Review: Superman/Spider-Man #1 Back-Up Stories

I reviewed the main story in the DC released Superman/Spider-Man crossover here. But just as satisfying were the back-up features teaming up members of the Super-family with the Spider-verse. 

I liked all of them, some more than others.  But they all were entertaining and that isn't something I can say about many of the anthologies DC puts out. And obviously on a project this massive, DC brings in the big guns. This isn't some lesser known creators that DC is letting dip their toes in the DCU. These are veterans and superstars. 

The good thing about families as big as the Supers and the Spiders is that there are enough to give us 7 different team-ups. Impressive. 

These will be bullet reviews of these quick stories. 

We'll start with 'The World's Finest' by Tom King and Jim Lee teaming up Lois and MJ.

While Superman and Spider-Man fight off a Sentinel tracking down a surprise guest-star mutant, Lis and Mary Jane talk about life as the better halves. How many times have they hung from bridges, met other-dimensional versions of themselves, and even died.

As someone who thinks Peter should have ended up with Gwen, I like that MJ talks about how Spidey has a thing about bridges.

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!

Review: Power Girl #10

Settle in ... this is probably my last review of this Power Girl run. Barring some major Supergirl crossover, I think Power Girl #10 will be the last issue in my collection. 

This issue was a loose tie-in to the House of Brainiac storyline. But in a very tangential way. So with that connection to the main books over, I'm done.

This issue shows much of what I have been struggling with in terms of the book. Writer Leah Williams continues to me a Power Girl I don't particularly recognize. It leans into a current trope in comics - that our heroes are just like us, traumatized and hurting. That means we are heroes. I go more for the heroes aren't like me but are people I should aspire to be like.

But, for me, this issue's fault lies with the plot. A lot of what we are told seem spurious or coincidental. Much of it doesn't make much sense within the confines of the DCU. It will be easier just to show you.

The art continues to be solid in a sort of grungy way. I like Eduardo Pansica a lot and think his stuff would be perfect for a back alley, ground level book. And I like the Nicola Scott variant cover even more than the standard Yanick Paquette one. No denying the source for Scott's vision.

When does an homage become a copy?

But I seriously love this Kerry Gamill cover from the 80's Power Girl mini-series. Nice updating.

On to this book.

Nicola Scott Covers

Recently it was announced that artist Nicola Scott will be doing a set of variant covers in September called 'Through the Ages". The covers have, as expected, characters as their looks and costumes have changed over time. Here is a link to an article and a sneak peek of the lot:
https://aiptcomics.com/2024/06/07/nicola-scott-dc-comics-variant-cover/

I was thrilled to see that Supergirl was being honored. I'll definitely be grabbing this one.

And quite the lineup on this cover.

Top row: original, mid-Adventure Comic run, one-shot Adventure Comic costume

Middle row: Hot pants from the Bronze age, Crisis era, Matrix Supergirl, DCAU/late Linda Danvers white shirt

Bottom row: Michael Turner reboot, DC Rebirth costume, current jacket version

That is a pretty solid take on Supergirl during the ages.

But one thing I found interesting.

Review: Legion of Super-Heroes Millennium #2

Legion of Super-Heroes Millennium #2 came out this week and was another walk down the new DC timeline, establishing a new order of events which culminates with a new age of heroes, the gleaming 'world' of the Legion.

The Legion being prominent in the title and the cover is a bit of a lure as the team is barely seen in the book. But this is definitely their introduction into the DCU proper. And, since they are the future of the DCU, we need to get there. And now we know that Kamandi predates OMAC who predates the Legion. For a DC continuity nut, I actually like having a little order among the chaos.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis tells the story through the eyes of the newly immortal Rose and Thorn. But one thing that is clear is that Bendis has done his homework. The different future times are all ripped from the DCU but sound and look right. And, much like last issue when he honored Supergirl by making her president, he gives Kara a nice moment here as well, albeit in memory.

And the art work on the book is stunning. It is a true murderers' row: Nicola Scott, Jim Cheung, Jeff Dekal, and Ryan Sook. Each 'chapter' is brilliant. And each has an art style which perfectly fits the tone of that period.

