A Tragic Villain

Detective Comics #870
Written by David Hine
Art by Scott McDaniel

 

Hine ends his short run on Detective here as the Imposter Joker and Imposter Batman is revealed to be Winslow Heath. His story is sad and even more sad now that it has been revealed that his girlfriend’s horrifying death is what drove him to this. I hope he shows up again somewhere.

Wonder Woman Takes Flight

Wonder Woman #604
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Don Kramer and Eduardo Pansica

 

Okay the solicitations were wrong about this issue…we don’t find out why the timeline changed or anything and that is annoying as hell but whatever…I liked the issue. It wasn’t as crazy awesome as last but it was good. The guy we met last issue was a pawn, not the big bad and he is killed by Hippolyta’s ghost?? Interesting. Wonder Woman finally takes flight in this issue which is quicker then I thought she would. We learn the big baddie is called the Morrigan. I wonder what that means?

The Teen Titans Are Back!

Teen Titans (Volume 3) #88
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Nicola Scott

 

Wow! I had high hopes for Krul and Scott taking over this book and returning to its former glory. They exceeded my hopes in one issue! I loved every moment of this issue as Krul demonstrated with each and every character that he understands them and at the same times introduced new storylines in their lives. From Superboy and Wonder Girl’s relationship to Beast Boy and Raven’s to Ravager’s search for her mother to Kid Flash’s retention of things learned in the future I can’t wait to read more issue of this book. Scott’s art is beautiful to look at and she knows how to tell a story perfectly. The Teen Titans are back! Heck I am even excited to see Damian on the team! Not only does Krul start a new exciting run, he doesn’t ignore Henderson’s run either and even tells us that Aquagirl and Bombshell are alive and well. Fantastic start for this new creative team!

Every Page Is Filled With Awesomeness

Action Comics #894
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
Co-Feature by Nick Spencer
Art by RB Silva

 

When did Action Comics get this good? I mean every page of this book is just fun awesomeness from Lex Luthor’s meeting with Death to Jimmy Olsen’s party with Aliens. Whatever I say will not do justice to how good this issue is. I loved every moment and Death stays true to her character in Sandman. I loved how Blackest Night was something she kinda noticed and found amusing – the Endless characters are so above and beyond the main DC Universe characters things that seem huge to the superheroes are very minor to them.

Welcome To Monument Point

Justice Society of America #44
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Scott Kolins

 

This issue begins Marc Guggenheim’s run on JSA, I liked his short run of Flash: Fastest Man Alive so I was looking forward to this. I am unsure how I feel about it yet. I find it kind of odd that Mr. America, Obsidian, and Doctor Mid-nite are all missing from the JSA roster as they fight this new terrorist in the city of Monument Point. I also think it’s kind of dumb that they aren’t just using a pre-existing unused DC city like Midway City or Vanity or all the others. I thought it was annoying that Jay Garrick called Barry Allen the “real” flash. But there are some good things about the issue, Kolins’s art fits the tone of the book wonderfully and I am glad that he is on board. The idea of the JSA running a city is interesting and Mr. Terrific losing his IQ slowly is another interesting development. I guess we will see where this goes.

Beetle Puke

Booster Gold (Volume 2) #37
Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Chris Batista

 

This was a funny issue with Booster having to deals a crazed oversexed alien woman named Estrogina who swallows the transformed Blue Beetle and Booster has to get her to puke him up. Yep that is what happens in this issue. It is all good and fun…but a part of me wants to get back to what is going on with Rip Hunter and Booster’s sister. I miss Jurgens on this book a lot.

Put Josh Williamson On A Monthly Book

Superman/Batman #77
Written by Josh Williamson
Art by Ale Garza

 

This was an amazing filler issue by Williamson! I read an interview – I forget where- where he talked about this issue and even then I could tell he really cared about these characters and DC Continuity – I was not disappointed by the issue one bit. Williamson pulls in elements of both Supergirl and Robin’s recent continuity including Blackest Night and New Krytpon but keeps it accessible for new readers and really explores the two characters in a profound way. DC better keep this guy on the payroll! I loved the final scenes with Robin and Batman discussing Supergirl….actually I loved everything about this issue. Very good.

Vote For Gates!

Legion of Super-Heroes (Volume 6) #6
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Francis Portela, Phil Jimenez, and Yildiray Cinar

The first part was really good…so Brainiac 5 put “Morality Enhancement” in Earth-Man’s ring, which explains his quick change of heart about offworlders. I liked that because I found his change to be too rapid to be believable and I wonder what he will be like now that he has asked for a standard ring. It was good to see Chameleon Girl too. The second part was great as we visit the Legion Academy – I have to say that Dragonwing and Variable Lad seem to be the coolest possible Legion recruits and I can’t wait to see who wins the election. I voted for Gates!

