In The Middle

Supergirl (Volume 5) #62
Written by James Peaty
Art by Bernard Chang

 

Not sure what is going on here – so is Alex a kryptonian? I doubt it. I loved seeing Miss Martian here (why isn’t she in Titans again?) but this issue didn’t really do it for me. It was neither great nor bad.

App Drones

Supergirl (Volume 5) #61
Written by James Peaty
Art by Bernard Chang

 

I knew something was up was up when Alex was shown to have Grodd and Eclipso working for him – they are drones! Alex is a rather intriguing villains soon and I am interested to learn just who his father is and how this all ties into what is going on with Cadmus. The App concept is awesome still too and I can’t wait to see Blue Beetle next issue.

Protection

Green Arrow (Volume 5) #8
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Diogenes Neves

 

This issue’s focus is on the forest as we learn people from all over the DCU have come to Star City to figure out why the hell this magical forest is around. I think this is the first time we really see that the forest is protecting Green Arrow – letting him in while keeping others out. Hmmm? Why is this? I feel like the mystery is going on a little longer then I would have hoped as we don’t really find out much more this issue but the writing and art is still top notch so I enjoyed it.

Superman Batman 79 and 80

Superman/Batman #79
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Jesus Merino

 

Roberson introduce (or re-introduces for some) to the DC Universe of the 853rd Century and I am one of the few who have never read DC One Million and therefore I am fascinated by this Justice Legion with its many worlds and I can’t wait to see more next issue. Epoch Lord of Time doesn’t seem like a new character but I could be wrong but he was a great way to frame the story and allow for the past and the future to collide.

Superman/Batman #80
Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Jesus Merino

Epoch is stopped by the Bronze Age World’s Finest and travels through time being defeated by each era’s Batman and Superman – Brilliant! I am looking forward to seeing more of Roberson’s run on the main Super-book after reading this awesomeness.

There’s An App For That

Supergirl (Volume 5) #60
Written by Nick Spencer and James Peaty
Art by Bernard Chang

The new creative team takes over Supergirl and while I was worried – I can say that I am quite happy with this issue. The idea of an app for tracking heroes is brilliant and something not done before. How many comic plots can be described like that? And Alex already seems like such a bastard he will make a great villain. I am intrigued!

Who Are The Superman Squad?

Superman #707
Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Roberson
Art by Allan Goldman

 

Superman arrives in Iowa just as some factory goes up in flames. He saves the day but then Lois reveals that this particular factory is believed to be environmentally unsafe. Clark decides to watch over the factory but not reveal its dangers because so many would lose their jobs. He is certainly being affected by the mysterious woman because he sure acts like a dick to Lois and just unsupermanlike here. There are other jobs. Judging from the surprise end, Roberson is going to be a great addition to this book because that actually got me excited. Who are the Superman Squad?

Maggie Mxyzptlk

Action Comics #896
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
Co-Feature by Nick Spencer
Art by RB Silva

 

I was utterly confused at what exactly went down in the boardroom at LexCorp here. Could it be the art? Did I read too quick? I don’t know but I am not sure why everyone was freaking out at the end. I liked the back-up a lot more as Jimmy goes in a date with Maggie Mxyzptlk! Awesome! It’s sad that this Jimmy Olsen co-feature won’t be continuing. I can’t believe I actually loved a Jimmy Olsen co-feature!

New Media

Superman #706
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Art by Amilcar Pinna

 

Despite I am sure being told to write these fill-ins quickly and close to deadlines, I am sure, Wilson has managed to hammer out some nice little interludes for Superman’s walk and this issue was no different as Perry White must deal with a blog damaging the Daily Planet’s representation. I took a New Media class in school and it’s no secret that print journalists are afraid of bloggers and the New media so I think this was a great concept to explore for the Daily Planet and the ending was quite good. I don’t know why Wilson didn’t use Jimmy Olsen instead of this new Sandeep character but oh well it works. And you would think someone would have seen Lois and Superman in a compromising postion by now and thought she was cheating on Clark right? Why didn’t anyone think of that before?

Christmas With Supergirl

Supergirl (Volume 5) #59
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

Gates and Igle end their critically praised run on this title with this issue and I think they ended it all quite nicely by kind’ve stopping that Cat Grant hating Supergirl thing after Cat is saved by Supergirl from Dollmaker (who is an incredibly creepy little guy) and showing a nice Christmas with the Superman family of characters at the end. Kara has come along way since Gates took over and I think history will look back on his run very fondly.

Abuse In My Backyard

Superman #705
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Wellington Dias and Eddy Barrows

 

This is JMS’s last issue on this series as he ditched his duties on this book and Wonder Woman in a completely unprofessional manner. But anyways, I liked the story of the abused kid and all. Most of the issue takes place in Mount Prospect, IL. I grew up in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago and my parents actually live in Mount Prospect now so this was kinda cool…although it’s sad that the abused kid has to come from there. There was nothing Mount Prospecty about the art though as Barrows drew it like any suburb but still…cool to see the town mentioned.

