Review: Action Comics #23 Back-Up Feature

You know that feeling when a movie or book starts out great and then fizzles? That feeling that something wonderful was there, right in the grasp of the creators but sadly slipped away? That has been my feeling of the World Of Krypton Back-up feature which has run through Action Comics and the recent Superman Annual.

Action Comics #23 ended the story by writer Frank Hannah with art by Tom Derenick. And what started out as an interesting look at a young Jor-El and Lara decayed to a straightforward action book with some questionable ethics by our two protagonists. A Jor-El willing to mind control the planet. A Lara Lor-Van with a sadistic and murderous streak. That seems miles away from the curious elated scientist and strong young soldier we saw in the first chapters.

Something was there. And then it wasn't.

The loud violent second half of the tale does seem in line with the New 52. And I don't mean that in a good way.

As anticipated last issue, Jor-El is able to stymie the plans of Colonel Ekar but simply refusing to work the 'harmonic resonator'. While I don't like hearing that Jor-El made this thing at least he still has the ethics to not use it to enslave the populace. He is willing to sacrifice himself, or subject himself to torture, before he will cross that line.

Although by creating this thing, maybe he crossed that line already, albeit with his 'nudging' rather than Ekar's edicts. It just feels wrong for Jor-El to have done this.

Before the beating can get too severe, the loyal members of the Kryptonian military break in. Ekar is slaughtered before Jor-El's eyes.

Just like that the threat of the Eradicator cult is over.

Lara meanwhile takes out some frustration on Jax-Ur, giving him a good thrashing. And she continues to protest too much calling Jor-El a fool.

And yet, after Jor-El destroys his creation, immolating the harmonic resonator, there is that look of hidden love in her eyes.

So maybe the point of this story is to show us a young brash Jor-El and Lara, too young to know what's right but learning. I feel better about both in this one panel than I did in the three chapters before.

And it ends with a nice 'first appearance' of General Zod. He is the trooper who killed Ekar. And he is old friends with Jor-El.

I suppose there is some grist for the mill here. They are friends. It would be an interesting story to see how these two drift apart, eventually becoming enemies.

Still, this ending fell flat and I don't know if I liked my protagonists too much in the middle. And it is too bad that Philip Tan couldn't stay on art.

Overall grade: C+

Review: World of Krypton Back-Up Feature In Superman Annual #2

After being in the back pages of Action Comics for a few months, The World of Krypton back-up feature suddenly appeared in the back of Superman Annual #2. I wasn't expecting to see it here. It isn't even mentioned on the cover. I hope that people following this story know enough to look here if they want. This didn't seem to make sense to me, unless DC wants this story to be done prior to Greg Pak taking over Action. Maybe they needed to sneak in a chapter somewhere.

The sad thing here is that I had high hopes for this story when it first started. The wide eyed young Jor-El and the stern military cadet Lara was a sort of new take on the characters and seemed to capture some of the re-invigoration that the New 52 was supposed to do. In those early chapters, writer Frank Hannah seemed to capture the exuberance that these two young people brought to their very different lives.

Unfortunately, the story has taken something of a left hand turn and veered more towards the 'over the top' theatrics I have come to expect in the New 52. Instead of letting the characters carry the story, this has become a story driven by action. Worse, the young Jor-El has become a scientist engaging in mind control. And the young Lara has become an angry woman with a cavalier attitude towards killing. Suddenly we went to far afield with these character. Re-imagination is one thing. Re-writing characters completely is something else.

It also doesn't help that Philip Tan's slick art isn't on this story either.

Having escaped the Eradicator's troops, Lara and Jor-El head back to the science council to see if they can help.

I find it interesting that the head of the council says the Eradicator doesn't have many followers. This guy took over the capitol building. He has held it without much interference. He sent a troop ship to find Jor-El. This sounds like someone with a lot of followers.

I can feel that Hannah wants to bring some sort of 'opposites attract' feeling to Jor-El and Lara. But it doesn't work when I have to hear Jor-El defending the machine he built to 'persuade' people to thing creatively. I don't care what he thinks. That's mind control.

