Action 889 and 890

Action Comics #889
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trauttman
Art by Jose Perez
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Cafu

 

The main story ends Rucka and Trautmann’s run on the book by having Chris and Thara defeat the false Rao. It was a kind of a wimper of an ending. I have to say that I have grown to like these two characters as they have starred in this book – but not enough to really miss them. I like the mythology of it all but I think it is just time to move on. The finale to the Captain Atom back-up was more exciting as Mirabai is defeated and Captain Atom’s reputation restored. I really thought this back-up was a neat idea all-around and I’d say it was successful.

Action Comics #890
Written by Paul Cornell
Art by Pete Woods

Wow that was unexpected. I wasn’t sure what to think when I heard Lex Luthor would be the new star of Action Comics but damn this was awesome. Lex is an evil bastard and Cornell writes him that way. He has an employee killed just for embarrassing him, he builds a robot Lois to be his companion haha, and he is obsessed with finding the secrets to the Power Rings. Great start!

Short Reads

Action Comics #888
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trauttman
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by James Robinson
Art by Cafu

 

Both features in this issue seemed to be quick short reads to me. I liked all of the other heroes showing up to help fight the false Rao and all of the stuff with Pakistan and India. That was smart storytelling but I wish more happened and the debut of the mythical Nightwing wasn’t as cool as I expected it to be. I enjoyed it but I wasn’t overly excited about it. The back-up featuring Captain Atom was just a little battle with the forces of Mirabai – nothing exciting happened and this usually the best part of this book.

International And Interdimensional Incidents

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.

Fifty Issues And Still No Mention of Linda Danvers! Come On!

Supergirl (Volume 5) #50
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle
Co-Feature by Helen Slater
Art by Cliff Chaing

 

The main feature of this book was Supergirl vs. Lana as Insect Queen. I liked that we fast forwarded a few days later and Supergirl is now a prisoner of the hive, and is rescued by Gangbuster and Doctor Light. But Kara takes down the Queen way too easily for a story that has been building for so long. I have a feeling this was rushed due to the New Krypton storyline which is kind of a shame. Kare’s reaction and anger toward Lana seems like her old self and that is kind of annoying so I don’t know how I feel about this issue just yet. The Helen Slater written back-up was a neat little look at the history of this Supergirl and I rather enjoyed it. But damn…I thought in 50 issues Linda Danvers, the previous Supergirl, could have been mentioned somewhere!

Kryptonian Mythology

Action Comics #886
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trauttman
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

 

I don’t have much to say about the main story – it was well executed and as a fan of mythology myself I love how Rucka and Trauttman are creating Kryptonian Mythology. I am not sure why Flamebird seems to have turned against Thara though, is she working with Jax-Ur? Maybe I missed something there. It was good stuff though. The Captain Atom co-feature was even more impressing. I have enjoyed every moment of this feature and in this issue once again Robinson shows how well he utilizes the DC Universe incorporating Skartaris, Shadowpact, and the many magical realms into the plotline. I loved it.

Nothing Happens

Superman #696
Written by James Robinson
Art by Bernard Chang

 

After reading Robinson’s great JLA issue and the usual excitement that happens in this book, this issue was a huge letdown for me. This book is usually to the brim with plot but here nothing much happens except Mon-El helps Flamebird and Nightwing escape and more Legionnaires turn out to be working for the science police. Seriously that’s it. Come on this is too slow of a pace for this book. Let’s get somewhere soon.

The Return of Shadowpact

Action Comics #885
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

You can tell we are approaching a war here as shit goes to hell in the handbasket when the army tries to retrieve Flamebird and Nightwing and are defended by Guardian and Mon-El. Sam Lane is such a dick I can’t wait to see him get his ass handed to him. The Co-Feature was just awesome as we see the return of Shadowpact! I didn’t realize how much I missed those guys! Good old Detective Chimp.  This was a great issue!

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.

Take Him Down Lois

Action Comics #884
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

 

The main feature was good – the Nightwing and Flamebird stuff was okay, but the real meat of the story can be found in the confrontation between Lois and her father. General Sam Lane is an evil fascist bastard who I can not wait to see Lois take down. He treats her like shit here and threatens even her life – his own daughter! I love that Perry wants the truth to get out about Lane as well – even if he can’t publish it in his paper. The Captain Atom back-up was equally good and focuses a lot on the history of Captain Atom and actually shows Starfire on the Justice League – I guess that means this all takes place post-Blackest Night. The last page shows the new League and I can’t say that it gets me excited for this line-up lead by Hal boring Jordan. But anyways, Good stuff. Can’t wait for War of the Supermen.

