Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #44

Batman/Superman World's Finest #44 came out this week and was a rollicking good time, bringing together the oddball team of Robin and Supergirl again. I have been waiting to read a story with these two on an adventure since the first time Mark Waid teamed them up in World's Finest #12.

One thing I have liked about this title as a whole is that Waid gives himself a 'done in one' issue between big arcs, a sort of breathing space. He has taken advantage of these side adventures to explore our characters a little deeper and have a little fun. And trust me, this issue is a lot of fun.

It builds on the characterization from the earlier stories. In those early arcs and that other solo issue, Kara is a more mature late teen dealing with the razzle-dazzle, overly eager, almost too self-assured Dick. You can feel her eye-rolling at his circus showmanship. But over the course of this story that softens as she gets to understand him more, appreciate him more. And both recognize their status as 'seconds' in their family. Whenever you put two people in a high pressure, high stress situation, emotions will run hot ... and we even get a little bit of that here.

The art here is done by Lucas Meyer who brings a significant polish to the proceedings. There is a little Lupacchino in there, a little Sook, a little Rags Morales. It is all beautiful.

This is a truly a laugh out loud issue. Everyone should be reading this title and, in particular, this issue.

Supergirl #6 (Greek)

One of the things that I truly appreciate about this community is just how generous they are. One of the things I really love is when people who are traveling and see something Supergirl think of me and occasionally send it my way.

A good friend was in Greece recently and sent me two Supergirl books, one of which I will share today. From Anubis Publishing, I present their presentation of Supergirl #6 from the Loeb era of the character. This was on the shelves in the states way back in 2006!

The book sports the 'variant cover' by Ian Churchill. This was during the extremely brief time Greg Rucka was on the book and basically this books first 2 years was so all over the map it was the impetus for me to start the site! I ultimately did review this issue as I deep dived into Kandor at some point. 

This Greek edition is more than just a reprint of the issue though which is why I thought it might be fun to share here. Check out below.

(Now I will say that I don't speak Greek but if one of you out there does ...)

At the very least, I can see how Nightwing is written in the Greek alphabet but there is more.

Review: Action Comics #1091

Action Comics #1091 came out last week, bringing a close to Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge’s first Superboy arc in the book. This is an extremely early adventure in our hero's career. I guess is it's his first adventure! And it comes with the 'is he a bad guy' Captain Comet angle as well.

The Captain Comet angle comes to an interesting end here with another lesson imparted on Superboy. But I have some questions about it. We'll get there. Waid continues to add some depth to the 'new' Smallville. This is the first time we have had a Superboy timeline in a while. So seeing Lana, Pete Ross, and Kenny Braverman interact feels fresh. Waid understands the character so seeing Clark figure it all out feels right.

Skylar Patridge remains on art and continues to bring a completely fresh, clean feel to the book. It perfectly fits these 'simpler' younger days for the character. I have said it before and I will say it now. The high school pages by Patridge are incredible. 

I think Waid has said that he had at least a year of Superboy stories in his head. So it will be fun to see the next arc and how it picks up.

On to the book.

Review: Supergirl #6 (v8)

Supergirl #6 came out this week and as anticipated by the solicit and the cover, it is an homage to the classic Nightflame tale from Adventure Comics #421. It is important to know that that story was an early foray into what now seems to be the well-trod soil of Supergirl having a dark side. In it, Supergirl must face the evil she has in her own soul in her own mind. 

One of the things that I have loved about this latest title is that writer/artist Sophie Campbell has really leaned into Supergirl's mythos. It seems as if everything has happened, something we have seen played out in the New History of the DC Universe. Campbell definitely shows us that all aspects of Supergirl's multiple histories is allowed in this book. And if we are revisiting the concept of Nightflame, the darkness in Supergirl's soul, Campbell has a lot of material to pick from. Best of all, Campbell shows why Supergirl is who she is, maintaining optimism and heroism because of the life she has endured.  She is a bright hero. As I have said before, if you are a longtime fan of Supergirl, this book is an absolute treasure trove. 

