Review: Action Comics #50

I strive to be a decent comic reviewer, looking at story and art and trying to come up with a grade. It isn't always easy.

Case in point: Action Comics #50.

I have never hidden the fact that I have loved what Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder brought to this book. There was a synergy to the storytelling when the two cut loose. And when they weren't hampered down by crossover arcs, the stories were masterful. I could sense it would be like that from the beginning in Action Comics #25, when a young Superman released a primal scream when he failed.

And there is a lot of that crackle in this issue. It was as if Pak and Kuder (as co-plotters) finally got to get back to the Superman they have wanted to write, the smiling, positive, optimistic hero. So throughout this issue, we really get a lot of pure Superman sentiment. And that makes me want to give this a high grade.

But this isn't just a love letter to the character. There is a plot happening around him. Vandal Savage is trying to get bring the comet which powers him to Earth.  We are running to the end of The Truth. And #Rebirth is around the corner. As a result, there are so many wonky plot turns in the book that seem inane that I want to give this a lower mark.

Even with the plot contrivances, I enjoyed this book very much. It was great to see Kuder providing art on some of the pages. A whole bevy of artists fill in including David Messina, Javi Fernandez, Bruno Redondo, and Vicente Cifuentes. Part of the problem is that the styles here vary from a Chris Sprouse-ian fine line to a Scott McDaniel inky look. As a result, the book doesn't read as smoothly as I would hope.

Review: Action Comics #49

We are a month away from The Truth ending. It frankly can't come fast enough.

Action Comics #49 came out this week, and much like last week's Superman, feels like huge plot turns are happening. Things are being said and being done to get us to an ending. But these story contrivances and twists make me question so much of what came before. This reads like a sprint to the end. And plot holes are being hurdled or avoided.

Unfortunately, next month brings the Pak/Kuder time with Superman to an end. And that I will lament. When I think of this run, I'll think of their first issue which reintroduced us to Lana. A book where Superman learned the limits of his power. I'll think of Subterranea and I'll think of haunted Smallville. Because when left alone, Pak and Kuder brought it. Heck, even their chapters of Doomsday and TThe Truth had some merit.

Instead this run will end with a whimper not a bang as Pak brings us to this conclusion.

Remember Hordr_Root and his information city? Wrath trying to take over Metropolis with rage? Superman's time in a wrestling group? Hordr_Root captured for a page or two. Smallville turned upside-down? The President being swayed by Angle Man? A Nazi gunship under the ice? A portable sun? Almost none of these plots seem to matter to this ending. We weren't building up to anything. We weren't building on things. It all seems random and meaningless now. Hardly the 'changing' arc this was portrayed as.

Kuder isn't even on art this issue. Adrian Syaf brings a straight forward art style to the proceedings.

The book starts with a gangly kid in North Dakota being picked on by bullies. The Black Mass bombs of Wrath's explode overhead. The child mutates into something monstrous in size and bulk. He is a son of Vandal Savage, the effects of the bomb prove it. And so we have a new character in the mix.

If you reread the original Wrath story, you see the Metropolis mayor and police filled with ire and trying to convince the city to turn on Superman. That was when wrath dealt with wrath. Later, we learn that Wrath is trying to have the black ink make people not be wrathful, which sounds weird especially when you just had an arc making people feel wrath. You even had a temple to wrath built.

Now we have learned that the black Wrath is to find Savage's kids. That makes no sense. Even if it made sense, it makes no sense to unleash it in Metropolis as it had been earlier.

And this gathering of his kin that Savage is doing now. We haven't heard why now and not a millenia before. We haven't heard why about much of anything ...

Last issue of Superman, we heard Clark suddenly tell us that his cells were mutated not to absorb energy and he needed Kryptonite to kill those cells like chemotherapy. That came out of left field. We didn't know how Clark learned that about his cells.

Now he is charged up with Kryptonite energy. He yells at the Puzzlr that it was Savage who mutated his cells.

When did he learn that? Is he figuring that Hordr_Root was working with Savage?

This is a big plot point. And we don't know how we got here.

The Puzzler takes off and Clark has to assess his condition.

The mutated cells are being effected by the Kryptonite. But they are fighting it by absorbing the K-energy. I guess I have to just accept that as the way Kryptonian immune systems work.

So while he is powered by Kryptonite, the absorbed Kryptonite energy is killing him.