I have to say this was built for a long time DC reader, filled with memories and nostalgia. Toss in the introduction of the Legion and I was grinning.

On to the book!

Review: Earth 2 #1

Last week was a heavy review week and I am still catching up with 2 more books to go after today's review of Earth 2 #1.

I don't think that Earth 2 will remain a consistently reviewed book here and to be honest, I am still a bit up in the air as to whether or not I will be collecting the book long term. But as this issue significantly impacts the Superman and Supergirl of Earth 2 as well as the DCU as a whole, I thought I would give my thoughts.

All along, writer James Robinson has said that Earth 2 as a book is about world building, about creating something new and different from the classic E-2 heroes. The publicity pieces and pre-release interviews all made this world sound like an extremely dark place. 'Lois is dead ... what will make Superman cross the line and kill ...' etc., etc. It seems as though all of comics is in a dark place now. I don't know if DC needed a new world for dark stories when the E-1 world seems pretty dark enough. The question really is do I want to read a radically new version of Earth 2, and that is the million dollar question.

As usually, I wonder if those publicity pieces did the world a disservice. Sure, Earth 2 starts in a very dark place as played out here. But what is going to grow from that despair could be bright. I will admit all this 'Superman driven to kill' stuff almost made me shy away from buying the book. I was only lured in to see the set-up to Worlds' Finest. I have seen Dark Robinson in Cry for Justice. I have seen not dark, almost Silver Age reverence stuff in his later JLA books. So who knows which direction E2 is headed.

One thing I will say, Nicola Scott is wonderful on art, bring a clean sensibility to the pages even at their most action packed and war-like. She really does wonderful stuff here.

So what would drive Superman to kill? How about a full blown invasion from Apokalips.

The issue starts with the world at war, with parademons flooding the skies and Earth's military forces and heroes desperately trying to stay at a stalemate.

The problem here is that Earth 2 only has a handful of super-heroes: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Robin. It is pretty amazing that there was a world with only 5 heroes and Supergirl was one of them. But things have not gone well for them.

All of Themyscira has been slaughtered sending Wonder Woman into a 'kill first, ask questions later' battle frenzy. I really don't like when the warrior aspect of Wonder Woman's persona is the only one we see.

Superman has lost Lois to the war and is wondering just how far this battle is going to push his ethics.

In fact, the only one of the Trinity who seems least emotionally distraught is Batman. He has figured out a way to reverse the effects of all the large Boom Tube generating towers on the planet, saving the day. He just needs to get inside. So Superman and Wonder Woman and Robin flying the batplane are all running interference. Robinson does a nice job in quickly showing how close Bruce and Helena are. I like that the proud papa says 'good girl' as she guns down parademons trying to get to him.

But this is a dark world, it's terrain damaged and looking more like trench warfare fields than a paradise.

As for the other hero on the table, Supergirl is overseeing plan B. If Batman's computer virus doesn't shut down the towers, the armies of the world are getting into position to nuke them all. And Kara is riding shotgun over many of them to make sure the bombs are not destroyed.

We have only met this Kara a little bit but I have to say I like her. And Scott draws her beautifully.

Robinson does a good job of setting the table with familiar names of classic Earth 2 characters that I am sure will ended up being a new hero comprising a new JSA at some point.

For example, guarding one of the nukes Sergeant Al Pratt, a brusque mission leader who is teased for being short. I guess he will reprise his role as the E2 Atom.

And the world isn't completely without super-beings. For one, we knew there were Amazons who have been killed. Here we see Mercury arrive saying the gods are also fighting the Apokaliptian forces but will most likely fall. Mercury has arrived to say that Diana's efforts have impressed the god enough to have him have faith in us as a race. Interesting ... and a foreshadow.

If Robinson is going to build a new world, he has to deal with the old world first. And it looks like it is going to be a tabula rasa for him to scrawl on.

Wonder Woman dies, impaled on the sword of Steppenwolf.

This is what seems to drive Superman 'to kill' as he screams 'I'll kill you'. Luckily (??) we don't know if he would cross that line because he also dies, immolated by some Apokalips tech.

