Gone For A Bit

 

I am tromping around Merry Olde England as this posts.

I'll be on a much MUCH MUCH needed vacation for a week. 

So I'll have a lot to catch up on when I return!

See you all soon!

Back Issue Bin: Justice League Of America #183

I am a Bronze Age baby and one of the joys I get out of this site is looking back at comic history as a reflection of current storylines. My Back Issue Bin dives allow me to revisit some classics, maybe introduce them to some of you or rekindle memories in others. But for me the joy is to take something happening in the DCU today and see similarities in the past. 

I thought given Amazo's appearance in both My Adventures With Superman and Absolute Power, that I'd review Action Comics #480-483. an Amazo story which also included the first appearance of the Supermobile. (I am sure I'll cover that at some point.)

But with Darkseid's death and the resurgence of the New Gods in the DCU in the All-In Special and the Absolute Universe as well as a new Justice League and Justice Society books on the docket, I thought reviewing Justice League of America #183-185 seemed more timely.

This was one of the annual JLA/JSA team-ups, this time 'Crisis on New Genesis'. If there have been Crises on Earth-S, Earth-X, and all the others, why not New Genesis! Written by JLA legendary writer Gerry Conway and drawn by JLA legendary artist Dick Dillin, this was a big event. 

This was 1980. The New Gods were sort of a small pocket in the DCU and not everywhere, all the time like they are now. Their series was done in 1972. There was a brief run in 1978, written by Conway which tried to pick up where Kirby left off. And then the story was 'ended' in Adventure Comics #459-460 later in 1978. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Conway picked things up again. The Fourth World is too rich an IP to leave untouched. But even after this story, where the return of Darkseid was a surprise, he was still very much a 'surprise' villain in the Great Darkness Saga two years later in 1982.

In fact, this story was really my first deep dive into the Fourth World. Yes, I had bought an Englehart/Rogers Mister Miracle issue a couple of years earlier. And I read the odd DCCP or B&B team-up. But otherwise, seeing Apokolips and hearing the history? All new. These characters are so ubiquitous now!

Check out the Jim Starlin cover with Orion on the warpath! 

Lastly and sadly, this was Dick Dillin's last issue. He suffered a heart attack after this issue and passed away. This was after a very lengthy run on this book ... basically unbroken from Justice League #64! Ten years! 

Enough preamble, on to the story!

Review: Action Comics #1070 - Superman Story

Action Comics #1070 came out last week, the first issue of the Mark Waid and Clayton Henry weekly run on the book. I have already covered the Supergirl back-up so on to the main tale. 

Mark Waid has been firing on all cylinders since he came back to DC. His Batman/Superman World's Finest book has been my favorite title since its inception. Now he gets a turn on Action Comics and Superman solo and I can't be happier. Waid's love of Superman is well known. His love of DC Comic history is also well known. And both shine in this story.

From Kandor to the Phantom Zone to the signal watch to the super-family, the book sings. Again, Waid straddles the line between classic DC sensibilities and modern story-telling. This opening chapter is a body horror comic linked to Krypton's past. I loved every panel of it. And I haven't even mentioned that, as always, Waid writes a great Supergirl. She shines in this issue.

Clayton Henry brings his thick-lined, organic art to the proceedings. This is an old-school Kryptonian slugfest and it all flows beautifully. But I really want to compliment the cover. Yes, this is an 'All In' cover showcase of Superman. But Mon-El and Professor Xa-Du in Donneresque Phantom Zone mirrors is just beautiful.

Let's dive right in!

Review: Action Comics #1070 - Supergirl Back-Up

The All In era at DC Comics started this week with the release of Absolute Batman #1. Part of that initiative is Mark Waid coming on to Action Comics and that title going to weekly! Within Action Comics, we have a Supergirl back-up feature by Mariko Tamaki and Sklyar Patridge. 

Given the focus of this site, I will be reviewing these Action issues in two parts, making sure to give the Supergirl story the space it deserves. For us old timers, seeing Supergirl in the back of Action Comics, a space she anchored in the Silver Age, is perfect.

Action Comics #1070 was released this week. So we jump right into the story. But before we get there, a couple of opening salvos.

First off, Supergirl is treated very very well by Mark Waid in the main story. I cannot wait to show how Waid continues that 'field marshal', second-in-command feel for Supergirl within the super-family.

Second, Mariko Tamaki wrote the rather bland Supergirl Special #1 almost a year ago. That story was extremely rough. Supergirl not remembering Krypton (after PKJ had her be the Kryponian archivist for years). Supergirl jealous of Power Girl (after we just had a PG story where she was jealous of Supergirl). And, of course, a concentration on eating snacks. How DC could read that story and say 'this is the writer we want to guide Supergirl in her next solo story' is confusing.

Third, this story seems to concentrate on Supergirl's 'new power' coming out of Absolute Power, a hypno-vision where she can literally control people. That has troubling implications all over the place about consent. In the story, it shows the super-family having a lack of trust in their friends. And we simply don't need Kara to have this power any more than we need Black Canary to have heat vision or Power Girl to 'astral punch'.

At the very least, Skylar Patridge is reunited with Tamaki and brings a wonderful art style to the proceedings. Patridge has a sort of breezy, fine-lined style that feels like a top-notch indy book. That is not faint praise. The art is beautiful. 

But this opening chapter is a little confusing and a little troubling. So I hope things get tighter. On to the book.

Absolute Superman, Dark Legion, And An Idea With Laurel Gand

I am a Legion of Super-Heroes fan. It is no surprise. I cover them here. I covered them at The Legion of Super-Bloggers. I love the IP.

We have gone through a couple of decades without a solid take on the Legion. Brian Bendis' efforts seemed to flame out and I think will probably be swept under the continuity rug. 

So I was a bit split in my reaction to the middle splash in the DC All In #1 Special. 

How great is it to see a Legion again, and one with relatively recognizable members! How great to see Dan Mora draw them! How terrible that it is a 'Dark Legion', part of the Absolute Universe! (I mean, I think that is Brainiac 5 in the lower left and he looks monstrous!)

But at least it is a Legion and them being introduced in this universe makes me hope that we will see one in the prime universe as well. 

Well, it got me thinking about the Absolute Universe a little more and perhaps the make-up of the team. 

