Crossover Mode

Secret Six (Volume 3) #29
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Marcos Marz

 

This is the conclusion of the crossover with the Action Comics that began here. It was pretty good but still confused the hell out of me at some points just as the last part did. Maybe I am just not following things correctly but anyways the best moments were the Six of course and it Scandal’s background is fleshed out quite nicely. Not much else to say. I can’t wait for this to get back to non-crossover mode.

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!

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.

Every Page Is Filled With Awesomeness

Action Comics #894
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods
Co-Feature by Nick Spencer
Art by RB Silva

 

When did Action Comics get this good? I mean every page of this book is just fun awesomeness from Lex Luthor’s meeting with Death to Jimmy Olsen’s party with Aliens. Whatever I say will not do justice to how good this issue is. I loved every moment and Death stays true to her character in Sandman. I loved how Blackest Night was something she kinda noticed and found amusing – the Endless characters are so above and beyond the main DC Universe characters things that seem huge to the superheroes are very minor to them.

Gotham’s Creepiest Couple

Detective Comics #865
Written by David Hine
Art by Jeremy Haun
Co-Feature by Greg Rucka
Art by Cully Hamner

 

The main story was prefectly creepy! I love good Arkham Asylum stories and the new pair of Jeremiah Arkham and Alyce Sinner will probably make stories in the future. Arkham is an inmate of the asylum now just like his ancestor – he even carves his intial into Zsas’s eyelid! But Alyce is now director of Arkham Asylum and she is equally insane and in love with Jeremiah Arkham! This was a great little story. The Question back-up comes to its conclusion and we are left with a cliffhanger. Odd, Rucka really must have left DC in a hurry but we are not told whether Renee Montoya has the mark of Cain now or not. I wonder if we will have to wait till Rucka comes back to DC or if The Question is too high profile to keep waiting for him. Hmmm. All Good Questions haha.

Brings Me Back

Detective Comics #864
Written by David Hine
Art by Jeremy Haun
Co-Feature by Greg Rucka
Art by Cully Hamner

 

Wow that was good! I always have loved Haun’s writing from Brave and the Bold to his Arkham work and I was excited for his run on Detective Comics – but this blew me away. He really gets into the psyche of Jeremiah Arkham and how crazy he is. My guess is that the three inmates he supposedly cured aren’t real at all. I love that he is referencing old Batman stories – but not SILVER AGE Batman stories or something pre-crisis but the honest to God DC Universe of my childhood – Devin Grayson’s Gotham Knights run and so on. It makes me really miss that time where it seemed anything could happen in Gotham and new characters were being created and awesome dark storylines were being written. I loved reading this. I don’t even miss Batwoman – and I liked her in this book. The Question back-up was also good as Vandal Savage demands that either Question or Huntress take the mark of Cain from him. It makes me want to go back and read Final Crisis: Revelations where this all went down I am not sure how he got the mark. I also liked how Rucka brought in Huntress’s faith which has always been an important part of her character.

What Will Happen Next?

Detective Comics #863
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Jock and Scott Kolins
Co-Feature by Rucka
Art by Cully Hamner

 

The main story has Batwoman defeat the Cutter and it is perfectly juxtaposed against the flashback with Batman. The art team did a great job of making sure that it was no confusing with the red versus blue colors. In the end, Bette reveals her Flamebird costume to Kate. I wonder what will come of this? I can’t wait to see but we may have to wait a bit considering Batwoman is taking a break from the title and Rucka is leaving DC. Darn. The Question back-up was good as Huntress and Renee find themselves facing Veronica Cale who leads them to Vandal Savage.

Secret Six 12 and 13

Secret Six (Volume 3) #12
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

I like how Wonder Woman can take Deadshot down by swatting her fingers but Jeanette punches her and Diana actually bleeds. This shows how powerful Jeanette is. Jeanette is revealed to be a banshee in this issue and even looks like the Silver Banshee but I have no idea how people become banshees in the DC Universe. I suppose I will look that up. This was another great issue.

Secret Six (Volume 3) #13
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Nicola Scott

All of the Secret Six are so messed up it’s great. Ragdoll desperately wants to look good in Wonder Woman’s boots and tiara, Bane thinks prison would be the perfect way to live, Scandal being trained in horrific violence by her own father…I love it! Oh and they are all very willing to kill each other. This was a violent issue so once again I have to say this series is not for the squemish, but it sure is great!

Let’s Hope The Next Arc Is Less Confusing

Outsiders (Volume 4) #20
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

Hmmm….I can’t say I completely understand what just happened in this issue. Who exactly were the Insiders? Just immortals? I am going to have to reread this story arc and I bet this thing reads a lot better in trades then in monthlies. So I am not going to judge it and say it was bad but I was rather confused. It was nice to see the Creeper in action and I liked the conversation between Ra’s and Vandal Savage but ya I am not sure what happened. Hopefully Tomasi’s next arc will be less confusing.