In two panels, two of the Trinity are killed.

And Batman doesn't fare much better. He is successful in loading the virus into the tower but it triggered a self-destruction protocol. The virus will spread and shut down the towers but it will cost Batman his life.

It is a short but powerful scene with Batman telling Helena how proud he is and how she needs to live on for him. And Helena cries crying out 'daddy'. This is a different Helena than the tough one we have seen in the Huntress mini-series and over in Worlds' Finest so this must have toughened her up and made her bury these feelings. This is her Crime Alley, seeing her parents die. I wonder just how Batman-like she will end up. I thought these were the best panels of the book.

Hearing Superman's death cry got Kara's attention and so Supergirl sped to the scene. Here we see a reverse angle take on her and Helena flying into the exploding boom tube tower which ends up taking them to E1.

The war might be over, the Apokalips forces might have been teleported away with no way back, but the victory is a bittersweet one. This Earth has lost all its heroes. All of them. And this issue takes place 5 years ago!

Well we met Al Pratt already.

Now we learn the narrator much of this issue is Alan Scott putting together a broadcast commerating the event. It is hard to get a great feel for Alan Scott in this brief scene but he comes across as a bit smarmy and cocky, almost a Tony Stark sort of personality. I read the DC Archives of the classic GL stories a while ago. I don't think this is an homage to his origins.

And Mercury appears again. This time he tells a slacker Jay Garrick, a kid fresh from college with no direction, a guy just dumped by his girlfriend for not growing up, that the world needs a hero.

Jay as a directionless slacker trying to find his way? Hey, don't get me wrong, I love 'the hero's journey' as a character path. But Jay Garrick?

I know ... I know. I am an older guy who has read comics for over 3 decades. Maybe my time is up and the world is ready for a new Jay Garrick. And it was getting tougher and tougher to explain how that generation fought the Nazis and were still active.

But I don't know if this is a rebirth for these characters? Or an undermining of what they have been for so long? As I say, good stories trump everything so I guess we'll see. If I could accept a holy angel protoplasm/toubled youth as Supergirl, surely I can accept a young Jay Garrick ... assuming the quality is there.

And for a first issue, this wasn't bad, doing what it needed to do. It set the table. This is a world without heroes still recovering from the horrors of this interdimensional war. The world is a pock-mocked mess. What is coming that will spur the birth of a new generation of heroes? But as I said above, the million dollar question is are readers interested in a young and untested JSA nouveau. I wonder ...

I suppose that I will get the next issue to see just where this is all going. Certainly, Nicola Scott's art is engaging enough to warrant another issue.

Overall grade: B

Review: Superman #6

Superman #6 came out this week, the last issue of George Perez's short run on the character. The issue is given some extra pages to get to its finale, no big surprise given that last issue didn't get us where we needed to be. As a result, this issue is very heavy on exposition and explanations. Perez's issues have all been very dense, but this one felt the densest because we have several pages in a row at the end where Superman basically explains what has been going on. What is worse is that this was a strange resolution to the arc. Despite pages of explanation, I don't know if I quite get it.

But perhaps my biggest problem with this story is that it hinges on the ending of the Collector arc in Action, an arc that hasn't ended yet. In some ways, this issue needed a spoiler alert because now we know some of what Morrison is going to give us next issue. I don't need this crossover this soon. And, it some ways, as I'll explain below, it felt forced.

Add to that, some of the things that Perez has started here, some things that might be carried forward in this new era of Superman, have been wrapped up already. I don't know what to say. I didn't think Superman needed to be rebooted in the first place. But if you are going to do it, let some of the new elements breathe a bit.

The one thing I will add is that in this issue Supergirl looked wonderful. Nicola Scott does great work here. And it is amazing how little things like adjusting the corners on the red aspects of the lower costume can make a difference. Can we start a petition to just have the seam be straight?

The issue starts off with this great near splash page of Supergirl, saving Billy McCoy, the anti-Superman reporter that was pitched off the Planet building last issue. This works on a number of levels. It has a nice POV as Supergirl streaks towards us, the street in the background. Supergirl looks determined and ready for action. And again, the lower costume looks so much better without the unnecessary corner cutouts where red meets blue.

