Outsiders 45 - 47

Outsiders (Volume 3) #45
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Carlo Barberi

Now, to start off, I did really like this issue. I liked how Roy Harper’s house is so heavily guarded to protect his daughter, I liked how Black Lightning is so noble that he turns himself in for an accidental murder of a pretty bad guy, heck I even liked the budding romance between Grace and Thunder. But is Winick obsessed with Jason Todd and Deathstroke. He uses them in like all of his books and sometimes it seems they are appearing for no reason. Weird.

Outsiders (Volume 3) #46
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Carlo Barberi and Art Thibert

This was another good issue and I look forward to seeing as how this story ends. Unfortunately, it does not take place in this series but in the Outsiders Annual so I will not be reviewing it here. This part of the story was pretty awesome. Grace’s speech was just the best. I love how she calls the rest of the Outsiders self-righteous bastards. This series is a lot better than most people give it credit for.

Outsiders (Volume 3) #47
Written by Judd Winick and Greg Rucka
Art and Cover by Matthew Clark and Art Thibert

This is the second part of the Checkmate/Outsiders crossover that began here. It is one year later again and we are back to the time where Katana’s costume is uglier and Thunder’s is cooler. Oh and I am excited as hell about this storyline now. I did not realize that the Outsiders were recruited by Checkmate to help take out Oolong Island. It is great to hear about the island after 52 and it looks like it is still a haven for mad scientists. There were a lot of great moments in this. Especially the exchanges between Sasha and Nightwing. Nightwing finally figures out just who Sasha is and it is fun to see how they both relate to eachother because of their “batman” past. Can’t wait for the next part of this crossover.

Justice Society 3 - 5

Justice Society of America #3
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Ruy Jose

Eaflesham’s art is perfect for this series. I just can not get enough of it. There were so many great moments in this issue. From Cyclone finally finding her new costume (although Alex Ross’s cover drawing of it is horrible), to the massacre of the Heywood Family, to the end where it is revealed that Wildcat’s illegitamate son is some kind of werecat. I wonder how that happened?

Justice Society of America #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Ruy Jose

The conclusion to the first arc of this series was just fantastic. A lof of great moments and foreshadowing of what is to come. It looks like no one knows how Tom Grant ended up a were-cat but hopefully we will find out soon. I like how Johns writes the thoughts of the characters to give some insight into who each of them really are. This is the best team book that DC is putting out right now.

Justice Society of America #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Fernando Pasarin

 

This is the second part of the JLA/JSA crossover that began here. It is so awesome to see these two teams work together. I loved all the moments of this issue as well. Cyclone and Red Tornado’s conversation, Batman and Starman together. Oh and Superman’s revelation that he knew the Legion when they were kids was great. Highly recommended. I don’t have much else to say, just that it was great.

JSA Classified 23 - 25

JSA Classified #23
Written by J.T. Krul
Art and cover by Alex Sanchez

Wow! This issue alone has made me a Doctor Mid-Nite fan! I was never into him before but this was really cool. For the first time that I have ever seen we get to see through his eyes and see what he sees. And his medical expertise is just great! I wonder what Polite Dissent will say about this issue. The art was fantastic and the mystery is a lot of fun. Especially since the vampire subculture is not a fictional thing, it exists in real world cities as well as the DCU. I can not wait to read the next issue.

JSA Classified #24
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Alex Sanchez and Jack Purcell
Ya I definitely want to check out Doctor Mid-Nite’s mini-series from a while back. This was too good. He is like House meets Superhero. I love it. I am gald that Krul did not take the easy-way out and make the villain a real vampire. It just wouldn’t fit with Mid-Nite’s whole science thing. I liked this two-parter a lot. Great art too!

JSA Classified #25
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Dennis Calero

This was another great issue of JSA Classified dealing with Alan Scott’s relationship with an old villain, Father Time, and the HERO device. Really awesome premise. It is hard to explain here and give the story justice. It was a very heart-warming story about Alan being reminded how to be a hero. I loved it. The art was fantastic and I am surprised DC isn’t using artists like Calero and Sanchez on some of there more high-profile books. Bedard is a great writer and I can’t wait to see what he does with Countdown and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

JLA Classified 35 - 37

JLA Classified #35
Written by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Jerry Ordway

This is the last of the three realities that Red King is inhabitating and I must say that it was a lot of fun to see the ways the Red King comes up with to kill the Justice Leagyers (Although I wish Batman and Plastic Man had put up more of a fight before the died). This arc has been a lot of fun so far.

