Outsiders (Volume 4) #28
Written by Dan Didio
Art by Phillip Tan
As I expected, this book is not getting any better. What the hell is Didio doing?! Still no explanation for Geo-Force’s actions…is he being manipulated? Is Katana? And still no mention of Halo! Where the hell is she? The entire issue was a rather boring fight between Black Lightning and Geo-Force with Didio’s lame narration. What a waste of panels.
Superman/Batman #69
Written by Joe Casey
Art by Ardian Sayaf
Sayaf’s art is breathtaking – DC needs to put him on something huge soon! Casey’s story is intriguing as well as we learn the main villain is a Durlan hmm. Good stuff here. I loved seeing the Watchtower on the moon again! That brings me back.
Superman/Batman #70
Written by Joe Casey
Art by Ardian Sayaf and Jay Fabok
This was another good issue as the battle against the Durlan is fought on two fronts. I loved Batman in this – really showed how kick ass he is taking out the Hooded guy with one kick and getting all suited up to go into space and take on an alien one-on-one. Oh Bruce I missed you.
The Shield #7
Written by Eric Trauttman
Art by Marco Rudy
Co-Feature by Brandon Jerwa
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
So the Brain Emperor is going on a mission with the Shield to take out the Black Seven – a group selling WMD’s on the open market. It’s an interesting idea and I look forward to learning more about the Brain Emperor – he is a really gross looking character haha but lots of potential. Sad that this book is ending soon, but I have a feeling DC is going to launch a mighty crusaders ongoing or something. They can’t be giving up that easy. The New Co-feature features The Fox – a character I find much more interesting then Inferno. I like the whole Japanese thing being set up in this issue and the mystery about his father’s death. It should be fun while it lasts.
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.
Batman: Streets of Gotham #10
Written by Paul Dini
Art by Dustin Nguyen
Co-Feature by Marc Andreyko
Art by Jeremy Haun
The main feature was a probably the first solo Damian story – as Damian is kidnapped by Zsadz’s men whom he went looking and is forced to fight the serial killer in an arena. It annoyed me how easily the Abuse kid figured out Damian was Robin and that Damian is going around introducing himself as Damian – I mean if he is going to do undercover work at least use a fake name! Ah! Oh well I guess we can chalk that up to his inexperience. It wasn’t a bad issue, but was a little on the short side. The Manhunter back-up kicked major ass…I love the character of Jane; she is such a creey villain and pulling a bomb out of her neck made her even creepier. Why is this co-feature ending exactly? I mean how are they even judging how well a co-feature is doing without the trades out? I am loving Manhunter in Gotham and do not want to see this end.
Green Lantern (Volume 4) #52
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke
Once again we are shown that Green Lantern Corps is the Green Lantern title you should be reading this was…well…kinda pointless. John Stewart takes out Xanshi which may or may not be connected to all the rings. That is about all that freaking happens! Hal Jordan is just bossing people around and acting like a dick as usual. Johns used to be my favorite writer, it’s sad, why does he like this character so much! Sinestro’s White Lantern costume is cool though and I like all the history stuff I will give it that.
Azrael (Volume 2) #6
Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Ramon Bachs
This was a quick read. Azrael reads the Book of Purity – which is a history of the Azraels of the past. So basically there were two Azraels if I am not mistaken, one for the order of St. Dumas and one for the Order of Purity? Michael comes to the conclusion that the true enemy of Azrael is the order of Purity – hmmm – interesting stuff although I wish more happened in this issue.
Brave and the Bold #32
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Jesus Saiz
I don’t know how I feel about this issue, it wasn’t bad by any means but it didn’t really wow me. One has to wonder if Etrigan and Aquaman were keeping hell from coming up out of the ocean every year – what has happened since Aquaman has been dead? I suppose that someone else could have helped or maybe since Reign in Hell this doesn’t happen anymore but I wish the question was addressed. Can’t wait to see Aquaman alive and well again though.
Booster Gold (Volume 2) #30
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Jurgens and Jerry Ordway
This storyline comes to an end as Coast City is destroyed. I understand how hard of a choice it had to be for Booster and he really wouldn’t be the hero he is if he didn’t at least try to save the city so I was glad that he involuntarily left Coast City. It was also cool to see older Booster – aware that Rip was his son – and secretly helping out. I didn’t even think of that! Good issue!