She was headed to Metropolis to talk to Superman about Superboy, the clone she just me. Luckily she arrives as McCoy is plummeting. The thing is it is tough to shoehorn this into her even brief history. Many of the people and reporters on scene act like this is the first time they are seeing her but  Jimmy also says this is after her post-World Killer battle in Manhattan. So that seems odd.

I also like Kara's confusion here. She is still trying to figure out who she is and what her role is on the planet. She has met Superman once but knows he defends the Earth. So seeing him pitch people off skyscrapers should be odd.

Again, look at how sleek the costume looks here.

Unfortunately, the phony Superman seems more powerful than Supergirl and begins knocking her around. She is able to hold her own briefly but is soon overwhelmed.

But then the real Superman begins responding to Lois' phone call to Clark, a call he is receiving on a phone built into his uniform. The phony Superman also hears that call. And somehow that rattles this creature.

On top of it, a psychic link that exists between the real and phony Superman is now open, allowing Superman access to fake's memories just as the copy had access to Kal's. I don't know if I buy it, or why Lois' call is the trigger, or why it is even a two way street ... but there it is.

 It turns out the fake Superman is composed of alien nanites from the planet Jazuur. And these nanites had a symbiotic relationship to everything on the planet including life forms. These things cured all the ills on the planet, repairing damage to structures, the people, etc.

It was captured by the Collector but somehow could not be maintained in one of it's bottles. They exploded, the remnants of the city destroyed ... well ... mostly destroyed. A couple escape.

Again, we haven't really met the Collector yet. 

And now even more spoiling.

One of the nanites landed on the cermonial armor which now we know Superman finds on the Collector's satellite. In fact we even see Superman in the blue uniform land on Earth the first time here. I am assuming that this is a big moment in Action Comics. Now it is going to have much less of an impact. It simply doesn't make sense to link up these stories, five years apart in continuity.

More importantly, it means these nanites lived within the uniform all this time.

In the meantime, the U.S. Military isn't going to let Superman and 'this unknown girl' tear through Metropolis. They are ready to strike and are going to send in fighters. What good will that do? Other than add to the collateral damage?

General Lane calls to warn Lois to leave but she says no. Even she realizes that an air strike probably won't harm either combatant. I like the combustible relationship between the Lanes, two strong personalities.

Just as the real Supergirl is about to be killed or 'assimilated' by the nanite construct, the real Superman arrives. Superman scoops up his doppelganger, shows that this 'evil' Superman isn't him, and shouts down the incoming fighter planes. He then takes off to the arctic with the nanites in tow.

Why it's enough to make McCoy sing a different tune! But this also felt too early. I didn't like this 'distrusted' plotline, but it is here.You can't wrap it up so easily. McCoy could just as easily continue his original argument that Superman's presence brings threats the the city, now a very personal threat. It makes no sense for this plotline to be stopped so quickly. That said, it shouldn't have been started in the first place.

What we get next is a lot of explanation from Superman while he beats the nanite-creature to a pulp. And I don't know if I get it.

The short story. The nanites' programming to adjust and salvage and eradicate threats (as on Jazuur) was corrupted by the explosion on the Collector's satellite.

Awakened recently the nanites tried to conform to their environment. The first ones were shed in Superman's heat vision creating the first heat being. Subsequent use of supervision and hearing lead to the invisible one. Using his super-breath led to the creation of a cold one. These nanites thought these environments were the norm. They used humans to try to recreate the 'symbiosis' it had with the planet's populace (like on its home planet). But then it realized that Superman was an imperfection that must be removed. It thought the best way to do that was to replace Superman while making him doubt himself.

I can echo Superman in the last panel. 'How did that make any sense?'

But why did it take 5 years for these things to shed? Did they just live in the uniform during that time. Will I be thinking of these nanites whenever I read one of Morrison's stories from the past?? Should I?

And why not just assimilate with humans like on the home planet? Why not repair? Why do all this chicanery with becoming a mean Superman? I don't know if I can wrap my head around it enough for it to work.