Still, Superman can fly again, is invulnerable again, albeit fueled by poison. And he seems giddy about the whole thing. He is smiling and wallowing in the power. While I can understand him being happy to have some power back, it is in the context of his friends being held captive by Savage. You think he might stay on task.

He meets up with Diana to try to form a plan of attack. She can tell he is dying from the Kryptonite but he knows he had to sacrifice himself to save everyone else.

I did like this dialogue, a nice exchange between ex-lovers. He says that she is so inspiring that anyone would try to be more of a hero around her. This is my favorite panel of the book.

It also turns out that the Kryptonite energy effects Superman differently than yellow sun energy. He has new powers such as seeing energy waves.

He is happy this occurs because he can see what Savage is doing. It's not like Savage has a truly massive satellite city in the sky. Good thing we have this new power to help.

Syaf really makes Superman seem manic with this power, another thing that struck me as odd.

Before Superman can fly to the Savage's satellite, he is attacked by Savage's son from the opening scene. Despite being dressed up like a barbarian (the child's favorite book character), he really is just a kid.

We get several pages of the two smashing into each other.

If only those pages could have been used to explain some of my questions about the current plot.

Meanwhile Wonder Woman couldn't get on the satellite before it teleported away.

Before leaving, he shot Jupiter with energy, increasing the planet's mass. This is a new plot point.

Is this to make Jupiter a second sun? Attract the comet that gave Savage his powers by making a gravity well? I guess we'll find out.

The huge satellite teleported from orbit into lower orbit. It is sucking the Fortress of Solitude up.

I don't know.

I know my tone has been snarky here. But I feel like this story rushing to any conclusion is worse than giving me a later but decent conclusion. So much information is dropped in one liners in the last two issues, important plot points suddenly revealed. We have fight scenes that are meaningless, robbing space to give me more exposition or explanation. The earliest stories are sort of invalidated by what Savage is trying to accomplish here. And all that is wrapped up in the angry, punch first, powerless Superman who is beating up shackled prisoners, avoiding his friends, and generally acting unlike the Superman I know.

I am sad to see Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder go. Because I bet they had great Superman stories they wanted to tell.

Overall grade: C/C-

Review: Action Comics #48

Action Comics #48 came out last week, another chapter in The Truth, another issue closer to the end of this mega-arc, another chapter that I feel like I don't understand exactly what is going on, why it is going on, and why I am supposed to care.

Maybe I am just so fatigued about this arc that I am not invested.

And it is a shame, because like many of the Greg Pak/Aaron Kuder Action Comic issues, there are some things to like. In particular, it was great to see Kuder back on pencils for most of the issue. His stuff is really visually engaging, quirky and hypnotic.

But I can't get over the fact that I still don't understand the motivations of Vandal Savage, the 'big bad' of this mega-arc. What is he trying to accomplish? How does he think he is going to do it? Why was draining Superman so key? And why does he need his kids?

In the Superman Annual, Savage had taken over the Stormwatch satellite and has returned to Earth, crashing it into the JLA watchtower and suddenly in orbit.

Why?

We learned in the Annual that Savage is trying desperately trying to get back in contact with the Kryptonian Comet. He now has control of a massive mobile space fortress. Why come to Earth? Why fight the JLA? Why not just use this ship to find the comet and get the power?

Unless that isn't what he is trying to accomplish? But then what is he trying to accomplish? World domination? Then why bring up the comet at all? I'm confused.

One thing I do like is that Superman, still on the ground, is trying to save as many people from the destruction of this Savage attack as possible. That sounds like Superman.

We never learn just how Savage got control of the Stormwatch ship? Did he defeat them?

And somehow, almost off screen, Savage and his kids are able to defeat the entire JLA, hooking them up to energy draining devices. Savage, Frankenstein, Hordr, Wrath, and troops defeat Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.

Savage then says he wants to change the world for the better, something Superman should be doing if he was a hero.

But how is Savage going to save the world.

One of the ways seems to be firing Black Mass bombs into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Superman is on the ground stopping buses from falling off bridges and grabbing people in danger of dying. Luckily, another League is around to help out, the recently cancelled Justice League United.

I include this panel just to showcase how great Kuder draws a team shot. Great stuff.

The League, Superman, and Steel decide to hole up and think out a plan.

