Two Lindas?

Supergirl (Volume 5) #38
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle and Matthew Clark

It’s a shame Gates hasn’t written this book since its inception. This is just that good! The same can be said for Igle’s art, which is top notch this issue. Check out the fight scene between Superwoman and Supergirl, gorgeous art there. Speaking of Superwoman, she may not be Kryptonian after all! Could she be Linda Danvers? I sure hope so. Either her or Flamebird should be Linda. And like Gates said at the convention, it looks like Supergirl will be taking over the Linda Lang identity again. Maybe that is how she hides from the ban on Kryptonians on earth? I don’t know but all of the threads are coming together and I can’t wait for the next issue.

The Women of Steel

Supergirl (Volume 5) #37
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

While I was looking forward to the whole Linda Lang status quo with Supergirl working at the Daily Planet, I am not complaining. I know that we will get back to that eventually. Right now Kara’s relationship with New Krypton and the mystery behind Superwoman is more compelling. My current theory is that Superwoman is Thara, as both Thara and Superwoman did not want Kara to go to earth and find Reactron in this issue. I think all hope that Superwoman is Linda Danvers has been lost now that we know she is definitely a Kryptonian. I still hope Flamebird is Linda though! Alura is still one crazy bitch and incredibly mean to her daughter. The only reason why I think Kara puts up with it is because she believes her mother is grieving over her father’s death. And as everyone know, in times of grieving everyone wants to be with their family.

Success

Action Comics #873
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Pete Woods

This is the final part of the ten part New Krypton storyline that began in the New Krypton Special, then continued here, then in the Guardian Special, then here, here, here, here, here, and here. I read a lot of reviews saying that this wasn’t a true ending or satisfying ending. I think it was. I mean Kandor has left earth and established a New Krypton. It is the end of this arc. This is serial storytelling people, there are never going to be true endings as if this is a complete work! I just don’t get the complaining about the ending. Anyways, I absolutely adored this issue. Every moment inspired awe and wonder in a way that any big story like this should. While I like Final Crisis, this is more of an event book then that. The ending with Superwoman was completely unexpected and I look forward to all the story possibilities that have come out of this arc. I may have been hard on some parts of this storyline, but overall, and especially this issue, it was a tremendous success.

The Return of the Creature Commandos

Action Comics #872
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Pete Woods

This is part 7 of the New Krypton storyline that began in the New Krypton Special, then continued here, and then in the Guardian Special, and then here, here, and here. I am not sure how I feel about this issue, I mean it was good and decent but I just wasn’t that excited over it like I have on other issues of this storyline. The Creature Commandos are cool and I am surprised I have never heard of them before. I especially like the one who looks like Medusa. Pete Woods’s art is fantastic in this issue, a lot better then his recent work. Supergirl’s Dad I assume is killed, which makes me happy because I don’t like the idea of the Zor-Els being alive. I mean it is fine for this story but I don’t think they should live on past this. The most excting part must have been seeing the new Nightwing and Flamebird in Gotham, and Nightwing was flying and they knew Batman. Could it be Connor Kent and Linda Danvers? How awesome would that be.

A Villainous Trip To The Phantom Zone

Superman #682
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes

Okay….this has to be the most eventful issue of this storyline yet. This is Part 6 of the New Krypton Storyline that began in the New Krypton Special, continued here, then in the Guardian Special, and then here, and here. The New Krypton event has been really awesome so far but this is the cream of the crop. The Kryptonians begin to gather Superman’s villains and toss them in the Phantom Zone, along the way killing some cops who try to stop them. When Clark finds this out, his reaction is priceless. You really get the sense of anger and disappointment as he flies out of the Daily Planet and I think that is a credit to Guedes’s artwork. He really did a good job this issue. I am not sure what is going on with the Guardian or Atlas though. I guess we will find out soon enough. At first I thought Supergirl was in on it but apparently she was unaware anyone got killed. I am glad. Allura is kind of a bitch compared to her husband, who seems genuinely upset about the deaths of the cops. I look forward to finding out what happens next.

The Spectacular Debut of Superwoman

Supergirl (Volume 5) #35
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

This is part 5 of the “New Krypton” Superman crossover that began in the New Krypton Special, continued here, in the Guardian Special, and here. And this was awesome, Gates continues to revitalize Supergirl in this issue, pulling a Geoff Johns, he explains away all the craziness of the character – the personality changes, the different memories of her parents – as being a result of Kryptonite radiation poison causing her mind and body to go a little nuts. He even tied in the weird crystal blood from Joe Kelly’s run on the book. Awesome! As for the new Superwoman – she looks great – I do hope it is Linda Danvers but it doesn’t look like it. Maybe Linda Danvers is Flamebird? I don’t know but I have a feeling she is coming back, even had a dream about it (Yes I am that much of a geek). I like the new origin of Supergirl – it is perfect and finally sets the character straight.

Action Comics 860 – 871

Action Comics #860
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

While I am more familiar with the threeboot legion, it is still cool to see all of the original Legionnaires come back and I can’t even comprehend the excitement of the fans of those characters while reading this. This was a fantastic issue for fans and newbies alike. Check it out. Frank’s art is amazing.