JLA Classified #36 Written by Dan Slott and Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Trevor Scott

So this story arc concludes in what is a little bit overly long issue. A lot of stuff could have been cut but I didn’t mind that much. I can’t say I truly understand everything that went on but it was a fun ride, and it was great to see Plastic Man get such a huge role. In fact, he is the only leaguer that really remembers all of the othe realities, which is pretty cool. Nice Arc, I am glad I read it.

JLA Classified #37
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Carlos D’Anda

The idea of Amazo having a half-human son is pretty cool and adding the fact that he has false memories into the mix makes it all even better. I thought this issue was a pretty good start to what looks like a promising story arc. The art is pretty good too. I am not sure why it took so long for this to come out, but I am glad it finally has.

A Meeting Between Father And Son

Justice Society of America #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Art Thibert

This issue was just as great as the first! So hats off to Geoff Johns for hitting another one out of the park! I really enjoyed this issue. The art is fantastic and the moments between the characters were great. Starman is interesting, even though I haven’t read Kingdom Come in years and barely remember it. It is amazing how each of Geoff’s books have totally different feels to it. You really can not say that about most writers. I think one of the best parts about this issue was the moments between Wildcat and his newly discovered son. I absolutely loved how it wasn’t the typical long lost son meets his father moment. Wildcat’s son makes it clear he could care less that his father wasn’t around as a kid and he completely understands why. That is awesome! It was so afraid it was going to be the classic why were you not around, I hate you type thing.

Amon Sur’s Revenge

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #16
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert

This was an action-packed issue and it was great to see the new Justice League in action for the first time (even if it wasn’t in their own book). It did make me realize how much the Justice League feels empty without Martian Manhunter but…oh well. Abin Sur’s son seems like a logical choice for a villain and I am surprised no one has really thought about that before, it makes perfect sense. Jordan just left buried his father in the desert, of course he’s pissed. But I think the guy is wrong, the ring chose Hal and Hal didn’t not respect Abin when he died. Some say this bounty hunter, Hunger Dog, is really John Stewart. I don’t know. Why is John a bounty hunter now? I don’t think it’s true but hey maybe I am wrong. Oh and is Cowgirl really dead? That seems like a waste of a character, don’t it. I hope she isn’t. Anyways, this was a cool issue and get it just for the Justice League alone.

The Old Guys Are Back, And Better Than Ever

Justice Society of America #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Art Thibert

Yes, this series is as good as everyone has been saying. In fact, it was better than I expected. Geoff Johns knows how to write teams books. Especailly considering this and Teen Titans are the best teams books on the market right now…and he writes both. He manages to incorporate into the first issue of this new JSA series while at the same time leaving it accessible to new readers. That is what Geoff Johns does best, continuity without confusion. I ate up every moment of it. Cyclone and Starman are two new characters and I love them both already. Having a mentally unstable superhero like Starman on the team is great and the fact that he looks nothing like he acts makes it so much better. The old JSA series was great and this one looks like it will end up bring just as great if not better. Oh and the art is fantastic as well. Highly Recommended.

Lots of Interesting Questions

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #15
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert

Wow, this was a great issue. Sooo much stuff happening in a single issue, it was wonderful. Not to mention, the art was great as well. I am interested in a lot of thing in this issue. I am interested in finding out who the new star sapphire is going to be. I am interested in if Alan Scott has joined the Justice Leage. I am interested in what exactly the deal is with the Sinestro Corps. I am interested in finding out who the new Crimson Fox is. I am interested in finding out what is going to happen to “Cowgirl”. I am interested in why the Guardians need the Cyborg-Superman and what the 52 is. So yes while this issue brought about many questions, it was fun and excting at the same time. This revitalized my belief that Geoff Johns is the greatest write of comics right now. I really enjoyed it. Although, I have to ask where is John Stewart? He should be in this book more often.

