SUPERGIRL #62
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by BERNARD CHANG
Cover by AMY REEDER & RICHARD FRIEND
Nick Spencer (Morning Glories) assembles the cream of the crop of the next generation of DCU super-heroes in this issue – Robin, Static, Miss Martian, Blue Beetle, Batgirl, the new Impulse – to team up with Supergirl and take on a new villain who promises to define this generation as much as Darkseid, Lex Luthor and The Joker did prior ones. Good luck, kids!
I am glad that DC changed it's the credits to show that James Peaty is going to be the writer at this point (sarcasm). I think they had enough lead time to make the change.
The question, of course, is Peaty going to follow Spencer's plot or curtail this story and start his own. It has been pretty quiet about Peaty taking over. No interviews or anything like that. So it is hard to know if he is a pinch hitter for this quick arc and then will stay on - or if another creative team is being sought for.
This Amy Reeder cover looks rough and probably isn't finished.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #55
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by BRETT BOOTH & NORM RAPMUND
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
“The Rise of Eclipso” continues! With the Spectre fallen and darkness spread throughout the DC Universe, no one is safe from Eclipso’s control! Not any of DCs shadow-based heroes and villains. Not Alan Scott and the magical beings of the moon’s Emerald City. Not even the World’s Greatest Heroes! And when Eclipso’s ultimate goal is revealed, they’ll see that it’s scale is even bigger than the DC Universe. One lone hero has the power to make sure all be well however...for he has hope. Introducing Blue Lantern Saint Walker to the Justice League of America! In the remains of New Krypton, Doomsday tears through Batman, Supergirl and Alpha Lantern Boodikka in his search for Cyborg Superman as “Reign of Doomsday” rampages on!
Boy, a lot is happening in this issue!So Eclipso continues his evil ways. Supergirl remains Dark Supergirl. A Blue Lantern joins the League (aren't they pretty weak without a GL nearby? Does Jade count? Or is Boodika also joining?).
And this is part of the Doomsday crossover. Funny how he is looking for the Cyborg Superman. What is that all about?
One thing I will say, after seeing his work on the Power Girl/Huntress story in Superman/Batman #78, I can't wait to see Brett Booth's stuff on this title.
SUPERMAN #709
Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI & CHRIS ROBERSON
Art by EDDY BARROWS & J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
Superman visits Boulder, Colorado, as “Grounded” races forward! And speaking of racing, here comes The Flash! The Scarlet Speedster has made a strange discovery that relates to Superman, so he tracks The Man of Steel down in the Centennial State to get some answers! What did Flash discover? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason Superman isn’t very happy to see him...
I have always been a sucker for Flash/Superman races so I am a bit more interested in this issue of Grounded than I usually am. I like how Superman continues to walk on the cover despite Flash zipping by him.
We will be 9+ issues into Grounded at this point. I don't know if we ever heard about an end point.
ACTION COMICS #899
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Art by PETE WOODS
Cover by DAVID FINCH & BATT
Lex Luthor has left no stone unturned in his quest for the Black Lantern energy, but he’s not the only one searching for it – Brainiac wants the energy and the knowledge it offers all to himself. Trust us, this is gonna be the most vicious Luthor/Brainiac team-up ever. It all sets the stage for both a conclusion and a beginning in next month’s historic ACTION COMICS #900, featuring the return of you-know-who...
Is Brainiac the big bad behind Luthor's actions? I thought for sure it was going to be Krona but since he just turned up in Green Lantern, I don't think he can be it.
Maybe Darkseid? It was hinted at in the Annual recently.
Much like Superman/Flash races, I am a sucker for Luthor/Brainiac team-ups. And Superman is coming back in Action #900? Or is you-know-who the villain pulling Luthor's strings? I have liked this run much more than I thought I would.
SUPERBOY #5
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by PIER GALLO
Cover by EDDY BARROWS & J.P. MAYER
Get ready for the first-ever Superboy/Kid Flash race! Bart Allen may have the speed, but Conner Kent has the power – who will win?! Meanwhile, a dangerous threat is nipping at their heels, one that may mean the end for Superboy, Kid Flash and all of Smallville!
There seems to be a theme here this month.
If I like Superman/Flash races, I have to like Superboy/Kid Flash races. What is the big threat against Smallville? And why Smallville?
JIMMY OLSEN
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by RB SILVA DYM
Cover by AMANDA CONNER
The hit ACTION COMICS co-feature that everyone's talking about gets its own collection, reprinting the first four parts of the story and presenting 30 all-new pages that bring "Jimmy Olsen's Big Week" to a ridiculously over-the-top close!
When Jimmy Olsen finds out that his ex-girlfriend, Chloe Sullivan, is spending a week writing a profile about a young big-shot LexCorp employee, Jimmy is determined to prove to Chloe that he can have just as exciting and interesting a week. Cue bar fights with drunken aliens, a visit to the Yarn Barn with Supergirl, Fifth Dimensional stalkers, and Jimmy Olsen: Space Warrior!