Regardless, Superman literally punches the nanites to bits and throws them in the sun. Sort of an 'yeesh' moment.

With the battle over, Supergirl arrives for a wrap-up conversation. This is only the second Supergirl/Superman meeting. The last one ended with Supergirl taking off. This one seems much more cordial and comfortable. Maybe too cordial and comfortable? Shouldn't there be some awkwardness here given the heated way things ended. I keep hoping the cousins will become friends. But it should feel natural.

Anyways, Supergirl looks wonderful here. DC, please note how the costume looks here!

And just like that, all is well. Everyone seems happy with Superman again. And everyone is normal. The nanite effected people are back to human.

Heather is glad that Clark is visiting but understands that he doesn't love her. And a Lois/Clark relationship is strongly hinted at in the end. In a short time, we have gone a long way away from a naked guy in Lois' apartment in issue one. But, much like with the 'distrust' plotline, why open up the can of worms of Lois dating someone else and someone being interested in Clark, only to semi-shut the door on it. I actually was hoping to see more of Heather and Clark.

But this issue felt like Perez was cleaning the deck for the incoming Giffen/Jurgens team.

So, suffice it to say, I had some problems with this issue ... from the upcoming Action scenes, to the muddled explanation of the nanites and their aspirations, to the truncated plotlines (even if unwanted plotlines). Nicola Scott's art helps lift the overall grade a bit.

Overall grade: C+

Review: Superman #5

Superman #5 came out this week, the penultimate chapter in George Perez' brief run on the title.

I always worry about the second to last chapter of arcs. The story has to be brought to a point where an appropriate and satisfying conclusion has to happen in the next issue, in a short 20 pages. I usually hope that any major reveals have been revealed (even if it is a last page splash) so that the finale is all about conclusion. If there is a big reveal and the finale in the last issue, I usually think that things are rushed, that neither the reveal or the conclusion is given enough time to breathe.

And my guess is that there isn't going to be enough space next issue to satisfactorily wrap things up. We still don't have all the answers, we still have to have a 'final battle', and we know that Supergirl is going to guest star adding another element that needs to be covered. Heck, this is the second meeting of the two cousins ... that alone should be given several pages to cover their emotions.

Anyways, I do want to commend Perez for continuing his pattern of dense story telling here. There is a lot of stuff happening in this issue, in all of his issues. And while not everything needs to be answered in this arc, the major plot points need to come to fruition. I guess we'll see.

Art is again done by Nicola Scott and she does a great job channeling Perez here with inset panels and big action. Her art is solid. I can't wait to see her on Earth 2.

Last issue we learned the alien avatars of fire,ice, and invisibility were created by Superman at some point (although he doesn't seem to remember making them). And in the opening pages of this issue, they seem to be attacking him.

A cyclone of fire and ice is focused on Clark's old apartment building with Superman floating at the top.

From a characterization point of view, it is a good scene to see the PGN staff mobilize for the story. Jimmy and Miko remain on the ground, rushing into the dangerous scene for up close reporting. Ron Troupe is also there, but farther back taking in the big picture. And Superman gadfly Billi McCoy is in the news chopper to get the bird's eye view. Perhaps best of all is Lois managing things from the Planet building, both eager to get the story but worried about her staff.

Superman somehow absorbs the cyclone into himself. Then speaks the language the aliens have been speaking and claims himself as the savior of the city.

It appears that he somehow absorbed the alien presence from their human hosts. He drops them off for medical care and then takes off.

One thing I like about this scene (although I haven't shown it) is that when Superman makes the cyclone disappear the people on the street are cheering him. This is in contrast to McCoy who continues to wonder if Superman is part or the source of the problem. Not everybody distrusts Superman.

But then Superman goes on a mini-rampage, scouring the city of potential threats.

With little regard for possible human casualties, he vaporizes the Fleisher giant robots, freezes the Sky Raiders gang members to death, and immolates Titano and 'other mutations'. Superman kills.

For a while I have wondered if these entities represent a New DCU Eradicator. There is too much use of words like 'purge' and erasing 'contagions' for me to change my opinion.

