Who Is The Mystery Villain?

Justice Society of America #32
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Jesus Merino

I have a feeling that All-American Kid is going to die, which sucks because I liked him but I guess that just shows that Willingham and Sturges are good writers and character creators. Mr. Terrific is definitely going to be back as his body is being held in stasis. This was by far the best issue of the Willingham and Sturges run so far. Power Girl acts more like a chairwoman then she did even under Johns’s pen. Things do go from bad to worse as everything catastrophic does keep happening. Chimera is shown to be an incredibly powerful character in this issue but I know he is not behind anything. Whoever is behind this is someone who knows the JSA well and he or she is doing a really good job at destroying them. I am looking forward to seeing how this concludes.

A Terrific Death

Justice Society of America #31
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Jesus Merino

It was nice to see Power Girl actually acting like the chairwoman and barking orders – even if it was just to stop a fight between Magog and Wildcat. Mr. Terrific’s death really wouldn’t effect me either way. I have never really liked the character and thought he was completely overused. But I doubt that he is dead – for good at least. I am beginning to like All-American Kid. I believe that he is being sincere and I hope he sticks around. Still no sign of Jakeem Thunder or Atom Smasher. I hope that Willingham and Sturges haven’t just forgotten them. Merino is on top of his game in this issue and proves he is a worthy successor to Eaglesham. Magog is still a big jerk and completely unlikeable. I am looking forward to seeing who is behind all this.

Epic Mystery

Superman #692
Written by James Robinson
Art by Fernando Dagnino

I like that Ryan Choi is being mentioned in two books this week! At least DC isn’t completely ignoring him for the boring Ray Palmer. This was a spectacular issue in my opinion. I love how Robinson rings in obscure characters and plays with the DC Universe so well. When he writes, he uses continuity and characters very effectively. There were a lot of developments here. Mon-El is alive (shocking – not really) but the Guardian, thinking he is dead, gives aways Mon-El’s secret identity. I also like the developents with Zatara. What is this power source they are talking about? What is Mirabai up to? This is truly an epic mystery. I don’t think we are even close to having all the answers.

New Series Starring A Douche Bag With Horns

Magog #1
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Howard Porter

This series is something that I  was shocked to see DC soliciting. It seemed to be completely unnecessary – why give Magog his own series when there are so many other BETTER characters (Cassandra Cain, Linda Danvers, ect.) who deserve their own monthly. But I decided to give it a chance – and it has completely failed to prove itself as being worthy this issue. There is nothing to like about this character – and Giffen overnarrarates so much with this character that I wanted to puke. Why does this Kingdom Come character have his own series? Does Didio like him or something? Does he not get that the character was created as a parody? Why was there no mention that he had metahuman powers as Lance before he became Magog? This guy is a bigger douchebag then Hal Jordan – and that is saying a lot coming from me.

Splitting In Half

Justice Society of America #30
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Jesus Merino

This issue sees some debate in the team about whether or not they should go after the bad guys or check in on Mr. Terrific who isn’t answer his commlink. In the end this leads to a fight between Wildcat and Magog. Magog is acting like a jerk and I really hope the split that is going to happen with this team isn’t one where people follow Magog and others follow Wildcat because I know these characters know better then that. I hope it’s a peaceful split. I am glad they are splitting the team because Willingham and Sturges haven’t shown that they are very good at showing the whole team. I mean we still haven’t even seen Sandman, Atom Smasher, or Jakeem Thunder since their run began. I also don’t buy the idea that the villains would be all afraid of the new Doctor Fate. I mean Doctor Fate isn’t more powerful then all of the JSA combined? I guess I am having a hard time believing that this group of villains would even be able to take down the JSA without Doctor Fate. But complaints aside, I did like this issue and I am enjoying their run so far.

PeeGee 3 and 4

Power Girl (Volume 2) #3
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Amanda Connor

Okay after really thinking this series sucked last issue I have to admit this was a lot of fun and exciting. There is a perfect mix of action and humor and while most would be quick to point out Amanda Connor’s artwork, the dialogue is just as good. Pamiotti and Gray really showed me that they can write a good comic here. Let’s just hope they stay consistent from now on.

