The Dark Lex-God

Action Comics #899
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Jesus Merino

 

UH what just happened in this comic?! Lex Luthor puts his mind into some sort of Phantom Zone prisoner that hates negative emotion. I loved it don’t get me wrong but I am not sure if I followed exactly what happened. I am glad that Brainiac did not end up being the big bad after all. That would have been too easy. Now what shall become of Lex hmmm.

Action 897 and 898

Action Comics #897
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods

 

Lex goes to the Joker’s cell to find the black sphere there and have a little talk with the Clown Prince of Crime in this amazing look at the difference between the two DC mega-villains. Really everyone should read this issue because Cornell should definitely be writing the Joker more often.

Action Comics #898
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods

 

So the person controlling Lois-Bot is Brainiac. Hmmm interesting? I wonder what he wants and what Larleeze saw in the sphere that even he did not want that?? I was hoping they wouldn’t bring Brainiac back so soon but this should be interesting.

The Main Man

R.E.B.E.L.S. #20
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

Brainiac is defeated in an interesting way hear when he tries to download all of Vril’s mind…he gets Vril’s emotions and must leave. Never would have thought of that! Lobo is involved as well and it was great to see he still has his red lantern ring – love that use of continuity! The only bad thing about this issue was the R.E.B.E.L.S. team didn’t make an appearence! I miss them!

Dysfunctional Family

R.E.B.E.L.S. #19
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

The Battle between the three Brainiacs results in a lot of destruction for the planet Colu in this issue. I wish that there was more of the rest of the R.E.B.E.L.S. team but all we get is a quick scene with Captain Comet and Amon Hakk (Although Khundian Porn is hilarious) and the entire issue focuses on the Brainiacs with a surprise guest-star at the end! I look forward to Lobo joining the team – as it has been announced. I wonder how he will get along with someone like Stafire?

Friends With Benefits

R.E.B.E.L.S. #18
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

Brainiac 3 attacks Colu just as Brainiac the first escapes from his though-cell. Stafire and Captain Comet do the hanky panky in a space ship – I love how sexually free Kory is haha. And she even admits that sleeping with Captain Comet helps her get over Dick Grayson – to Captain Comet. An earth-man like himself won’t be too happy about that I can imagine. This was a good issue.

Starfire And Captain Comet Romance?

R.E.B.E.L.S. #16
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin

 

This book has only gotten better since the fantastic Starro War arc ended in my opinion. I like that the R.E.B.E.L.S. is the name of the core metahuman team of L.E.G.I.O.N. It allows for them to keep the same title of this book while also have Dox bring back his peacekeeping force. Stafire and Captain Comet sitting in a tree…I can already see the sparks. I hope that it works out considering it is time for Kory to get over Dick and I would like some more characterization out of Captain Comet. The two new Green Lanterns – despite making the cover – are the least interesting part of this issue. I love all the main characters, I hope this book lasts for a long time to come!

Time Loops

Adventure Comics #514
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Travis Moore
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

In the main feature Brainiac 5 delivers Brainiac to the Coluans and Vril Dox and then delivers the Lanothians to Titan where they will be ruled over by Jemm and called Titanians from now on. I love the use of Legion continuity here and really establishing the origins of these places. I wonder if Titan will interact with earth at all in the 21st century? The back-up was an excellent ending to James Robinson’s entire run on Superman. He wraps up Mon-El’s storyline by having him return to the Phantom Zone and then arriving in the future all the way back to whatever issue of Legion he first appeared in the future in. I liked that he didn’t just leave but gave the letter to Billi Harper and remembered that he spent a year in this century on earth. I will miss his character and I think Robinson – in the end – really did a great job with him.

All Coming Together

Superman #699
Written by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

 

This is part 8 of the Last Stand of New Krypton storyline that began in Last Stand #1 and continued here, here, here, Last Stand #2, here, and here. Things are all falling into place as Kandor is restored by Supergirl and Brainiac 5 and Superman and Zod take on Brainiac. I am not exactly sure what happened at the end – was that a city coming out of Brainiac’s ship. Did Lex just double cross Brainiac? And why is Mon-El worried that Sam Lane knew so much about Daxamite. I am not annoyed with all the questions – just intrigued. I can’t wait to see where this all goes!

Continuity Crisis

Supergirl (Volume 5) #52
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Ivan Rodriguez

 

This is part 7 of the Last Stand of New Krypton storyline that began in Last Stand #1, and continued here, here, here, Last Stand #2, and here. Supergirl teams up with Brainiac 5 and takes out the ship’s core in this issue. So I was kinda hoping that they would mention Supergirl’s time with the Legion of Earth-Prime, I can’t remember if she remembers it or not, perhaps that is why Brainiac 5 seemed familiar. But this Brainiac 5 seems to know here, does all the pre-crisis Supergirl tales with the Legion still happen in this timeline but later? And why does he refer to her as dying? The pre-crisis Kara died in the Crisis why would this Kara have died? I hope they clarify all this soon.

Three Fronts

Adventure Comics #512
Written by James Robinson, Sterling Gates, and Eric Trauttman
Art by Travis Moore, Eduardo Pansica, and Pier Gallo

 

The main feature is Part 4 of the Last Stand of New Krypton Storyline that began in Last Stand #1, and continued here and here. Robinson’s portion of the story is more of a catch-up on the history of the Brainiac’s and we learn that the reason why the past is changing is because somehow Brainiac kills Superman so Brainiac 5 is going back in time to help stop that from happening. It was good. It is not the Legion that I am familiar with and I do miss them, but it is still cool to see all those Legionnaires. I like that XS and Gates haven’t been forgotten! The Sterling Gates written part of the storyline takes place in the present as Tellus uses his telepathic powers to convince the Kryptonians to work together. It was all good nothing to complain about. Finally Trauttman’s story deals with the sleeper agents on earth in a rather interesting way. All of this was good stuff I am loving this crossover so far!