So Spencer's Jimmy Olsen story is being compiled into one issue, including the chapters we have already read in Action. I don't know if I am happy about buying a product I already own to complete the story.This story has been enjoyable in a quirky sort of way. And Silva's art is interesting.
But I love the Amanda Conner cover. Supergirl knitting in the background! Sweet.
ZATANNA #11
Written by PAUL DINI
Art by JAMAL IGLE
Cover by ADAM HUGHES
Satanic sorcerer Brother Night lost his magical powers when Zatanna defeated him atop Mount Diablo. But in prison, he's forged a bloody pact that could make him the most dangerous nemesis she's ever faced! Last time, her friends barely escaped with their lives; this time, they might not be so lucky!
Zatanna isn't usually on my pull list. But at least now we know where Jamal Igle is going to be landing after Supergirl.
And that is some creative line-up there. Dini, Igle, and Adam Hughes. Looks like Zatanna will be on my pull list!
Sort of a short list this month with no real surprises out there other than the Igle announcement. Glad Jamal is back on a monthly book!
Do't like the idea of Dark Supergirl taking over in JLA.. I stopped reading grounded issues, felt the stories were a bit boring and it's a Superman comic !
ReplyDeleteJamal on Zatanna.. best o fluck. :)
I can start the joke on Zatanna fans that Igle will cover up Zatanna given her jeans or leggins like current WW costume. LOL. I feel eveil today. ;)
evil and with bad grammar..
ReplyDeleteA new Impulse? Oh, Wally's kid, yes?
ReplyDeleteI hate Superman/Flash races. Hate 'em. I don't care who's fastest in any given month!
I'm completely bored with Dark Supergirl, I mean every heroine on God's Green Earth has an evil doppelganger, the idea has been beaten to death with steel rods already!
ReplyDeleteWe have to put up with this little bint til next March?
Forget it!
Meanwhile I'd pay good money to have Zatanna's Paul Dini shoe-horn in Kousin kara into Zee's book as a guest star...Just to see Kara get written by the man I co-credit with her current revival.
John Feer
Congratulations on your new gig Jamal!
ReplyDeleteThe Supergirl book is still an unknown quantity - I hope they provide a little more info soon. The change must have come as a big surprise to a lot of people, they don't look like they were in the least bit ready to discuss.
ReplyDeleteJLA - Dark Cliche is still around in issue 55? OK, the Thumper rule was in effect until I'd seen 52, which came out this week. The character was just what you'd expect. Jack-o-Lantern evil grins and cardboard cut-out villainy. Sigh.
Looks like JLA is off my pull list for now, which is sad because I had been liking where it was going, but with Jamal on Zatanna I've got something to replace it with in March. Maybe I'll make the change now, see what's going on with the character these days.
Jimmy Olson - Yay Amanda Conner cover! I'll buy it just for that.
I have to say it was interesting to see James Robinson's idead about Dark SUpergirl in this week's JLA. I'll wait until I review that book to talk more about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Anon, what's 'the Thumper rule'? And Cliff Chiang's drawing Zee this week's issue, and, I believe, the two after that.
ReplyDeleteI tend to reserve comment (i.e. Thumper rule) on things until I've seen something more than an announcement. Dark Supergirl in a future issue, a new artist that drew "How To Make Money Like A Porn Star", and such poke my cynicism buttons. I recognize this and hold off saying anything because I know I'm already biased. I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised (such as with Bernard Chang).
ReplyDeleteThe Thumper rule is from the Disney movie Bambi, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." He had a lot of sayings his mom made him follow, such as ""Eating greens is a special treat, it makes long ears and great big feet" but that's a lot harder to apply to blog comments.
"Dark Supergirl in a future issue, a new artist that drew "How To Make Money Like A Porn Star", and such poke my cynicism buttons... I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised (such as with Bernard Chang)".
ReplyDeleteI hope you end up disappointed with Bernard Chang. I get the feeling that will be the only way I return to Supergirl and enjoy the character again. Otherwise, I hope DC does a drastic reduction of the sex appeal of male characters and also gives them more realistic bodies.
I get the feeling that will be the only way I return to Supergirl and enjoy the character again. Otherwise, I hope DC does a drastic reduction of the sex appeal of male characters and also gives them more realistic bodies.
ReplyDeleteI have heard you make this argument before. Ad nauseum.
And I have asked you to take it elsewhere as it usually has little to do with the post or discussion.
You are on many many other boards. Please make your singular point there and not here.
I hope you end up disappointed with Bernard Chang. I get the feeling that will be the only way I return to Supergirl and enjoy the character again.
ReplyDeleteI would be surprised if my level of gratification with an artist's work affected your buying habits or tastes, but then again that's not for me to say. And the level of sex appeal of male characters is your area of concern, not mine.
Sorry ANJ, I don't normally feed the trolls or respond to infamous internet cranks, but that comment was so weirdly out there that I had to say something.
Thanks Anon. I'm ashamed to say I've never seen Bambi.
ReplyDeleteActually loving every bit of what i'm seeing & reading here come Feb for Superman family as well as to what we can find Jamal working on next! :-D
ReplyDelete