I always thought Plastic Man was a joke character. He's always shown as the funny tag along guy and not particularly all that smart. Not dumb so much as more of an airhead
Event Leviathan #1
| Writer | Brian Michael Bendis |
| Artist | Alex Maleev |
| Cover Price | $3.99 |
The groundbreaking and always-inventive team of writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev (Jinxworld's SCARLET, Marvel's Daredevil) reunite on a mystery thriller that stretches across the DC Universe and touches every character from Batman to Superman to the Question to Talia al Ghul. With startling ease, a newly dangerous and aggressive Leviathan wipes out all its competition and now turns its sights to molding the world into its vision of order. Can the new threat's growth be stopped...and who's guiding its new agents of chaos?
RATED T+
Includes a code for a free digital download of this issue.
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
But Why Tho? - Aaron Phillips
Jun 12, 2019Overall, Bendis, Maleev, and Reed have delivered a truly enticing first issue for Event Leviathan.The ending was left on a great cliffhanger but felt satisfying enough that you should be eager to pick up issue two next month. Read Full Review
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10
ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum
Jun 12, 2019Engaging and well-considered, Event Leviathan #1 both looks and reads like thriller, offering just enough in the way of twists and turns to take readers on a story that is both a little predictable and a bit unexpected, leaving the quiet possibility that this is a threat that the heroes may not be able to stop"while also making one wonder exactly who the heroes really are and what cost is worth paying for a "better world." Read Full Review
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9.6
Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj
Jun 14, 2019I loved this. It whet my appetite for more. And that is what a mini-series and a mystery should do. So who is Leviathan? Do you have a theory? Read Full Review
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9.6
Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck
Jun 14, 2019More than any other Event in recent memory, I'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes! Read Full Review
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9.2
Comic Watch - Kevin Rossi
Jun 12, 2019Event Leviathan kicks off in style leaving me wanting more. Go grab a copy at your local comic book shop as soon as you can. Read Full Review
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9.0
Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles
Jun 12, 2019As the official kickoff to the event, this was a lot of build-up and a very slow burn. That's nothing new for Bendis, who specializes in intimate, heavy dialogue stories. That approach works fine for this story as it's more of an investigate mystery than the standard mega superhero clash. We didn't get a ton of story progression here, but there's more than enough of a hook to keep me excited about the next issue. Read Full Review
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9.0
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Jun 12, 2019Alex Maleevs art is fantastic throughout this issue. It is beautifully detailed, dark and gritty with great character shots. Read Full Review
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8.5
Doom Rocket - Brendan Hodgdon
Jun 12, 2019Regardless of its ultimate significance in the DC Universe, the thrillingly-executed craft of Event Leviathan is impossible to ignore. Bendis, Maleev and Reed are working at an incredibly high level here; they're clearly aiming to craft a new kind of event experience, one that recalls classic mysteries of yore in its willingness to slow down and let the characters do the talking. Read Full Review
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8.4
You Don't Read Comics - Jason A. Fleece
Jun 12, 2019DC Comics fans and Brian Michael Bendis fans will find a lot to love in Event Leviathan #1. Critics of Bendis who decry his tendency toward extreme verbosity will see their fears confirmed. All in all, its a compelling, if flawed, first issue setting up what could be an exciting new era at DC. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Crusaders - Johnny "The Machine" Hughes
Jun 12, 2019I am not sure where I stand on this book. Maybe I am getting event-fatigue with the, for me at least, anti-climax of Heroes in Crisis and the ongoing elongated Doomsday Clock, meaning that with this book, DC may be a victim of its own not quite success. On the other hand, having Bendis and Maleev back on a book will no doubt bring fans of their Marvel stuff over to the their perceived dark side if DC Comics. Read Full Review
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8.0
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Jun 12, 2019Coming off the excellent Superman: Leviathan Rising, I was intrigued by how the first issue of Brian Michael Bendis' first official event comic for DC would be. After reading it " well, it's very much a Bendis comic. In fact, it's probably the most Bendis Bendis comic I've read in a long time. Read Full Review
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8.0
Graphic Policy - Logan Dalton
Jun 12, 2019Plus its fun to see the crack team of Bendis and Maleev get down and noir-y in a new universe. Maleevs use of shadows that imply Batman is hiding something are a thing of beauty, and as long as youre okay with a little bit of decompression with your espionage noir, Event Leviathan #1 is worth checking out and is more Agatha Christie than Michael Bay. Read Full Review
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8.0
Forces Of Geek - Atlee Greene
Jun 12, 2019Overall, Event Leviathan is off to a good start. Hopefully, we get a little more meat in the next installment with that pattern increasing in each outing. Read Full Review
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8.0
Black Nerd Problems - Brandon Lawrence