The transformation of Lana from action hero to angry ex to loving ex continues. When she sees Clark, she runs into his arms. She thoughts he had died.

I can remember gushing about how Lana was portrayed when Pak first reintroduced her waayyyy back in the Subterranea storyline. I had an idea of who she was as a character then. Now, she has been through a bit of a blender of emotions such that I don't know what to expect anymore.

While together, Steel reveals plans for a new super-armor, based on original Metallo armor and powered by Kryptonite. With no other choice, Superman decides to don it, though it may kill him, so he can help out more.

And then for the absolute oddest twist in the story for me. So I am hoping someone can explain it to me.

The Black Mass bombs are killing people, making them wrathful. Suddenly Wrath is upset at Savage's tactics with her black power. She didn't think it was a killing device. She suddenly has some ethics and her father wants nothing to do with that. He wants to kill off people so only the Savage bloodline will persist.

So first off, when did Wrath become good. Remember her first appearances, grinning seductively in the mayor office as she sends monsters to attack neighborhoods. She was all about wrath and anger and destruction. She was not into saving people or finding survivors. So this makes no sense to me ... none.

Second, didn't Savage suck all the shadow out of his daughter and everyone and tuck it back into the box just a couple of issues ago??

The JLU and Superman storm the Stormwatch ship and Superman is able to free Diana.

She notices that his armor is killing him.

Beautiful art here.

Hordr is somehow able to capture all of the JLU and hook them into energy draining machines. That also seems a bit fast, no? If these guys are that tough, that they can defeat two Justice Leagues so easily, how can I ever buy that Superman in armor that's killing him can win?

And, to further be confusing, Wrath turns on her father because he is evil.

This turn also seems odd given how evil Wrath has been this whole time. She hasn't been worried about people or trying to do good ever.

And so there are only two heroes left who can save the day, Superman and Wonder Woman.

But they seem defeated already while Savage prepares his final strike.

Can anyone tell me, succinctly, what Savage's plan is? Get to the comet? Use Black Mass to kill people? Why all the energy draining? Why the Nazi gunship in Batman/Superman? Why Uranium and portable suns when he clearly is powerful enough to capture and drain superpowered beings?

Is all of the Truth and all the arcs in the books supposed to all be tied into Savage? And how am I supposed to rectify all these plots into something cohesive?

Thank goodness Kuder was on art for the bulk of the book. The visuals are the only thing that propped this book up. Because it seems like things are happening fast and loose so this thing can come to an end.

Overall grade: C-

Review: Superman Annual #3

Superman Annual #3 came out 9 days ago and is the last on my list of behind schedule books to review. As part of The Truth, this annual moves the plot forward while giving us an interesting new back story to Vandal Savage. The credits are vast, listing the main writers of all the Superman books (Kuder, Pak, Yang, and Tomasi) and a serious list of artists including Dan Jurgens, Rafael Sandoval, and Bill Sienkiewicz. I wonder if all the writers needed to be on board to make sure that the plot progresses in a way that makes sense to the overall story.

Like many of the last issues of this mega-arc, I liked this book if only because it seems to be moving The Truth closer to its conclusion. But there are some nice moments mixed in this. I suppose that is the best thing I can say.

We start, on all places, Krypton where a scientist with the name El is telling others the planet is doomed as he runs to a rocket.

Sound familiar?

Except this is Im-El, a thousand years before Jor-El. The doom is a comet about to strike Krypton. And the rocket is a missile to blast the comet of course.

And so this comet takes a new path, one which takes it towards Earth.

I thought this was an interesting wrinkle although it does make the universe feel small, as if there is an interstellar highway between Earth and Krypton. 

A chunk of the comet breaks off and lands in Neanderthal time where it is picked up by Vandal Savage. And it from this stone that he gains his power and his immortality. It is also where he begins a long life of immorality as he slaughters his whole tribe when they refuse to follow him.

It is exposure to more of this comet which Savage craves. He wants more power. And so he keeps trying throughout time to chart the comet and get in contact with it.

So I suppose that maybe all of this energy Savage has been stealing throughout this arc has been in an effort to send him back to this magic stone.

Meanwhile, Clark is recovering and trying to figure out how he can still be a hero.

He spies some plans that John Henry Irons is drafting, perhaps a way to help Clark. I have to say, I was initially hoping this would be plans for the Supermobile. But then I remembered the solicits showing Clark in a sort of super-Iron Man outfit.

