJR’s rushed/poor artwork.

Psycamorean

Jul 21, 2020

This is a slog. I think the story is just... All over the place. I can't bring myself to care about what's happening. It seems like Bendis has so much that he wants to tell, that he can't figure out how to tell it. The art, as always, is mostly terrible aside from one or two bright spots... An inverse of JRJr in his prime. This is just a terrible comic and DC really needs to let Bendis go to a book that may be marginally more suited to him.

KErtneY

Jul 21, 2020

I feel that they are giving red clud more importance than she has, do we really have to remember everything that happened before in all the chapters? It seems that action comics only serves to promote his other series and that he makes no effort to write this.

allenquanobi

Jul 21, 2020

You know what I miss? Reading Superman comics. Please get Bendis off Superman and also JRJR either needs to just start doing covers or do a limited series where he can get tons of time to finish his art. This is some of the worst writing and art I've seen in a Superman book in a while. I didn't care for Bendis Superman, but now I think I'm starting to loathe it.

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Comics Code Authorities - Aug 14, 2020

I don't know yet when his last issue will be, but he announced he's leaving a while back. Now let's keep our fingers crossed that we get better next instead of worse.

superstan52

Jul 21, 2020

Now THAT was one terrible comic book. I'm not sure the pages were even in the right order.

Spacey Medicine

Jul 29, 2020

No.

Prodigalson16

Jul 30, 2020

Bendis strikes again!

RKS

Jul 31, 2020

Horrible, simply horrible. The art is laughably bad, I actually laughed at the drawing of Lois on page 4. She looks like Keanu Reeves having a bad day instead of Lois Lane. Then there is the story if you can call it that, Bendis takes every opportunity to make Lois look smarter than Superman as she has to explain the meeting place of the Invisible Mafia to him. She then explains that she didn't call for help for herself but to protect Jimmy. If Bendis hammered readers over the head harder with his SJW pandering we would be unconscious. Honestly this book sucks which honestly makes me sad because it was great before they handed over control to Bendis and Romita Jr. The only good aspect of this book is that they had Jon choked on page 1 5, too bad he survived though. more

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Comics Code Authorities - Aug 14, 2020

I don't know. I like Jon. I liked himr as a kid more though. Damian is the Super Son I'd like to see get killed (And this time for good).

CaptnAmerca

Aug 14, 2020

Like waiting for an old lady to cross the street.