Fallen For This Book

Action Comics #895
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
Co-Feature by Nick Spencer
Art by RB Silva

I have seriously fallen in love with Action Comics. This is a book starring Lex Luthor and Jimmy Olsen. I never would have guessed I would be loving it this much but I have to say that this book has stole my heart. Everything about it is good. The Jimmy back-up was hilarious. The Lex story made great use of continuity. In other words, buy it.

The Dollmaker

Supergirl (Volume 5) #58
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

 

Damn I hate that Gates is leaving this book now especially because this issue rocked! Seriously we get a new menace, creepy as hell, called Dollmaker! (Is he Toyman’s son?) Finally some confirmation that Lana’s son is still in continuity. Cat Grant’s great commentary on how Supergirl dresses (I love how she mentions that belly shirts haven’t been in style in a decade…cause seriously it’s like the artists at DC don’t look around) all with Igle’s superb art. Oh and a great cliffhanger featuring Superwoman! I can’t wait to see what Lois wants to talk to her sister about.

Lois and Clark

Superman #704
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Art by Leandro Oliveira

 

I really liked this little filler issue! One thing that has been absent for a while was the great Superman-Lois Lane romance and it was great to see them together again. Wilson writes their dialogue very believable like a real married couple and I liked it. I also liked that the family that Lois visits is not as perfect as they seem because no one is. I think this issue made a good case that Lois can stand behind her husband but be an independent woman at the same time.

Damage

Superman #703
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Eddy Barrows

 

JMS’s Grounded tales is a lot better then I thought it would be and I love that he is incorporating the after effects of New Krypton and not just sweeping that story under the rug but I don’t know if I buy the argument about the potential damage being done as Superman walks across America. What is the difference between this and the damage done when people attack him in Metropolis? Nothing really. Anyways, I wonder what this New Krypton kryptonite does cause it seems to have possessed a school teacher and caused another guy to gain powers hmmm.

Superman Batman 75 and 76

Superman/Batman #75
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Jerry Ordway

 

The anniversary issue has a bunch of tiny back-up features that I won’t cover here cause most are not in continuity but the main story was an epilogue to Levitz’s previous arc as a future Lexor citizen comes back in time to kill Superman and the Legion and Batman team up to stop them. It was good and Ordway’s art was great but nothing to get too excited about. I am kinda sick of the same four Legionnaires always being used – let’s mix it up a bit Levitz.

Superman/Batman #76
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Marco Rudy

Now this was great! We finally get to see Superman’s reaction to Batman’s “death” during Final Crisis and it was a really great. Winik could have made this cliche and dumb as hell (imagine if this was written by Meltzer) but instead we get a look at how Superman views death and the fate of his friends as well as some awesome moments between him and Wonder Woman. I loved it!

Superman 701 and 702

Superman #701
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Eddy Barrows

 

I had read all the terrible reviews of this issue before I read the issue itself…that is probably why I enjoyed this issue more then most as I expected it to be downright awful when there were actually some inspiring moments here. Yes, Superman should have taken the guy to the hospital and he does act like a pompous jackass at the end and to Lois, but I liked the idea of him taking on the gangsters and the women he stopped from committing suicide. So there is hope for this walk to be successful afterall I think.

Superman #702
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Eddy Barrows

Now this was more like it! Superman walks to Detroit, discovers illegal alien immigrants and revitalizes the detroit economy all in one issue. This was a huge improvement over the first issue of JMS’s run as her manages to combine comic book fights with social commentary and true heroism without seeming to be preachy. I am excited that Batman will be showing up too! It would have been nice for them to mention that the Justice League once worked out of detroit but oh well. Good issue.

Superman Batman 72 and 73

Superman/Batman #72
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Jerry Ordway

 

Levitz and Ordway present the start of a clever little tale here where Lois is kidnapped by Superman worshippers mad she chose to marry Clark Kent over Superman! Brilliant! Superman saves a planet full of people who end up resenting him and Lex is interested in this planet. There is one continuity problem with this issue and that is that Identity Crisis is mentioned and Lex hasn’t been in charge of LexCorp since before Identity Crisis except for currently (But Bruce Wayne is is not around right now) and during 52 when Superman was powerless. Hmmm….maybe this takes place after Bruce returns? I don’t know but kind of annoying.

Superman/Batman #73
Written by Paul Levitz
Art by Jerry Ordway

 

Superman, Batman, and Lois confront the cultists at their meeting and discover they are being led by a giant fire creature who seems to have been created or something Lex. Ordway’s artwork is beautiful and filled with detail it is breathtaking to look at. The story is top-notch too as Levitz is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I wonder where this will go now with the planet Lexor. Cool stuff.