Action Comics #1064 Review

      Written by: Joshua Williamson Art by: Rafa Sandoval Colors by: Alejandro Sánchez Letters by: Dave Sharpe Cover art by: Rafa Sandoval, Alejandro Sánchez Cover price: $4.99 Release date: April 9, 2024 Action Comics #1064 executes Brainiac's plan to capture superpowered individuals to fulfill its greatest directive yet. Is Action Comics #1064 Good? Joshua Williamson begins the long-awaited beginning of the end for the Trinity in Action Comics #1064, presumably culminating with the creation of the Queen Brainiac in time for the Summer's Absolute Power event. Does this issue build absolute hype in anticipation of Absolute Power? Maybe. Previously, Superman put an end to the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad (LLRS), sending its members to an assortment of prisons to match their respective threat levels. Now, all is right with the world. We catch up with Lois Lane heading to the park for a much-deserved day off to meet with friends for yoga and relaxation. The day barely gets going when Superman detects trouble in the sky. Suddenly, an army of Brainiac drones rain down on Metropolis from Brainiac's cloaked ship in orbit. Worse, the drones are accompanied by a team of Czarnians in Brainiac's service. Superman and the Super Family assemble to fight the threat, but the invasion isn't about destruction. Brainiac uses the chaos to capture every member of the Super Family and their superpowered allies in bottles for transport back to the ship. Even Lex gets in on the act when Brainiac orders his troops to capture the smartest man on Earth. Through Lex's dialog, we discover Lex "might" know what Brainiac is after due to one of their past interactions, and it ain't good. The issue ends with Brainiac's ship fleeing after getting what it wants, Superman alone on Earth, and the hint that the main man (Lobo) will be called upon to assist. What's great about Action Comics #1064? Who doesn't love a good Brainiac story? To his credit, Williamson does a fine job of showing everyone exactly why Brainiac can be an overwhelming, indomitable threat by capturing nearly the entire Super Family without breaking a sweat. What's not so great about Action Comics #1064? Consistent with Williamson's flaws as a comic writer, the issue stumbles on plot pacing and open questions. First, the issue starts with a 6-page long day in the life montage for Superman and Lois that adds nothing to the story, the world, or the characters. By the time the action starts, a lot needs to happen in a reduced space to get the main conflict out. Second, if Brainiac is after something particularly dangerous, and Lex knows what it is, why doesn't Lex just blurt it out? He had ample time to tell someone to make a recording or do something to give Superman a clue. Williamson tries to manufacture a mystery by opening a question without an answer, and it comes off as frustrating rather than intriguing. How's the Art? Rafa Sandoval does the Lord's work in this issue with big action, cool new developments (Lex has a temporary armor construct in his watch?!?), and powerful figure work. About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com , a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers. Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube , Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter Bits and Pieces: Action Comics #1064 kicks off a Brainiac attack for the ages that portends big trouble on the horizon for the Man of Steel. That said, the issue suffers from pacing issues and supposedly smart characters making unwise decisions, resulting in a comic that feels uneven and forced. 6.5/10