The Real Green Lantern

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #53
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Tyler Kirkham

 

Tyler Kirkham joins the creative team just as this new arc focusing on the Weaponer begins. I am not familiar with his work but I liked his art here. So far this arc is Kyle-riffic and I am loving it! Kyle’s response to when the Weaponer asks where the real Green Lantern is classic – he is the real Green Lantern. Nice job Bedard! He DOESN’T have to prove himself anymore, he is right about that for sure. I liked that Sinestro didn’t immediately worry about his daughter – completely in character. Good start for this arc.

A Trip To Arkham

Titans (Volume 2) #28
Written by Eric Wallace
Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino

 

I have to say that this is the best issue of Wallace’s run yet, and that has a lot to do with it is always awesome when a comic is set in Arkham Asylum and the Bat-Villains show up. The idea that the one guard had the key to all the cells is incredibly dumb but whatever. Osiris is a full-on killer now I highly doubt he can be redeemed even if he thinks killing is going to bring his sister back to life. Arsenal is actually quite interesting as a drug addict but it’s still so sad to see him like that. It was just as heartbreaking to see Ray Palmer investigating Ryan Choi’s disappearance. A part of me still has some hope that Ryan may still be alive somehow.

Evil Clone?

Power Girl (Volume 2) #17
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Sami Basri

 

So who is this dark haired Kryptonian woman? A clone of Power Girl perhaps? I don’t know but even though I really wish Terra was still Power Girl’s sidekick instead of this Nicco guy, I loved that ending. I didn’t see it coming at all.

Earths

Justice League of America #50
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

 

I liked this issue as it begins the new Crime Syndicate arc. Normally I would be annoyed to see another Crime Syndicate story but I would like to see them up against the new League. I think it’s ashame that Robinson thought it was necessary to have them destroy the Tangent universe of Earth-9…but we don’t know if it will be completely destroyed yet. One thing that annoyed the crap out of me that put me in a bad mood while reading it is that Alexander Luthor is NOT FROM THE ANTI-MATTER EARTH! He is from the long-dead Pre-Crisis Earth-3, so why does the Crime Syndicate act like they know him and why would he want to have their world destroyed after his death???? I sure hope this isn’t a huge continuity mistake and Robinson will explain it. Otherwise, still loving Robinson’s run and the new League.

Bat-God

Batman and Robin #15
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frazer Irving

 

Unless I am wrong about who this Bat-God is, the final moments of this issue were downright awesome for any Batman fan! This was an intense issue from the moments between Joker and Damian to Simon Hurt revealed to being taken in by the Waynes – the pieces are all starting (but not quite) to fit together. As much as it has given me a headache sometimes, I have a good feeling that the mystery of Simon Hurt will in retrospect will be one of the all-time greats in comics. Kudos to Morrison and Irving for a fantastic issue.

Bizzarro World Is Saved

Supergirl (Volume 5) #57
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Bernard Chang

 

This was a great ending to the Bizarro World arc and Sterling Gates shows just how much Kara has grown as a character since his run began; she is able to defeat the Godship and change Bizzarogirl for the better. I love how the Bizarros she created looked like the people of New Krypton. Gates will be missed when he leaves this book.

There Is No Fighting On Odym

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #3
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin

 

Umm Brother Warth is awesome! He just puts his hand around Bleez and says there is no fighting on Odym and he has got her! I love his calm Buddha-like attitude, he is the perfect Blue Lantern. I crack up everytime Guy calls him Babar haha! Anyways, we find out the true threat in the unknown sectors – someone is draing the power of the Green Lantern rings slowly. I think this is supposed to be the guy who has kidnapped all the telepaths and is using them to control rookie lanterns but I could be wrong. I like that Bleez is sticking around with our merry crew as she is an awesome looking character. Poor Sodom Yat can never catch a break with his own people though.

Bringing In History

Outsiders (Volume 4) #33
Written by Dan Didio and Phillip Tan
Art by Tan

The art is still awful…I have no idea what has happened to Halo and why she is a coma – and I see no reason for Geo-Force acting the way he is still, but I got to at least hand it to Didio for his use of continuity – even pulling from the nineties Outsiders series. I like that Didio at least respects the history of the team. But this is still awful storytelling.

Ant Farm

Adventure Comics #519
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Eduardo Pansica
Co-Feature by Jeff Lemire
Art by Mahmud Asrar

 

The main Legion story was okay…kinda boring but kinda decent I don’t know I really didn’t care either way. The back-up story was the first time I actually dug the Atom story as we learn about the secret society of scientistis called the Colony and how Ray’s Uncle Dave has come up with a mini-planet for the human race to go to if something happens to our planet. It is called the Ant Farm – clever idea and I would like to see it explored more. Ray Palmer is still no Ryan Choi – but I at least like the concept.