Action Comics #1005

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Ryan Sook Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: November 28, 2018 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 20 User Reviews: 45
7.6Critic Rating
7.2User Rating

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The murderous mystery of the Red Cloud uncovered! Clark Kent draws closer to revealing a secret crime family that has operated for years in Metropolis, but the family's enforcer-the mysterious Red Cloud-proves she's a match for even the Man of Steel with an attack that leaves Superman breathless. Don't miss the last-page shocker as we reveal the true face of the Red Cloud!

  • 9.6
    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz Nov 29, 2018

    ArtIst Ryan Sook is making some of the best art of his career here. It'd be great to see him on a long Superman run. His style is fluid and is perfect for this book. This is another great issue in a highly enjoyable run. Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Nov 30, 2018

    So overall a very good issue with action (hence the name), plot advancement, great dialogue, character moments, and some of the finest art (on all levels) you can find. I hope everyone is reading this. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    AIPT - Ritesh Babu Nov 28, 2018

    Bendis, Sook, Anderson and Reed continue to craft a thought-provoking crime saga that elevates the world of the Man of Steel. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Comicsverse - Raphael Soohoo Nov 29, 2018

    Brian Michael Bendis is doing great work on Superman, and ACTION COMICS #1005 is no exception. Ryan Sook returns, and he delivers gorgeous visuals. The arson mystery and the Invisible Mafia slowly unravel, and Red Cloud makes their presence known to Supes! Read Full Review

  • 9.3
    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally Nov 28, 2018

    Ryan Sook's art is amazing in the issue as well and there are some really interesting panel compositions as well as great colors by Brad Anderson. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Watch - Nicholas Osborn Dec 1, 2018

    Action Comics #1005 features the long-awaited reveal of Red Clouds identity andThe Question! What more could you want, really? With undeniably beautiful visuals, the issue succeeds in expanding on Supermans long list of foes by delivering a classic Man of Steel story. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Book Bin - Philip Schweier Dec 12, 2018

    Ryan Sook's artwork is nothing short of refreshing. Its simple, elegant, and evokes theinnocence for which Superman is recognized, while remaining sophisticated and ambitious. As for the revelation, well, we kind of saw that coming. But thats okay. Its not as if it was painfully obvious like other recent plot elements. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Nov 28, 2018

    The issue's big payoff falls a little flat as the Red Cloud's identity lacked the shock factor it needed, but the strong character interactions and artwork still make this another solid issue. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Nov 28, 2018

    Overall, this series remains strong and Bendis' Metropolis is much more interesting than his Krypton. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    Comicosity - Doug Zawisza Nov 28, 2018

    Part five of the “Invisible Mafia” story, gave me a nice jumpstart for my interest in the Superman line. I'm in for the next issue, to be certain, and I cannot wait to see more of Superman, the Question, and maybe even Kate Spencer's alter ego in action in Action Comics. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Multiversity Comics - Michael Govan Dec 3, 2018

    Bendis is great exploring the streets of Metropolis. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Newsarama - Scott Cederlund Dec 3, 2018

    Brian Michael Bendis’ Action Comics is clearly covering the more human and personal side of Metropolis, especially when compared to Bendis’ Superman run and its more cosmic, big action focus. This issue shows how Bendis is creating a criminal underworld within the city, more reminiscent of his Powers or Daredevil runs than DC’s oldest superhero. This is a city that’s usually battered around by Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and even Giganto, not by crime and corruption. This may be Superman’s city, but Bendis shows us its underside that needs a different touch than the last son of Krypton might be able to provide. Where X-ray vision and flight may be overkill in taking down crime, maybe a journalist’s well-researched and righteous piece may be just what the city needs. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Beat - Alexander Lu Nov 28, 2018

    Superman hasn't been this fun in a long time. Read Full Review

  • 6.7
    Sequential Planet - Marcus Orchard Nov 28, 2018

    Despite some hiccups in pacing and an underwhelming reveal, Action Comics #1005 is the strongest issue of Bendis' run so far. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Nov 28, 2018

    While you do get some decent reveals to some old things and some new things in this issue, the majority of the book was a bit of a bore as we continue to take the action out of Action Comics and focus on the day job of Clark Kent.  The art is great, but the story is getting a bit boring because of how secretive everything is being handled here. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    ComicBook.com - Adam Barnhardt Nov 28, 2018

    For the most part, it's hard to shake the feeling that Action Comics #1005 is nothing but filler for a larger story arc. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Dec 1, 2018

    The story in Action Comics would make a better comedy than a serious crime story, but it's being played straight, making for an underwhelming read. Read Full Review

  • 5.8
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Jose "Jody" Cardona Nov 30, 2018

    The mystery isn't enough to keep Action Comics exciting. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    DC Comics News - Matthew Lloyd Nov 28, 2018

    This issue continues to introduce more ideas while not moving the plot much further. Despite the reveal of The Red Cloud's identity, it doesn't feel like this issue moves the plot along enough. It's not really that surprising a reveal, and it actually makes a lot of sense considering the character's actions in previous issues. After last issue's awkward and terrible reunion between the super-couple, It feels like the story line is settling down into classic mediocrity, the positives seem to be superficial with little substantive content. Read Full Review

  • 1.6
    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth Dec 12, 2018

    Action Comics #1005 is all of Bendis fault wrapped up in one book. Theres a lot of talking but none of it is important, the events therein dont have any impact, the action is muddled by unnecessary filler, and the reveal is both underwhelming and an easy one to guess. Ryan Sooks art is wonderful, but when a story is this bad, thats just gilding a piece of fecal matter. In the end, none of it really matters and it leaves no impact at all. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    axdn Dec 1, 2018

    Bendis is hitting the right strokes, so far I have liked this new iteration of Action comics

  • 8.0

    ?

