BT07 – Onto the monthlies!

I’ve now finished up all of my TPBs that I had set aside for this.  So … onto the monthly comics.  I’ve pulled all my comics for August/September.  The reviews will be shorter, just because there’s less there there.  Though I’ve done single-issue reviews with all those same criteria, I’m going to try just a single aggregate score for each one.

There may be spoilers below.  Let’s see what we have …

 Action #852 (DC) w. Kurt Busiek; a. Brad Walker
Tie-in to Countdown #41 (which, while I’m not thrilled about, at least they note on the cover so I can cluster the comic with its associate — except the cover says Countdown #41, and the splash page says Countdown #42, but the last page says #41 again … rrg).  Monkeys are getting Kryptonite powers.  Jimmy Olson is also (shades of the Silver Age) getting powers, too.  The Kryptonite Man is having a parole hearing to see if he can continue his research; the judge says no (duh).  K-Man gets torqued. Supes saves the day.  Jimmy decides he’s really going to try the super-heroing biz.  Ho-hum.  Cartoony art.  Not very impressive — but better than the previous issue, the end of the Geoff Johns run and the “son of Superman” nonsense.  Planning to drop this title.

 All-Star Batman & Robin #6 (DC) w. Frank Miller; a. Jim Lee
Miller’s odd unstated-alternate-universe Batman continues to act like the happy sadist of justice.  Biggest problem (besides cops trying to gun him down) — folks imitating him, including a fishnetted Black Canary look-alike who’s also a thief, and the young daughter of Jim Gordon, Barbara.  Beautifully drawn bloody hilarity ensues.  Well written and drawn, but I always feel vaguely dirty afterwards.  Have dropped from my pull list.

 All-Star Superman #8 (DC) w. Grant Morrison; a. Frank Quitely
Wraps up the bizarro Bizarro World story line, thank Rao.  Well, no, it doesn’t.  Curses.  Meanwhile,  Lois discovers that Superman is dying from overpowering.  Something’s hiding in the sun, ironically.  Beautiful and odd, I am conflicted over this (non-canon) title.

 Amazing Spider-Man #542 (Marvel) w. Joe Straczynski; a. Ron Garney
Spidey (Back in Black) finally confronts the Kingpin over the latter’s role in the assassination attempt on his life, which instead has mortally wounded Aunt May.  Kingpin figures he’s got it all in hand, manipulating puny Parker.  Puny Parker mops the floor with him in front of all the inmates, and quite chillingly promises to go back and kill him at such time as May dies.  He makes sure the other inmates get the message.  Seriously miscalculated there, Mr. Fisk.  Spidey’s going all dark and vengeancy makes perfect sense and Straczynski handles it very nicely. 

 Amazons Attack! #4 of 6 (DC) w. Will Pfeifer; a. Pete Woods
Remember when there were actually times when DC didn’t have a major event going on?  Neither do I.  Circe’s resurrected Hippolyta and conned her into attacking the US in return for the insults offered her daughter.  The US gets destroyed some more.  Supergirl and Wonder Girl somehow get it into their head that if they can bring Hippolyta and the President together, they’ll settle things.  So they attack Air Force One — which is then attacked for real and brought down by Pegasus-mounted Amazons.  Big fighting.  Meanwhile, it sounds like the Bana, a radical offshoot of the Amazons from some past plotlline are behind a lot of the violence.  Ho-hum.  Justice Leagers fight Amazons and Monsters.  Soldiers gun down Amazons.  The gods are doing stuff.  Ho-hum.  Can we get this over with?

(listening to: Proclaimers, “The Light” from Hit the Highway)
(listening to: Hardie, Jonny & Gavin Marwick, Davy Cattanach, “A Breton March / An Irish Reel / Hatton Burn” from Up In The Air)
(listening to: Proclaimers, “Oh Jean” from Sunshine on Leith)
(listening to: Sembello, Michael, “Maniac” from Billboard Top Hits – 1983)