There is a sort of odd moment between Clark and Lana where she asks Clark to bow out and carve out a new life without powers. He says that she always wants him to be that boy from Kansas. The look longingly into each others' eyes. I am truly at a loss trying to figure out the Lana/Clark dynamic. I loved her when Pak first brought her back but this hate him/love him, disgust/nostalgia dichotomy is crazy. It is as if every writer brings a different take. This interaction felt odd and strange.

Throughout time, Savage keeps trying to interact with the comet by teaming up with the highest minds of the time. In ancient China, he becomes friends astronomer Zhang Heng. But when Heng refuses to give Savage the information on when the comet will arrive again, Savage kills him.

Again, we see this is as another step in the descent of Savage. He was friends with Heng but he has no regrets when he kills his friend.

We also see him kill Copernicus. And we see him flying a Nazi rocket to try to be near the comet as it comes near Earth again. Maybe this is why he wanted Nazi gunship in Batman/Superman?

But I also hope that we don't see the comet come near Earth again. That would mean it nears Earth every 60 years or so. Too often, no?

Hey look, Lois gets three words!

Perry is giving an inspirational speech to the Planet staff saying the paper needs to regain its credibility and integrity now that it has been revealed that Clark wasn't who he said he was. Clark actually hears this speech and sulks a bit.

I wonder if he heard Lois call his name.

But let's face it. Lois has been a non-star in these Superman books.

We then jump to the next story. Clark gets a JLA summons. Lex is still in charge of the team. A large object, big enough to disrupt gravitational forces, has appeared in the solar system. The League goes to investigate, leaving an exasperated Superman behind. He isn't strong enough to be on this mission.

It is a nice little dig by Luthor, inviting Clark to the pre-party but not allowing him in.

With little else to do, Clark returns to Metropolis where he does some minor heroing, saving a truck from falling off an overpass.

And suddenly, Superman is a hero again. he is mobbed by smiling people wanting to cheer him. What happened to all the hate we have been seeing everywhere else? Still, it is an inspiring Superman who says everyone needs to be a hero.

That large object is the Stormwatch headquarters, which is apparently massive (for those of us who don't know much of Stormwatch, some tiny exposition would have been helpful).

Somehow Savage has taken control of the headquarters, teleports it (or maybe de-phases it?) into Earth's orbit, smashing the JLA watchtower for fun.

There, with Frankenstein, Hordr_Root, and Wrath, Savage declares he will show the world true power.

And so, things continue to progress. Is Savage there because the comet is coming by again? Is the Stormwatch ship big enough that he can corral or contain it? How will Clark get up there to fight? Where are the JLA? Will the Krypton-related comet help Clark regain his powers?

Things are moving closer to an end. Happy New Year!

Overall grade: C

Review: Batman/Superman #27

Since its inception, I have had worries about The Truth. A depowered Superman story can be interesting. Having Clark be revealed as Superman can be interesting. But most of my concerns about the overall arch has been the coarsening of Superman's character, making him angry, a monster, a loner. It is as if the creators have forgotten that Clark is Clark, the lessons learned from his parents creating the man he is.

I have been saying that this has been going on too long.

Batman/Superman #27 came out this last week and maybe there are signs that The Truth is coming to an end. There are plot points that come to a pretty fast ending in this issue. Almost too fast. Perhaps I am the worst type of comic reader, complaining about pacing being too slow and then too quick? Also, this is clearly a Batman and Superman issue. The Bat-family, featured so prominently in the last issue, are barely seen.

But, to be honest, I was able to look past some of this sprint to the finish in this issue mostly because there is plenty of very good characterization in the issue. In most of the issue, Superman read like Superman, sounded like Superman. Pak uses a flashback told several times through the issue to have the heroes reflect back on who they are and what they represent.

I very much enjoyed the art in this issue. Cliff Richards provides the 'current' art with the heroes fighting Vandal Savage. Richards brings a very clean look to those scenes. I love his interpretation of Batgirl. The flashback scenes are done by Jack Herbert who brings a more thick-lined, rougher feel which works with this being a memory. The cover is done by Yannick Paquette and while beautiful, that scene does not appear anywhere in the book.