Given the theme's of an older and alone and somewhat angry Superman that we have heard will be in Absolute Superman, I am going to guess that he is truly to sole survivor. At least, I think that will be the take at the beginning. 

So no Supergirl in this universe ... again, I am guessing here but reading the tea leaves. 

Perhaps there is room for a Supergirl analogue?

Review: All-In Special #1

The DC All-In Special #1, a special flip book opening to the line-wide initiative and relaunch, came out last week and was a very enjoyable read. This was a group effort with Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder writing the two halves and a bevy of artists anchored by Wes Craig and Daniel Sampere providing the art.

I'll start out with some caveats. I did not read any of Absolute Power so I don't have an understanding of what happened to the multiverse. I did not think I would be very interested in the Absolute line of books (although after reading a sneak peek of Absolute Batman I am pretty intrigued). With those two truths in mind, I didn't have major expectations from this book. 

Snyder and Williamson do a very solid job here though, grabbing me more than I thought they would. For one, the recognize DC history here, both recent and more ingrained in an old reader like me. They bring in an interesting wrinkle about Darkseid to a truth in the longstanding DCU that I am surprised hasn't been touched on before. And they put forward a brief origin for the Absolute Universe, the Elseworld, that touches on DC history too. 

And while I feel that the main goal of this book was to give people a taste of the Absolute Universe, the major push from the DC company, they also bring in some hints for new books on the main Earth. 

The art is also fantastic. Wes Craig brings a raw, chaotic feel to the Darkseid side of the book and does an incredible job touring the DCU and timeline. On the flipside, Daniel Sampere brings his clean, crisp style to the main world story, a stark contrast in feel befitting the stories.

I liked this a lot. And it did it's job, making me <gasp> a little excited about some upcoming things. On to the book itself.

Review: My Adventures With Superman #5

My Adventures with Superman #5 came out this week, the penultimate issue of this mini-series bridging the two seasons of the show. It is interesting to see just how much Kryptonian tech and concern for a Kryptonian invasion permeates the whole IP. 

Writer Sophia Campbell continues to create a sort of three-dimensional universe for this take on Superman. First and foremost, she writes an inspirational Superman and inspirational Lois. These are both heroes in their own right. This is a Superman who lifts people up by telling them that acts are more important than words. That there is no fate save that what we make. And that you can shake off expectations if we want. It is clear that Amazo, a now sentient robot with a nefarious reason for existing, is going to be a full hero, someone who sacrifices himself to save others. Some of that is because he has been befriended and supported by Superman. I'm okay with it.

Pablo Collar continues to do a great job on art. There is that cartoony/anime style that jibes with the cartoon. But he has to do serious action here. He also has to bring in mecha, hand beams, airplanes, and brawling. Again, that makes this feel like a true separate universe. 

I know we are getting a 3rd season of the show. So I hope we get another bridging mini. 

On to the book. 

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #512

A few weeks ago, I reviewed Action Comics #510, covering a story where Lex Luthor apparently turns over a new leaf, becoming a force for good because he has found love. The story started there, with Lex finding Angela Blake, saving her from a lethal DXS disease, and falling so in love that he turns away from evil. 

Action Comics #512 completes the three parter (sorry, I can't find my #511!) and it is, perhaps, one of the craziest Lex stories I have read. Settle in for some Lex playing the long game, Lex altering his own mind, and Lex regretting it all in the end. But also get ready to read Lex at his most evil, his most brutal. 

And when you deal with all that Lex, get ready to see an appropriately angry Superman.

Kudos to Cary Bates for this one. I'd say that three part stories were relatively rare back in 1980. But I think that second part (alas not reviewed here yet) was a keep part to get us to this issue. That middle chapter adds time to this story, makes Lex's long con feel long, and adds some potential legitimacy to Lex's turn to goodness.  

It all starts with this killer cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano. Superman kissing Lex's bride in front of him, and clearly on the wedding day is a throwback to the classic covers with our hero acting mean to his friends. The red aura is a nice clue to what happens in the story. And lastly, the addition of the toppling wedding cake is pure gold.  Inside art is by the classic team of Curt Swan and Frank Chiaramonte. 

Settle in. This one is a doozy.

Comics Interview #26: Crisis On Infinite Earths Interview

I have been doing this blog for over sixteen years, covering Supergirl in all her incarnations.

One topic that I keep coming back to is Crisis on Infinite Earths. Every time I think I have covered all of it, and in particular Supergirl's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, I find something new to cover.

Now I have said before that I have made my peace with Supergirl's death in Crisis. It was an incredibly heroic moment. She saved Superman and basically the multiverse. The cover of COIE #7 is the image of the series. Everyone remembers her role.

That said, it still stings a little to know that DC thought so little of the character that they felt she could ... and should ... be killed and erased from history. 

All this is preamble to the fact that at a visit to a local comic store I ran across Comics Interview #26 which included an interview with Marv Wolfman and Robert Greenberger about the Crisis. It is a very interesting article.

First off, it hit the stands before Crisis was finished, right after COIE #9 was released. So Wolfman and Greenberger have to be a bit coy about the overall ending. But the deaths of Supergirl and the Flash were pretty fresh. The concept of rebuilding the DCU into one universe hadn't happened and was basically an unknown. And these ideas are touched on by interviewer Patrick O'Neill.

So let's dive in.

Review: Action Comics #1069

Action Comics #1069 came out this week, the last part of writer Gail Simone and artist Eddy Barrows' three part story. This one was a winner for sure, both the issue and the arc. 

I have always been a fan of Superman and one of the reasons why I love the character is that he is an inspiration. I can think of all the ways that someone with Superman's powers would work in this jaded world. Many of them would be selfish or unsavory. But he is a hero. He fights for what's right. He believes in truth, justice, and the American way. And when he is at his best, he inspires people to do what's right as well.

Simone and Barrows leans into that in this story. That is basically what this is about. Superman fighting for us, fighting for what's right. Superman fighting even when he could stop, when he is battered, when he is exhausted.  But instead he keeps at it. It is a simple concept ... Superman as inspiration. But it works. We have seen this story type before. But it still works. Whether it is Tom King's Up in the Sky, or Phillip Kennedy Johnson's Warworld or even All-Star Superman, Superman as inspiration works. 

