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-

Supergirl and Flash To Crossover!!

When the Supergirl show was first announced and Greg Berlanti was named as the producer, one of the first questions asked was if the show would crossover with the Flash. After all, Berlanti produces that show as well. It was revealed that it was in the contracts that such a crossover could happen. The question seemed less about if it would happen and more of a 'when will it happen'.

Well now we know. Yesterday afternoon, CBS announced that the Flash will appear on the March 28th episode of Supergirl. Here is a link and a blurb:
http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=44531

The Flash is speeding to National City! THE FLASH star Grant Gustin, in his role of Barry Allen/The Flash, will cross over to SUPERGIRL in an episode to be broadcast Monday, March 28 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Details of the episode will be announced at a later date.

“We are so incredibly excited to announce something that we have dreamed of happening since we starting making SUPERGIRL – THE FLASH and SUPERGIRL are teaming up!” said THE FLASH and SUPERGIRL Executive Producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg.  “We want to thank Grant Gustin for making the time to come visit (on top of his already immense workload) and all of the folks at CBS, The CW, Warner Bros. and DC for working this out. And finally, thanks to the fans and journalists who have kept asking for this to happen. It is our pleasure and hope to create an episode worthy of everyone's enthusiasm and support.”

I don't think words can convey the joy I experienced when I read this.

First off, I think it is great that Berlanti acknowledged the fans as helping to drive this. We're here for you!

These two shows are just so fantastic. They show just how fun and cool and inspiring comic books and superheroes can be. The stars are phenomenal and the episodes well acted. Grant Gustin is perfect for Barry Allen. And Melissa Benoist is just perfect as Kara.  And now I get to see them team-up.Putting them together won't be additive joy, it will be exponential joy.

Given that both are Glee alums, there better be a karaoke scene. And there better be a race.

Since the above pics from a May issue of Variety I have been wondering when this would happen and assumed it would be next season.

But like everything with this season of Supergirl, it is happening earlier than I anticipated.

And then the title page of the script got leaked.

Worlds Finest is a great name. No apostrophe means we are talking alternate universes, more than one world. But it plays on the classic comic name perfectly.

Someone on line said this was going to be the opposite of Batman V. Superman. I don't think it is coincidence that it is airing the Monday after that movie is released.

I simply can't wait!!

Supergirl Episode 12: Bizarro

Supergirl episode 12, 'Bizarro', came out this week and was a great character episode while adding the best super-powered battles of the season. I was floored by the action and I was impressed with the depths of emotion that I felt for the characters here.

Are you sensing there is a 'but' coming? Because there is one.

But I also felt that there was almost too much happening in this episode. We are dealing with two major plots. One is Supergirl fighting BizarroGirl, the creation of a suddenly darker Maxwell Lord. The other is Kara trying to date Adam Grant. When taken separately, they are both well done. And I can understand why they are both here, as themes of isolation and trying to find love are in both.

But I feel like this should have been all BizarroGirl. That plot was big enough to dominate the episode. And Adam's story could have waited. But by putting them together, the romance plot seemed small. When those scenes were happening I was waiting for them to end, even though they were well acted and well done.

The BizarroGirl plot really leaned heavily on some ideas of the Sterling Gates story, that is that BizarroGirl and Supergirl are reflections of each other, not true opposites. And the idea that both are dealing with feelings of isolation, of not being normal, of having their worlds and lives slowly destroyed, just resonated. And yet, even in that despair, Supergirl can inspire.

Add to that memorable character turns for Winn, James, and Cat, and overall it was superb. On to the details.

We start by seeing the creation of BizarroGirl three months earlier. Now awake, Maxwell Lord quotes Prometheus Unbound and sends his creation out to kill a 'bad' Supergirl. The last episode we saw her throwing a truck into a mountainside.

With her world reeling a bit, Kara asks Winn to help her. Initially he declines. But then his curiosity and his friendship make him change his mind. I am glad we only had to deal with a sulking Winn for a week. While he doesn't specifically articulate how he thought things through, we see later on that he has accepted that romance with Kara is off the table and that he can still be her friend. Good for him.

As for Cat, she is suddenly acting nice to Kara knowing that a relationship with her assistant will keep her son nearby longer. And from a Supergirl viewpoint, she takes Kara's idea that this truck-throwing Maid of Might could be an imposter.