  • 8.0
    egonnn244 Nov 28, 2018

    "...and you owe satan your marriage or something"

    Mr. Bendis, is it nice to poke fun at your former employer? I don't know, but that line made me laugh. And then I see a guy in a trenchcoat and a hat and think to myself; It would be cool if this was The Question. Then the guy beats some criminals, steps out of a shadow and... it is The Question. Never in my life have I read a comic about him, but he was great in JLU cartoon so it was good to see him here. I hope he will team-up with Supes soon.
    And that's just the first five pages.

    The rest of the book keeps that momentum going.
    Bad guys are shaking in their boots, Clark has a big ol' smile because he, ehm, saw his wife and he does some investigating journa more

  • 6.0
    superstan52 Nov 28, 2018

    Bendis is lazy and inconsistent here. If, as noted on the first page, Earth being inside the Phantom Zone caused such world-wide havoc and destruction, why is Clark focusing his energy on a gang of local criminals? Why isn't he straightening up the world - or at least Metropolis - which looks like it didn't lose a single hair on its chinny, chin chin? And secondly, WHY does every "secret villain" turn out to be a cast member? You'd think with millions of people in Metropolis, or New York, or wherever fine "secret villains'" identities are revealed, that the odds would be overwhelmingly that it's someone we've never seen or heard of before! In this instance, with such a small cast of characters, the only shocker would have been if the Red C more

    + LikeComments (2)
  • 6.0
    Ollie44 Nov 28, 2018

    This would have been an improvement from last issue if not reminded of the developing relationship between Clark and Lois. Something I find makes no sense and yet Clark is so happy with it.

    I’m glad the “big reveal” did not involve something Shocking and yet unnecessary to be honest.

    Overall ok.

  • 5.5
    Psycamorean Nov 29, 2018

    Slightly above meh. The Question returns and I hope Bendis realizes he's not Rorschach, but that's for later issues. We'll see. I'm not very interested in the Metropolis crime world so far. None of the characters are particularly original. Clark is very happy about staying separated from his wife and child for reasons... It doesn't fit the Rebirth Superman run, but who cares?? Bendis pokes fun at One More Day because he's never done anything like that. I mean, if you ignore his last five years at Marvel at least. Oh, and his first year at DC if you remember last issue. Of course Red Cloud is one of the OCs Bendis introduced for his Superman run. No one saw that coming. No one. And I guess the stuff with the firefighter is something. The onl more

    + LikeComments (6)
  • 5.0
    ohhaimark Dec 2, 2018

    THE GOOD:

    -I liked Ryan Sook's art a lot. I wish Patrick Gleason wold return though.

    -The beginning quite a lot. The Hero Dial? The Question? It's fan service, but it's well-done.

    -I do think that Superman was considerably better written in this issue than the last.

    THE BAD:

    -I'm not a huge fan of Chief Moore and her whole storyline. I would prefer it if the series focused on Red Cloud. Then again, maybe not after this issue's reveal.

    -Well, I'm disappointed. I was hoping the Red Cloud would be someone less obvious, but apparently not. Oh well.

    -I really felt like nothing happened in this issue, at least in terms of memorable story elements or plot lines, aside more

  • 5.0
    waltgator93 Nov 27, 2018

    We are slowly progressing the story at a pace where book I would not pick up. Art work probably a 7/10. Although the cliffhanger could see that coming from Action Comics 1000.

    + LikeComments (2)
  • 4.5
    Full Spread Dec 2, 2018

    A fairly bland issue goes totally mental with the most embarrassingly predictable "twist" I've read in a long time.

  • 4.5
    RBL Nov 28, 2018

    Boy, this one's a doozy! They introduced the Question in a manner that was not completely abhorrent, but the rest of the story fails in every sense of the word; maybe he should stick to street-level characters who don't have such a storied history that he continually assaults with his atrocious changes to continuity.

    Nice dig bendis throws at Marvel, but even One More Day had more substance and was better written than how this individual has managed the Superman family. Brings Lois back for a nonsensical reunion devoid of any emotional punch, has her state she will remain separate from her husband, and he's happy? Yep, that is what fans asked for, nice of him to reference the things he's obviously taking cues from that is reviled more

  • 4.0
    Bigbooty Dec 2, 2018

    Still wondering how much longer it will take before Bendis kills off Superman and replaces him with a super intelligent teenage girl.

  • 3.5
    Spacey Medicine Jun 3, 2019

    Oh wow can’t believe that that new evil lady was the new evil bad guy what a twist.

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