Barrows is one of those artists who can't stay long on a book. So a three parter is perfect for him. He shines here, giving us a beautiful book. 

But wait, there's more. We get the conclusion of the Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey story focusing on the journalistic integrity of Clark working as a reporter for the Planet. This was another winner.  I really liked this story too.

Tack on a variant cover by Nicola Scott focusing on Supergirl and you get a big winner. I love this cover. DC should make a poster or a t-shirt out of it.

DC Solicits - December 2024

The DC Comics solicits for December 2024 were released last week and I have to say, for me it feels like things are looking up for DC and I am saying that with almost no interest in the Absolute Universe. Here is a link to read everything: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-december-2024-solicitations-covers/

DC has some stuff that I talked about last month (New Gods, an Alex Segura Question comic) that sounds very interesting. And the super-comics seem to be picking up some momentum.

This month is another month of Action Comics being weekly so there is a lot to cover. Mark Waid is doing a Phantom Zone story with Clayton Henry with Mariko Tamaki and Skylar Patridge doing a Supergirl back-up. Incredibly, the Tamaki story solicits sound like there will be action and not just moping. We will see. 

Moreover, Supergirl is all over the Action Comics covers, especially Action Comics #1078 where she is on all the variants. 

So let's dive in! 

Action Comics #1078
Written by MARK WAID and MARIKO TAMAKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY, MICHAEL SHELFER, and SKYLAR PATRIDGE
Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant covers by SWEENEY BOO and MIKEL JANÍN
1:25 variant cover by A.L. KAPLAN
Artist Spotlight variant cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA

Two worlds in peril; only one can be saved. Teaming with his fellow Justice Leaguer, Mr. Terrific, to defend against Aethyr’s deadly machinations, the Man of Steel is left on the defensive and out of options. Superman must choose which realm to save: Earth or the Phantom Zone!

Plus, Supergirl falls under the spell of Koncept!

I have talked about my love of Aethyr. I like that there seems to be some sort of universal threat. The family falling from the sky on the cover makes me wonder if somehow the yellow sun is impacted by the shenanigans. 

As for Supergirl, she fights someone named Koncept. We met Konfusion in Superman #18.  Now Koncept? It sounds like maybe Conner has been re-cloned and made evil? 

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #31

World's Finest #31 came out last week, beginning a new arc with our heroes fighting Eclipso. I have sung the praises of this title since it's inception. But I have to admit, this was the most muddled issue of the book for me. It was difficult for me to follow exactly what was happening here.

If you told me that Waid was going to give me a satellite era story involving a classic JLA (goateed GA! Red Tornado!) fighting Eclipso, I'd say that this was going to be gold. But the plot traveled fast, with key points being a bit quick or quirky so that the whole thing unfolds almost too quickly. 

This was one of those issues I read a couple of times to make sure that I wasn't missing something!

Dan Mora gives us his usual tremendous art on the cover. Adrian Gutierrez brings tremendous energy to the story. Gutierrez has big shoes to fill on this book. Mora is a marvel. I really liked the work here, crisp and kinetic.

But this book fell a little short.

On to details.

Review: Superman #18

Superman #18 came out this week, another Absolute Power tie-in and a decent issue from the creative team of writer Joshua Williamson and artist Jamal Campbell.

I very much enjoyed the last issue as it had enough solid character moments from all the title's players. I am not reading Absolute Power, so that issue was in the story but also was a showing for the supporting cast. 

This issue, Williamson again has some solid character moments but not as many and not as memorable as last issue. Also, the actual story that is in this issue felt like an unnecessary detour. Did anything really happen here? Do we get a good Lois/Superman moment? We also get a Zatanna moment that didn't ring true. And the introduction of a character that seems like an afterthought or the genesis of a toy. 

Campbell continues to shine with an elaborate art style. He shines a bit on the pages where Superman and Zatanna are traveling magical pathways. And his super-hero action in the Hall of Heroes was also eye-catching.

But I feel like this was a pause in things more than an addition. I wonder if this needed to happen to keep the title in synch with Absolute Power. After all, Doomsday is back next month.

On to the book.

Xum's Who Volume II : Sand Superman

I have been a fan of The Fire And Water Podcast Network since its inception. This includes but isn't limited to their excellent Who's Who review show. I have really enjoyed the in-depth analysis of every Who's Who pages from the original through the updates and then the loose leaf series.

I also enjoyed and was impressed by the work of the departed Xum Yukinori. Xum was a true artist - excellent at illustration but also writing, voice acting, and editing sound and podcasts.

As I said, Xum was a tremendous artist and a knowledgeable comic fan. He had created Who's Who pages for characters that he thought should have been in the original series, the overlooked ones. And his son and friends continued his good work creating a second volume.

And so I bring you the Sand Superman page from the Xum's Who volume II. I thought Sand Superman should have had a page in the original so I am glad that the character is honored here. 

Isamu did a great job here writing up the history and powers of this character, most famous for the oft-reprinted Kryptonite Nevermore storyline as well as the Superman Vs. Shazam trade, But the character has been recreated by Walt Simonson and Sholly Fisch in more recent years. 

So soak up the tremendous page and then read ahead for some more fun.

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #510

People who frequent this site know that I look to themes in current comics to help me decide older comics to review. I never wanted this to be an index review site for Supergirl comics. I wanted it to be dynamic and related to current books.

So which current plot to take a look back at? I was torn between two and may end up doing both. One is Lex Luthor turning over a new leaf and trying to become a force for good. Joshua Williamson has been doing that over in Superman since he took over. The other was a look at Amazo given the android being both part of Absolute Power and My Adventures With Superman. 

Somehow I landed on the Lex plot. (But the Amazo story I have in mind is too fun so keep your eyes peeled.)

Action Comics #510 starts a three part story where Lex decides to stop trying to kill Superman. Instead he will become a good man. And the reason for this new lot in life? Well, it's hard to believe! It is the surprise ending so I don't want to spoil it here.

The cover by Ross Andru is certainly eye-catching but doesn't have much to do with the story on the inside. Superman letting Lex be killed would be an interesting plot ... but that isn't here.

On to the book.

Terrificon Recap 3: Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mark Waid, And More

I've done 2 recap posts about Terrificon and what a time I had at the convention. From the site to the focus on comics, the show is incredible. The first two posts  showcased the commissions I bought (June Brigman and Greg Larocque) and some of the signatures I was able to obtain. 