Now the Colonel wants to up the ante from persuasion to total control. Only Jor-El knows the machine that well.

Hmmm ... maybe coming here wasn't a bright idea.

I will say, the most sympathetic character here is Jax-Ur. He seems like a follower who got caught up with the wrong people. I don't get the sense he necessarily has bought into the Eradicator's ideas as much as got carried along with what he thought would be the winning side.

But he definitely has feelings for Lara and is willing to lie to save her. I do like that Lara won't give up her principles even if it means her death.

Captured, Jor-El is strapped to the 'harmonic resonator' and told to activate the Colonel's protocols.

I would like to think that Jor-El would rather die than enslave the planet. I suppose he could always use the machine to control the minds of the Colonel's men.

Anyways. It just feels like this story started out rather wondrous but the bloom is off the rose. Let's hope Hannah is able to pull off a miracle and have the ending recapture some of that earlier spirit.

Overall grade: C

Review: Action Comics #22 Back-Up Feature

I have been enjoying the back-up feature in Action Comics, a story written by Frank Hannah looking back at the early days of Jor-El and Lara. If there is any area of the Superman mythos which might be a bit malleable, it is that time period for those characters. Since Superman #0 last year we have known that Lara was a trained military officer. So seeing her here as a cadet has been interesting. And to see a wide-eyed optimistic and curious Jor-El has been fascinating.

Unfortunately, the latest chapter in Action Comics #22 seemed to go one step too far in this new characterization. We go from a determined Lara to one who seems to kill with a nonchalant attitude that seems off for the loving mother we have seen before. And the curious Jor-El suddenly is the architect of a mind-control device affecting the entire world. This also seems off from the guy who was so singular in his thoughts as to stand up to the Science Council with his findings and then defy them by saving his son.

It doesn't help that Philip Tan is off art on this chapter. The slick visuals he was bringing are replaced by the pedestrian work of Tom Derenick. Slightly off characterization and average art brought the buzz I had for this little story down a bit.

As seen in the prior chapters,a military coup is unfolding on Krypton where a high-ranking officer has blasted his way into the Science Council, killed some members, and wrested control. Hmmm. Sounds sort of like the beginning of the Man of Steel.

While the military troops hold the Council chambers, a smaller phalanx has been sent to kill off presumed enemies of the new state ... and that includes Jor-El. It looks as though the discovery if the sunken city of Xan and the presumed-extinct Teklons are merely set pieces. Perhaps there is a future story planned?

Regardless, when the troops come to get him, Jor-El jettisons his gear, flinging himself to the surface. And the commotion agitates the calm Teklons such that they lash out at whatever is near. In this case, it is a revolutionary soldier.

Seems a bit risky to me. Jor-El's team was also swimming in those waters. I suppose when staring down the barrel of a gun, the most desperate of time, you have to resort to desperate measures.

Here is the plot point I have the most trouble with. The Colonel who has organized this coup wants to take control of a 'sensory harmonic resonator', a machine controlled by Jor-El which is able to nudge the Kryptonian population towards 'intellectual curiosity'. While it isn't outright mental domination, it does seem like mind control. I think my Jor-El as a noble person who would value freedom above all. It is his civil liberties which allows him to save Kal. So to have him holding the keys to this thing feels really off.

And, of course, the Colonel wants to weaponize it, bringing the populace to its knees in a calm and controlled way.

We heard last issue that Cadet Lara Lor-Van might be harboring some feelings for Jor-El. We also saw that she recognized that he might be the best person to help her stop this coup. As part of her rescue of Jor-El, she casually destroys a troop carrier, presumably killing a bunch of her fellow soldiers (although working for the Colonel). I don't mind a stronger and tougher Lara, but I would prefer one with a bit more acknowledgment of the sanctity of life.

There is this pretty nice moment after Lara rescues Jor where he asks why she saved him. While he might be an ally to stop the coup, I also think she can't deny her attraction to him and not wanting to see him as a casualty.