Power Girl (Volume 2) #4
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Amanda Connor

This was another really fun issue! This creative team are great storytellers. Now that the Ultra-Humanite arc is over this series is really getting good. I like that Terra is becoming Power Girl’s sidekick and seeing them go to the movies and then afterwards fight villains is awesome! If that is all this series is about I would still read it. I like how Power Girl treated the Dungeons and Dragons girl and gave her a job. This was just really good. I am a Power Girl fan now!

Wiggley Field

Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #39
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

As Blackest Night hits the Green Lantern Corps, we get a lot of focus on Kyle – as this series should have all the time. I am definitely enjoying it. Jade is back as a Green Lantern – although wasn’t her body destroyed? Oh well it doesn’t manner the Black Lanterns seems to manifest as dead versions of the people in their normal state (i.e Aquaman doesn’t look like the dweller despite dying in that state). Tomasi spelled Wrigley field with two g’s in this! Come on! That is some bad editing. It reminded me of this dog park near Wrigley field called Wiggley Field haha. That always makes me smile. I am easily amused.

Interesting Way To Start A Run

Justice Society of America #29
Written by Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges
Art by Jesus Merino

This was certainly an interesting way for Willingham and Surges to begin their run on this title. Hell I don’t even care if Mr. Terrific is really dead, he is an annoyingly overused character anyways. (I am sure a lot of people will hate me for saying that but it’s how I feel), I just hope that Obsidian doesn’t turn out to be the bad guy here. That has been done too many times before and we don’t need another gay villain, especially when there is a conservative writer on board this series. The best thing about this issue has to be Merino’s art. I think he is a worthy successor to Dale Eaglesham. I would have also liked to see Power Girl…you know…act like a leader. But it’s not like Johns wrote her like she was the leader of this team either. The new characters, All-American Kid and King Chimera are interesting and I look forward to learning about them.

Japanese Mythology Versus The JSA

Justice Society of America #28
Written by Jerry Ordway
Art by Ordway

I liked this part much better then the first part of this little fill-in arc. Maybe cause I find Japanese Mythology quite interesting and Ordway used it quite nicely in this. Atom Smasher and Stargirl’s relationship is a little strange. How old is he supposed to be? I also liked that Ordway avoided saying that the bomb being dropped was inevitable and couldn’t be avoided and all the usual right-wing propaganda about Hiroshima. We did a shitty thing people, let’s admit that and move on. But anyways, this was an enjoyable issue but I am looking forward to seeing how everything goes when the new creative team takes over next issue.

Continuity Fuck-Up

Power Girl (Volume 2) #2
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Amanda Connor

Wow way to go Palmiotti and Gray, what are you Jeph Loeb?! Why are you ignoring continuity all together. Does this book not have an editor?! Seriously Ultra-Humanite has a long history in the DC Universe since the Golden Age! This origin they constructed completely undoes that. And everyone knows he originally was in the body of a woman and didn’t get the ape body till later. I guess we will have to wait for Geoff Johns to fix this major mistake. What the hell?! Gosh I hate continuity fuck-ups. There is no reason for, it is not that hard to tell a story in continuity and keep things straight people. Besides this, this wasn’t that good of an issue anyways. It was still over-written like last issue.

Nothing Special

Justice Society of America #27
Written by Jerry Ordway
Art by Ordway

You know you would think after writing this title with Johns in the last arc Ordway would know to draw Judomaster as an Asian women, you can blame her hair on the colorist but she definitely did not have Asian features here. I am not sure who the threat is that they are facing. The idea of spirits that hate America is kind of lame but it might work. We shall see what the next issue brings. Otherwise, this was an okay fill in issue. Nothing special.

Decade-Long Run Comes To An End

Justice Society of America #26
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham

What a sweet finale for Geoff Johns on this book. We spend a day with the JSA as they celebrate Stargirl’s birthday. It was really great, I liked all the flashbacks and character moments. Eaglesham drew Jay Garrick like he was a donkey or something…it was odd…but it didn’t hurt anything. Starman waves to the reader and says thank everyone and I smiled. There were some hilarious Starman moments in this issue, especially when he got Stargirl stuff from the laundry for her birthday. We are teased with the idea that Stargirl was going to have her braces taken off, which I wish they went through with. This was really a great way to wrap up John’s decade long run in a very positive way. I really enjoyed it. I think John’s run on JSA is going to be remembered as one of the great all-time comic book runs on a title in history, similar to Wolfman and the Titans. He will be missed on this title.