But the real draw for me this year were two writers in attendance: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Mark Waid. Both are favorites of mine lately. 

Johnson did a superb run on Action Comics, including the Warworld Saga. He treated Supergirl with such respect. I couldn't wait to meet him and thank him. I've been a fan of Waid for decades. But he has been writing World's Finest, the best book on the racks. And he has been doing other great work for DC. I hadn't seen him at a con for about a decade so I was pumped to see him again too. 

I waited until the last day to approach Johnson. He was the nicest guy. He asked me to sit at his table and we were able to talk at length about his run on Superman. 

I thanked him for writing Kara as confident and strong and often the smartest person in the world. He said he wrote her that way. He called her the matriarch of Kryptonian culture as she had experienced it. I talked to him about how I loved when she would call Superman out on things she thought he was doing wrong. 

We talked about the inclusion of the super-twins in the family. He said in the earliest drafts one of the twins were killed on the battlefield of Warworld by Mongul. Ultimately he felt it was too bloody for a Superman book so opted to keep both alive. He knew all along that the spirit of Orglun would enter one of the twins, the survivor. 

He pulled out his laptop and opened up his scripts to show me how detailed they are to help people like Riccardo Federici draw his vision of the rusty environment of Warworld. I specifically asked to see his description of the field of crucified Phaelosians Superman sees when he first gets on the world with the Authority. It was very cool of him to share.

But then he asked about me and my love of Supergirl. So I got to tell him why I love Kara so much.

I basically sat behind his table for a while and every so often he stopped to talk to fans coming to his table and sign some books. He really is a super-nice guy, talking with folks at length about comics. 

He hinted, strongly, that he may be writing a super-book soon. So keep your eyes peeled. And it was hard to pick which books to get signed but I picked Kara-specific covers and the end of the Warworld saga.

Killing one of the twins! Crazy!

The Passing of John Cassaday

This last Monday the news came out that artist John Cassaday had died at the young age of 52. 

Cassaday was a pure comic talent with a smooth artistic style that stood out on the rack. You knew a Cassaday book when you saw it. You didn't need to look for the signature, the mirror image of the J and C. 

He was lauded for The Authority (which I didn't read) and Astonishing X-Men, which I did read. I don't have a lot of X-Men in my collection. I can say it was his art that kept me on that book as long as I was. 

He was a superstar. And I was a fan.

Which brings me to why I am writing this post.

Because he was also one of the nicest creators I have met at conventions. He was a superstar. But he really was approachable, personable, and relatable to this fan.

When I met him at Terrificon, he had a huge line at his end table. People were bringing him X-Men books and the Authority and a lot of the licensed stuff he had done. Here I was bringing him the Superman books he did the covers for, from the Grounded arc of all things. It would have been easy to just sign the books and have me move on. But he paused and thanked me for bringing them to him. I had questions to ask him about this tiny little corner of his career and he was kind to answer them.

The first book I put in front of him was Superman #713, the only time that I know that he drew Supergirl. He told me he liked his time on the book. But didn't really have much to say about Supergirl other than he was glad he got to draw her.

Review: My Adventures With Superman #4

My Adventures With Superman #4 came out last week and continued to be a fun, heart-warming, and surprisingly action-packed book. This also pushed the Amazo storyline forward in an interesting way. You know I love mysteries and now we have one. 

Writer Josie Campbell continues to walk that tightrope of whimsy and serious, character moments and action moments, progressive plots mixed with nostalgic callbacks. I seriously don't know how she does it. This book opens with the Kents talking at length about family, unconditional love, parents teaching and learning, and the power of Christmas. The book ends with a brawl between Superman and Amazo, Checkmate, and Task Force X. In between that there is humor, romance, and at least two callbacks. 

Artist Pablo Collar continues to walk his own fine line between the anime style and more standard comic style. I like his take on Amazo. I love his Checkmate armor. But it is the early portion with the Kents and Lois that I think he really shines, bring warmth to everything.

Add a decent cliffhanger and you have a winner.

On to the book. 

Back Issue Box: Action Comics #597

In the current Action Comics book, Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey are bringing us an interesting story looking at the Clark/Superman dichotomy and journalistic integrity. Can Clark fairly write about Superman? Or is the inherent conflict of interest going to stop him from giving the public the truth? I am really enjoying it. 

That story reminded me of Action Comics #597 in which Lois again wonders about Clark's biases and abilities to be an honest journalist. This is year's before the identity was revealed. We are only 16 months into John Byrne's revision of Superman. And this issue brings into continuity one of the wonkiest aspects of Byrne's take on the character, that the Kents raised both Clark and Superman. I like Byrne's work on the character. But that, for me, is one of the weirdest and weakest additions.

This was also a time where Action Comics was a team-up book. So seeing this be a Lois and Lana issue also grabbed my attention. This is in the immediate post-Millennium DCU. Lana had just been deprogrammed from the Manhunters. Superman was still a relative newbie. This is the first time in the post-Crisis DCU that Lois and Lana have any sort of meaningful interaction. I like that part of the book as well.

As for Byrne, he loved to riff off of old Superman stories (the Lori Lemaris and Mxyzptlk re-introductions stand out) so seeing him do this Schaffenberger-esque cover of Lana and Lois fighting over the Man of Steel was a hoot for me. I especially like the cover text that this doesn't happen. We aren't in the Silver Age any more.

The art on the book is done by Byrne but also Leonard Starr and Keith Williams. It does give a softer, sort of older feel to the book which works well with the topic.

So let's dust off this back issue and dive in!

Terrificon Recap 2: Greg Larocque And More Stories

Last week I gave my first recap of 2024's Terrificon including my June Brigman commission.

Brigman was my primary target for a commission from the show. But my second was Greg Larocque.

Most people who frequent this site know that the Legion is my second favorite DC IP. In fact, I reviewed multiple runs of the Legion over on the Legion of Super-Bloggers. In fact, I think my reviews of the first 60 issues of the 5YL Legion is my high water mark as a blogger. 

Larocque was the artist on a large part of the Baxter run of LSH, so I have always been a big fan. 

But I had a particular interest in getting a sketch from him. He was the last artist to draw the pre-Crisis Supergirl in continuity. 