The art is a wonderful mix of Campbell's usual sunny style for the live action and Rosi Kampe's more angular, harsher art for the hellish innerspace of Supergirl's mind. The contrast plays wonderfully.

In a meta sense, this was the perfect time for this issue to be released. Recently Supergirl movie screen writer Ana Nogueria told Variety that she couldn't wrap her head around the always sunny Supergirl until she read Tom King's gritty Woman of Tomorrow. It is clear no one gave Noguera any recent books because as Campbell shows, Kara has been through a lot and always shined brighter because of it, not falling into drunken, angry despair. More's the pity. 

On to this tremendous book.

DC Comics December 2025 Solicits

The DC comics solicits for December came out recently and the winter looks good. Here is a link to the entire month's books:
https://aiptcomics.com/2025/09/19/full-december-2025-dc-comics-solicitations/

I still think the concept of DC K.O. makes little sense. Heroes fighting heroes is done. That said, I saw the bracket and filled one out like a college basketball conference sheet. I suppose I will be following, at least peripherally. 

But the Supergirl solicits still make me smile and I am glad to see Kara in a couple of other places.

On to the books.

SUPERGIRL #8
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by JAE LEE, TODD NAUCK, and MEGAN HUANG

Years ago, to protect her secret identity, a young Supergirl created a robot to pose as Linda Danvers while she ventured around the world saving the day. Now, after years of abandonment, this mechanical Maiden of Might has returned…in the name of vengeance! Can Kara make peace with the past before it destroys her present?

I think blog friend Mart Gray and I have wondered about the Linda Lee robot over the years so to see Sophie Campbell answer the question is fantastic. And these oddities happening in Midvale makes me think we are getting some sort of 'Chaos Stream' hijinks in the book.

Is this Supergirl-specific trip down continuity lane a hit for everyone? I'm not sure. But I hope so. This comic is a delight so far.

Review: Absolute Superman #12

I have been reading comics for almost 50 years. I have seen a lot of things. So when I see something surprising, something creatively fascinating, I have to compliment it. I have to admire. 

Absolute Superman #11 was one of the most brutal, horrific books I have read in a long time. It was firmly entrenched in this Darkseid-fueled universe. Skin was flayed. Blood was spilled. Throats were crushed. Chests were stabbed.

So how does writer Jason Aaron follow-up this grand guignol in Absolute Superman #12? By slowing everything down. By giving us an issue filled with flashbacks of how this Kal was raised by a gentle, loving AI program named Sol. It is the exact opposite of the prior issue. It really struck me. Just brilliant to put this issue on the heels of that one.

One thing I have said about this book is that Aaron has really built up this world. From Krypton to Kansas, this feels like a three-dimensional world. These scenes with Sol, which cover years, add to that depth. 

It helps that Rafa Sandoval is back on art. His style is a little more polished than the cruder, rougher stuff that Carmine Digiandomenico. This feels more calm and more peaceful, reinforcing that thematic change as well. 

We are heading to a big confrontation. But this issue was just the sort of deep cleansing breath I needed.

On to the book.

Review: Adventures Of Superman:Book Of El #2

Adventures of Superman: Book of El #2 came out this week and was a solid second chapter to this year long arc. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson really hit the ground running in the first issue, bringing an Olgrun-charged Kryl-Ux to Earth and basically take over. The first issue ends with Superman thrown into the far-flung dystopian future.

Here in the second issue, we aren't in present-day Smallville anymore. We are in some unknown future with unknown leaders and semi-unknown descendants of Superman. We are in frontier land as readers so we need to learn. One thing I know about Johnson, he is a world-builder. Between efficient scenes which establish a starting ground to back matter text pages which flesh out some history, we are really immersed in this world. But it isn't just world-building, there is a scene talking about the character of Superman that is brilliant. There isn't a lot of plot advancement here because we are dropped in. I am not complaining.

Scotty Godlewski remains on art and really makes the proceedings look sharp here. From the knight-like Summer Men to the creepy Luthor in charge to the late-age Fortress, things are vivid and crisp.

On to the book.