Superman Batman 40 - 48

Superman/Batman #40
Written by Alan Burnett
Art by Dustin Nguyen

Uh oh Batman is getting horny! This arc seems to be playing up the whole New Gods as actual Gods thing that Morrison has introduced. I like it a lot and Bekka definitely has an effect on Batman’s desire here. Nguyen was the artist on JLA when I first got into comics so I get a feeling of comfort from it. It’s not amazing art, but I like it. Check out the rack on Bekka though hehe, I don’t blame Batman for desiring her. If I was straight, I might do the same.

Superman/Batman #41
Written by Alan Burnett
Art by Dustin Nguyen

Superman’s little dream sequence in this issue was hilarious. I loved all the cameos and the appearance of the guy from the cover of Action Comics #1. I think, if I am not mistaken, that we ever see the inside of the Source Wall.

Superman/Batman #42
Written by Alan Burnett
Art by Dustin Nguyen

The conclusion to this was a little anti-climactic but still good. Overall, I liked this arc a lot. And I so rarely enjoy arcs with the New Gods.

Superman/Batman #40
Written by Andy Lanning & Andy Lanning
Art by Mike McKone

Um ya this was kinda boring and pointless. I don’t know, Dr. Light using a light projection of the old Teen Titans to fight Superman and Batman is kind of well lame and not interesting. I can not really tell you why that is, it is just how I feel I guess. The mystery man at the end of the issue could be either Luthor or Libra, not sure which one it is.

Superman/Batman #44
Written by Michael Green
Art by Shane Davis

Michael Green begins his Superman/Batman run with this issue….hopefully he sticks around longer then every other writer since Loeb left the title. Shane Davis’s art is awesome and I think it fits perfectly with this book. And Green’s writing makes for great superhero storytelling. He actually utilizes Superman’s super-speed power that I don’t think a lot of current writers really utilize to its potential. I like the “freak of the week” reference to Smallville. I think this is the first time in comic continuity they have acknowledged that kryptonite can effect humans in strange ways. The beginning with the shooting of the movie about Superman and Batman was hilarious, especially with how wrong they got Batman’s origin. Also, the idea of hunting down all the kryptonite in the world is very intriguing.

Superman/Batman #45
Written by Michael Green
Art by Shane Davis

Another superb issue by this new creative team. The only thing I had a problem with was the reasoning for Aquaman attacking Superman was a little faulty. Why doesn’t he want him taking Kryptonite from the ocean? Oh and has everyone forgotten he goes by Joseph now, not Arthur?

Superman/Batman #46
Written by Michael Green
Art by Shane Davis

This was a pretty fun issue in which Silver Kryptonite apparently causes Superman to act like a child. It was pretty good. And it wasn’t stupid or done for laughs either. Very well-written.

Superman/Batman #47 Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Shane Davis

Whoa this was a pretty kick ass issue. It makes perfect sense for the government to have a kryptonite storage place and kryptonite weapons in case Superman goes rogue, I am surprised no one though of it before.

Superman/Batman #48
Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Art by Shane Davis

Well, Smallville is nearly destroyed this issue. Luckily it will be rebuilt and Amanda Waller is a real bitch here. I’d argue that Green is turning out to be the best writer this title has ever had.

Aquaman 56 and 57

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #56
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

This penultimate issue of this series was not as good as the previous issue but is still pretty good. It’s a real shame this book is getting cancelled, I feel liek Tad Williams has a lot of potential with this series and he has made it fantastic in his six issue run so far. Oh well. Hopefully Tad isn’t done with comics for good after this.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #57
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

So the entire series ends with a cliffhanger? We finally get an answer to the new Aquaman’s origin and that’s all cool and stuff but the story isn’t really over. It ends with the new Aquaman going off to Atlantis with Topo so he can bring the old Aquaman back to life. I liked the connection between the two Aquamen, the new Aquaman was dying and the old Aquaman’s essence was stolen to bring him back to life. While the whole thing with the original Aquaman isn’t resolved nor is the stuff with Koryak and Tempest, Williams did the best he could to bring this series to a close in one issue and I give props to him. I really enjoyed Tad Williams’s run on this series. We all know a new Aquaman series will happen someday, but for now I look forward to seeing Aquaman around the DCU.

Aquaman 54 and 55

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #54
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

Haha I liked the reference to Seinfeld on the cover of this issue. Anyways, this was another great issue. The mystery deepens even more this time around as we learn the new Aquaman’s dad believed his son dead, and even saw him die months before we first saw him in issue 40. Tempest meets an interesting Jelly-fish girl, Aquaman battles the Human Flying Fish, and more Topo fun. I am sad this series is ending, it’s a lot of fun.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #55
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus 

Most people who are reading this won’t even realize that this issue solved a mystery that has been going on for like 5 years. We now know why San Diego sunk into the water and why the survivors could breathe underwater. It was all part of a scary plan concocted by Vandal Savage. The whole thing being planned by Super villains totally fits this book in a way it doesn’t fit the other books. The mystery being revealed wasn’t anticlimactic at all. I hope Williams gets to do another book after this ends because he is a great writer.

Say Good Bye To Your Face, Black Manta

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #53
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

Tad Williams’s EXCELLENT run on Aquaman continues this issue. Yes, people this is EXCELLENT. Why aren’t you reading it? It is that good. Well-written, funny, clever, action-packed…it has everything. Williams is writing the best Aquaman stories I have ever read while still continuing the mystery and intrigue started with Busiek’s run. There was so many good things this issue that I don’t know what to focus. Aquaman turning into water, Black Manta’s villainous dialogue, King Shark’s violent attack on Black Manta, the new Aquaman’s clever escape plan…oh and Topo is still around so that is great too. The art is fantastic and fits the tone of the series perfectly. Please people, give this series a chance. I am begging you.