You see, the DCU was re-written in Crisis On Infinite Earths #12, a book which hit the stands on 12/19/1985. After that, Supergirl was a word that couldn't even be uttered in DC Comics.

But then in Legion of Super-Heroes #31 , drawn by Larocque, we saw a statue of Supergirl in Legion's hall of heroes. 

Seven months later, in the classic Legion of Super-Heroes #38 we once again saw the Supergirl statue. Once again it was Larocque on art. Legion #38 was released on 6/9/1987, a full 18 months after the Crisis ended! A year and a half after Supergirl was 'erased' from continuity.

With all that history, I thought Larocque doing a commission sketch of the Supergirl statue for my book was a pretty cool idea. And I think he nailed it. For a Supergirl fan and a Legion fan, this was a winner.

Review: Zero Hour 30th Anniversary Special

When you get to be as old a comic fan as I am, major comic events from the past become history and begin to celebrate pretty big anniversaries. 

I was already in my 20s when Zero Hour first hit the stands, DC's valiant effort to tidy up some of the timeline conundrums that spun out of the Crisis On Infinite Earths. So trust me, I felt pretty old when I saw the Zero Hour 30th Anniversary issue hit the stands. 

I wasn't sure how the story would play out. Would this be some side adventure within Zero Hour? Some untold tale? Or something Zero Hour adjacent, adding to the story.

Turns out it is the latter. Writer Ron Marz and Dan Jurgens bring us a Kyle Rayner story, set in an offshoot universe which is both familiar to the DC world of the 90s but also quite different. Do you want a world where Superman stayed dead, Batman stayed paralyzed, and Wonder Woman is missing? A world where Matrix, Donna Troy, and Barbara Gordon are the Trinity? Then this book is for you! Do you want to see Hal as Parallax? Jack Knight as Starman? A classic Fatal Five and Legion? Waverider? Then this book is for you. 

And I suppose for someone like me, this book is for me. It brought me back to that time, let me enjoy seeing these characters (in a way) again, and have some fun.

Add to that the incredible bevy of veteran artists on the book. Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, Paul Pelletier, Kelley Jones, Darryl Banks, Howard Porter, and Tom Grummett all are here. I got to see Grummett's Matrix Supergirl again. Ordway on Infinity Inc characters. Kelley Jones haunting Gotham, and Jurgens drawing a version of the JLA again. 

On to the book! Get ready for some Parallax-ction!

Terrificon Recap Part 1: June Brigman And Some Signatures

Earlier this month I had the luck of attending all three days of Terrificon , my main convention of the season and simply one of the best comic shows around. For the last 8 years, Terrificon has been a consistently fantastic show, focusing on comics with a massive array of comic creators present. 

The show has grown since I first went and now has a celebrity section as well. But it is clear the emphasis is on comics. And what I love about the show is how it respects the medium, bringing in comic legends as well as up and coming stars. From legends like Simonson, Chaykin, Claremont and Starlin to newcomers like Mahde Khene, to folks in their stride like Mark Waid, David Mack, and Steve Epting, the show sizzles. I am always impressed with the the con that show runner Mitch Hallock puts together.

I was also lucky enough to again be granted a press pass for the show. I set aside a budget for the show each year and the press pass allows me to get in a little early to talk to creators as well as shunt a little more money into the hands of vendors and creators. I think the traffic this site gets is a big reason why I get that pass, so thank you all.

As for this year, you'll be hearing all about my creator interactions over three recaps! But I'll start with my primary commission goal for this year, June Brigman.

I knew as soon as I saw Brigman announced that I would want a Supergirl sketch from her. While best known for her Marvel work on Power Pack, Brigman drew the Matrix Supergirl solo mini-series from the late 90s. It is that costume that is my favorite.

So when the doors opened, I went immediately to her table and got on her list.

I am really thrilled with this commission. Brigman and inker Roy Richardson put together this great piece. I love the body language, the scene in the clouds, the confident smile. Truly an amazing piece and a wonderful addition to the book. 

Review: Superman #17

Superman #17 came out this week, a tie-in to Absolute Power and the continuation of Superman and Zatanna's search for the Map of Mordru.

I am not getting the Absolute Power main series so much of what has led to this point is a bit lost to me. I have learned through panels in this book, podcasts, and other reviews that the Fortress is destroyed, Kandor is destroyed, and Jon is brainwashed and working for Waller. 

As for this issue, it is a Superman on the run, looking for anything to save his son and his world. Writer Joshua Williamson puts Superman through some paces here. He is powerless and walking through the chaotic magical world. It makes him a little bit of a fish out of water. But what I really love is that Superman remains proactive and heroic. He even puts a bit of an edge on our hero, perhaps showing how worried he is. This isn't our cool, collected, 'lead by example' Superman. He yells and hits and insults. Hey, his son is in danger. Anyone would be twitchy.

Jamal Campbell continues to give us polished art. It is incredibly rendered, giving it an almost CGI feel. The energy is there for sure. And between city scenes, forest scenes, and bar scenes, Campbell shows he has solid chops for all sorts of environs.

Add to this an cliffhanger involving a villain I haven't really thought about in over 25 years and you get an entertaining issue. On to some particulars.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #30

Batman Superman World's Finest #30 came out this week and was another fun, done-in-one issue for the title. 

Writer Mark Waid and guest artists Gleb Melnikov again weave a story from the recent past, teaming up Batman and Superman with other heroes, and dusting off a seldom used villain giving them a much needed update. That has been the pattern of this book. 

But I love the little side-pattern that Waid  have been doing in which after an arc, they let the title breathe by putting out a one-issue story with a beginning middle and end. We've seen it throughout the book from a look at Robin, to the Robin/Supergirl date, to the first Lex/Joker team-up, to this story teaming up the Trinity. 

Waid has been bringing that Silver/Bronze age patina to the stories overall and what could be more old-school than 'done in one'.

This story focuses on a murder mystery on Themyscira and Diana has asked Batman and Superman to help solve the crime. That is a good hook. There is a great twist as the mystery is solved. And my guess is Waid is building towards something bigger. 

Melnikov has yet to disappoint me on anything I have seen him on. His take on the Amazons is great. They are that perfect mix of strength and presence. I know Daniel Sampere is on the main WW book but I'd love to see Melnikov drawing Wonder Woman more.