The colonel running this coup has so far been unnamed. I actually wondered if it might be Zod (although it would be hard to be promoted after treason). Well, it turns out he is the New 52 answer to the Eradicator. Again, way back in Superman #0 that the Eradicator ends up heading a doomsday cult which embraces the end of the world.

I liked the Eradicator in the old DCU so I hope this one captures some of that essence. I don't quite understand the extreme close-up of the ring. Unless it is some sort of Black Zero symbol.

Anyways, a killing Lara, a mind-controlling Jor-El ... it seemed a bit too far astray from the welcome freshness of the early chapters. Will see if this can be turned around.

Overall grade: C

Review: Action Comics #21 Back-Up

Action Comics #21 came out last week and continued the World of Krypton back-up story that looks back at Jor-El and Lara's early days.

Part of DC's impetus for The New 52 was that it allowed creators to have some freedom with characters, another reboot to try to inject some freshness into some classic characters. It can't be easy. It is tricky to try to reconfigure characters that have decades of steady characterization. An angry disaffected Supergirl doesn't work. An army of Firestorms doesn't work. An aloof Superman doesn't work. That isn't new energy or freshness. It is simply wrong.

But minor characters that can be tweaked? Now that is where new universes can be used to their maximum potential. So I am having a fun time reading this World of Krypton story by writer Frank Hannah and artist Philip Tan and its interesting take on Superman's parents.

I am used to seeing a square-jawed Jor-El who is both stoic and morose. I am used to Lara being a devoted mother, fussing over a cradle. So I don't mind seeing a young Jor-El wide-eyed and exploring ruins. And it is fascinating to see a Lara in military garb throwing backround kicks at Colonel Zod (?). Both of these new characterizations, done in the character's youth, build on the foundation of desperate and intelligent parents willing to buck the system and build a rocket to save their child. It is a refreshing look at these two without shattering what has come before, without erasing who they have been and trying to re-write history.

This is how you can mesh a fresh take on a character as well as maintaining a historical perspective and a respect for what has come before.

Last issue ended with a Colonel from the Kryptonian military barging into the Government council and assassinating the Minister of Science. This opens up with this dramatic shot of Lara, a soldier in the military, attacked her commanding officer for such treachery.

After decades of seeing a brave Lara say that she would rather die with Jor-El than risk getting into Kal's rocket, we get to see just where that courage may have sprung from.

Now I think (and I will reread) that this Colonel has so far been unnamed. It would be easy to think this was Zod but how can you be promoted after this act of treason?

We also got to meet Jax-Ur last month, another cadet in the military who is romantically linked to Lara.

Now in the past, Jax-Ur has been a murderer and rogue scientist, condemned to the Phantom Zone. Here, at least, his villainy remains preserved even if he is, instead of a genius, someone following along with this mutiny.

He does his best to try to convince Lara to fall in line and join the revolution.

Philip Tan's line work is very slick here. I like these sort of retractable, malleable helmets.

Now you can imagine that it might be easy for a low ranking military officer to just be quiet in this sort of situation and try fall in line. But Lara again shows some steeliness here, bashing Jax-Ur and making her escape.

This is a far cry from the Lara of old. This one is strong and pro-active. And yet that doesn't invalidate that picture of the 'desperate parents' trying to save their son in any way possible.

The text here is a little over the top but nicely captures how crazy this decision is by Lara to be the lone voice of reason.

What I did like was this action splash page, so reminiscent of Superman splash pages and iconic pictures. Her fist jutting forward, red cape flapping ... you can almost hear her saying 'up, up, and away!' albeit through grit teeth. Maybe their is some 'nature' to Kal's heroism to go along with the Kent's nurture.

She thinks of the only person who can help her stop this coup ... Jor-El! He is the enemy of her enemy and unfortunately being hunted down himself.

So overall a very nice (if too short) back-up feature again showing us a young Lara and a young Jor-El. I think this look at their early lives when they were flush with young vitality is an interesting time period and one that I don't recall reading too much of in the past. That makes it feel fresh.

