Revelations

Superman #695
Written by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

I love the Superman books right now! I really can’t get enough of them. Robinson’s threads are coming together slowly but surely and it is so fun to see how tightly plotted everything is here. Steel wakes up from his coma, Jimmy is alive, the Legion has been behind a lot more then we thought…there are so many revelations in every issue of this book and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. This book is much better then Robinson’s awkward Justice League writing, if only it got a regular artist. I miss Guedes’s Metropolis.

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.

Sometimes Lois Is Just As Heroic As The Super Heroes

Supergirl (Volume 5) #45
Written by Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka
Art by Jamal Igle

This is part 2 of the Hunt for Reactron crossover that began here. This was a tremendous issue that furthered the plot a lot. I like how Thara knew that Lana is sick (although Kara is kind’ve being a jerk to to Thara) and Lois acting like the hero. I hope she exposes her father and the whole operation when this is over. I love when Lois is portrayed as a smart and competent (but good-natured) reporter.

You Stupid Babootch

Action Comics #881
Written by Greg Rucka and Sterling Gates
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

This was the first part of the Hunt for Reactron storyline. This was a good issue that focuses on Supergirl, Chris, and Thara now as fugitives who the world blames for the death of Mon-El. I like how there is so much tension between Kara and Thara over her father’s death – and I really liked the art. I hope DC keeps Perez on this book because the art has been less then stellar before he came on. There were a lot of great moments such as Supergirl saying she has fortresses all over the world and she stole the idea from Batman. And I am actually becoming more interested in the mythology behind Nightwing and Flamebird. Oh and the best line of the issue has to be Thara calling Supergirl a “Stupid Babootch”. What a great fictional sware word for Krypton! The Captain Atom back-up didn’t really further the plot enough for me to get too excited about it.

World Against Superman

Superman #691
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes

This is the fourth part of the Codename: Patriot crossover that began in World of New Krypton #6 and continued here and here. I like that it is implied at the end of this issue we have gone from World Without Superman to World Against Superman. General Lane has created quite the crazed plot to discredit Superman and Supergirl. From the looks of it, Lois may believe that Kara has gone rogue, which I hope she is smart enough to know that can’t be true. This was a really good storyline and while it only leads to more story, I feel it came to a good but sad conclusion.

Building

Action Comics #880
Written by Greg Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Julian Lopez
Co-Feature by Rucka and Robinson
Art by Cafu

This is the second part of the Codename: Patriot that began in World of New Krypton. I really enjoyed this. Probably even more so then I did the New Krypton crossover at this point in it. The plot and mystery is so thick; Rucka, Robinson, and everyone involved are telling a really awesome complex story here. Chris and Thara kiss before being captured by Project 7734. I loved Superman’s reunion with Lois after being away for so long. I wasn’t surprised that Zod’s shooter is working with General Lane after all the scheming we have seen Lane do. Everything is coming together and I imagine it is all going to explode in craziness. I can not really predict what is going to happen, but this is all leading somewhere big. The Captain Atom co-feature was beautiful to look at as he begins to remember who he is. The question now is where is he? Or When? Good stuff.

Return Of The Boy Of Steel

Adventure Comics #504
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul
Co-Feature by Johns
Art by Clayton Henry

Superboy is back! I find it amusing that people around the blogospher are referring to Connor in their reviews as the “new superboy”. A character that has been around since 1994 is definitely not new. None-the-less, I am excited to have Johns write the adventures of Superboy in smallville. Johns sets up everything quite well in this issue and introduces concepts I am sure he will follow through on and even a future friend turned archenemy for Superboy. Manapul’s art is gorgeous as always. Henry’s art on the Legion back up was fine but I wish Manapul did that as well he is that good and it would be fun to see him draw the Legion again (even if this isn’t the same Legion). The only possible complaint I have is that I still don’t care for the whole “omg I have Lex’s genes, what if I become evil!” subplot and Johns continues it here. I have never bought the idea that Connor would even think that he could become like Lex just because of his genes. Anyways, Starman was as usual – hilarious – in the back up and I am looking forward to this series from here on out.

Robinson Understands His Playground

Superman #689
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes

Mon-El spends this issue traveling the globe and meeting up with heroes and villains from all different countries. Each of these tales could have had their own issue or two but something about him summarizing it made everything a lot more exciting and less decompressed in the way most comics are. Robinson really takes advantage of writing in the DC Universe in a way that most writers don’t. That is what makes him one of the best writers that DC has right now. He utilizes his playground to the max. It was a lot of fun to see the different heroes internationally (some old and some new) and to cap it off, it looks like Steel is in trouble. Sam Lane is such a douchebag for wanting to kill Steel.

Superman Confidential 5 – 14

Superman Confidential #5
Written by Darwyn Cooke
Art by Tim Sale

Hmmm…this was an okay chapter of this storyline. Sale’s art doesn’t seem to fit with Superman to me though but oh well. The thing with Superman being able to have visions of Krypton from this monster is a little far fetched…but it is a comic book.

Superman Confidential #6 Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Koi Turnbull

Haha this story is a little nuts but fun I guess. Lori Lemaris turning Metropolis into a city of mermaids sounds very silver age but it is done with a modern twist to it. The art is a little 90′s and distracting but I don’t mind it too much. The ending was pretty shocking.

Superman Confidential #7 Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by Koi Turnbull

While the writing on this was good, it was really hard to get past the cheesy art on this issue. I mean Lori Lemaris was wearing what can only be considered a whore’s outfit on that last page lol….women don’t dress like that in public. Anyways, it was fun to get to know the character of Lori Lemaris and mermaids are always fun in a comic book.

Superman Confidential #8 Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Chris Batista

So I guess this is Superman’s first meeting with Darkseid. This was kinda underwhelming considering how much of a Superman foe Darkseid will become. But the story was enjoyable I guess. The art was fantastic. They should get Batista on a regular book!

Superman Confidential #9
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Chris Batista

You know…for Superman’s first time on New Genesis, this could have been a lot better. I feel like it is just standard, Like DnA aren’t really trying too hard to write a good story. I don’t know why I feel that way though, as the art is good and it had enjoyable moments.

Superman Confidential #10
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Art by Chris Batista

Was that last line alluding to Final Crisis? I am not sure. But this was another okay issue. Maybe it’s because I am just not that into the New Gods. But I found this to be a lil’ bland.

Superman Confidential #11
Written by Darwyn Cooke Art by Tim Sale

Ya Tim Sale still doesn’t feel like he belongs on a Superman book. This issue concluded the opening arc of this book. And it was a nice happy ending….I like the character of Bridgewater. But Sale really doesn’t fit on a Superman book.


Superman Confidential #12
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Phil Hester

This arc is Superman’s first meeting with the Toyman. Geoff Johns just recently wrote Toyman’s origin in Action Comics so wonderfully that this story seems like it will be kinda underwhelming. The opening was okay….but how many times this year are they going to tell the first story of how Jimmy Olsen got his signal watch!

Superman Confidential #13
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Phil Hester

I am sorry but I don’t like Jimmy Olsen…he is just an idiot. End of story. This was another okay issue, but I understand why this is the penultimate issue because really these arcs are only just okay…they don’t really warrant the series existence.


Superman Confidential #14
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Phil Hester

This was actually a more satisfying issue, maybe this arc didn’t need to be three issues long? Toyman is a great character. Well this ironically was the last issue of this series. Too little, too late.