The Mystery Deepens

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #52
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus

I love the mystery factor of this title. There are like what, two or three mysteries in this issue alone. Unlike Busiek, who made it kinda boring by having absolutely nothing happen. The dialogue between the characters that Williams rights is a lot of fun and the art compliments it well. I know this series isn’t exactly selling well and that makes me mad!!! Tad Williams is doing great things with this title give it a chance. Anyways, it was cool to spend some time back in Sub Diego (When are they going to explain how this relates to World War III where it resurfaced). I loved the story that Aquagirl tells about the tunnels. It was creepy and sad (In fact anytime anyone trapped leaves writing carved into a wall it is creepy and sad). They keep referring to the “second disaster”. I wonder if that relates to what happened in World War III. I have no idea what is going on with the new Aquaman’s father either.

A Quicker Way To Travel

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #51
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus and Walden Wong

Tad Williams continues his so-far brilliant run on Aquaman this issue. In just two issues, he has expanded the new Aquaman’s supporting cast and introduced a new fun sidekick as Topo. Who is also handy by introducing the others to the concept of Hatches or magical portals in the ocean. It is about time. I always wondered how the old Aquaman got around the ocean so quick. Maybe he knew about hatches too? But no, I don’t think the old Aquaman is dead, just comastose. He will be back. And the re-introduction of Aquagirl is just perfect. She has been missed and I am glad she is back along with Subdiego (although didn’t it get raised above water in WWIII?) Black Mantus may be incredibly overused as an Aquaman villain but I trust that Williams will do something different and fun with the character than what has been done before. Highly recommended. Everyone should give this book the chance it deserves.

PS: Why is The Flash in the scene visiting the old Aquaman with the Justice Leaguers? Bart is not a member of the League and he was never really close with Aquaman, what is the deal with that? Weird.

The Grand Debut Of An All-New Topo

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50
Written by Tad Williams
Art by Shawn McManus and Walden Wong

Tad Williams begins his run on Aquaman with one giant fantastic issue. Seriously, more happens in this issue than in all nine issues of Busiek’s failed run. I loved it. Every moment either made you smile or laugh or at the end, frown. It was a hell of a ride. Williams is the perfect match for the new Aquaman and the Aquman mythos. He has fun with the concept but does not turn it into a joke. We are introduced to the Deep Church, an evil underwater cult along with a powerful villain who my guess is really Aquaman’s supposedly dead son, Koryak. But the best part about this issue has to be Topo! Yes, the octopus sidekick to Aquaman back in the fifties and sixties is back! Williams reimagines Topo as a very funny humanoid octopus creature who instantly wants to be the new Aquaman’s sidekick. I really dug the character from the moment he first speaks. This was a wonderful issue. I hope Williams sticks to this quality throughout his run.

Aquaman 48 and 49

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #48
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

Busiek’s penultimate issue is probably his best yet. We get to see what the Fisherman has been up to in the missing year as well as explore some of the new Aquaman’s past. And the best part of all, a map of the Atlantic Ocean without the water. Very Very cool. The Oceanscape is really another world. A world within a world and I am surprised that no one has thought of taking Aquaman in this direction before.

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #49
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Ricardo Villagran

This issue is Busiek’s last on the title. Next month a new creative team starts. Busiek’s run was pretty good, not perfect, but pretty good now that I look back on it. I am excited to see what Tad Williams will do with this title. This issue focuses exclusively on the fight between the New Aquaman and the Fisherman. Busiek really makes the Fisherman into a lot less of a lame villain now that we know he is a parasitic alien creature that attached himself to people. Very Starro-like but very cool.

More Of A Story From The Past

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #47
Written by Kurt Busiek
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

The art really distracted me from the story this issue. There was some strange coloring and I think there was just too much going on in each frame. It was annoying. The story was confusing and I think the art made it a lot more confusing. I liked the ending though and I hope this story ties into what happened to the Old Aquaman because if it doesn’t it was just a big waste of space. I like King Shark as a character though and it was cool to see the Old Aquaman when he was king. It just wasn’t exciting enough or even interesting enough of an issue for me to reccomend it to anyone. Maybe it is a good thing that Busiek is leaving this title. His run started out very strong but the last few issues haven’t really been up to par. Albeit, I look forward to next issue where the new Aquaman faces the Fisherman.

Aquaman’s First Meeting With King Shark

Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #46
Written by Kurt Busiek and Karl Kesel
Art by Phil Winslade and Butch Guice

This issue tells the tale of the Classic Aquaman’s first meeting with King Shark. This issue is also a hell of a lot better than the boring last issue. While I like the new Aquaman, this issue really made me miss Orin a lot as the flashback shows how great of an Aquaman Orin was. Maybe he should be king of Atlantis again? (And yes I know Atlantis no longer exists as a nation anymore) The fight between Aquaman (the original one) and King Shark was good and well-written. The mystery is also pretty interesting. I love the girl with the jellyfish-like stinging hair. That was cool. The only problem I can see with this issue was the fact it really doesn’t get us closer to the mystery of the new Aquaman or why Orin is now the Dweller of the Depths. I think Busiek should concentrate on answering those questions instead of writing flashbacks, but that is just my opinion. Definitely a good issue though.