Review: Action Comics #1061

Action Comics #1061 came out last week and I was truly unsure what I would think of the book.

It is written by Jason Aaron, a well known comic artist but someone who I have never read before. So I had no idea what to expect. He unfortunately has the bad luck of coming onto the book after Phillip Kennedy Johnson has just left. I was a huge fan of PKJ. Surely the book would suffer in comparison.

Instead, Aaron gives us a new wrinkle to the Bizarro character and a solid cliffhanger. Appropriately, this was an action-filled comic book with lots of super-heroics and wide-screen battles. Mix those two things and you have a pretty entertaining issue. I don't know if I am 100% behind this new take on Bizarro. I don't know if I need him to forever be a great sorceror. I don't think I will want it to stick. But overall, this was fun.

That said, the action and Bizarro plot dominate the book. I don't know how Aaron will be on the rest of the cast. Will he handle Jimmy and Lois well? Time will tell.

John Timms is on art for the book. I like Timms' work a lot, especially his Harley Quinn stuff. Here, he shows us great work in Metropolis, Wizards' World, and even Venus. On top of that, his fight sequences roll out well. This is a pretty book to look at. Even the cover is great with Bizarro in the background, ready to cross-body block our hero. Slick!

So Jason Aaron, you have my attention. Nice opening issue.

On to the book.

Review: Kneel Before Zod #1

Every so often I am surprised by a book being green-lit. Who would think that DC would consider publishing a General Zod maxi-series? But here we are.

Kneel Before Zod #1 came out last week, the first issue in this title written by Joe Casey with art by Dan McDaid. About 2 years ago, I was likely to complain that Zod was being over-used. But I think this is going to be the first major current story for Zod since Batman/Superman #8 from 2020! That was pre-Covid. But I did have to revisit that story to remember how we got here. 

Zod is on a planet named New Kandor. He has half the bottled city of Kandor's citizens in his possession. He is present with his wife and son. And based on a recent back up in Action Comics #1060, he is performing some forced evolution on the natives of this planet to create a super-army. The United Planets are working with Zod but keeping a close eye on him.

With that backstory in place, we get this premiere issue. Kelly is showing us a typical Zod, hellbent on achieving his goals and ready to rule. But we also are seeing how addled he is, seeing visions of past enemies. We see how he is adherent to old customs of a dead world. And he is looking more and more alone with threats all around him.

As compelling of seeing a mentally and physically vulnerable Zod is, Casey also gives us an interesting take on Ursa and Lor-Zod. Ursa seems like a loving mother and a composed ruler. That is intriguing and a far cry from the knife wielding sadist I am used to. And Lor seems like a carbon copy of his dad, always incensed and ready to lash out.

Will all that keep my interest on a long series? I'm not sure yet. 

The art by Dan McDaid is economical, bringing a classic feel to the book. I also like the cover by Jason Shawn Alexander, a sort of warped view of the more loving All-Star Superman #10.

On to the book.

Christmas Gift #1: Gulliver Supergirl Figurine

I am like a big kid around Christmas time and nothing makes me giddy like a great present. When it is a Supergirl related gift I am even giddier. And when it is a Supergirl item I have never heard of before, I am at my giddiest.

So imagine how tickled I was when I got this small Supergirl figure from my middle daughter as a gift. 

It is very cool, about 2 inches tall and well sculpted. 

But I honestly had no idea where it was from. And the auction she won it from had few details. 

So a 'new to me' Supergirl item in my possession?? Best Christmas ever.

Review: Superman '78 The Metal Curtain #3

Superman '78 The Metal Curtain #3 came out last week and continued this look at the Donner-Verse Superman interacting with the world of the Cold War. This was a relatively sedate issue, a standard middle chapter of a story, which pushed the plot forward without much action. There is continued excellent character moments however which make this a really entertaining comic, especially if you love the movies.

Writer Robert Venditti continues to handle both ends well. The Russian Metallo and the desire for the Soviets to destroy Superman as a symbol of American superiority are both excellent wrinkles to the mythos. The zealotry of this Metallo and his compulsion to kill Superman shows how ingrained those feelings of rivalry were then.