But again, these adventures in their youth seem to bolster their main story, that of courage in the steps they took to save Kal.

Kudos to Frank Hannah and Philip Tan for this great little feature.

Overall grade: B+

August 2013 Solicits

The solicits for August have come out and boy, were there some surprises (well ... sorta surprises). Here is a link to CBR's coverage of DC's August: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=45463

As anticipated and feared by me for a while, Demon Knights solicit says Final Issue. I am going to be very sad to see this title go away. Also Dial H and Threshold also get the ax. And one more title is being cancelled... Legion of Super-Heroes.

It pains me to see another incarnation of the Legion fail but sales were abysmal and, to be honest, the title itself felt stalled and stale most of the time. I can't imagine Legion being away for too long. But what will emerge? A "new" Legion? A complete reboot? A dark and edgy version (shivers)? We have seen all these things but for some reason Legion just can't seem to find a new audience. I can't blame DC that much. They gave the Legion 2 titles in the New 52. And I don't know the solution. What I don't want is a new problem. Don't make them dark and edgy ... that still won't sell because it is 'Legion' and it will irk long time fans.

On to the super-solicits:

SUPERGIRL #23
Written by MICHAEL ALAN NELSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Supergirl struggles to survive against one of the most dangerous villains in the entire universe – Cyborg Superman! But what could superman’s robotic doppleganger want with Supergirl? The answer will blow your mind—and set the stage for a massive story this fall!

How fantastic to see the Cyborg Superman back in the DCU. And I love the fact that such a powerful foe is becoming a Supergirl rogue. We will be 4 issues into the Michael Alan Nelson era so we should have a feel for the direction of the book then.

Add to that this sort of art deco super-slick cover by Mahmud Asrar and I am excited to see this book.

ACTION COMICS #23
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Backup story written by FRANK HANNAH
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM
Backup story art by PHILIP TAN and JONATHAN GLAPION
Superman battles the constructs of an immense alien civilization that has built a feudal system based on pure evil! Plus, in the backup story, Jor-El and Lara try to save the Science Council from the colonel who seeks to make all of Krypton kneel before him!

The double dose of Scott Lobdell Superman books continues. I am a Tyler Kirkham fan so I am interested in seeing his take on Superman. But the story solicit is pretty sparse.

The Jor-El and Lara back-up story continues. It seems as though the military man who broke into the Science Council last issue might be Colonel Zod. Interesting.

SUPERMAN #23
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
The “Psi-War” epic begins! Psi-War erupts as Hector Hammond tries to take control of H.I.V.E. from its queen, but there are other forces in play as well, as a new Psycho Pirate emerges, and Superman is caught in the middle, unable to protect those closest to him.

I give credit were credit is due. I think the Psi-War storyline sounds very intriguing simply because it is an obvious threat to Superman. And the art by Kenneth Rocafort continues to wow. I like the new look for the Queen Bee.

And a new Psycho Pirate?? I hope he still remembers the Crisis ... that was a bunch of Crises ago.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #3
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
Retailers: This issue will ship with ten covers.
Superman’s found out the secret the U.S. Army tried desperately to keep from him—or more specifically, that secret’s found him! But with hijacked drone aircraft tearing Tokyo apart, there’s not much time for mystery…and with Lois Lane on the case as well, what’s in the darkness will come to the light!

This is the cover for the first issue which makes me worried that Jim Lee is already falling behind on art. Or maybe the real cover has a reveal they are hiding.

I am glad to hear that Lois is active in the story. Snyder's interviews make me think his Lois will be treated right here.

And what could that secret be? Has to be Bizarro. You heard it here first.

Lastly ... ten covers! TEN??

SUPERBOY #23
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
“Psi-War” continues! Superboy’s ultimate nemesis is revealed as the secret head of H.I.V.E. steps forward! Bonds will be broken and the game will change in this important issue, as a major threat to the DC Universe debuts!