The city appropriately responds negatively. Some, like the mayor, plead with him to fall back into line. Other like McCoy go on the attack wondering who can stand up to him.

But acting as judge, jury, and executioner ... sounds like the Eradicator.

And, of course, who is the person who wants to step up to the fight? Why General Lane and a new K-Squadron.

So again, the military wants to attack Superman, an all to common theme these last several years in comics and a mere month since they actually did attack him in Action Comics #4.

But seriously, when has any K-Squad been able to do much against the man of steel.

Unfortunately, it seems as though this prickly Superman doesn't like dissenting opinions either. McCoy is flooding the airwaves with anti-Superman sentiment. And Superman doesn't like it feeling it interferes with his mission to keep everyone safe. And so, he bursts into the Planet and drops McCoy from the top floor.

Meanwhile, and interestingly, Lois is frantically calling Clark. At first I thought she was simply calling out to Clark knowing he was Superman, hoping to break Superman out of his vengeful state by calling him Clark. (I think this Lois knows Clark is Superman but is playing along.)

But then she says she wants him to pick up the phone. So maybe I'm wrong.

I still think she knows there is a connection between Clark and Superman.

And while he doesn't answer his phone, her call does awaken THE REAL SUPERMAN who is charred and floating in space. So this killing Superman is some simulacrum comprised of the alien presences. But it also means that they walloped Superman enough that he has been unconscious long enough for them to run amok. How long does it seem this Superman was active ... days? Incredible.

But more impressive is that Lois' voice awakens him! I keep hoping that a Clark/Lois relationship will happen. Of course, the fans in 1938 had to wait 50 years! So maybe I won't see it!

Anyways, while this issue showed what an out of control Superman might do, we have seen this before. Maybe too many times. And I wouldn't mind this issue that much if there were 2 more issues to wrap this up. But in 20 pages we need an explanation of what these alien things are, a Superman/Supergirl fight, a Superman/FakeSuperman fight, some public response to this guy not being the real Superman, and some denouement of all the 'where was Clark, what is wrong with him' angst we have been wallowing in. I don't know if that is enough time or space. Now the Clark stuff might linger ... but the rest of it needs to happen. And if the origin if these things is explained in 3 panels, I'm not going to be happy. I suppose I shouldn't judge this issue on my perceived problems with the next. But I can't help it.

Overall grade: B

Review: Superman #3

Superman #3 came out last week, the latest chapter of the new Superman 'current' continuity. Unlike the '8 years ago' storyline unfolding in Action, this is the Superman in the now, an established hero with everything that comes with that. It is interesting therefore, that writer George Perez is starting off this new chapter in Superman history with an arc about how people distrust the Man of Steel. That is already being played out in Action and has just been examined back in 'Grounded' in the old DCU.

While this isn't exactly the story line I would have chosen either to reinvigorate the Superman mythos or bring in new readers, I will commend Perez on writing the more dense comics on the market right now. There is no decompression here. Instead we have a lot of story, a lot of dialogue, a lot of mystery. And that makes me happy as a reader. I feel as if this is a comic where money is well spent.

This issue also marks the first issue with Nicola Scott on as art. Scott seems to be aping the prior issues by Merino, or is following Perez's layouts closely as this has the same feel as the first two issues. That isn't a left-handed compliment. The book is beautiful and I like when there isn't a jarring change in art styles in one arc.

One thing that has not been clearly defined yet in this new DCnU, is Superman's relationship to the Kents. All along I have said that it was the Kents that made Clark Superman. It was their upbringing that made him who he is. We know they aren't alive in this new universe. And we know that their lack of presence makes Superman 'edgier' in Action. But my hope was that Morrison or DC in general weren't going to downplay their impact on Clark.

So this opening scene, with Clark visiting his parents' grave (all as we hear reporter Billy McCoy talking about Superman's mysterious past and lack of history) made me happy.

But we then are brought to the PGN war room where McCoy is trying to convince the staff to produce a piece discussing the dangers of Superman to Metropolis. His conclusion is clear, villains come to Metropolis to make a name for themselves by defeating Superman. And the collateral damage is not worth the price.