Outsiders 18 and 19

Outsiders (Volume 4) #18
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Lee Garbett

Wow did Alfred really just punch Deathstroke in the face! That is one butler with balls let me tell you! This was a decent issue. For some reason Slade wants to kill the immortals. I suppose we will find out why soon. Or am I just forgetting and they explained it in the last issue? The Outsiders show up just in time to save Alfred luckily.

Outsiders (Volume 4) #19
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin and Jeremy Haun

Now this was more like it. This issue really kicked things into gear. There was action, fighting, and character moments. Not to mention I like Pasarin’s art much better then Garbett’s. The Creeper sneaking up on the guys on the ship was a great moment (and realy his first great moment since joining the team), as was Black Lightning calling out Geo-Force on his poor leadership skills. It looks like Slade is corrupting another young girl. I like that idea. It seems to be a habit of his. The slicing in half of the one guy was pretty gross. I am not sure where any of this is going but I am enjoying the ride.

JLA 13 – 26

Justice League of America #13
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Joe Benitez

When I first read this issue, I was a little turned off. I guess I expected more from the first issue of McDuffie’s run and I certainly expected better art. But now I think this was a pretty good read and did remind me a lot of the TV show. Good start, and at least much better then anything Meltzer did on this title. I think the Injustice League is very cool and I like how they are opposite numbers of the League. Of the villains we have seen so far this is what the breakdown is.

Superman:

Lex Luthor
Parasite

Batman:
The Joker

Poison Ivy

Wonder Woman:
Cheetah

Firestorm:
Killer Frost

Hawkgirl:
Shadow Thief

Green Lantern:
Fatality

The Flash:
Gorilla Grodd

Black Canary, Vixen, Black Lightning, Red Arrow, Geo-Force, and Red Tornado are sadly without any villains yet.

Justice League of America #14
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Ed Benes

This is another good issue. The Injustice League is shown to have Cheshire and Shaggy Man in it’s ranks as well. Cheshire is a Red Arrow villain arguably (even if he has a kid with her) but Shaggy Man and Dr. Light are just general villains not specific to anyone.

Justice League of America #15
Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Ed Benes

The way Batman basically tells Firestorm that he has no choice, he has to join the Justice League was awesome! This concluded the Injustice League arc and it was good, but this arc as a whole would have been a whole lot better if someone else was doing the art.

Justice League of America #16
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Allan Burnett
Art by Joe Benitez and Allan Jefferson

Eh….this issue was okay. It just served as a preview to two other mini-series’s which is kind of annoying. I would have rather had a story in this series that starts and ends in it.

Justice League of America #17
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Allan Burnett
Art by Ed Benes and Joe Benitez

Haha the main story I could care less about. It was lame and had awful art. But the back up written by McDuffie was good because McDuffie comments on the fact that Meltzer’s whole Vixen is using the powers of the Justice League thing makes no sense. I love it! Take that Meltzer!

Justice League of America #18
Written by Dwayne McDuffie and Allan Burnett
Art by Ed Benes and John Boy Meyers

Meh….this was very decompressed and was basically filler. They could have cut this entire issue of the arc. But the back up was good.

Justice League of America #19
Written by Allan Burnett
Art by Ed Benes

Thank god this arc is over because it was not very good. It just served as a sidestory to another mini-series! Whatever happened to this series having its own stories. Hawkgirl being so jealous over Cheshire is just stupid and seems completely forced. Also, I know Geo-Force was transferred to the Outsiders but you would think someone would have mentioned it for people who aren’t reading
the Outsiders. Instead, he just dissappears. That’s bad editing.

Justice League of America #20
Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Ethan Van Sciver

This was by far the best issue of McDuffie’s run so far. And you wanna know why, Ethan Van Sciver. Look at how much of a difference Ed Benes’s art makes with McDuffie’s writing. McDuffie is a good writer, but Benes’s art is soo bad that it is killing a good story. Anyways, this was a beautiful issue with a nice story with the Flash and Wonder Woman. I liked it a lot.

Justice League of America #21
Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Carlos Pacheo

This is a final crisis tie-in issue that is rather enjoyable. In fact, it was just as good as last issue. This book is sooo much better without Ed Benes. Please DC, get rid of him! Anyways, it made me happy to see that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were going to add Martian Manhunter back in the league before he died but the trinity is acting kind’ve elitist. Libra is a visually stunning character and I can’t wait to learn more about him in Final Crisis.

Justice League of America #22
Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Ed Bene

Unfortunately Bene is back this issue….with some ultra terrible art. He draws just one body type…it’s so annoying. Plot-wise, it was only okay. Red Tornado taken over by Amazo does NOT interest me, especially when the League already fought Amazo under Meltzer’s pen. The vixen subplot interests me more but not by much. I really can’t reccomend this issue.