Jun 12, 2019In this comic, Oliver Queen has an air in between Batman's seriousness and complete comic relief. It promises a fun dynamic. All of this framed by Alex Meleev's iconic artistic style makes Event: Leviathan a must-read. Read Full Review
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8.0
Dark Knight News - Bryant Lucas
Jun 14, 2019Overall, this issue was great; however, I do have a cautionary note. If you are interested in jumping into this event, make sure you do some homework and read Bendis' Action Comics run. It also wouldn't hurt to read theYear of the Villain one-shot. Otherwise, you'll most likely be lost. Final Verdict: do your homework, and then give it a read. Read Full Review
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8.0
Nerdly - Dean Fuller
Jun 19, 2019A quiet start, but with plenty of world building for the book. Event Leviathan is not your typical summer crossover event, this one looks to have a little meat on its bones, a little more substance than we are used to. Read Full Review
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7.1
IGN - Jesse Schedeen
Jun 12, 2019Event Leviathan #1 has mood to spare, but it doesn't give this mystery series the early momentum it needs. Read Full Review
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7.0
Comic Book Bin - Philip Schweier
Jun 12, 2019Maleevuses a monochromatic palette that works well here. Darker blues for the Batmanand Lois scenes, bright oranges for others. Its pretty much one or the other,which some might consider rather limiting, but it creates a unifying affect forthe scenes hes presenting, and allowing his rendering to challenge the color "effectively, I might add. Read Full Review
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7.0
AIPT - Ritesh Babu
Jun 12, 2019A restrained mystery built around character interaction, Event Leviathan is a great showcase of Maleev's incredible artistic talents, as he recasts the DCU in his vision. Read Full Review
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7.0
Newsarama - Justin Partridge
Jun 12, 2019Armed with a monster hook and a sparkling take on Lois Lane, Event Leviathan #1 is a lot of fun - provided you don't mind seeing a lot of people talk in a single location for the duration, that is. Read Full Review
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6.8
Monkeys Fighting Robots - Colin Tessier
Jun 12, 2019Event Leviathan #1 fails to build on the momentum of the Leviathan Rising one-shot. Instead, it simply spins its wheels; Bendis doesn't offer many new nuggets of information in the story. The event may be a slow-burn mystery but, with such a dull first issue, Bendis may have already smothered the flame of the fans' intrigue. Read Full Review
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6.0
Weird Science - Eric Shea
Jun 12, 2019The first issue to this event comes off as a bit of a bore in my mind because we really don't do much to further what we already know from all the prologues and specials proceeding this. The art is fine, but because of the lack of any real backgrounds aside from rubble, it comes off a bit boring too. This isn't the best of first issues to something, but I still look forward to this event wowing in the months ahead and hope that this was just a necessary issue to catch people up. Read Full Review
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6.0
Kabooooom - Matt Morrison
Jun 12, 2019In the end, Event Leviathan is tolerable but your ability to enjoy it will depend upon how well you can withstand BM Bendis' clunky exposition for the sake of Alex Maleev's artwork. Read Full Review
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6.0
Comic Book Revolution - Rokk
Jun 12, 2019Anyone who has read Action Comics or Year of the Villain #1 will be completely bored with this issue. Those readers can easily skip Event Leviathan #1. It is not worth the cover price. Those readers can simply hop aboard Event Leviathan #2 when the story actually begins. Read Full Review
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6.0
Sequential Planet - Ethan Maddux
Jun 13, 2019Despite its lackluster start, Event Leviathan still has plenty of potential. Alex Maleev's art is still a joy to look at, and the dialogue is mostly solid. This is not a poorly constructed issue. It's just (excuse the pun) an uneventful one. Read Full Review
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6.0
The Batman Universe - Ian Miller
Jun 14, 2019Alex Maleev and Brian Bendis create a moody, gorgeous, if somewhat slow-paced first chapter of Event Leviathan. Read Full Review
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5.7
Multiversity Comics - Alexander Jones
Jun 13, 2019laden premise but still carries a mysterious personality. Read Full Review
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4.0
Batman-News - Brian Warshaw
Jun 12, 2019Event Leviathan #1 is a huge disappointment. It looks nice in static, but its oft-abysmal dialogue can't sustain the conversation-centric plot, and the Leviathan sizzle at the end isn't worth the pages that precede it. Read Full Review
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4.0
Critical Blast - RJ Carter
Jun 17, 2019At least the art by Alex Maleev is appropriately moody both in pencils and coloration. But that's not worth our $3.99 per issue if the story is completely lacking the hooks needed to make the reader invest in the premise. Read Full Review
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4.0
DC Comics News - Ari Bard
Jun 17, 2019Event Leviathan #1 is a visually spectacular book with a lot of potential, but it ultimately falls flat in its attempt to draw you in for the large event or satisfy any doubts or questions you may be having. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
great start to the event bendis is a brilliant writer who establishes deep story lines and doesn't rush things. Note: I've decided to reread this series again and though I originally scored this book a 9 I have to change it to a 10. Fantastic book!
