Review: Justice League Unlimited #5

Justice League of America #5 came out this week and featured Supergirl so prominently that I felt I should cover it here.

This new title by the tremendous creative team of writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. These two brought us Batman/Superman World's Finest and that book was the best on the shelves for some time. When Waid had characters guest star in that book, I would always say that Mora brought such polish to them that he should draw that character's solo book. Now with the Justice League Unlimited, in essence, being every hero in the DCU, I actually get to see Mora's take on the entire universe. 

I don't know if I am 100% behind the 'everyone is a Leaguer' idea. Back in my youth, being named to the League was a big deal. Dick Dillin would draw a big scroll welcoming the hero with some sort of certificate. Perhaps a better screening process would stop a traitor from being in their midst, one of the plot points here.

Still, this book has been fun and it does allow both Waid and Mora to allow different heroes to be in the spotlight. As I said, Supergirl is front and center here, as is Impulse, Star Sapphire, and Red Tornado. They wouldn't get a showcase with the big guns unless they are in the League. So there is an upside.  Plus, given Waid's love of the DCU, this allows him to do a deep dive. into every nook and cranny. I am convinced he is hinting at something in this book which is one of my great loves. 

Plus the League is up against 'Inferno' an evil society they seem helpless against. We learn who they are at the end which only ups the ante.

Add to it all Mora and his jaw-dropping work. I love his work. Mora makes the 'jacket' Supergirl costume work. And the action is stellar throughout. 

I don't think I'll always review this book so let's just dive in!

DC Comics June 2025 Solicits

The June 2024 solicits for DC Comics came out this week and it looks to be a good month. With the Superman movie coming out in July, DC is making it the summer of Superman. So why not give us some fun stuff to read, starting out with the new Supergirl book. 

I'll be covering some of the offerings but if you want to see the whole list, head here:
https://aiptcomics.com/2025/03/21/full-june-2025-dc-comics-solicitations/

But let's start with Supergirl!

SUPERGIRL #2
Written by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Art and cover by SOPHIE CAMPBELL
Variant covers by STANLEY “ARTGERM” LAU, PABLO VILLALOBOS,and SAOWEE
1:25 variant cover by DAVID TALASKI
1:50 variant cover by MIRKA ANDOLFO

Discover Lesla’s transformation from an awkward nerd in Kandor to a bombshell superbabe. Who knew Supergirl’s quest for good could inspire such evil?! Back in Midvale, our hero faces a gigantic problem with kryptonite-like powers. Titano the super-ape is here to take over the idyllic town! To defeat him, Supergirl will have to rely on an unexpected new ally from Metropolis…Lena Luthor! The houses of El and Luthor join for good in this action-packed second issue!

There is a lot to noodle about in this solicit for sure.

For one, we are kicking it old school with someone named Lesla from Kandor trying to replace Supergirl. This is pure Silver Age! And having Supergirl become pals with Lena Luthor is both a riff on their friendship in the Silver Age of comics as well as their alliance (for the most part) in the Supergirl TV show. Why not kick it up a notch.

Plenty of cool variant covers here as well. But the standard cover (shown above) is fun. Could that be <gasp> a supporting cast on the left? I hope so.

Knowing Sophie Campbell, there is a chance the Lesla story will be a trans story or a trans allegory. And I suppose all the SuperCorp fanatics will be hoping for a Kara/Lena relationship. Hoping this is just a fun straight-up superhero book!

Review: Superman #24

Superman #24 came out this week and ended with such a turn for a character that it felt like a jolt of acceleration into the next arc. We just wrapped up the Doomsday story arc so we need to take the next step. This issue sort of bridges the gap, catching up with characters but also pushing us forward.

Writer Joshua Williamson does a great job telling the tale, having Lois and Superman uncover the hidden threat in different ways, coming together at the end for a major cliffhanger. I thought this 'two fronts' (as alluded to on the cover) was a nice technique. Superwoman gets the action piece. Superman gets the thinking thread. It is a little bit of a role reversal since Lois is usually doing the investigating while Supes punches things. Throw in some guest stars and DC history and you have a fun read.

Eddy Barrows is on art, last seen in the Gail Simone Superman arc. I have always loved Barrows' work so seeing him draw one of my favorite characters who is a guest star here made me smile. His art really is just gorgeous and we get to see him spread his wings a bit here. 