Destiny

Superman #698
Written by James Robinson
Art by Javier Pina and Bernard Chang

This is Part 3 of the Last Stand of New Krypton storyline that began in Last Stand #1 and continued here. Not much seems to occur here, I think it was rather decompressed compared to what Robinson usually writes in this book and we need for a lot of stuff to occur and for plot threads to be revisited since Robinson is leaving the book soon. Albeit, I did enjoy this issue as Mon-El’s destiny is revealed – he was needed to save the bottled cities while Superman was chained up –and those cities somehow effect the future of the Legion. I hope it is explained better soon.

Supergirl Leads The Legion Once Again

Supergirl (Volume 5) #51
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

 

This was part 2 of the Last Stand of New Krypton storyline that began in Last Stand of New Krypton #1. I am loving this storyline. At first I was kind of annoyed that we were getting another Supergirl vs. Superboy fight but it was just one punch and they were fight. Loved hearing him called Kon-El again, it seems like nobody ever remembers that he once went by that name and Gates even wrote him using his tactile telekinesis powers too! (I miss Linda Danvers though) Alura’s hair was miscolored and that was annoying but oh well this was a lot of fun!

Lex Luthor Is Quite Evil

Adventure Comics #509
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

I get the feeling that this was a rushed ending – but that is okay because it was a great story. I can’t say that I understand why Lex did what he did – curing his sister and then reversing the cure. Lex is a whackjob. He really can cure all these ailments but instead chooses to fight Superman and cares about nothing else. I loved that Connor came to the conclusion that he is nothing like Lex and it was great to see Connor with Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, and Red Robin like the old Teen Titans days. They really are the best of friends. I was afraid at first that Johns was trying to show that Lex was actually good and cared for his family, which while would be nice, it really takes away from his character and I am glad that it turned out to just be another evil scheme. Oh and the idea of Brainiac-Luthor hybrid is pretty cool, I look forward to that wherever it plays out. Johns and Manapul will be missed on this title.

The Trial of Reactron

Supergirl (Volume 5) #47
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Matt Camp

Supergirl bring Reactron to New Krypton and the trial doesn’t go so well. A lynch mob comes after him and in the fight Reactron is killed. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy and I was correct. Alura and Gor conspired to have him taken away and tortured for information about earth in secret. Alura feels horrible about what she is doing but sees it as necessary, but she knows her late husband or her daughter wouldn’t approve. This was a decent issue. I liked the insight into the character of Alura and her hardened exterior and it was great to see the flashbacks with her and Zor-El. I wish this was more of a Supergirl focused issue but that is okay. I am sure we will get to see more of her next issue.

World’s Finest Best Buds

Adventure Comics #506
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul
Co-Feature by John and Michael Shoemaker
Art by Clayton Henry

Now this is a really great comic. For anyone who knows the history and relationship between Connor Kent and Tim Drake, this would be a lot of fun to read. I have followed them since their Young Justice days and it is great to see them working together again…it reminds me of when I hang out with my old friends and instantly there is that bonding even though we are both in completely different places (emotionally, mentally, and physically) then we were the last time we saw each other. It was very relatable for me. Johns uses continuity awesomely as usual. I wonder why he is building up the supporting cast like Lori and Simon Valentine if he is just going to be leaving this book after issue 6. Is Paul Levitz going to still be exploring these characters? Didio made it seem like that wasn’t so in interviews. Anyways, we get in the heads of both characters and they both open up to each other and were completely genuine about what they are going through and I liked that. As for the Legion co-feature, it was definitely the best part yet as we have a great team-up between Polar Boy and Sun Boy and learn that the Legion of Super-Villains have some of their members hidden in the 21st century.

A Beautiful Reunion

Adventure Comics #505
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul
Co-Feature by Johns and Micheal Shoemaker
Art by Clayton Henry

The main story surpassed even the first issue as we finally get to see the reuniting of lovers Superboy and Wonder Girl. And guess what, it went really well! I was expecting a break up or something annoying like that but instead they were just honest with each other and nobody acted angsty or anything. Connor was mature enough to understand why Cassie had her fling with Tim while he was “dead” and I think that’s great and a refreshing change of pace for these characters. It was good to see Brainiac and Lex Luthor again and to see Luthor’s reaction to Superboy being still alive and other events around the DCU. I especially liked how the mainstream press is aware that the Justice League is on the verge of collapse haha. It looks like Lex may have made another clone…could there be two Connor Kents flying around soon? A new Match? We will see I guess. The Legion back-up was okay I guess. This isn’t my Legion and I still need to get used to that. Lightning Lad just seemed angry the entire time.

The Black Lantern Boy of Steel?

Adventure Comics  #0
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul

Wow! I expected something about the Legion in this Origin and Omens back up story (The main story was a reprint of the Legion’s first appearance I won’t cover here) but instead we got stuff about Lex and Brainiac which was only so-so, until we see….CONNOR KENT! Yes, it looks like the one true Superboy will be back for Blackest Night as the Guardian, Scar, alludes to this in this issue. I can not wait! Things are always so magnificent when Geoff Johns is behind them. As for this series, it looks like it will be in the Superman family of titles when it officially starts in June but I am not sure. Anyways, the DCU shall be an interesting place this summer.