The issue starts with Commissioner Gordon remembering a battle that took place in Gotham where Superman and Batman fought the Supremacists. During that fight, Superman flings a doomsday device into space. Unfortunately, at the same time Jimmy Olsen falls off a roof. Superman makes the choice that the good of the many outweigh the good of his Pal. Luckily, Batman is there to save Jimmy.

Gordon can't help but notice that Batman and Superman clearly trust each other implicitly. In the flashback it shows Gordon smiling when he sees Superman in action. That is a far cry from the gruff distrusting man he is now.

The point being that things were better in the past when these heroes were at their best. It is a very nice contrast to where they are today.

Now the plot becomes a bit silly at this point. Batgirl discovers that the Nazi Warship we saw last issue has been rewired so that all power is going to the turrets. It is basically a giant cannon.

So Vandal Savage's incredible plan, requiring massive energy, is to power a 1940's super-gun. That seems almost silly.

After thinking with his fists for a while, Superman decides to plan more. The team has to dismantle the gun. They have to save the miners. They have to capture Savage. Then Batman says there is one more objective - keeping the team alive.

I love Superman's irritated look. That clearly shouldn't need to be said. Of course, Superman wants them to live. That is old school Superman.

That said, we haven't seen that guy in a while. He shouldn't be annoyed when last issue he was ready to storm the camp like an idiot. So I am glad to see this characterization again.

And Superman planning things makes sense too. But we haven't seen that in a while either. Just last issue, Batgirl was the one laying out the strategy.

And so a plan is made. Part of it is Superman and Batman bringing the fight to Savage, even briefly, in order to take out his teleportation device.

Again, Superman can sense that Batman simply doesn't trust him. I have to say, Superman hasn't been acting too trustworthy lately. So I don't see why Superman should be surprised. Superman tells Batman that the two are both human now. They need to work together.

But the words and art work nicely together. That first panel Superman saying that things are not what they used to be while he is holding a rifle. And the second panel with the small space that feels huge as they two seem to size each other up. That is just about perfect complementary comic panels.

The two retrofit the teleporter to bring them to Savage's flying base. It is a hit and run mission with Superman using the gun to disable Savage's guidance systems. Savage himself, much stronger than I remember him being, wades in and basically mops the floor with the two. Nearly defeated, the two heroes slip back through the teleporter to the mining site, destroying it as they leave. Savage can't just blip in to finish the job. He has to fly there.

It is a nice action sequence. Richards does a nice job keeping things lively, changing viewpoints and giving us palpable hits like this one.

Savage arrives and learns that the Batfamily and Superman are hiding miles out of the base. The villain decides he will use his Nazi Super-turret to wipe them off the face of the Earth. But the heroes have rewired the ship. Now all energy goes to the engines. The plan is the ship will head into orbit where Savage can simply be captured. Unwilling to be captured, Savage rips his way out of the ship, destabilizing it such that it explodes. It is assumed Savage escaped.

Okay. So all this energy Savage has been working on for the last year was to be used to power this big gun? That was a stretch. In this issue we learn the Wayne Tech portable sun needed to be fueled by the uranium the miners were harvesting. That doesn't sound like a self-sustaining energy source, like implied when we first learned of this thing. That seems silly.

And now the big gun is destroyed, thus snipping that plot string abruptly. That seems fast.

I don't know ... I should want all this to go away. But this seemed like a poor payoff for all I have had to live through.

What's nice is that the mission has helped close the chasm between Superman and this Batman. They can trust each other. Gordon actually tells Superman his secret identity, the ultimate sign of trust in these circles.

Hooray.

That is my Superman.

The initial flashback battle between the world's finest duo and the Supremacists was revisited in the middle of the issue, showing how Superman respects the original Batman for always being there.

After this new friendship, Superman remembers the fight once more, remembering that despite their differences the two heroes could always count on each other.

I thought this flashback again used art nicely. The two panels commenting on justice and vengeance are inked in a way that it reminds me of Frank Miller. Of course in Miller's view the two fight each other. And yet the next panel is them out of the shadows and back to back showing that the differences don't have to lead to conflict. It can lead to teamwork.

So I am of two minds with this issue. The whole plot is a bit inane and wrapped up too quickly, too neatly. And yet, this issue shows us a Superman who is a hero, who feels he wants to be trusted, who is a planner trying to save people. That characterization does carry the book for me.

But Savage needed a portable sun to power a Nazi gunship? Really?