On to the specifics!

DC Comics November 2024 Solicits

The DC Comics solicits for November 2024 have been released and it seems like an interesting month. Here is a link: https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-november-2024-solicitations-covers/

I feel there is a chance that DC is hitting some sort of new stride in the main universe. I don't think I am too interested in the Absolute Universe with its dour Superman and its warrior Wonder Woman. But this month there is Phillip Kennedy Johnson/Javier Fernandez on Batman and Robin. There is Jeff Lemire/Diego Olortegui on JSA. There is Mark Waid/Dan Mora on a Justice League Unlimited book. There is an Alex Segura/Cian Tormey Question book. I'm interested in all of those. These are properties I love written by creators I trust. The artists on the books are phenomenal. There are other new books like Black Lightning and Batgirl on the racks. Is this some new explosion?

It all makes me happy. I like having a full pull list!

On to the super-books!

Action Comics #1074
Written by MARK WAID and MARIKO TAMAKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY, MICHAEL SHELFER, and SKYLAR PATRIDGE
Cover by CLAYTON HENRY
Variant covers by SEBASTIAN FIUMARA and IBRAHIM MOUSTAFA
1:25 variant cover by MARK SPEARS

Superman back in time?! Great Rao! A dying planet, a desperate scientist, a last son…it could only mean one thing: Krypton! To uncover the secrets of the Phantom Zone, Kal-El must journey back to the days of his birth planet and into the lab of Jor-El himself. What shocking secrets will link the greatest prison known to the cosmos and the nefarious villain Aeythr… and does the Man of Steel stand a chance of making it out alive? Plus, Supergirl’s mission halts as she finds herself captured and awaiting her fate at the hands of the highest bidder!

It is very Silver Age to have Superman go back to Krypton. I hope we have a noble Jor-El, something we haven't seen for a bit. I love Aethyr! So all is well.

Holding out hope Tamaki's Supergirl is good. I love Patridge's art.

And love this variant cover!

Review: Action Comics #1068

Action Comics #1068 came out last week and was another crackling good issue with two very entertaining stories in the issue.

In the opening story, writer Gail Simone and artist Eddy Barrows give us another very Bronze Age feel tale of Superman thwarting aliens who are putting Superman through a series of contests he must overcome. The reason? Gambling! Last issue was a love letter to Superman Vs Muhammad Ali. This issue continues that early 70s feel from invulnerable capes to Lois demanding to be called Ms. to Jimmy's signal watch, it screams Bronze Age in the best way. Barrows art is dynamic with more action lines than you can shake a stick at. We end on a great cliffhanger. I have loved this more than I thought I was going to.

Just as entertaining, but in a different way, is the back-up written by Rainbow Rowell with art by Cian Tormey. Last issue, Lois took Clark off the Superman beat. This issue we see the fallout .. personally, professionally, heroically. This is a great story as I can understand both sides of the professional story. I appreciate seeing how this seeps into the marriage. And it ends with another great cliffhanger. Cian Tormey brings a very thick-lined approach to this grounded story which works very well. 

No complaints here on this very entertaining issue. On to the specifics! 

Wicked Comic Con 2024 Recap

When this gets posted, I'll be in the midst of packing up to head to Terrificon. 

Last week I was able to attend Wicked Comic Con on Sunday. (Work got in the way of my attending both days.) The place seemed busy with lots of foot traffic. 

This con is young but growing each year. There was a very solid stable of creator guests invited to the show including such legends as Adam Hughes and Phil Jimenez. While I had met many of the guests at other shows, it is always good to see them again and bring any new books for signatures. In particular, I got to talk to Jimenez for some time about Historia Book One. That book was absolutely stunning and so chatting with him about process and his approach to the gods was fascinating.

But there were a couple of guests there who I hadn't met before who I was looking forward to meeting - Tom Reilly, Marco Rudy, and Dustin Nguyen.  As I had said in a prep post, I was hoping to get a commission from Reilly. 

Luckily, there was room on his sketch list on Sunday!

Check out this brilliant commission!

It was really great to talk to Reilly about the sketch. He looked through my sketch book at all the commissions and noted how there was only one sketch with Supergirl in the classic headband costume (from George Perez). That was the costume he was interested in doing.

I just love this. First off, it just captures what I love about Reilly's art. It being the headband costume makes it stand out for sure. But the other touches, the stars, the tone effects around her fist. The confident look. That classic curly 80s hair. 

It just sings! I couldn't be happier.

Review: My Adventures With Superman #3

My Adventures With Superman #3 came out last week, another solid chapter in the all ages book. 

Much like the cartoon, the comic walks a bit of a tight rope and in a good way. There is humor. There is whimsy. There is torture. There is action. It is hard to work a balance like that but somehow show runner and comic book writer Sophia Campbell is able to pull it off.

This chapter nudges the plot along. Amazo has consciousness. As a living being, even if an android, it should be spared that. So Superman is helping it while the government hunts it down. Add in some fun antics of our squad trying to keep Amazo out of the military's hands and you have fun episode.

Artist Pablo Collar continues to do a good job of keeping the feel of the show while rendering a visually active book layout. The battle scene at the end of the book in particular is well paged and paced. 

All  together, the tone of the comic continues to mirror the progressive, fun, occasionally dark tone of the show. That makes this a great arc to have happened between seasons. 

On to the book.

Review: Kneel Before Zod #8

Kneel Before Zod #8 came out this week, the abrupt ending to what was supposed to be a 12 issue mini-series. And when I say abrupt, I mean abrupt.

This whole series has been a bit interesting for me as a reader and fan. I came in a bit burned out about Zod, who seemed ubiquitous for several years there. Was I really going to want to read a year of him?

It didn't help that the early issues seemed over stuffed with many scenes of senseless violence in each issue, padding the page count. I also wondered about the turn early in the series of Zod seeming almost catatonic and morose, nudging Ursa to take over.

Somewhere in this series though, I began to really get interested. Zod, who had always seemed to be a one-note character of militaristic fascism, became a more complex being. He had fears. He was seeing visions of Jor-El. He seemed unsure about where his life had taken him. He remained a one-trick pony of violence but that seemed more a frustrated routine than any grand mission. Who is Zod? But maybe more importantly, who does he himself want to be? 

