And a few regular issues, too.
Review code format: writing (3-1, faboo to mediocre), art (3-1), suitability for jumping on as a new reader (3-1), suitability for hooking a a non-comics reader (3-1), and eagerly waiting the collected TBP (Y/N).
Hawkman #18 (DC) [2/1/3/2/N]
One element they’ve been playing more with in the current incarnation of Hawkman is his memory of past incarnations. In this fill-in issue, Geoff Johns deals with that directly, as Hawks considers people — and parents — he has had over the centuries. Garcia-Lopez on art is decent if pedestrian; he does better with someone else inking his pencils.
JSA All-Stars #4 of 8 (DC) [2/2/3/1/N]
This issue focuses on the Star-Spangled Kid and, ironically, her relationship with her birth father. Geoff Johns is busy putting his imprint on the character here, retooling her cosmic rod and giving her a new [spoiler deleted]. But it’s a reasonable-enough story for an underutilized character. The “classic” Starman backup is well done, if brief.
Dr Fate #1 of 5 (DC) [2/2/2/1/N]
Christopher Golden kicks off this miniseries on the current Fate, and his on-the-job training. Hector Hall is clearly crusing for a bruising, as he pays lip service to needing more training, but forging ahead as though he doesn’t — even though he is clearly under pressure (and will be under more) to fill Fate’s helmet. Don Kramer and Prentis Rollins on art do a nice job.
Superman/Batman #1 (DC) [2/2/2/1/N]
Okay, I don’t know why they didn’t call it World’s Finest, but I’ll get over it. Indeed, despite Jeph Loeb on the writing reins, I doubt I’ll give this issue or series much thought for long. Superman is noble and courageous, Batman is dark and brooding, Luthor is treacherous and scheming, and there’s an asteroid-sized chunk of Krypton on its way to Earth. The only decent bits from this story (with Ed McGuinness and Dexter Vines on art) are the internal narratives Supes and Bats have, while fighting Metallo, about how the other is really has no business going up against the villain. Heh. But that’s about it.
Batman #617 (DC) [2/2/1/1/Y]
The “Hush” story line enters Chapter 10. Jim Lee (with Scott Williams) still draws beautiful, complex, Imagesque drawings, every page a pin-up — wherein is one of the problems with the tale. The other is Jeph Loeb screwing around with … well, it’s tough to discuss without major spoilers, but let’s just say that it reads more like something out of Marvel than DC. And not in a good way.
Batman: Death and the Maidens #1 of ? (DC) [2/1/2/1/N]
A disappointing outing by Greg Rucka (with decent but pedestrian art by Klaus Janson). Batman, Ra’s al-Ghul, etc., etc., fill in the blanks.
Wonder Woman #194 (DC) [1/1/1/1/N]
I love Walt Simonson’s epic writing, but his whole “Game of the Gods” arc has been wildly mediocre, starting from a promising mystery, but turning into the sloppiest cosmic menace Simonson has ever whipped up — not ably assisted by Jerry Ordway or P Craig Russell (on inks!). Pity.
Flash #200 (DC) [2/2/1/1/Y]
The wrap of the “Blitz” arc, wherein Wally, pushed to the tragic breaking point by the new Zoom, makes a fateful decision that will forever affect the Flash books. Or so it says, and, yeah, I guess so, but the story (Geoff Johns writing, Kolins and Hazlewood on art) all comes out feeling like a bit of a cheat by the time it’s over. I’ll be curious to see how “forever effects” last.
Empire #1 of 6 (DC) [2/2/2/2/Y]
Lord Golgoth continues his brutally efficient and efficiently brutal conquest of Earth, various of his lieutenants conspire to support him, tear him down, or just thrive under him, and ironic contrasts of family values abound. Think of a comic book focusing on Darth Vader and his crew, and you have a sense of what’s involved. Good creative work by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson, with James Pascoe on inks. It does run the risk of become just another soap opera if they’re not careful, but there’s some powerful grist for this mill that should hold out for the rest of the issues. We’ll check back at the end when the TPB comes out.
Alias #25 (MAX) [3/3/2/1/Y]
Bendis finally reveals Jessica’s big secret — both why she’s an emotional basket case and why (presumably) she dropped out of the Avengers. And — whoa, yeah, that’s pretty heavy. Let’s just say that Bendis came up with some pretty reasonable depths of evil to which a mind-controller could stoop, and leave it at that. Fine, hammer-to-the-forehead stuff, with both Mark Gaydos (current day) and Mark Bagley (flashbacks) doing good, evocative art for both eras in Jessica’s life.
Fray #8 of 8 (Dark Horse) [2/2/1/1/Y]
Joss Whedon finally wraps his Slayer-of-the-future series, with a few twists in his own inimitable fashion. Moline and Owens support with decent art. The time lag in getting these issues out has horribly hurt this book, and, to be honest, it was B+ work to begin with. Wait for the collection then buy it for all your Buffy-fan friends.
Supreme Power #1 (MAX) [3/3/3/2/Y]
I’m still chortling with delight over this one. Joe Straczynski takes on a retelling of the Squadron Supreme — sort of — which only further emphasizes how they really were (intentionally) a rip-off of DC’s Justice League. He’s gone over some of this territory before in Rising Stars, but it still works here. And, interestingly, though he laces things with government conspiracy stuff, he manages to avoid most of the cheap shots that other folks would make use of. Gary Frank’s art is, as always, superb. It’s probably worth waiting for the inevitable TPB, but, damn, I don’t want to wait.
Strangers in Paradise #59 (Abstract) [3/2/1/2/Y]
Terry Moore continues to run his protagonists through the ringer, as the aftermath of [spoiler for big event of the previous issue] comes home to roost with Katchoo and Casey. Oh, and Tambi and her band engage in some non-gratuitous violence. Keen!
Formerly Known as the Justice League #2 (DC) [2/3/2/1/N]
Okay, now I’m beginning to remember why there were times I didn’t like Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire JL. They were the times when they weren’t heroes, fighting the good fight even while they bickered over the Oreos. If taken solely as figures of fun, they’re sort of pathetic, and the book comes across as just a tad mean-spirited. And that, alas, is how FKatJL is beginning to turn out. I hope it improves.
Yesterday’s comic book store trip was a tale of what happens when you don’t empty your box every couple of months or so.
I had to order a new Supreme Powers #1 (it being sold out of course) last week. It Hadn’t arrived by yesterday, so the counter guy told me to hold on. He said that one of the customers hadn’t picked up her stuff for a couple of months and he knew that she had a #1 in her box. He grabbed it and handed it to me. Cool! It was the SE already bagged and boarded. Even better he charged me the regular price.
After having read #1 and #2 I’ll agree with Dave’s review. Straczynski and Frank do great work together. Another good thing about having the SE is that it gives you a glimpse of how far comics have come in the past two decades in both art and writing.
Indeed.