Overall grade: B

Review: Action Comics #47

Last month in Action Comics #46, writer Greg Pak has Superman absorb so much of Wrath's inky anger that he had been reduced to a snarling beast, a monster in the form of Superman. This seems to be the underlying theme of 'The Truth', the mega-arc in which Superman has lost his powers and apparently his senses. Now, in Action Comics #47, subtitled 'The Wrath', Pak pushes the envelope even further albeit while ending the issue on something of an up-note.

This still isn't my Superman. Not by a long shot. This is a Superman who seems to be craving power. A Superman willing to make a deal with the devil to get it too. It seems all wrong. Gone is the inspirational figure, leading by example. Instead, we have solely a man of action, apt for the title.

Maybe I am being too harsh here. There is progress here, finally. Too much of The Truth has been treading water. I'm just looking for this whole thing to come to an end. At least here we get a conclusion of a subplot, even if the ending was a bit too easy.

The art in the issue is by Georges Jeanty. I have enjoyed his work on other books and this isn't any different. He has to run the gamut from giant action sequences to human moments and does so nicely. There is a sort of Cully Hamner feel to things here, always a good thing.

The book starts where last issue ended, two monsters pounding each other. The wrath-powered Superman is standing toe to toe with Frankenstein's Monster on the battlefield.

Wrath's plan seems magnanimous. She'll infect the world with Wrath, let those prone to the base emotion burn themselves out, leaving the pure to rebuild the world. And to prove that her wrath is powerful, she is going to debase Superman. In this way, Wrath hopes to prove to Lee Lambert that this planned cull is the only solution. Those who can be effected, even Superman need to be removed.

We see it played out in this splash page, Wrath saying there is no difference between Superman and Frankenstein, both monsters.

I, of course, dislike a monster Superman. And that is all that DC has given us for some time.

After seeing Superman rip through Shadow Demons in Batman/Superman I was glad to get this little bit of exposition.

These things are not alive after all. The Wrath substance has burned out the human hosts, leaving them dead flesh and rage. So at least I have that going for me.

We then get a bit of sympathetic back story, perhaps explaining why Wrath is who she is. It's a little heavy on the exposition, veering towards monologuing. But I suppose if Wrath is trying to tell Lee why she is doing what she is doing, she has to tell it.

Growing up with her single mother, Wrath was fearful of the world, always afraid of dying. But her mother was a voice of strength, someone who protected the family, and helped Wrath accomplish a lot in life. It is clear that this mother was Wrath's hero.

But then disasters happened. Brainiac stole Metropolis. Wrath's mother died in that catastrophe. Superman couldn't save her. And then he became Doomsday and even more people died. It was more than Wrath could bear.

It doesn't help that other Kryptonians appeared on Earth and, at least by Wrath's perceptions, were monsters. Even more danger. And then Vandal Savage approached her with the gift of the Wrath Shadow.

I have to say I am thrilled to see Supergirl and Superboy in a DC comic, even if it is a warped flashback. How could I not include these panels?? These characters exist but have simply been forgotten. Where are they? Why hasn't Superman even thought about his family?

Jeanty draws a very young appearing Supergirl. Interesting.

The bulk of the issue is Superman and Wrath fighting in and out of the shadow realm. Clark can utilize his shadowy infection to blip in and out of that dimension, stopping one of the Black Mass bombers.

But Wrath is better versed at utilizing the shadow dimension. She ejects Superman out of her realm specifically in front of people who still have faith in their hero. So he is dumped in front of the children he saved last issue and even Jimmy Olsen. And, of course, since he is using the shadow-power, he is sporting the roiling, growling  horrific form.

The art works very well here. Superman is far from iconic here. There is no hands on hip, looking off the horizon here. He is spat out onto his knees awkwardly. It says to me 'look how the mighty have fallen'. Wonderful in conveying the message.

It is clear that Superman can't outright win this fight. He needs an edge. And he has a something of a revelation. He'll absorb all the wrath into himself. And he succeeds.

I don't quite know if I buy this. There isn't enough of an explanation behind how this is possible. Does this mean Superman is a good receptacle for total wrath? Should he really have more control over it than Wrath herself? Why does this even work?

Maybe I am asking too much? I suppose we have seen Superman slowly imbibing more and more of this stuff. I guess we have been leading up to this month!