I did like this panel where we see 'Professor Fleischer' and his giant robots. It has to be an homage to the Fleischer studios cartoons and their first episode 'The Mad Scientist'.

McCoy continues that the deaths from these super-villain attacks are Superman's fault. Despite the good that Superman has done (including a quick recap of the events seen so far in Action Comics), McCoy thinks the cost of life is too high. You only see a snippet of the panel with the face pictures of the dead, a nice panel driving home the point.

But I did like that the other PGN staff, especially Lois, defend Superman. I am glad that the cynicism against heroes hasn't completely invaded the DCnU.

The latest victims of Superman are the homeless person and security guard 'possessed' by the fire demon and invisible alien from the first two issues. Lois and Perry are hoping that Clark might recognize the homeless man (seen walking with the security guard out of the hospital where the guard was being held).

Lois and Perry both know that something is wrong with Clark and I liked that Perez writes a short but thick scene where the two talk about their worries about their friend. Is it simply that the Planet has linked with GBS? Is it more than that? At the very least, this shows the depth of these relationships, something not spelled out quite yet in the DCnU.

In the meantime, Clark streaks back to Metropolis because he is late for a piece he is shooting with Heather Kelley about the destruction of some low income housing.

Kelley has romantic feelings for Clark and is trying to find a way inside. In some ways, I thought this was the most interesting part of the issue. A new character with romantic feelings for Clark? While it might be cliche, I think it would feel fresh to see how Clark would react to this, especially given his unrequited feelings for Lois. We haven't seen a different love interest in Superman books in a long time. While I miss the Clark/Lois marriage, this could have been interesting to watch play out.

I don't know if we will see it. At Kelley's site, just as Superman arrives in the town, an ice entity erupts freezing everything around it. And it's voice, while spouting alien gibberish, is Heather's. She has been 'possessed'.

And her powers are immense, not just freezing the people in her wake but actually turning them to ice!

Again, it is a vestige of the older universe but I love that with a major chunk of the city frozen, with countless citizens turned to ice, Superman still checks up on Lois individually.

He's got it bad!

Heather is actually at the base of a winter tornado which is topped with the ice woman. So she isn't exactly the demon ... maybe just channeling her? Anchoring her to this reality?

Whatever she is, she says Krypton just like the prior aliens who have attacked the city.

Without any better idea, Superman decides to sever to connection between Heather and the ice woman with heat vision.

You know what I loved here? Superman saying he won't kill. Wonderful.

The tactic works. And with the connection severed, everything goes back to normal. The ice disappears. The people become people again. None of the destruction seemed to have happened ... the same as with the fire demon from issue one. That is perplexing.

But even with the ice demon gone, Kelley remains possessed. And now she has joined up with the other humans effected like her. And now they aren't just saying 'Krypton'; they are saying 'Clark Kent'.

So I am intrigued by this alien storyline. It wonder how all of this will come together, who these things are and why they are attacking Superman. It seems strange that they have such different powers. And why do their efforts disappear when they are repelled?

The undercurrent of a gloomy Clark and a distrusting city populace is the part I am not that interested in. Think about the last Superman reboot, the Byrne stuff. Those earliest stories had Superman settling into his new history, meeting and defeating his rogue's gallery, acting heroic and being accepted. I thought the energy in those issues was palpable and Byrne made Superman exciting and meaningful again. I don't know if playing up this element of Superman is the way to go.

We are halfway through this arc and I seem to be enjoying it more as it progresses.

Overall grade: B

February Solicits

The February solicits for the DC have been released and available for perusal at any number of sites including Newsrama here: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dc-comics-february-2012-solicitations-111114.html

We will be a half year into the DCnU at that point and every time I think I should get more optimistic about the direction of Supergirl, I get confronted with something that makes me temper my expectations. Unfortunately, this month's solicits dragged me back a bit.

It is also interesting to note some minor changes in creative teams on a number of the books only 6 months in. Here are the pertinent solicits and my usual comments.