It is really incredible just how much I have turned around on this title based on Justin Jordan's debut issue. In a recent interview he said the book wouldn't be too dark, more Buffy than Walking Dead, and that also made me happy. It is like that last issue was a tiny little sorbet ball that cleansed the palate from the prior stuff. And his telekinesis powers make his inclusion in Psi-War sensible.

Any guesses about the secret head of H.I.V.E.? Queen Bee seems logical given the name. I doubt it is Doctor Light. So???

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #4
Written by DAN ABNETT, ANDY LANNING, TOM DeFALCO and ROB WILLIAMS
Art by WES CRAIG, PETE WOODS and CHRIS WESTON
Cover by BRUCE TIMM
Join comics’ finest talents as they celebrate The Man of Steel himself: Superman! This issue features The Last Son of Krypton in timeless tales of truth and justice, featuring appearances by Lex Luthor and Brainiac! Plus: A meteor that’s headed straight for Earth!

They had me a "Cover by Bruce Timm'. But the rest of this solicit reads as classic as that pose on the cover. A Luthor/Brainiac team-up? A meteor heading to Earth? Abnett and Lanning? Pete Woods?

It all sounds great.

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #3
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
1:25 Variant cover by PATRICK GLEASON
It’s a showdown that could shatter two worlds when Batman and Superman battle the Superman and Batman of Earth 2!

At first I wasn't sure what to think about this Superman/Batman/Superman/Batman crossover. But then I remembered that this is the 'work boots' Superman, early in his Earth 1 career. Maybe the point of this story is to show the novice E1 Batman/Superman that they can be close friends and work together when they see just how close the E2 versions are.

Should I review this book here?

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #16
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art by JORGE JIMENEZ
Cover by CAT STAGGS
“Olympus,” part 1! Twenty years ago, a young boy washed up on a mysterious island and met a princess. Now, that princess has come to look for the mother who disappeared when she took the boy back. But if Smallville is prepared for strange beings, Washington, DC, certainly is not!

Wonder Woman in Smallville! I cannot wait for this. Smallville has not let me down as a comic book. Can't wait to see Diana in action!

WORLDS’ FINEST #15
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art and cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Power Girl and Huntress find that a major player from Apokolips is stuck on Earth just like they are! How will their next move affect Earth 2?

I think Emanuela Lupacchino is a good choice to take over on art for this book.

I hope this solicit isn't talking about DeSaad but instead another major player from Apokolips. Is that DeSaad on the cover? Or someone else. The hood reminds me a bit of Himon ... maybe it's a good guy who's trapped.

So that's August! Break out the black armbands for the Legion. And great solicit for Supergirl.

Review: Action Comics #20 Back-Up Feature

With the end of Grant Morrison's run on Action Comics, so did Sholly Fisch's run on back-up features end.

In Action Comics #20, a new back-up feature started up plotted by Scott Lobdell, written by Frank Hannah, and drawn by Philip Tan. It is a flashback story of The World of Krypton, similar to those old-timers saw in Superman Family and as a back-up in Superman in the early 80's.

Now there are lots of things that weren't covered in Morrison's trippy mega-story and Krypton is one of them. We saw some of it in the Gene Ha section of Action Comics #3. But otherwise, I don't know if I have great idea about the society of Krypton in the New 52. So I think a World of Krypton back-up for a short time is interesting, especially if it concentrates on Jor-El and Lara, as it does here.

I do find it just a bit odd that Scott Lobdell is doing the plotting here though. That means in 2 months, Lobdell will be writing Action Comics, Superman, and the Action back-up feature. Unreal. Frank Hannah's dialogue flows nicely in the story.

And Philip Tan's art is really stunning.

This is a story of a young Jor-El. He seems young and pretty excitable, going on what seems to be an archaelogical exploration underwater instead of being present at an emergency meeting of the Science Council.

I am used to seeing a more staid Jor-El, square-jawed and standing before the Science Council talking of Krypton's doom. So to see this young guy, wide-eyed and smiling at the discovery of the Sunken City of Xan felt fresh.

But there is more than just the city. There also seems to be an ancient and thought-extinct underwater race called Teklons. Odd that you can only see there heads. It is hard to know if they are fish-like or anthropomorphic.

