52 #8 (DC Comics) As J.G. Jones’ fantastic, propagandastic cover implies, this issue focuses on the Steel/Natasha/Luthor plot, and things don’t look good for the good guys on that end. The other big development involves the first appearance of this “Supernova” character. A minor development: Green Arrow’s bolo arrows look really, really, pornographic, don’t they? I don’t think he should be able to shoot them outside of Vertigo books. As for the back up, part million of Dan Jurgens’ “History of the DC Universe,” it’s overstayed it’s welcome. Infinite Crisis rebooted DC continuity in certain ways, but rather than elucidating what those ways are, this story has been simply telling us what hasn’t changed. If you’ve read DC comics prior to IC, you’ll learn nothing new in this interminable back-up feature.
Action Comics #840 (DC) Thus wraps up writers Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek’s eight-part story reintroducing readers to Superman and setting up a new status quo for the Man of Steel. If you missed it the first time around, don’t miss the trade collection—an all around perfect Superman story.
Batman #654 (DC) I believe I mentioned that I love Simone Bianchi’s Batman covers with a level of affection usually reserved only for women before; in fact, I believe I mentioned my desire to marry his last Detective Comics cover. Well, if I was able to marry that cover, I think I’d have an affair on it with this cover. A few thoughts, not pertaining to unnatural romantic feelings for paintings of Batman: Why on Earth is Commissioner Gordon smoking again? It’s nice to see that particular villain reappear, but it’s not much of a reveal, since there’s no way anyone could have suspected him, given the complete lack of clues, or his even appearing in the first seven parts of this story. And as for the big development between Bruce and Tim, that oughta give Cassandra Cain one more reason to be pissed at them both.
Brave New World #1 (DC) If you were in a comic shop today and you didn’t buy this comic book, you must be a complete maniac. It was only a dollar—for 80 pages! DC obviously had success with their last 80-pages-for-a-buck publication, Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1, but this move is a ballsier one, since it is simply an intro to six new minis, rather than a hotly-anticipated miniseries. Ballsy, and smart—DC should really do these sorts of books more often, as it practically forces you to sample a bunch of series that you would have to be an insane maniac not to sample (80 pages! One dollar! That’s like four comic books for the price of 1/3 of one comic book!) Now for the bad news: There’s something unappealing about each and every one of the series previewed herein. I’ll be covering this particular book at greater length in next week’s “Best Shots,” but here are some immediate reactions. Martian Manhunter: After his Gotham Knights, A.J. Lieberman would have to pay me to read a series by him. I didn’t care for the “Everything you know is wrong!” angle of this story, and the costume redesign (and skull-shape redesign) hurt my eyes. Pass. OMAC: I find it hard to believe that the one DC character that everyone is sick of at this point is getting its own series. Nice art, though. Pass. Uncle Sam & The Freedom Fighters: I was expecting to hate this series, as I love the original FF and loved their ‘90s iterations, but this series features a whole new team. But after reading this story, in which Uncle Sam recruits Firebrand—what, IV?—to take on the government's new FF, I may be converted. Even though artist Daniel Acuna’s Phantom Lady hurts my eyes almost as much as the new Martian Manhunter. Sold...probably. The Creeper: Love the character, love the writer, love the artist—hate the pointless continuity reboot (The Creeper’s only been around for two months now?) And what the hell, Jack Ryder is a lefty TV pundit/blowhard? Does anyone at DC watch cable news? Don’t they know how long lefty TV pundits last? Pass. The All-New Atom:This is the weirdest of the relaunches, as it’s based on “ideas and concepts developed by Grant Morrison," but is actually written by Gail Simone. It was a blast, and the highlight of the issue. Not sure about how long I can actually make myself read a book with John Byrne art—it’s awfully hard separating the man from the work at this point—but that’s my only reservation. Sold! The Trials of Shazam: I’ve read more than enough Judd Winick-written DC comics to know to avoid anything with his name and a DC bullet on it, but I am pretty conflicted about it that guideline here—not only is this book about Captain Marvel, a favorite who hasn’t had a good book in way too long, but Howard Porter is handling the art chores, and seems to have developed a brand new personal style to do it in. It’s the work of his career. Pass (reluctantly).
Civil War: Front Line #2 (Marvel Comics) Paul Jenkins follows up on Civil War #2’s jaw-dropping cliffhanger with the reaction among J. Jonah Jameson’s Bugle employees, and it’s surprisingly…weak. Come on, this should be one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time, so why can’t Jenkins make it sing? The Speedball back-up is depressing, mostly because if you change “hero” to “Muslim,” it’s a true story. The final back-up, comparing Iron Man to Caeser is a waste of space.