Justice League of America #23
Written by Dwayne McDuffie Art by Ed Benes

While this may have not been a horrible issue if Ed Benes was not doing the art, it was horrible when comined with the art and the rather dull fight with Amazo that lasted the entire issue. Damn. And this series was finally getting good again.

Justice League of America #24
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art byAllan Goldman

Yay! Benes is gone again this issue. This made the fight with Amazo so much better but still rather dull. The best moments of this issue were at the end where they go to meet Animal Man. I did not even think of the vegatarian thing. I am intrugued as to where this is going.

Justice League of America #25
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Ed Benes, Ian Churchill, Doug Mahnke, Darick Robertson, Shane Davis, and Ivan Reis

This anniversary issue was rather good. I am happy to find Red Tornado leaving the team as I never really grew fond of the character. Also, Anansi seems like a great villain for the league to face. I like how he speaks and how he spins the webs of stories. I look forward to the next issue.

Justice League of America #26
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Ed Benes

Now this alternate reality issue of JLA is one of the best issues of McDuffie’s run. He can write some great stuff when he isn’t editorially mandated to do things. There were so many great moments. The Brown Bomber! LMAO. It was refreshing to see Vixen calling upon Animal Powers again and I have to wonder if Meltzer only had it go away because he was too lazy to look up animals to use (:. But the anansi thing did seem to end rather quickly. I bet McDuffie wanted it to be longer but then was told he had to do the whole Milestone crossover thing. Well at least this is a new arc I can look forward to, even if it is editorially mandated.

JSA Classified 27 – 39

JSA Classified #27
Written by Frank Tieri
Art by Gordon Purcell

Well, that was okay. It was a Wildcat story….nothing to get too excited about. Art was okay too. Altogether just kinda….okay.

JSA Classified #28
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Steve Uy

This was a really neat Jakeem Thunder story….one does have to wonder why he doesn’t just help anyone with the genie’s seeming limitless powers and this story perfectly explains why. I liked this alot…even though the art was a little too manga for my tastes.
JSA Classified #29
Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Alex Sanchez

The story wasn’t bad here…I always like secret government stuff. But….the art was distractingly bad. I mean look at Wildcat in this book, he looks monsterous and so do all the heroes in this. I don’t think Sanchez is suited for the JSA.

JSA Classified #30
Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Alex Sanchez

Okay…the story is fine. But the art is even worse this issue! Ahhh I can’t stand it. Check out the beginning where they are out of costume, you can’t tell who is who! Some of the worst art I have ever seen.

JSA Classified #31
Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Alex Sanchez

Okay why did that little girl look evil at the end of this? Okay the plot is a little rudiculous but the art is even worse. I really hope DC never put this guy on another book.

JSA Classified #32
Written by Junior Thomas
Art by Staz Johnson

Well this was an interesting start to this arc. Apparently the starheart has taken form as Jade, or something looks like Jade. Vandal Savage being the villain and dealing with Alan’s loss of Jade I suppose makes this a spiritual sequel to the first arc one year later of this book.

JSA Classified #33
Written by Junior Thomas
Art by Staz Johnson and Mike Norton

As sweet and touching this issue was, there is a huge flaw in it. Alan Scott has a WIFE! He is not alone, he has a son and a wife….why is he not spending Christmas with them. It kinda took me out of what was a pretty nice Alan Scott story.

JSA Classified #34
Written by James Peaty
Art by Freddie Williams II

That was a good Hourman story…I always like it when the series focuses on someone other then Alan Scott, Wildcat, and Mr. Terrific…which is rare. Liberty Belle and Hourman make a great couple. Although I wish she wasn’t made a damsel-in-distress in this. She IS a superhero too.

JSA Classified #35
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Ramon Perez

Now this is more like it. A story that isn’t boring and/or cliche. I liked the whole contrasting modern Wildcat to Wildcat during the Golden Age. And I am really happy to see Catwoman appear in this. I think Alan Scott’s comments to Ted were a little out of line though. The art is superb as well although it took getting used to.

JSA Classified #36
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Ramon Perez

Seemed like not much happened this issue….but it was still good. We got some Wildcat being a bad ass and a flashback to his first meeting with the Fiddler.

JSA Classified #37
Written by B. Clay Moore
Art by Ramon Perez

This concludes the Wildcat arc, and I must say this one was the best so far in terms of Wildcat arcs. I especially liked the flashback to Green Lantern asking Wildcat to be in the JSA and how all the flashbacks were done to look like they could have been drawn during the Golden Age.

JSA Classified #38
Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Shawn Martinbrough

This was an enjoyable story. I am not so much a fan of boxing, so I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. It deals with someone stealing the abilities of famous boxers and leaving them in an almost vegetative state. Very interesting stuff.