So overall, another solid issue in a string of solid issues. Get ready for the next threat! On to the book!

Review: Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2

Way back in August 2023, Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 came out. In my opening paragraph of that issue, I talked about how the book was sort of under-advertised and snuck up on me which made me worry that it would go unnoticed.

Here we are, over a year and a half later, with my review of Superman The Last Days of Lex Luthor #2. With 19 months separating these chapters, surely this Mark Waid/Bryan Hitch book has been mostly forgotten and will again be mostly overlooked.

And that is a shame. Because all of the things that I lauded about the first book are still true here. It is a Mark Waid Superman book, which is always awesome. It is a classic story told with modern sensibilities. It is packed full of DC history, not surprising from Waid. And it has a few nods to Superman's appearances in other media.

But it is the Luthor/Superman dynamic that stirs the drink here. Lex has to be reminded of what Superman is to others. Others have to be reminded by Superman of who the Man of Steel is. But we also get an update to the classic Luthor origin, of a mishap in a lab that perhaps fostered a hatred of aliens in Lex.

As I have said before, I am not the biggest Bryan Hitch fan. But I am a huge Kevin Nowlan fan and Nowlan certainly puts his panache on the art. I'll say we cover a lot of DC real estate in this book and it just makes me wish we saw more of Nowlan on current issues. Everything is gorgeous. 

On to the book.

Old School Comic Show

It's officially Convention Season!

In a couple of weekends I'll be driving north to Concord NH to attend the 'Old School Comic Show' for the first time. I was unable to go to this show last year and I am thrilled that things worked out for me to head to it this year!

I'll definitely do a recap post afterwards but I am basically heading in blind. 

That said, it appears to be a great show with a decent guest list of creators, many of them which could be called 'Old School'.

One of the things about attending conventions for the last 15 years or so is that I have met a lot of creators. So when I see someone new at a con I get pretty excited!

I'll also say that given the roster I doubt I'll be getting a commission at this con, concentrating more on signatures and comics!

On to the show!

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #37

World's Finest #37 came out last week, wrapping up the underwater adventure that writer Mark Waid and artist Adrian Gutierrez have sent our heroes into. 

I will start with the most amazing thing about this story ... perhaps the most amazing thing that Mark Waid has ever done. He made Ronal both sympathetic and interesting.

The story itself, the Floronic Man using 'magic plants' to pit the twin cities of Atlantis against each other, is a bit of a stretch. I still don't know why he simply couldn't harvest these plants on the downlow. Or replant these plants somewhere else and create his own crop. And the wrap-up to the story is sort of a secondary part of the tale which seems more about the burden of leadership and how it can strain relationships. Whether it is Aquaman who is accused as an absent leader or Ronal who is so consumed by leadership that he has lost himself, being a leader is difficult.

The art by Adrian Gutierrez remains fun and energetic. I am amazed at how he continued to remind me this is an undersea story by adding bubbles and wave lines throughout. 

But overall, I feel this story was a little stretched out when comparing to other arc in this title. Still fun!

On to the story.

Review: Action Comics #1084 (edited)

And so 'Superman Superstars' ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. (Sorry ... there are more issues in the 'Superman Superstar' banner!)

Framing a very good story by Mark Waid and a solid story by Gail Simone were the beginners and enders of the 'Superman Superstars' trade dress, Jason Aaron and John Ridley. It isn't a bad idea. The old 'Legend of the Dark Knight' comic book were stand-alone Batman arcs from different creative teams, each telling a compelling Batman story. The problem with the idea is some arcs will sort of fall flat and then the question is, in this volatile comic market, can a title survive if people ditch it while a story they don't like runs.  Back in the day, I bought LOTDK based on creators. 

John Ridley finishes his story in Action Comics #1084 and I get the sense if this was a LOTDK story I would have skipped it. Ridley seems to have a lot to say in this story of recidivism, people living on the edge, people exploiting people living on the edge, and Superman trying to deal with a world filled with inherent justice. I am sure this all made sense as a concept, Ridley wanting to tell a story about the 1% taking advantage of the poor, forcing the poor into crime or despair, and how even heroes are powerless against it.

It just never gels. It feels like too many 'real world' topics to cover in a brief story. And so it feels like Ridley is scratching the surface of what he wants to say but can't get to the conclusion of any of his theses.

Inaki Miranda's art is fun and energetic. There some good fight scenes at the beginning. 

Let's wrap it up.