Flight Volume 3 (Ballantine Books) Now that’s an anthology. Wow. Just...wow.
JLA: Classified #23 (DC) See, just ‘cause DC killd Sue Dibney off doesn’t mean she can’t be feature in comics anymore. They just have to be comics set before Identity Crisis. This arc by Steve Englehart is pretty mediocre, especially by the high standards of the previous arcs (four very hard acts to follow), but for fans, it’s still a treat seeing this little seen incarnation of the JLA.
Kingdom Hearts Vol. 4 (Tokyopop) Generally, any more than one "based on" in a work of any medium is a bad sign, and this short manga series by Shiro Amano is based on the video game that's based on every animated Disney movie ever (each of which is based on a fairy tale, myth or work of children's literature). See, you've got three "based on"s right there. But here, the "every" makes up for it somewhat. Sure, the story has been pretty terrible, and this concluding volume seems to go on about 80 pages too long, but it's still a great pleasure to see so many of the Disney characters interacting with one another. In this issue, our hero and his sidekicks finally defeat the Heartless and save the day, plus there's a charming epilogue in which Soru hangs out with Pooh and company in the Hundred Acres Wood for a bit.
The Last Christmas #2 (Image Comics) Despondent over the death of Mrs. Claus and even more despondent that his immortality prevents him from successfully committing suicide, Santa Claus learns he’s only immortal as long as children believe in him. When the number of children who do so dwindles to just one, he readies his sleigh to go slay the unlucky kid, but zombies and mutants stand between him and the death he craves. A holiday classic in the making.
New Avengers #21 (Marvel) Guest artist Howard freakin’ Chaykin joins writer Brian Michael Bendis for the first chapter of “New Avengers: Disassembled,” a series of solo stories showing where the various Avengers stand on superhero registration. In this ish, we follow Cap as he hooks up with his old partner Sam “The Falcon” Wilson and finds out which side Hank Pym is on. Nitpicks: Why does the Cap who was telling soldiers to watch their language in Civil War swear in this issue? And what on earth is up with the sound effects in his battles with the “Capekillers?” There are about 80 “Kzzsshhaa”s per panel, but Chaykin draws less than a half-dozen bullets hitting anything.
Paul Jenkins’ Sidekick #1 (Image) Jenkins’ other offering of the week is decidedly less serious, as Chris Moreno’s cartoony art quickly clues us in on. Eddie Edison is a pizza delivery boy (despite being in his twenties) by day, and a sidekick to Mister Excellent by night. He’s screwing Mr. E’s wife behind his back, but when the boss screws him out of royalty payments for Superior Boy action figures, Eddie decides to launch a revenge plan that involves him playing sidekick for other parodies of DC superheroes. Jenkins’ concept is strong and his dialogue fun, but his heroes aren’t very inspired—his creation The Sentry is a much better Superman parody than Mr. E.
Runaways #17 (Marvel) Damn. Karolina returns to the team, bringing what might be a new recruit with her, but it looks like one of the Runaways is about to leave the team permanently.
Solo #11 (DC) DC’s most inspired ongoing lets the incredibly gifted Sergio Aragones do whatever the hell he wants for 48 pages. Only one of the stories makes use of a DC character—a Batman story penned by Mark Evanier—the rest are divided between fun autobio works, a fairly moving story of feudal Japan and a couple of short, silly stories. Based on the strength of Aragones' story of his first night in New York City, and the stories I’ve heard him tell at Mid-Ohio Con, I do hope someone at DC is already negotiating an autobiographical graphic novel with him as I type this.
Ultimate Spider-Man #96 (Marvel) After an exciting opening chapter, this story of Spider-Man versus vampires sort of just fizzles. Blade is a no-show, and we don’t learn much of anything more about Ultimate Morbius, other than the fact that he seems to be a vampire who fights other vampires. If the story doesn’t go anywhere too exciting, at least the art is fantastic—Mark Bagley and John Dell do their normal great jobs, and colorist Justin Ponsor makes things nice and moody with lots of grays and reds. After seeing Bagley and company draw a vampire in wolves’ form, I’ve got a couple of requests for Bendis: Ultimate Man-Wolf and/or Ultimate Werewolf By Night, please.
X-Factor #6 (Marvel) Forget New Avengers, this is the book to follow when it comes to the aftermath of House of M, as this issue shows who Layla Miller’s archenemy is, and the lengths to which she goes to try to dispose of him. Sweet cover, too.
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