SUPERGIRL #6

Written by MICHAEL GREEN and MIKE JOHNSON

Art and cover by MAHMUD ASRAR

A powerful new alien foe bent on the conquest of mankind is crushing New York City beneath her boot heel. But where is Supergirl, who led her to Earth in the first place? Why, she’s trapped on a meteorite that’s plummeting straight into a blue sun. And she’s lost her powers! So, good luck, NYC!

That's a very nice cover by Mahmud Asrar with a great kinetic feel. And this solicit sounds interesting. We don't know much of the preceding events to explain why Supergirl is on a meteor in a different solar system. So there is some attraction here. And this new Maxima looks tough.

At the very least, this solicit sounded good. Hopefully Supergirl will want to save NYC.

ACTION COMICS #6

Written by GRANT MORRISON

Backup story written by SHOLLY FISCH

Art by ANDY KUBERT and JESSE DELPERDANG

Backup story art by CHRISCROSS

Cover by ANDY KUBERT

Variant cover by RAGS MORALES

1:200 B and W Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT

The breakneck pace of Grant Morrison’s run on Action Comics continues as the Superman of the present day must team up with suspiciously different versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes to save the jeans-wearing Superman of five years ago! Whose hand is that on the cover? Why, the leader of the Anti-Superman Army, of course! Plus, a backup by Sholly Fisch and ChrisCross that spins directly out of the lead story!

Certainly the first 3 issues of Action have moved along briskly with a lot of story and, well, action. And it sounds like that is going to be the feel Morrison is going after in the book. And this shortly into the series we have a time paradox story - the current Superman saving the young Superman with a 'different' version of the Legion. And new ideas keep spilling into the book. Will the Anti-Superman Army similar to the Superman Revenge Squad? Add to that the Steel back-up series we have seen some sneak peeks of and you have a good solicit. Action has really been the stand-out book of the new universe for me so far. And I look forward to seeing Kubert's art on the book.

SUPERMAN #6

Written by GEORGE PEREZ

Art by NICOLA SCOTT and TREVOR SCOTT

Cover by GEORGE PEREZ

1:25 Variant cover by GEORGE PEREZ

Recently, an onslaught of creatures has targeted Superman, nearly destroying Metropolis in the process. And now…Superman is helping them finish the job?! Guest-starring Supergirl!

This is were things seemed a but wrong to me however. So we already have a cover of Supergirl attacking Superman in Supergirl #2. And the next cover with the cousins? Superman standing over a pummeled Supergirl. Six months in and already 2 covers of Supergirl fighting Superman. It just seems a bit early to be playing this card ... and to do it twice. I mean part of the zest of the cousins fighting in the old DCU was that they were friends and loving family members so having them fight meant something. Here, it seems like they hardly know each other. So there isn't that backstory to make this mean something. Besides, do I really need to see heroes fighting each other, especially Superman? I suppose it will turn out he doesn't know he is fighting Kara. But still ...

At least we'll get to see Nicola Scott's interpretation of Supergirl.

SUPERBOY #6

Written by SCOTT LOBDELL

Art by R.B. SILVA and ROB LEAN

Cover by SHANE DAVIS and JONATHAN GLAPION

Superboy wants answers about his Kryptonian heritage, and he intends to track down Superman to get them – unfortunately, Supergirl’s going to find him first, and she’s horrified by what she sees! Their encounter will leave her even more troubled by life on Earth, and leave him wondering why even his own people think he’s a monster!

And to make matters worse, we already have the third cover of the DCnU featuring Supergirl fighting another hero, in this case Superboy. Now Superboy is struggling with who he is so maybe he isn't a 'hero' yet. And Supergirl maybe isn't a 'hero' yet either. But I don't want Supergirl to be the plot device to forward characters through fighting. I don't want Supergirl to be the default 'hero who will fight a hero' either. And this makes her 'more troubled' about Earth, further alienating her. I was hoping by the half year mark that we would be moving forward in the hero's journey not backwards.

Now I know all too well that solicits don't tell the whole story and I hope that the issues expand just why this is happening. And I think it is great that Supergirl is appearing in 3 of the 4 Super-titles. That is great news for Supergirl fans. I'd just love for there to be issues soon with her teaming up with Superman and Superboy rather than battling them.