JSA Classified #39
Written by Mike W. Barr
Art by Shawn Martinbrough

In this final issue, Wildcat is brought back by Alan Scott – using some kind of power I did not know he had, I will have to look that up and then goes to beat the crap out of the bad guys. Works for me. I am sad to see this series go, but I still felt like JLA Classified it never really reached its potential and should have focused more on stories of the JSA then individual members.

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.

Justice Society 3 – 5

Justice Society of America #3
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Ruy Jose

Eaflesham’s art is perfect for this series. I just can not get enough of it. There were so many great moments in this issue. From Cyclone finally finding her new costume (although Alex Ross’s cover drawing of it is horrible), to the massacre of the Heywood Family, to the end where it is revealed that Wildcat’s illegitamate son is some kind of werecat. I wonder how that happened?

Justice Society of America #4
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Dale Eaglesham and Ruy Jose

The conclusion to the first arc of this series was just fantastic. A lof of great moments and foreshadowing of what is to come. It looks like no one knows how Tom Grant ended up a were-cat but hopefully we will find out soon. I like how Johns writes the thoughts of the characters to give some insight into who each of them really are. This is the best team book that DC is putting out right now.

Justice Society of America #5
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Fernando Pasarin

 

This is the second part of the JLA/JSA crossover that began here. It is so awesome to see these two teams work together. I loved all the moments of this issue as well. Cyclone and Red Tornado’s conversation, Batman and Starman together. Oh and Superman’s revelation that he knew the Legion when they were kids was great. Highly recommended. I don’t have much else to say, just that it was great.

JSA Classified 13 – 18

JSA Classified #13
Written by Stuart Moore
Art by Paul Gulacy

This was the final issue of this Vandal Savage story arc and it ended pretty well. I mean it was kinda cool seeing Vandal eat flesh Hannibal Lector style. The whole clone thing was a little cliche though. I think this arc could have been a lot shorter but it had some good moments.

JSA Classified #14
Written by Steve Engleheart Art by Tom Derenick

This issue begins a new story arc that is the sequel to the recent “Detroit Era” JLA Classified arc that I loved so much. This time around, it takes place in the modern DCU when Gypsy and Vixen discover some villain’s plan to kidnap the JSA and make them fight eachother. Okay, that whole thing right there is a little cliche, so I am not singing this arc’s praises just yet. We have seen that whole force a team to fight eachother thing a million times. But I look forward to next issue. Oh and when do you think Stargirl will finally get her braces off?

JSA Classified #15
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This felt like such an “in the middle” issue. Not much happened and when it did, it didn’t interest me. I think it’s safe to say that Engleheart’s JLA Classified arc was much better than this one. The superheroes fighting each other has just been done too many times.

JSA Classifed #16
Written by Steve Engleheart
Art by Tom Derenick

This issue was a little bit better than last, at least the ending was. It was nice to see Vixen and Gypsy be asked to join the JSA, even though they turned it down. Vixen will be re-joining the JLA soon and Gypsy is now a member of the Birds of Prey. It was funny to see Amos Fortune balloon up like Violet from Willy Wonka. I was expecting the oompa loompas to come in and roll him away (:

JSA Classified #17
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

This was a really creative, well-written storty. I like writers who make me think of something I have never though of before, and Bedard does that this issue. I never thought of the connection between Bane and Hourman; that Hourman and Bane both have to use drugs to get their power. And I am surprised no one has thought of it before, so I think that was really clever on the part of Bedard. The only problem I have is the art, I have McDaniel’s art, it’s terrible. Just look at the legs on Hourman on the cover, he looks fricken weird.

JSA Classified #18
Written by Tony Bedard
Art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens

Damn, it is nice to see Bane being written well again. Bedard is good, I am surprised I have never heard of him before. I enjoyed this issue a lot. Bane was kick ass in this isssue and so was Hourman. I didn’t even really mind the art this time around, the story kept me from realizing how bad it was. Gosh, I can’t wait till the Justice Society of America book begins in december. Anyways, I hope Bedard returns to this book sometime soon for a rematch between Bane and Hourman.

R.I.P Jade

JSA Classified #12
Written by Stuart Moore
Art and Cover by Paul Gulacy and Jimmy Palmiotti

This story I think is really about the death of Jade and how it affects Alan Scott. Well, at least this part of it. I think this is important because it does need to be dealt with somewhere and this is as good of a place as any. Vandal Savage is not portrayed as even remotely likeable this time around, the way he murders his daughters cat in the flash back and even his facial expressions make you hate him. So hats off to the artist although the flashback to Jade’s death makes Donna Troy, Starfire, and Jade look terribly ugly with distorted facial features. But this is only a minor flaw in what is essentially a well-drawn and well-written book.