Intertwined

Action Comics #883
Written by Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

The Superman books are some of the best intriguing, story-driven, and exciting comics I have read in a long time. Robinson and Rucka have crafted such a wonderful mystery here and I will keep saying it again and again. We finally get to see the Nightwing entity in action this issue albeit briefly. I love the new Nightwing and Flamebird costumes. They are simple and visually appealing and I like how they honor Superman on their belts. I hope these costumes stick around. Jimmy Olsen’s (possible murder) disappearance is investigated by Perry White. I am surprised that that plot point is being followed up here instead of by Robinson over in Superman but that just goes to show how tightly intertwined the books are right now. The Captain Atom co-feature makes great use of continuity by referencing Superman/Batman and Captain Atom’s time as monarch. I love continuity shout-outs like that! I guess that is why my blog is named what it is. Anyways, the art was fantastic and so was the writing on it. Great issue.

Reactron Extinguished

Supergirl (Volume 5) #46
Written by Sterling Gates and Greg Rucka
Art by Jamal Igle and Eduardo Pansica

This is the conclusion of the Hunt for Reactron storyline that began here and continued here and here. This was a satisfactory conclusion as Reactron is finally defeated and it ends with Kara bringing him to New Krypton. It was great to see Thara morph into Flamebird and for Supergirl to reconcile her friendship with Thara. When are we going to see Chris become the Nightwing being. I want to learn more about these mystical beings. I think it really makes Chris and Thara much more interesting. I also want to know what Lana is hiding but I suppose we won’t find out until Kara confronts here. Some of the expressions on people’s faces seemed a bit off and not fitting what they were saying. Lois looks angry through her whole scene with Lana and I didn’t like that. I suppose that could be because of Pansica’s art.

Sam Lane Makes A Great Villain

Action Comics #882
Written by Greg Rucka and Sterling Gates
Art by Pere Perez
Co-Feature by Rucka and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

This is part 3 of the Hunt for Reactron storyline that began here and continued here. I didn’t expect Reactron to kill the entire Squad K – especially when I was starting to really like their leader. This little crossover has been a lot of fun and action-packed so far and I can’t wait for next week’s conclusion. The Superman books are the best they have been in years – even without Superman. Sam Lane is the ultimate villain. The Captain Atom back-up finally explains why Captain Atom went crazy and became Monarch in Countdown – he was being controlled by Mirabai. Now I am not sure why she sent him into the multiverse to do all those crazy things – but Countdown was so poorly thought out that it doesn’t really matter does it. Major Force shows up and when that asshole shows up you know things are bad. It was good to see Natasha Irons as well.

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.

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.

Lois Finds Out

Action Comics #879
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Diego Olmos
Co-Feature by Ruck and James Robinson
Art by Cafu

Things are heating up in the main story as Lois finally figures out that her father is alive. I love the way she figured it out too – by getting Mon-El to x-ray his grave. I wonder how happy she will be when she finds out what her father is up to? The cover art is weird – why is it that Thara seems to have different hair every time an artist draws her? The while flame powers that she has reminded me of Linda Danvers and got me sad about how much I miss her but Geoff John’s comments about Linda here got my hopes up! Come on Sterling have Supergirl meet Supergirl! Anyways, the second feature was decent as we see Captain Atom is back in time now – or  in another universe I suppose we will find out and it looks like he is finally remembering who he is and his time with the Justice League after the whole Countdown debacle as Monarch. It will be interesting to see what is up with him. Cafu’s art was great as well.

Supergirl 40 – 42

Supergirl (Volume 5) #40
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

So Lucy Lane is Superwoman! How? I do not know. Why? I do not know. Do I still wish she was Linda Danvers? No because Linda wasn’t a killer. This issue leaves me with more questions then answers but it was cool seeing Kara use her Batman and Amazon training.

Supergirl (Volume 5) #41
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Fernando Dagnino

Oh my Rao! That was the most disturbing ending of an issue I have read in a while. Supergirl pulls off Lucy’s disc thingies in a costume and Lucy cries as she expands and then freaking blows up disgustingly. What the hell? We still don’t have any answers as to why or how Lucy was Superwoman, but she is seemingly dead now.

Supergirl (Volume 5) #42
Written by Sterling Gates
Art by Jamal Igle

So I can’t really say that I am happy with this issue. We did not get any pay off! Sure, we know Lucy was Superwoman but not much more then that. This entire issue just featured Lois getting upset over the possibility of Lucy’s death and General Lane being a douchebag as usual. Really, I want answers and I am getting impatient.