I haven't heard of Teklons, nor did I find them in any entry of my The Essential Superman Encyclopedia, so they must be new.

Meanwhile, at the Science Council meeting, we meet a young a rather fetching Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mother!

I have read a lot of stories about Jor-El. Not too many about Lara. So I like that she seems to have a big role in this story. And I especially like that she appears to be in the Military Guild. (I am assuming the New 52 Krypton will still have Guilds.) It is a different take on her character.

And even more crazy is that she seems to be in a romantic relationship with Jax-Ur! Even Jax-Ur can tell that she feels some attraction to Jor-El.

We have seen lots of versions of Jax-Ur but my go-to image is the bald portly guy from the Silver Age. That guy blew up one of Krypton's moons. This Jax-Ur, in his brief couple of panels, seems like a loveable lummox sort of guy, not a Phantom Zone criminal.

The emergency meeting of the council has been called because of some fears of a coup. And then, it is interrupted by someone from the Military Guild who comes in brandishing energy gauntlets of some sort. Is this the first appearance of the New 52 General Zod? Nice energy signature there by Tan, a sort of smudgy version of Kirby crackle.

This was a nice little story, if only to see the very young Jor-El and Lara, early on in the adult life. I like seeing a giddy Jor and a stern Lara. And how will their 2 stories - underwater adventure and Science Council coup - link up?

So congratulations to Lobdell, Hannah, and Tan. This was a great little story opening up some new characterization and giving us a deeper look at the New 52 Krypton.

Overall grade: A

Sales Review: March 2013

I have decided the best thing to do is just continue to blog. 

Comic sales were overall up last month while DC continued to suffer a bit from strong Marvel releases, cohesive stories at Marvel, and a series of publicity missteps by DC. It hasn't been pretty for DC these days. And personally, I wonder how that translates to sales. I have to admit, not much of what DC has recently released has grabbed me. As always, ICv2 does a great job of breaking down sales. Here is their list of the top 300 books for March 2013: http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/25462.html

 

Supergirl #18, the first issue post-H'El on Earth, a book with a hidden creative team, and in many ways a transition issue while we wait for writer Michael Alan Nelson comes on board, saw the book fall below the 30K mark for the first time. In fact, the issue is down 7% from the prior issue.

So the anticipated 'bump' from H'El on Earth is quite the reverse, no big surprise given how odious Supergirl was in that arc. It is sad how basically everything that the character was in the prior year plus was simply ignored and undone by H'El. 

And I am not surprised that readers left. The book has something of a lame duck feel right now. It feels like the time between Kelly and Puckett, the forgotten Bedard issues of the last incarnation.

What we need now is a splash to bring people to the book. And I don't know if fighting Power Girl is the right way to do it.

But it seems to me that maybe DC simply doesn't know what to do with Superman or his family of characters. I know that reading stuff on-line doesn't necessarily reflect the majority but there seem to be lots of Superman fans who are pretty unhappy with the way Superman is being portrayed in the 'new 52'. And you can include me in that group. 

And sales seem to bear out that the new approach to the character isn't selling.

Action Comics #18 was the end of a Grant Morrison run on the title. It sold nearly 62K, a very very healthy number in this current market. But shouldn't it have sold more? 

Meanwhile, Scott Lobdell's Superman has slipped below 50K. And Superboy is selling around 24K.

Now I know these are all decent sales in the comic world of 2013. 

But shouldn't these characters draw more readers?

I long for the day when Superman is written like Superman, with quality creators, and soars to the top of the charts. I hope that Supergirl becomes the strong and optimistic hero she should be.  Maybe Superman Unchained and Batman/Superman will bring about a renaissance.

July 2013 Solicits

DC Comics finally released their entire solicits for July 2013. The entire list is available here on CBR

While most of the hubbub has been around the impending Trinity War, the return of Vic Sage as the Question, and the 'crossover event of the Summer', I was more impressed with the sheer volume of Superman associated stuff coming out in July. I am sure the timing is perfect for the Superman movie release ... but let's hope the quality is there.