Titans (Volume 2) #23
Written by Eddie Berganza
Art by Scott Clark and Ardian Syaf
I think I have said enough about how disgusting it was for DC to kill off Lian Harper, but I did enjoy this issue. Okay I hated it at first but I liked the look back at the history of this team and it reminds me of me and my friends over the years, you go through rough spots, but it makes you closer in the end. There was something very real about all this. Sure it was filled with unnecessary retcons – I don’t remember Donna and Roy being that serious or the Titans finding about Roy’s drug abuse – but I still enjoyed it. I guess because it profiles probably the greatest family in all of comics – the Titans. They have stuck together through bad and worse and I love that about them and I am glad they are becoming Justice Leaguers now.
Batman #697
Written by Tony Daniel
Art by Daniel
The person behind the Black Mask is revealed and all-in-all it is not that shocking. I still loved the issue. Daniel’s artworks has been great since he started on this book and so has his writing. Battle for the Cowl was a total fluke. I was sad to see the splash page of the Network considering this was an organization began by Cassandra Cain – and she has been gone since August and no one seems to care to look for her (In other words DC’s editors are douchebags) The debut of Catgirl was unexpected – I hate the costume it looks really ridiculous but that doesn’t mean I hate the concept. I wonder what Holly Robinson will think? Will this be reflected in Gotham City Sirens? Time will tell.
Green Arrow (Volume 4) #31
Written by J.T. Krul
Art by Federico Dellachio
First of all in the Source blog I swore they said this issue was being drawn by the guy who did last issue – guess not. I wish it was but this guy wasn’t bad. Anyways, can I just say that Cry for Justice and Lian Harper’s needless death was the FUCKING DUMBEST THING DC has done in a while. It was awful and took away one of the greatest things about the character of Roy Harper and was the perfect example of Fridging. Green Arrow’s decision to go crazy after it is equally dumb and seemingly comes out of nowhere. This isn’t Ollie at all. Krul went from starting out great on this book to total shit. Barry Allen is acting like a total jerk in this too, since when does he not like Ollie? How would even know to tell Connor Hawke about any of this, he has never met Connor?! Dinah is not talking to Ollie like a wife at all. This issue was weak…really weak. Krul can do better but instead he is stuck with this awful left over plot that makes no sense. It’s awful.
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!
Green Lantern Corps (Volume 2) #46
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason
Tomasi and Gleason once again bring us the BEST Green Lantern book on the stands right now. Shit this was good! Action-packed, and filled with strategy as the Corps fights the Black Lanterns above the earth. I gasped when we saw Black Lantern Alex and I loved how Kyle said that Alex made him a better man because she definitely did. Tomasi did his research on their relationship. All I can say is this was damn good!
R.E.B.E.L.S. #14
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Claude St. Aubin
The war with Starro finally comes to an end. Starro is defeated (after being nealy defeated in this issue so many times it left me in total suspense and I lost count) and Vril Dox announces plan to restart L.E.G.I.O.N. so unless this book changes titles or is cancelled, I am not sure where it will go from here? I imagine Dox won’t be able to restart L.E.G.I.O.N. as easily as he thinks. This was a great 14-issue build up and I really liked the finale of it. Bedard has brought something new to the character of Starro – depth – and I think that is great as I never really cared for the character before. I can’t wait to see what happens from here on out.
Magog #7
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Howard Porter
Magog begins to suspect he is inhabited by the Magog being and not just have his power and goes to see Zatanna (who despite the cover only appears on like one page, I am not even sure how he knows her) and his mother. The scene with his mother was a wonderful scene that gave some depth to this character. When it was all said and done, I think this was one of the better issue of this book. It all made sense, which is something I can’t really say about previous issues. I liked it.
Action Comics #887
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trauttman
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Cafu
This issue shows just how in touch Lois is with the superhero community as she gets flown across borders by her connections. Flamebird and Nightwing try to fight the new “False Rao” but ultimately Nightwing gets thrown back into the Phantom Zone. Will this be his final fate? Not sure but I look forward to finding out. Rucka does not write any part of the co-feature which is rather strange since he isn’t doing Last Stand of New Krypton either. I don’t want to start rumors but could there have been some kind of falling out with him and Robinson? Or is Rucka just not interested in the Superman stuff anymore? Who knows? The back-up was short and sweet as Captain Atom goes through Skartaris and into Sorcerer’s World to take on Mirabai.
The Continuity Blog 