Add to the mix the rough and tumble art of Dan McDaid, bringing an almost WWI grunginess to this interstellar war comic. A couple of issues of McDaid channeling Keith Giffen only increased my appreciation of his work. 

The ending seems to set up this book to actually impact the main DCU, bringing in the UP which has sequestered Earth and stymied the Green Lantern Corps.

All this is to say that I have to top my cap to writer Joe Casey and Dan McDaid. I am truly disappointed that DC pulled the plug on this book. I am going to wonder where this was going and if Casey had some grand ending in mind for this unusually scattered Zod.

On to the book.

Interview With Landry Walker

I've been a big fan of writer Landry Walker  since his incredible work on Supergirl Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade book. He is definitely one of those creators whose work I immediately put on my pull file. The works tend to be very complex and layered, with a plot pushing forward but with incredible themes and concepts bubbling along too.

When I heard he was writing a horror book called The Butcher's Boy for Image, I reached out and asked for an interview. Luckily, he obliged. Of note, The Butcher's Boy is only three issues in and well worth looking for.

On to the interview.

Anj: Thanks for doing this.

The Butcher’s Boy comes right out of the gate as pretty stark horror. Is this the first pure horror book you’ve done? (As a 50+ year old, I grew up reading DC horror comics and watching all the horror films I could in the 80s. And I loved your Mad Hatter book.) 

LW: Not the first. Several years back I authored a Manga-style original graphic novel called House of Odd, which was part of the Dean Koontz Odd Thomas series. I collaborated with Dean on that one – he provided a short plot and cast of characters, and I filled out the rest.

I also have done a couple of shorts in Eerie Magazine over the years, and dabbled with a send-up of classic horror monster movies with the Little Gloomy series that Eric and I did (that later became a cartoon series called Scary Larry).

Super-Family Mobile Toy

Some time in July I celebrated a birthday. One more trek around the sun! Still here, old friends!

One of the Supergirls has been helping me add to the Supergirl collection and gave me the best gift.

Check out this old school, tin wind-up toy of Superman, Supergirl, Streaky, and Krypto flying around the Daily Planet.

Everything about this sings! The Daily Planet globe. The catchphrase around the bottom. Super-pets! Super-cousins! The classic feel!

It all works, Just a great gift.

Wicked Comic Con Next Weekend

Wicked Comic Con Boston is happening next weekend!

I didn't think I would be able to get to this convention because I was working a later shift on Saturday the 10th,  making neither weekend day easy to attend. As luck would have it a friend needed a switch and I was able to move to an early shift on Saturday.

While it meant a Saturday con visit was out of the question, it opened up Sunday! 

So I'll be heading to the con! An extra summer treat for me!

I am glad my town has a good comic con. Wicked is young, this being it's third year in it's third venue. But each year they bring in a solid guest list and this year is no different. There are plenty of creators I am looking forward to meeting. Hopefully some of you are heading there too!

Here is a link to the con site: https://www.wickedcomiccon.com/

I don't know if I'll be able to get any commissions given I will only be there Sunday. But I hope I am able to get one from Tom Reilly .

Reilly drew Knight Terrors Superman which included that great Supergirl plot where she was haunted by older versions of herself. Reilly basically had to draw all the big Supergirl costumes in that story (albeit on zombified Supergirls). 

Reilly feels like an up and comer so I hope there is a spot on his sketch list.

But there is more!

My Adventures With Supergirl Season 3

One day I will get to San Diego Comic Con. It's a sort of bucket list.

Lots of DC news came out of the con with a bunch of new books with classic DC characters coming out as well as the DC All In initiative.

But the big thing about SDCC is all the multimedia news that comes out of it. So after wondering if there would be a third season of My Adventures With Superman, I was able to watch a whole panel about the show. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izLq946kMhI

The panel includes the show runners and the main voice actors. The topics range from character growth to favorite episodes to the future. If you are a fan of the series it is worth listening to.

The above image is the teaser for the now confirmed season 3. 

As a Supergirl fan, I am glad to see she is going to stick around as a focus for the show. She was used as a sort of foil to Clark this last season. My guess is that will continue as we look at the two relationships and how they unfold - Clark/Lois and Kara/Jimmy.

This is a Supergirl site so a couple of things to note from the panel. Of course, my dislike for Kara's backstory. I didn't need the trauma. Some of the answers on this panel perplex me a bit.

Supergirl's voice actor talks about how Kara is a clean slate able to explore Earth and reinvent herself. She is trying to find herself on Earth in this new life with new friends. A clean slate makes me wonder if all that trauma is going to be forgotten or swept under the rug. You would think she should at least reflect or respond to this. It is a huge part of her story. I hope we just don't get silliness from her. Because if ultimately she is going to be the funny 'stranger in strange world', we could have got there without the bleak origin.

Her wanting to mate with Jimmy is also an interesting wrinkle given that compare/contrast aspect. 

I'm hopeful.

On to more details.

DC Comics October 2024 Solicits

October marks the start of a new initiative at DC. The All-In movement begins. 

I wrote a little about it last week. Now the official solicits for that month's comics are out. Here is a link to the complete list:
https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/dc-comics/dc-comics-october-2024-solicitations-covers/

The solicits go a little more into the plots and directions of the titles. I'm not sold on the All-In world. I hope to be proven wrong. This can go two ways. In one, a darker DCU unfolds, making their heroes grimmer or cynical. Or you can go the 'Five Years Later' Legion route, where the universe is darker making the heroes shine that much brighter. Given the comics of the last 20 years, I suspect the former.

On to the books.

DC All In Special #1
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON
Art by DANIEL SAMPERE and WES CRAIG
Cover by DANIEL SAMPERE
Variant covers by WES CRAIG and RAFA SANDOVAL

Following the events of DC’s blockbuster storyline Absolute Power, the heroes of the core DC Universe have fought against the deep divisions in the world around them to usher in a new era of unity. And it’s just in time, too—because Darkseid has returned. Superman must gather every hero on Earth to hold the line against a very different version of the Lord of Apokolips, as they raise our cosmic defenses and prepare for war…and when the first blows land, the shock waves will ripple into every series in the DCU and shake the nature of their reality to its core!