There is no doubt I will be poorer after this month, especially given the surprise at the end! That was a good surprise. And the 'new writer' of Action Comics after Andy Diggle/Tony Daniel run was named. That wasn't as good.

Onto the solicits.

SUPERGIRL #22
Written by MICHAEL ALAN NELSON
Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Careful what you wish for! Kara may have found a home away from Earth, but it’s at a price that Superboy will have to pay to a major Superman foe!

We still haven't read any of Nelson's Supergirl yet so it is hard to know what to expect. This looks like Kara is either going to try to purge herself of emotions by becoming a machine or maybe plugging herself in to a machine. I wonder if the 'home away from Earth' is becoming more robotic so she doesn't feel emotions. Could the Superman foe be Brainiac?

Hard to judge the tone of the book by the cover. But certainly this doesn't look like Supergirl 'looking for joy'. I do like that both Superboy and Superman are mentioned here, making me wonder if we are looking to a more cohesive 'family'.

Nice art and colors by Mahmud Asrar. The light/dark nature of the cover reminds me of this.

ACTION COMICS #22
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
Backup story art by PHILIP TAN
A group of warriors from space come to Earth in search of their new king—and they’ve set their sites on Superman to lead them!

So Grant Morrison writes a classic and somewhat metatextual take on Superman. Andy Diggle comes on board and writes one issue of great Superman characterization, including Lois. But he is forced off. And so who does DC put on the book ... Scott Lobdell!

Now I have had my issues with Scott Lobdell on Superman. I don't think his vision of Superman easily jibes with mine. And I don't think I am alone.

So DC decides to hand him the keys to the kingdom and put him on both books! I assume that this stay on Action is temporary until DC can find someone to take the book but what creator would want it now? Anyways, could this story be a recycled version of the original Superman Annual #1? That plot is still out there. You can find that solicit here.

SUPERMAN #22
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL
Art and cover by KENNETH ROCAFORT
Confronted with a Psi War, Superman falls before one of its leaders, the H.I.V.E. queen!

Despite my prior rant, I am interested in this Psi War storyline by Lobdell in the Superman book. Telepathy/mental attacks have always been an underutilized weakness of Superman. And this re-imagining of the Queen Bee looks striking. 

SUPERMAN ANNUAL #2
Written by SCOTT LOBDELL and FRANK HANNAH
Art by PASCALE ALIXE
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
What repercussions lurk beneath the surface from Brainiac’s first attack—and how does it all set the stage for the battle of Metropolis? Plus, how can the Man of Steel fight something he can’t physically stop!

I hope that this issue helps clear up the Brainiac/Collector conundrum in my mind. If I follow, Brainiac is the name of the AI on Krypton. The Collector was a being saving pieces of civilization that were going to be destroyed. They mixed in Morrison's issues to become the computer system of the Fortress.

So now we have 'Brainiac' as a villain. So hopefully a flashback will explain things.  Nice to see Frank Hannah's name on the book. I wonder if he is a Superman family fan? And Pascual Alixe's art is solid.

SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #2
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art and cover by JIM LEE and SCOTT WILLIAMS
Backup story art by DUSTIN NGUYEN
The technological terrorists called Ascension are growing bolder with every attack, creating problems only Superman can solve—and that’s with help from the world’s greatest detective, Batman! But the mystery that’s really got them both worried is the unknown figure that’s been shadowing Superman! And in this issue’s backup tale, Jimmy Olsen takes center stage as Metropolis reacts to an event that’s shaken the city to its core!

Nice cover with Superman in a war time scene, pressing a tank, clutching an American Flag. Pretty iconic.

And nice inclusion of Batman as a guest star. Might as well try to cash in on Batman's current popularity. Too bad he isn't on the cover (not that a Snyder/Lee book needs a guest star to cash in).

Here is hoping that this book lives up to the incredibly high expectations I have set for it. 