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9.0
A arte do Maleev é maravilhosa como sempre
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8.5
The dialogue is a bit shaky but all in all, a good launching point to see what Leviathan really is and what they are planning. However Lois and Batman seem to be talking to each other as if their interactions haven't been that many.
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8.0
"We are Leviathan and tomorrow with your helps we wont have to imagine a better world"
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8.0
6 for the art, 2 for the writting. I was expecting more Talia after the Leviathan Rising Special, but this issue disapointed me. The conversation between Louis and Bat was a bit werid since I don't think she would call Bat BOY and they seems much more closer than they used to be. And I wonder why Superman didn't contact his wife and BFF after he got Talia. Emm, this issue is not bad, but not good enough. Hope the next will be better.
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8.0
This was okay. Felt like a rehash of stuff we already knew.
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8.0
It's actually a good beginning of a story. At least I expected worst from Bendis but it's fine, need to see the second part
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8.0
I am into this. A mystery/espionage story involving some of my favourites in the universe, although I cringed when Batman said the Ghuls are not into New World Order. I feel like they would be all about New World Order given the numbers. Alex Maleev's art is the show stealer. Delivering the proper grit for a story like this.
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7.5
Amazing art, of course. Great setup. But didn't we cover most of this before? And what is up with Batman's dialogue? Still into this but not a sure thing.
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7.5
Pretty good start of the book. Artwork, as expected, is simply incredible. Bendis does tell a decent story, and the writing is actually good as well, although the problem here is that the story barely moves forward. No matter that, I've got pretty high expectations for this mini.
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7.5
Pretty wordy but I loved the art!
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7.5
I am Bendis-neutral, and his strengths and weaknesses are on full display here. But it's really worth a read based on how great Maleev was in this one.
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7.0
7, yeah, but all for the Maleev art which is delicious. Not a Bendis hater but for the first issue of an event it felt slighter than the teases in Action and the Leviathan Rising Special, each of which I really enjoyed a lot. Between this issue and this month's Superman, Bendis is having a tough week. I fully expect him to rebound, though I will NEVER forgive the notion that Plastic Man (NOT a detective) and Elongated Man (a GREAT detective) are interchangeable. Every time I see Bendis list Plas as one of DC's "greatest detectives" I cringe out loud. #bringbackthedibnys
+ Like • Comments (2)• Likes (1) -
7.0
"Shush, nerd" Let's start with things that I liked first, they're in majority. First of all, Alex Maleev's art. He always worked well with Bendis and this here is no different. His art works really well, helps to sell the aura of mystery and of some looming threat. The story is interesting and makes me want to learn more. I like how Bendis works on what he previously established in Action Comics and Leviathan Special. Thanks to this issue you can even establish a rough timeline for Bendis' Superman. I also enjoyed his portrayal of Batman in here. I liked how he was written. Very straight to the point and focused on what's in front of him. And it's always great to have the Emerald Archer around. As for the negatives, I only have more
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6.5
I liked the first issue. Not that much happened yet, but I hope Ras& Talia will play a bigger part in it as well. Would be nice to see Ras getting some storylines. Not always Bane or Joker. ß The only thing I found odd how Lois treated Bruce. While King exaggerated with their friendship, here it just doesn't feel right how Lois treats Batman. But I'm still intrigued.
+ Like • Comments (5)• Likes (3) -
5.5
Meh. I didn't dislike this. But it was literally just a recap of what we already know with a little bit more of analyzation of what's happened by the characters.
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5.5
Honestly, this wasn't terrible, but I'm excited for it to let me down.
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5.0
Great art. Nothing happened. Did I miss something? Has this event actually begun?
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4.0
The build up to this story event sounded way more interesting then it's proving to be so far. The premiere special comic was boring and half of the art work was horrendous. This first issue was some better. However the dialogue was bad. At times I wasn't really sure what the characters were trying to say to each other. And why was Lois being so rude to Batman? She was down right snarky. I can't say I'm liking her as a character much these days. Also what was the problem with talking to Bruce as Batman? Her remark about it being weird to be anywhere with Batman without Superman around because he's dressed as Batman made no sense. Batman and Superman have been friends and teamed together for years why would she be uncomfortable around him? An more
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4.0
I usually love Brian Michael Bendis. He's usually a master of dialogue, pacing, and all around storytelling. Usually I defend him against complaints about his comics being too talky or the characters being interchangeable. But for Event Leviathan... I have to agree with his critics. This is like a parody of a BMB comic. The dialog is suffocating. Unnecessarily long and dry, the dialog makes this a chore to get through. I was relieved beyond belief when a corny action scene was roughly inserted in the middle. There's a handful of characters incessantly blabbing, yet, their dialog isn't different enough to truly showcase their personalities. There a lack of scope, and Maleev's claustrophobic style doesn't help. The intrigue/m more
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10
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9.5
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8.0
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7.5
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