Superman 653 - 657

Superman #653
Written by Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek
Art by Pete Woods

I am not going to lie, I like my Lex Luthor being the powerful corporate evil man, not a super-villain. But this was still damn good. I love the ending, Lex Luthor telling Superman, “I hate you, I really hate you.”

Superman #654
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Carlos Pacheco

This is the first issue of Kurt Busiek’s solo run on this title. And I got to hand it to him, he knows how to write Superman and he knows how to write him well. This was basically a day in the life type of story, and it was done really well. I loved the moments with Clark and Lois, and I loved the excellent use of Superman’s powers. I love how he is doing his job as well as being Superman at the same time in the scenes. Great art too.

Superman #655
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Carlos Pacheco

I loved the momets between Clark and Lana in this issue, especailly since I am a fan of Smallville. The other stuff was okay, nothing to get too excited but not bad. Subjekt 17 seems kind of a lame monster villain but knowing Busiek, he probably has something up his sleeve. I don’t know how I feel about Superman’s “Super-memory”, it seems a little silver age.

Superman #656
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Carlos Pacheco

And I was right in saying that Busiek had something up his sleeve about Subjekt 17. Subjekt is not jsut a lame monster villain, but instead is what Superman would be if he landed in the wrong place, at the wrong time. This was a very sad character and I really hope he ends up okay in the end. The way the humans treated him was sad. I wonder what Arion was talking about in the end of this though? Definitely reccomended.

Superman #657
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Carlos Pacheco

In this issue, Arion tells Superman and the daily planet staff about the future he worned about. It is very “Day After Tomorrow”. I really enjoyed it. Seeing the future in a comic is always fun and I don’t think the DCU has had that since that arc in Teen Titans. Very cool. I wonder how they end up preventing this from happening? I look forward to next issue.

JSA Classified 13 - 18

JSA Classified #13
Written by Stuart Moore
Art by Paul Gulacy

This was the final issue of this Vandal Savage story arc and it ended pretty well. I mean it was kinda cool seeing Vandal eat flesh Hannibal Lector style. The whole clone thing was a little cliche though. I think this arc could have been a lot shorter but it had some good moments.

JSA Classified #14
Written by Steve Engleheart Art by Tom Derenick

This issue begins a new story arc that is the sequel to the recent “Detroit Era” JLA Classified arc that I loved so much. This time around, it takes place in the modern DCU when Gypsy and Vixen discover some villain’s plan to kidnap the JSA and make them fight eachother. Okay, that whole thing right there is a little cliche, so I am not singing this arc’s praises just yet. We have seen that whole force a team to fight eachother thing a million times. But I look forward to next issue. Oh and when do you think Stargirl will finally get her braces off?

JSA Classified #15
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This felt like such an “in the middle” issue. Not much happened and when it did, it didn’t interest me. I think it’s safe to say that Engleheart’s JLA Classified arc was much better than this one. The superheroes fighting each other has just been done too many times.

JSA Classifed #16
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This issue was a little bit better than last, at least the ending was. It was nice to see Vixen and Gypsy be asked to join the JSA, even though they turned it down. Vixen will be re-joining the JLA soon and Gypsy is now a member of the Birds of Prey. It was funny to see Amos Fortune balloon up like Violet from Willy Wonka. I was expecting the oompa loompas to come in and roll him away (:

JSA Classified #17
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

This was a really creative, well-written storty. I like writers who make me think of something I have never though of before, and Bedard does that this issue. I never thought of the connection between Bane and Hourman; that Hourman and Bane both have to use drugs to get their power. And I am surprised no one has thought of it before, so I think that was really clever on the part of Bedard. The only problem I have is the art, I have McDaniel’s art, it’s terrible. Just look at the legs on Hourman on the cover, he looks fricken weird.

JSA Classified #18
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

Damn, it is nice to see Bane being written well again. Bedard is good, I am surprised I have never heard of him before. I enjoyed this issue a lot. Bane was kick ass in this isssue and so was Hourman. I didn’t even really mind the art this time around, the story kept me from realizing how bad it was. Gosh, I can’t wait till the Justice Society of America book begins in december. Anyways, I hope Bedard returns to this book sometime soon for a rematch between Bane and Hourman.