Action Comics #861
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

Another fine issue of Action Comics. There were a lot of fantastic moments, I liked the foreshadowing of the Crisis of the 31st century and all that stuff. Frank’s art is beautiful and perfect for the Legion. I am really getting into all these characters, many of whom I am meeting for the first time. Eye-Full Ethel is hilarious. Is that a new character? I will have to find out.

Action Comics #862
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

I am now in love with the Legion of Subsitute Heroes. What a fascinating bunch…from Chlorphyll Kid’s belief in talking to plants to Rainbow Girl’s mood swings they are a lot of fun to read about. As for the main plot, I really hope Superman gives Earth-Man a good ass whooping.

Action Comics #863
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

While this arc was a little long, it was a lot of fun. This was a great conclusion. Superman kicks Earth-Man’s ass and tells the xenophobic humans he is for everyone. And the ending flashback was so heartwarming. Great stuff Johns!

Action Comics #864
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Joe Prado

This story really set everything up for Legion of Three World and for fans of the DC Universe, it is very exciting. Batman and Lightning Lad play off each other well. I like the tie-in to Countdown with Karate Kid and Una whom I had forgotten even died. This was a great issue with great use of continuity.

Action Comics #865
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Jesus Merino

This issue focuses on Superman’s famous villian, the Toyman and in perfect Johns fashion, explains away basically all the changes and continuity glitches about the character. Apparently all the different Toymen, even the Hiro one, were just robots created by Winslow Schott. As usual, it’s perfect and I can’t believe no one has thought about this before. Johns is a genius! Toyman may come off as someone who was taken advantage of and someone who does care for children in this issue, but Johns shows with the ending that he is still a deeply disturbed individual. I loved how Toyman doesn’t want to go to Arkham because he doesn’t want to be associated with Batman’s villains. Great issue.

Action Comics #866
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

Johns is really doing a lot to revitalize everything about Superman’s world. Everything from his villains to the Daily Planet staff is being fleshed out and made better. This arc is going to revitalize Brainiac and it looks like it is working. He is certainly creepier then ever here. But my favorite parts of this issue were at the Daily Planet and the interaction with the staff. The Superman books are the best they have been since I started reading comics thanks to Johns.

Action Comics #867
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

Frank’s art really makes this issue. There were some fantastic moments because of his art. I especially like his design for Branianc’s Robots. Supergirl’s revelation about Brainiac is similar to Toyman and how most Braniac’s that Superman has met are just probes and not the real Brainiac. In fact, Superman has never met the real Brainiac. One thing I am confused about is how Supergirl’s parents remember Kandor disappearing but over in Superman and the New Krypton storyline they are in Kandor. Hmmm…I bet this will be explained though. Oh and what about the Kandor that Supergirl visited with Ultraman, is that not the real Kandor?

Action Comics #868
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank`

Superman comes face to face with the real Brainiac in this issue and he is one scary mother fucker. So he basically takes a sample of a culture and destorys the rest, so I wonder if he is responsible for Krypton’s destruction. I wish Johns’s run wasn’t so focused on Krypton as I always preferred the Post-Crisis Superman who considers himself to be a human thing but this is good writing and good story-telling so I can’t complain. The whole thing with the Kents seems a little forced though, what is it that made them think this thing with Brainiac was any different? Nothing really.

Action Comics #869
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

So the stuff with Supergirl’s parents is explained in this issue and in a way that harkens back to the pre-crisis idea that Argo City survived the initial destruction of Krypton. As for Metropolis, it looks like it has become a bottled city. Oh and I was right, Brainiac is responsible for Krypton’s destruction! Good guess on my part. Kudos to me haha.

Action Comics #870
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank

While the conclusion to this arc was action-packed and awesome, I am not too saddened by the death of Jonathan Kent. The fact of the matter is he died the same way in Superman: The Movie and in Smallville so I have seen it before and I really don’t care. I don’t really get why things have to be like the Donner movie, a movie that my generation doesn’t even remember. Although, it doesn’t matter to me if he is alive or not, at least it fit in this story. As for the New Krypton stuff to come, we will see how that goes, I don’t know how I feel about it yet.

Action Comics #871
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Pete Woods

This is part 4 of the New Krypton Storyline that began in the New Krypton special, then continued here, and in the Guardian Special. I wasn’t really looking forward to this storyline but so far it has been a blast! The scene of all the Kryptonians taking out Doomsday on the moon was fantastic and I think that it really shows the strength of artist Pete Woods. Sam Lane doesn’t look like a total bad guy here as it makes sense that there should be some defense in case the Kryptonians go rogue. I love how he shot Luthor is the shoulder when he mentioned Lois. Wasn’t expecting that. As for the Kryptonian Nightwing and Flamebird, I really hope they show them interacting with our Nightwing and Flamebird. That would be interesting. Oh and Doomsday deserved to die just for fucking with Connor’s statue alone.

Welcome to New Krypton

Superman #681
Written by James Robinson
Art by Renato Guedes

This is part 2 of the New Krypton storyline that began in the New Krypton Special. I must say that I am rather enjoying this storyline. I really was NOT looking forward to. I feel that there has been way too much focus on Krypton these last few years, but I guess I was wrong. It is just so cool to see all the different costumes of the Kryptonians and to think of the danger these Kryptonians pose to the world as they are NOT Superman. They do not have the same values and ideas as he does. Everything about this seems epic. The ending of this issue was completely unexpected. Doomsday!