Action Comics #1022 // Review
Superman investigates the mystery of Connor Kent while Lois Lane starts an investigation of her own in Action Comics #1022, by writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist John Romita Jr, inker Danny Miki, colorist Brad Anderson, and Dave Sharpe. After the bombast of the last story arc, this issue slows things down and focuses on some exciting minutiae.
At the Fortress of Solitude, Superman and Connor Kent discuss who Connor is and where he's from when Superboy and Brainiac 5 return from the 31st century. Jon jokes around that his father replaced him while he was gone, as everyone wonders about Connor's mystery. Back in Metropolis, Perry tells the Daily Planet staff about what will happen now that Lois has outed Leone, the current owner of the newspaper, as the leader of the Invisible Mafia. Elsewhere, Leone and Red Cloud discuss what to do next. At the Hall of Justice, Superman has assembled some of the greatest minds to look into Connor's DNA. Superman asks Connor where he grew up, and Connor tells him that the Kents raised him. Superman, Connor, Superboy, and Brainiac go to the Kent farm… (SPOILERS FOR A MONTH OLD COMIC) and the Kents remember Connor. Everyone's happy except Superman, who wonders why he doesn't remember Connor. Meanwhile, in Metropolis, Lois and Jimmy follow an anonymous tip to an abandoned mansion where they find the Invisible Mafia's lead-lined meeting place… full of dead bodies. As they are leaving, a red mist appears…
Bendis hits it out of the park with this issue. Action Comics has improved immensely lately. This issue is light on the action, which can be a problem because of a tendency to get carried away with the dialogue and drama, and the chapter can get pretty dull. However, this issue never does that because of just how good every line is. The mystery of Connor Kent is played perfectly, and Bendis uses it as a way to reveal to the characters that the Crises actually happened. The most significant moment of the issue is when Ma and Pa Kent reveal they remember Connor. For anyone who was a fan of Connor, it's a tearjerker of a moment that Bendis builds to perfectly.
Elsewhere in the issue, Bendis does an admirable job of building things to come. Leone says something very intriguing to Red Cloud in their conversation- that she's been looking for the perfect Earth and that this one is it or it can't be found. That little snippet of dialogue is very tantalizing, especially with the focus on Connor and his origin elsewhere in the issue. The cliffhanger ending is perfect as well, as Lois and Jimmy walk into a trap that Leone and Red Cloud have set for them.
John Romita Jr.'s art in this issue is some of his best art in years. His linework is super clean and detailed. His faces are very simple but also do a great job of showing the emotions of the characters that really run this issue. The facial expressions sell what the dialogue doesn't. Even at this late date in his career, Romita Jr. can still wow.
Action Comics #1022 is one of the best issues of a Superman comic that Bendis has put out so far. He doesn't answer the whys of what has happened with Connor, but he doesn't really need to- that's a story for another time. However, what he gives readers in this issue is more than enough and is done wonderfully. Elsewhere in the book, he lays out some tantalizing hints and set-up for the future that will keep readers on the hook. Romita Jr. turns in some great pencils, some of the best of his time at DC, and easily his best in years. Action Comics #1022 delivers on so many different levels. It's a quiet spot after the sturm and drang of the last story.
Grade: A