New Eras

Justice Society of America #25
Written Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway
Art by Ordway

This is Johns’s penultimate issue and he bring the Marvel Family into their next era here. Shazam takes Mary and Billy’s powers away after returning from the dead and turns Isis and Black Adam to stone. I imagine Mary and Billy will regain their powers in the future. I wonder if this is the real Shazam? He is acting like a jerk and not himself. Although now that I think about it I don’t know if he was ever really nice. I love Ordway draws Fawcett City, he is great at it. In the end, Alan announces that everyone is going to stay on JSA (well except Amazing Man and Hawkman and I think Starman) and Atom Smasher rejoins. I really liked Amazing Man and he seems to be leaving for no reason. Kick Magog or someone off the team and bring him in. I thought Citizen Steel wanted to leave? Maybe I misunderstood that.

Adventures In The Rock Of Eternity

Justice Society of America #24
Written by Geoff Johns, Jerry Ordway, and Matthew Sturges
Art by Ordway and Fernando Pasarin

It’s more of this Black Adam story this issue and while it was good before, I think I am finally truly enjoying it. I appreciated the reference to “Power of Shazam” as well as how cool the rock of eternity really is. That is something that really hasn’t been explored thoroughly before. The Origins and Omen back up was by future series writer, Matthew Sturges, and so far, I like him on this book. IF I can judge it by this back up, the future of the JSA looks rather interesting. I was sad to hear Johns was leaving, but after the Gog storyline was so long and well….only okay…I think maybe it is time for him to move on. And why is Mary Marvel switching between her Final Crisis look and her Countdown look all of a sudden? Is that just a mistake.

All The Colors Of The Rainbow

Green Lantern (Volume 4) #38
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis

The visual spectacle that is this story fascinates me once again. I love all the different Lantern Corps, and you know without computers I don’t think this story would be as powerful as the energy beams wouldn’t look like…er…so full of light. I am not sure what has happened to the douchebag..I mean Hal…he seems to have become half-blue lantern, half-green. I love how the Red Lanterns spew out blood. It’s awesome. As for who the guys were at the end on that jungle planet, I have no idea. I’ll have to look that up. I imagine they have something to do with the Indigo Corps. And is it just me or do the Star Sapphires look more pink then violet?

A Gotham-Centric Finale

Nightwing #153
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Don Kramer and Joe Bennett

The only problem I have with this final issue is that it is too Gotham-centric. Instead of focusing on looking back at Dick’s adventures in Bludhaven and New York it is focused on Dick’s origin and such. This should have been a finale for this series and this series was not about that. This series was always about Dick’s adventures on his own. Oh and once again Tomasi neglects to mention Cassandra Cain as being one of Bruce’s “kids”. Tomasi is a fantastic writer, but things like this really bother me. Otherwise it is a nice little ending. At least it ends with Dick returning to Gotham, taking the series full circle.  This is a really sad day for me though. This series has been around since I started collecting comics in elementary school. This is truly the end of an era.

The JSA is Back!

Justice Society of America #23
Written by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway
Art by Ordway

Now this is more like it! After a year of the overly-long Alex Ross Kingdom come crap, we finally get back to good old JSA story telling. Sadly, this is Johns’s final arc on this book. Isis returns to life and is not so sweet and nice as she once was. I hope that that is a ruse and she will go back to her old ways. She was such a good influence on Black Adam before. But for now, I like that she has gone rogue. The JSA has to decide who is on the team after the events prior, and I am sad to see that Starman and Amazing Man are likely to be leaving. Although, that may or may not  be the case as the final roster is not decided this issue. I liked that Billy Batson still hasn’t shared his secret identity with the JSA. That is so awesome, because in the post-Meltzer DCU it seems like everyone knows everyone. It is refreshing that Billy has waited this long. Anyways, it looks like were back to the basics with the JSA, and I couldn’t be happier to be back.