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #3
Written by MATT KINDT
Art and cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Comics’ finest talents have assembled to bring you all-new, non-continuity short stories featuring The Man of Steel himself: SUPERMAN! In this month’s issue, Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA), joins forces with X-Treme X-Men artist Stephen Segovia to bring you a day in the life of the world’s greatest Super Hero!

I am loving the idea of this book, bringing together dream teams of creators to tell their Superman story. The 'day in the life' approach is one of my favorites, especially when we see the Clark Kent portions of the day. I used to love those slice of life 'Private Life of Clark Kent' stories in Superman Family back in the day. I hope Kindt includes some Clark time in this story.

SUPERBOY #22
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN
Cover by KEN LASHLEY
Has Superboy met his match: Psycho and the Teen of Steel continue to track down what they believe are H.I.V.E. psi operatives, with the help of Lois Lane—who Superboy feels a bond to that Psycho isn’t revealing. And Kon’s double may complicate things even more!

Well, we had a reimagining of Queen Bee in Superman. Why not a reimagining of Match here in Superboy? And the 'bond' between Lois and Superboy? Is it really genetic??

It would be weird if the 'Bizarro Superboy' is introduced before Bizarro!

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #2
Written by GREG PAK
Art and cover by JAE LEE
Batman and Superman travel to Earth 2, where they find familiar heroes who are trying to kill them!

I still am on the fence about this book. But seeing the Earth 2 Superman and Batman will definitely have me coming back this month. I love Jae Lee's art ... so I guess this will land on my pull list. That is a great cover.

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 #15
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER • Art by DANIEL HDR
Cover by PETE WOODS
Krypton’s past, present and future collide in the skies over New Krypton as the clock ticks down to oblivion. Superman, Supergirl, Booster and the Legion battle the unthinkable! “Argo” comes to its explosive conclusion in part 3 of 3.

I can't wait to read this arc with Supergirl and the Legion. I liked Daniel HDR's art on Legion and Green Lantern Corps so my guess is his Kara is going to be stunning.

But that Doomsday fist is concerning. I can't imagine Supergirl dying at the hand of Doomsday. She has to be alive to have a Crisis death hinted at. But should be a good brawl.

SMALLVILLE SEASON 11 SPECIAL #2
Written by BRYAN Q. MILLER
Art and cover by CAT STAGGS
When Lois Lane accepts an assignment outside of Metropolis, she gets more than she bargained for. Follow the Daily Planet’s star reporter to the Congo as she investigates the Angel of the Plateau! “Valkyrie” reintroduces Lana Lang to the series!

Where have Lois fans gone when they need to read a strong more classic Lane? Smallville.

So how great is it that the second Smallville Special seems Lois-centric. I thought how the show wrote out Lana (K-infused so can't get near Clark) was something of a cop-out. I would rather if the two simply agreed that 'you can't go home again' and that they outgrew their Smallville high school romance. By driving her away, I thought we didn't get to conclusively hear Clark choose Lois.

I am very interested to read how Miller has Lana and Lois interact. Will they be jealous of each other? Cautious? Or are they old friends who will immediately team up?

WORLDS’ FINEST #14
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by ROBSON ROCHA and WAYNE FAUCHER
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Desaad goes in for the kill as Power Girl and Huntress run out of options against a monster from Apokolips!

I love Ryan Sook.
I am glad that Worlds' Finest is highlighting the Fourth World aspect of Power Girl and Huntress' back stories.

I don't know if  Robson Rocha is the right artist for the book. Certainly it will be hard to fill the shoes of Perez and Maguire. What about Jesus Saiz? CAFU? 

DC COMICS: COVER GIRLS SUPERGIRL STATUE
DESIGNED BY STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU
SCULPTED BY JACK MATHEWS
The Girl of Steel rockets out of the pages of her monthly comic book series and into your home with this breathtaking statue designed by artist Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.
Measures Approximately 10" Tall  

And then the big ticket item. Solicited now and out in September, this gorgeous statue is a mere $99. Sigh. It is based on Stanley Lau's art and is stunning. I better start saving! It will make a nice addition to the shrine.

So overall a busy and expensive month!