However he does it, Superman is thrilled by it. He is suddenly swimming in dark power. Using it, he stops the last bomber. He really is elated by his inky strength, smiling widely and accepting this new reality.

Vandal Savage won't have any part of it. He won't let his 'gift' of wrath be utilized for good. He shows up, calling Wrath by a human name ... Jennifer ... and takes back his shadow gift. It recedes back into the box it came from, stripping everyone of The Wrath,

More interesting is Savage calling Jennifer his daughter. We knew from solicits that Superman would be fighting Savage's children. I just didn't expect her to be one. Does this mean Angle Man is also now retconned to a Savage son?

This was a quick ending to the Wrath threat that has been going on here for several months. Just like that it's over. I should be glad to see it end.

The book ends with a sort of odd moment. I like that Lee is around, cured of her power, and talking about Superman is still her hero. She believes he could handle all that rage and fear but glad he didn't have to. That's nice. I like Lee and glad she didn't lose faith.

But hearing Superman lament not having the power, even when it was based on anger, seems a little off.

One more issue in this depowered run is in the books. We have a Superman embrace anger and try to use evil for good. In some ways it is similar to Wrath's idea, trying to have the ends justify the means. It doesn't work for me.

Still, we have put Wrath behind us. And for that I am glad. Plus, Jeanty brings a nice style to the issue.

Overall grade: C+

February 2016 Solicits

The February Solicits for DC were announced last week and there were a couple of surprises. Here is a link to  Newsarama so you can review all the books being offered. There were long awaited items finally solicited that made me happy.

But the bottom line is this ...

There is still no Supergirl book.

Insanity.

Here are the super-books and a couple of other items that caught my eye.

JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #9

Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DeMATTEIS
Art and cover by SCOTT KOLINS
After suffering a brutal defeat by Lady Styx’s legion, the remaining members of the Justice League are forced into hiding—but there are eyes everywhere. And what’s the best way to hide in plain sight? Create secret identities! But even that may not be enough deceive Styx’s deadliest bounty hunter: Eclipso!

Supergirl isn't listed in the solicit but she is right in the center of the team if you look close enough. There is something sort of art deco about this cover by Scott Kolins. I'll miss Howard Porter on the book.

I do like the idea of the League being fought by an overwhelming foe. And Eclipso is a big bad. So it'll be fun to see this new incarnation of the team  fight him.

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #9
Written by MARGUERITE BENNETT
Art by SANDY JARRELL, ELIZABETH TORQUE and MARIA LAURA SANAPO
Cover by ANT LUCIA
Mera realizes that the only way to achieve victory at sea is to call upon the King of Atlantis. But the price for his assistance may be more than she wants to pay. Stargirl makes plans to return to Russia and rescue her father, while Supergirl comes up against none other than the wealthy American industrialist, Lex Luthor.

Here is the one comic solicit which does name Supergirl.
I have enjoyed this comic much more than I anticipated. I love this Mera cover by Ant Lucia.
And I can only hope that Supergirl doesn't swoon over Luthor. Fingers crossed.
People should be reading this fun book.

ACTION COMICS #49
Written by GREG PAK and AARON KUDER
Art and cover by AARON KUDER
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
“Savage Dawn” continues! Now powered by Kryptonite, Superman is confronted by the first of Vandal Savage’s children! It’s a creature with unrelenting bloodlust and the power to match it!

The depowered Superman may be gone here, replaced by one fueled by Kryptonite. You know who that sounds like? 

Ultra Man!

I guess the slow evolution of Superman into the villain version of him is near complete.

I do like the idea that Vandal Savage has a brood of super-powered kids wandering the Earth. And I trust Pak and Kuder to make this into a silk purse. 

As for the variant cover, it might look Crisis-y, but I think it is based on Lois Lane #128

SUPERMAN #49
Written by GENE LUEN YANG
Art and cover by HOWARD PORTER
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
“Savage Dawn” continues! Superman and Wonder Woman lead an army of gods and monsters against Vandal Savage and his deadly spawn!

So this also looks like a K-fueled Superman.

We see Superman, Frankenstein, Uruk, and others. Perhaps the rest are the fallen gods from the mythological fight club?

BATMAN/SUPERMAN #49
Written by TOM TAYLOR
Art by ROBSON ROCHA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
This epic tale from another era in Clark and Bruce’s history continues! Someone has put a bounty on Batman’s head, and Lobo’s come to collect. Can Superman stop this intergalactic bounty hunter in time?