More importantly, Venditti just seems to have a great grasp of these characters and is putting them a bit through the paces. He has the luxury of this being untilled soil. He can write the first time people are meeting, like Superman meeting Sam Lane. He can show a world where Lois doesn't know Clark is Superman, where Lois is pining for Superman. But it all still feels classic while being new. Even the true supporting cast a written well. What's better than an irascible Perry laying into Jimmy? And let's not get the not so secret villain behind it all!

Gavin Guidry shines in those character moments. I love his Clark, sometimes perplexed, sometimes acting awkward, always wearing his heart on his sleeve. I also love his Lois, at times steely in her desire to scoop everyone, at times a smitten woman. 

No complaints here. On to the details.

Review: Power Girl #4

Power Girl #4 came out last year and continued the current story of Power Girl facing off against her old Symbioship. It also unfortunately continued this reimagining of the Power Girl character. Since writer Leah Williams was given the reins on the character in the back pages of Action Comics, we have seen strong, confident, independent Karen become scared, unsure, alien 'Paige'. 

I keep waiting for DC Comics to recognize the error they have made in trying to turn one of their most powerful female characters into an insecure mess but it looks like they are in it for the long haul. If look beyond that terrible mistake though, we still get a pretty rough issue. 

Here Power Girl is powerless against the Symbioship. She is taken over initially. She doesn't even save herself, requiring one of the writer's favorite back-up heroes get the glory. And the ending makes little sense with things changing dramatically from one page to the next. Not much works here for me.

It is a shame because I like Eduardo Pansica's art quite a bit. There is a raw scratchiness to it that I think would serve a street level book like The Question. Gary Frank is a favorite so I love his covers too. It is a little bit of a shame.

On to the book.

Review: Action Comics Annual 2023

Action Comics Annual 2023 came out last week, the last issue written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson. It is the culmination of the last 3 years of the book. For sure Johnson will be missed on Superman and on Action Comics.

From the arrival of the Phaelosians and Thao-La to the revolution on Warworld to the battle with Metallo to the threat of Norah Stone, Johnson has always shown Superman to be an inspirational leader. Superman is a hero because of his ethics and persona as well as his super-strength and heat vision. Yes, he battled monsters. But he also extended a hand of help to his enemies. He rallied people behind his symbol and his embodiment of hope. 

All that leads us to this story. Here Superman battles a demonic Janna Al Ghul and her armada. But he an inspiration to Otho-Ra. He is able to turn the Blue Earthers towards the light. And we are reminded how he helps the little guy as much as battles the giant villains.

I'd read much more Johnson on the character as he seems like he just Superman. Johnson also has written a great Supergirl. He handles Jon and Conner well. I'll miss all the supers under his care.

The art on the issue is done by Max Raynor who really seems to be a jack of all trades sort of artist. Here he seems to be channeling Rafa Sandoval a little. Compare it to his more energetic, cartoony take on Challenge of the Super-Sons or his slick look way back in Batman/Superman. Everything looks great.

This was a wonderful end chapter for Johnson's tenure on the book. He will be missed.

On to the book.

Review: Justice League Vs Godzilla Vs Kong #3

Happy New Year! Hard to believe it's 2024!

And what better way to ring in a new year than with a fun comic which prominently features Supergirl!

Justice League Vs. Godzilla Vs. Kong #3 came out a couple of weeks ago, the third chapter in what has been an extremely fun series. Writer Brian Buccellato and artist Christian Duce have really been bringing high action and high fun to the series. This is set in some alternate DCU with Lois not married to Clark which means anything can happen, everything is possible. It also means that Buccellato can amp up the kaijus' powers to impact our heroes. Heck, the fact the kaijus are around because a magic stone means their powers are easily malleable. 

In this issue, the unheard of seems to happen. Superman dies. As we have seen in this series already, Supergirl is ready to pick up the gauntlet and become *THE* hero of this DCU. Kara is everywhere in this book, taking out monsters and rallying the troops. And I have to wonder if there is a Crisis on Infinite Earths reference going on here as well. If you like Supergirl (and if you are here you probably do) you need to buy this book.

The overall plot moves forward as our heroes split up to protect the world from the monsters. We also get some progression with some unknown presence trying to unite the kaijus into some force. Seeing a number of heroes struggling against the monsters upped the ante. 

Duce brings a very slick art style to the proceedings. In particular, his take on the giant creatures is dead on perfect. His Supergirl is strong and confident. The action sequences are great. No complaints there.

On to the particulars. Pop the popcorn.