But little do they know…the greater threat is still to come. For there is another Earth: the Absolute Universe. Here, DC’s biggest icons are coming of age with fewer advantages and facing greater opposition than ever before…while miraculously retaining the immutable heroism that has inspired fans for decades. But can they really protect the light that shines inside them when the world in which they live is hurtling toward a terrible destiny?

Can Snyder pull off a 'very different Lord of Apokolips'? Part of my problem with DC recently has been characters with established traits and characteristics being written completely different. I don't know if I need a 'new' Darkseid. But we'll see. 

I'll probably buy this issue. Seeing Superman lead heroes against Apokolips is always a decent draw. After that ... we'll see.

Review: Batman/Superman World's Finest #29

Earlier this month, Batman/Superman World's Finest #29 came out ending the Bat-Mite/Mxyzptlk storyline with killer imps and a 6th Dimensions Doom-mite.

I have talked a lot about World's Finest. I think it is the best comic on the rack these days. I love this Else-When, probably in continuity but who knows, almost meta look at the entirety of the DCU. Writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora have basically infused Silver and Bronze age joy into a current world comic medium.

Eventually, the best book has to have a less than best issue. The ending of this storyline, in particular the defeat of Doom-Mite, seems to have come out of nowhere, a magical ending literally. As such, in looking back at the incredible run so far, this one falls a little short. 

It doesn't mean it is a bad comic. It is a lot of fun. Waid continues to sprinkle in a bunch of DC history into the book that made me smile. Robin's outwitting of Mxyzptlk was flat-out fantastic. Even the resolution of Bat-Mite and his place in the cynical new world of comics was solid. Add to that Dan Mora showing he draws everyone in the DCU perfectly and you have an entertaining issue.

And so this book suffers from comparison to itself. If only Waid stuck the ending!

On to the particulars.

Review: My Adventures With Superman S2E10

The second season of My Adventures With Superman ended this weekend with the final episode, titled 'My Adventures With Supergirl'. 

As usual, this episode was filled with great anime-infused action, great character moments, and some nice DCU homages and references. I'll say it again. I like this show. I love the Clark/Lois interactions and arc. I love how deep it dives into the DCU. And even this whole storyline about Brainiac has been solid.  This is a good show.

The depth of Brainiac's involvement in the destruction of Krypton ratchets him up as a villain. Although I do have to wonder about his overall strategy in some places. The theme about Clark feeling alone and how he overcame that on Earth is a nice parallel to how Kara was raised. I like how we see Superman as an inspiration, making some of the villains from earlier episodes rally around him to fight Brainiac.

And, of course, the season ends with the redemption of Kara. No surprises there. But, no surprise, we have to darken things up one last time to make the redemption that much brighter. We see, in no uncertain terms, that Kara was raised as a psychologically abused child. We know she is a killer of worlds, even if she was being controlled. You'd think she still feel some guilt about that. In this episode we see one more time how she has been controlled by Brainiac. One more fight against Superman ... of course.

Look, am I glad Supergirl is on a successful cartoon? Yes. Am I glad she is redeemed at the end? Yes. Do I hope we get a season three with Kara as a cast member? Yes. 

But I still think Josie Campbell could have done almost this exact story without all the trauma, without all the carnage, without all the darkness. I will never say 'I'm glad she was a dupe and a weapon and an unwitting killer of worlds'. I don't need it. 

Still, hopefully it's all in the past and if this show goes on she's a true hero. 

On to the particulars. Settle in. There is a lot to talk about.

All-In DC Comics And A Supergirl Back-Up News

Absolute Power is the current summer event churning through the DCU but news has been out for a while that it was just the precursor to a new initiative at DC Comics called DC All In. Solicits are out and will be reviewed in depth. But for now, let's talk about the set-up.

Spear-headed by DC alum Scott Snyder, the early news was that it would be a sort of Marvel Ultimates universe allowing new stories to be told with new characters on a more established new Earth. 

Perhaps to get ahead of the craziness of San Diego Comic Con or in fear of being outshone at SDCC, DC has released a ton of information about this. Head here for what is known:https://aiptcomics.com/2024/07/17/dc-comics-absolute-dc-all-in-line-comics/

Since hearing about this, I wondered how this was going to differ from the Earth One books or even a plain old Elseworld. This looks much more cohesive and more tied into the main DCU. The idea that the current DCU is built on the idea of Superman (something good that came out of Doomsday Clock) is fantastic. Darkseid wanting to build a universe in his image is not a bad idea.

“If the main universe is set up by Superman energy, this universe is founded on Darkseid energy,” Snyder added. That makes the heroes underdogs. “They have to be tougher. Have to be more resourceful,” and that makes them more badass.

Of course, Snyder says it means the heroes will be more 'bad ass' usually means it is something I'm probably not going to like but I'm willing to give it a shot.

But there's more.

Review: Superman #16

Superman #16 came out this week, an Absolute Power tie-in and the first issue post-'House of Brainiac'. It re-unites writer Joshua Williamson with the original artist on the title Jamal Campbell. Not surprising, it is a fun read with beautiful art.

I am not collecting Absolute Power. The concept of Amanda Waller somehow depowering all the heroes and taking control of the planet was completely uninteresting to me. It seems these days I collect every other 'DC Event'. Lazarus Planet yes. Beast World no. Absolute Power no. All In ... probably.

This issue actually is just what a tie-in/crossover should be. It is clearly an issue of Superman, telling its own story. But it is clearly taking place in the Absolute Power big story. As such, Williamson gives me enough info to get me up to speed as a non-reader of the event. Even more impressive, he hints at something that happened in Absolute Power that made me want check out that book. As I said ... impressive. If only there was one of those little editor boxes that might have led me to which of the books I should look. Without that info, the yearning dissipated.

The plot is simple. The heroes are in disarray and trying to get coordinated. Superman is in critical condition. Zatanna has an idea that can help everyone. Meanwhile, the Metropolis gang try to stay alive. It all works well. But there are smaller moments from the supporting characters that really are the high points here, showing how Williamson is working with a full cast and keeping me interested in all of them.

As for Campbell, his art is as polished as ever. I love his take on Zatanna. We get a Smallville flashback that is wonderful. He even makes amnestic Lex seem fresh, like a new character ... which in some ways he is.

Solid issue. Solid crossover. No complaints. On to the particulars.