I guess DC realized that it is hard to sell a Batman/Superman book when the stars are depowered and armored right now. Depowered Clark and mechanized Gordon aren't friends. To force them into a story would be rough.

So why not just print a flashback!

I'll be interested in seeing Tom Taylor's take on these characters mostly because I haven't read much of his stuff.

SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #26
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and JAIME MENDOZA
Cover by ED BENES
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
Superman Triptych variant cover by KIM JUNG GI
“Savage Dawn” continues! Suffering a terrible loss, Wonder Woman comes to the aid of the Kryptonite-charged Man of Steel to face the terror of the twins of Vandal Savage!
Plus, world-renowned visualist Kim Jung Gi puts his stamp on the DC Universe with a wall-to-wall-to-wall action triptych featuring the Big Three!

I doubt I'll be collecting this book in February.

But is it me or do those twins of Vandal Savage look like the Wonder Twin analogs from the Justice League United cartoon?

That can't be coincidence.

SUPERMAN: LOIS AND CLARK #5
Written by DAN JURGENS
Art by LEE WEEKS and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by LEE WEEKS
Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
How do you fight a villain who is a reality TV star and still stay undercover? That’s what Superman is up against as he faces a threat created just for ratings: Blackrock! Meanwhile, Intergang has Lois Lane in their crosshairs!

I'm an old school reader so I'll be very interested to see how Dan Jurgens can update Blackrock for the current comic world. Fascinating.

And that cover looks a lot like the classic Jim Steranko Hulk cover.

SUPERMAN: THE COMING OF THE SUPERMEN #1
Written by NEAL ADAMS
Art and cover by NEAL ADAMS
1:25 B and W Variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
From legendary writer/artist Neal Adams comes a threat so epic it will take more than one Man of Steel to handle it in this new 6-issue miniseries!
As Darkseid and the hordes of Apokolips lay waste to the world, even Superman is overwhelmed—but not for long, as three heroes from the miniaturized city of Kandor emerge at full size, armed with all the vast powers of Kal-El, ready to become the new Supermen!
This battle of titans also features the machinations of Lex Luthor, plus fan favorites Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane aiding in the fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way.

I am up in the air about this new mini-series announced this month. Neal Adams is writing and drawing a six issue Superman story where Kandorians are enlisted to help the Man of Steel. That sounds Silver Age-y. So that is a plus.

But I haven't heard many good things about the recent Adams' written books for Batman and others. So I am wary.

Guess I'll try the first issue.

DC COMICS DESIGNER SERIES: DARWYN COOKE—BATMAN, SUPERGIRL, HARLEY QUINN AND ADAM STRANGE ACTION FIGURES
Eisner Award-winning artist Darwyn Cooke lends his amazing design skills to a new line of action figures, beginning with BATMAN, SUPERGIRL, HARLEY QUINN and ADAM STRANGE.
EACH FIGURE SOLD SEPARATELY
1. BATMAN – 6.57”
2. SUPERGIRL – 6.6”
3. HARLEY QUINN – 6.6”
4. ADAM STRANGE – 6.75”

We saw pics of this series of figures from the San Diego Comic Con. Now they are solicited. It is pricey at $28. But I love Cooke's design. And I can forgive the price tag since it comes with Krypto and Streaky. And that is one happy Dog of Steel!

These will be available in June.

WONDER WOMAN EARTH ONE VOL. 1 HC
Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
In this new installment of the New York Times best-selling Earth One original graphic novel line, Grant Morrison (THE MULTIVERSITY) joins with Yanick Paquette (SWAMP THING, BATMAN, INC.) to reimagine Wonder Woman for a new era. Encompassing the vision of her original creator, William Moulton Marston, Morrison presents a Diana who yearns to break free from her mother and the utopian society on Paradise Island to learn about the forbidden outside world. Her dreams may come true when Air Force pilot Steve Trevor crashes on their shores, and she must defy the laws of the Amazons to return him to Man’s World.
Is she ready for the culture shock that awaits her in America? And is the world ready for this Wonder Woman?

While I know that this isn't a Super-book, I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette's Wonder Woman Earth One book. So I was giddy to finally see the book solicited.

I will definitely be getting this book!

Anything grab you?