Superman Action Comics 1: Invisible Mafia

Bendis’ run on action comics starts solid enough. He seems to have a really good handle on Superman and his supporting cast, writing each with a distinct voice that feels right. The plot is serviceable enough. It is interesting to see how organized crime has adjusted itself to superman and the steps they take to keep him off their trail. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but it does supply enough mystery to keep the reader engaged.All of this is greatly supplemented by the stellar artwork.While I still feel like DC fixed what wasn’t broke by bringing Bendis on to write both superman titles, I’m enjoying Action so far and am interested in seeing what comes next.

This was so good! I'm really enjoying Brian Michael Bendis take on Superman. Especially like his interaction with his wife Lois. The art work by Patrick Gleason is perfect in my opinion. Can't get enough of this keep it coming Mr. Bendis!

NOT BAD.

Superman, the greatest superhero in a new story.

Good book. Fun ideas. Came in good condition

This story arc seemed like a good jumping on point for reading Superman which I had not done in a while. I enjoyed the art, the sly humor, the fact that the story was essentially Metropolis-bound, the Batman and Lois Lane appearances, the new super-villain - basically, I liked everything and am going to dive into Volume Two of The Invisible Mafia saga.Highly recommended.

Superman: Action Comics vol 1: Invisible Mafiaby Brian Michael Bendis & Patrick GleasonDC Comics, Action Comics #1001-1006Pub Date April 9, 2019I don't usually do personal reviews, but I love Superman! He is the icon of all icons in the Superhero genre. Since his inception during WWII, he has been a symbol of Hope & Compassion. Truth, Justice & the American Way (or perhaps American Dream is more accurate).I also love the writing of Brian Michael Bendis from his dark noir to his dark Powers series, to his dark take on Marvel icons and creation of dark characters like Jessica Jones in Alias. The repeated word here is DARK! What that man did to Daredevil and the Avengers was really good reading but DANG! was it DARK! (I also have a better vocabulary than just dark but when the Shadow Fits....)Was I worried with what he would do to my beloved symbol for all that is good after his Man of Steel mini-series that kicked off his official run on Action and Superman? yes and no. Bendis understands the light of Superman and why it is as important today in our topsy turvy current politically charged world as it was in the second Big War. His re-write of Krypton reflects that clearly. Action, however, is not The Big World or even Bigger Universe Book.Action is Metropolis: both the seemy underworld and the Supes-positive, protected upper. In the everyday world of Metropolis, Superman cannot always get at the Truth. He's just too big. No, the Truth in this story is for the investigative reporter, Clark Kent, to uncover. And yes, when I say that I love Superman, that also means his meeker, where's the fainting couch, Clark side. Bendis understands that Clark, in his limited, more human way, is as much a part of the icon as Big Blue.Of all the favorite writes and re-writes of the DCU, the family stories of Supes in his marriage to Lois and son, Jon are my favorite. They are his strength and his weakness, just as much as his compassion is. They are the Kansas boy achieving his American Dream! Bendis knows this, so at the end of Man of Steel, he takes our Hero's family away. No, he doesn't kill them - Bendis is Dark but not deranged.Action vol 1: Invisible Mafia is about what Loneliness does to Hope. It is about what makes a family Normal, and if normal applies to anyone, much less the most powerful person on Earth. By focusing on Clark, we can see the vulnerability that glasses can't hide. What is Clark without his wife and child? When Gossip takes form and shoots arrows at fidelity, how does Clark bend? This book gets personal!On the less personal side, we get the ingenuity of people, albeit bad people, still trying to do crime in a city blanketed by a big red cape. The Invisible Mafia is a new villain, even though it is an entire shadow organization. It has existed for years under Superman's unknowing gaze. It has learned to work around his estimable powers. It's possible that even Lex Luthor does not know about it.Yes, Lex shows up, but not as the BIG BAD VILLAIN that he is in EVERY MOVIE, but in a more subtle and directed hit at Clark.Can't do a comic review without mentioning the art - and this is art worthy of our Icon! Lots of dramatic Splash pages! Lots of alternate covers included. Make sure to study everyone's desk for Easter eggs and story furthering notes and just well , the obvious fun the creative team had in setting up each one. Bendis is always heavy on snappy dialogue and character driven plots but the art also tells a big part of this story, so take the time and don't miss what makes the graphic medium so awesome!

First off, I have to comment on the art for this comic. It was beautiful. Everything from the background to the characters were well balanced and felt jus t right.Now, on to the story... It has been some time since I read a Superman story. I did not realize just how out-of-date I had become. To catch anyone else who is back with me up... Krypton is back, Superman and Lois Lane have a son who is currently traveling with his grandfather, Lois and Clark are married but no one seems to mind her meeting-for a public make out session with Superman. Ok, caught-up? Great.Superman is back in Metropolis after traveling in space with his family but getting separated. The Daily Planet has had some shake-ups and there is a new gossip reporter who is VERY interested in why Lois ran off with Superman and how Clark feels about it. As a side note, there has been a series of mysterious fires which the fire department and Superman have no leads in solving. This sets the stage for the introduction of a group of criminals who have figured out that while Superman is can only be in one place at a time and if he isn't in Metropolis, then that is the time to act. Without giving everything away; there is a new villan (Red Cloud), a new ally (fire chief Melody Moore), and a new view of how life and even crime continues in Metropolis even with Superman.My favorite parts include a scene where Superman is facing off against two hoods with guns who know they can't win but aren't sure what else to do; surprising interludes in conversations where Clark has to disappear, fight the baddie, and return to the conversation as though nothing happened; Clark Kent acting as a true reporter to get a lead instead of relying on being Superman; and really any scene where the illustrator manages to show a glint the the Man of Steel's eye as he wryly moves through his life.I look forward to the second part of the story. Thank you to the publisher who provided me a preview copy of the graphic novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Boa história, mas fica arrastada em alguns momentos com os diálogos típicos do Bendis. Desenhos excelentes!

Disappointing collection. A dearth of action or anything of substance, base plot that moves along at a painful pace. Predictable reveal to the 'villain', some really poor dialogue. It all feels like filler.Considering how much I enjoyed The Man of Steel Limited series Unity Saga Vol 1 and that this series runs concurrent to that story I went in with higher hopes for this, but it seems that having Bendis on BOTH Superman and Action Comics was a chasm to wide.Like most non Omnibus or Deluxe hardcovers the binding on this book is super-- no pun-- tight. And the reason this gets 2 stars instead of 3 is the paper quality. Matte like paper that DC seem to be running with now with most of their books that does nothing to bring the art or colours off the page.If you want to read Superman and are not sure which of the two lines to go with, go with the other, at least Volume one was superior to this is everyway.

Great work.