The super friends unite in their secret office to discuss how to track down the doppelganger. While there, Adam texts Kara to remind her about their date that night. She giggles and blushes and tells her friends about this budding romance. As always, Benoist shines here showing an awkward and innocent excitement while trying, in vain, to not be obvious.

Also surprising is the sort of cringe-inducing response by James who stammers out how he is glad for Kara even though it sounds all too flat.

Meanwhile, we see the tortured life of Bizarro in Lord's room 52. She is bombarded with images of Supergirl and subjected to shocks. She is told over and over that Supergirl is bad and that Supergirl must be killed.

Lord is suddenly going from narcissistic jerk to outright villain. This is brutal.

Kara goes out on her date with Adam and there is such an easy chemistry between the two. You can feel the attraction between them. But they talk a bit more like a couple who has been dating for a little bit and not two people who are in the cocktail time of their first date. Still, even Adam can see that Kara can understand people and he wants to be part of her life.

The date is cut short when Kara sees a new report of a skycar in National City about to fall. She runs out on Adam and flies to the rescue. That effort is stymied by the arrival of BizarroGirl. Before the fists fly, as always, Kara tries to reason with Bizarro, asking her why she is doing what she is doing. But the brainwashed duplicate lashes out.

This is the first of 3 fights in this episode and each improves on the last. Flying around, wrestling on the roof of the dangling car. When the car finally falls free, Kara stops fighting and flies to catch it. This reminded me a little of the Spiderman movie rescue.

After the fight, Supergirl heads to the DEO. This Bizarro (term coined by Cat) is a perfect copy. Alex thinks Kryptonite might stop her. Later, Alex confronts Max about Bizarro and he basically confesses to creating her through Kara's DNA that was left on Red Tornado's arm. Lord thinks he's untouchable.

But things get even creepier. Winn has learned that 7 comatose Jane Doe's have disappeared and been claimed by Prometheus Genetics, a shell company of Lord Industries. He has experimented on 7 women before one survived the process. Serial killer is a far cry from humanist.

But throughout this, we see the inspiration and heroism of Supergirl. First off, Bizarro wonders how Supergirl can be bad if she saved the falling car. Ironically, Lord convinces Bizarro that Supergirl still needs to be killed because 'things that seem good can be very very bad.' Look in the mirror!

When Alex says Bizarro needs to be liquidated, Supergirl reminds her sister that Bizarro is the victim in this. Supergirl always tries to help people.

As for the above pictured scene, Winn and James have a great scene. I like how these two have become good friends. Winn calls James out on the stilted support he gave the Kara/Adam romance. He knows James has feelings for Kara. Lucy deserves the truth. And James deserves happiness. That is relationship wisdom from Winn! Amazing.

Despite the threat of Bizarro, Alex convinces Kara that she should keep her date with Adam. But that date is also cut short when Bizarro scoops up Kara to fight again. (Seriously, Kara is randomly grabbed by BizarroGirl. Cat still has to know that Kara is Supergirl. That is too big a coincidence.

Another battle erupts. This time we see a more full array of Bizarro powers, flame breath and freeze vision. Perfect.

The DEO arrives to lend support and batters Bizarro with high powered rounds of synthetic Kryptonite bullets. The radiation doesn't hurt Bizarro, but it does mutate her to the more classic disfigured imperfect doppelganger we are used to.

It is great. I mean this is BizarroGirl, right down to the darker suit and backwards S. Perfect.

With BizarroGirl attacking Kara in her civilian mode, it is evident that Lord knows the Danvers secret. Anyone involved with Kara could be in danger. Fearing Adam may get hurt, Kara breaks it off with him. She wonders if she has room for someone like him in her life. Benoist conveys the sadness she is keeping under the surface well here. Even Adam knows she doesn't really want him out of her life but is isolating herself.

Continuing a number of badass but maybe ill-advised decisions this episode, Alex heads to Lord's office with some DEO troops, beats him up, and brings him into the DEO HQ. He won't hurt anyone even if she has overstepped her authority. Even Hank is upset with this decision. Imagine kidnapping someone like Steve Jobs? I guess Alex desire to keep her family safe has robbed her of the usual steely exterior. I mean couldn't she give an anonymous tip to the police? The FBI? General Lane? Why take this on personally, with no authority?

I really love the Alex character. But this seemed rash.

Meanwhile, BizarroGirl decides she needs to hurt Supergirl by hurting someone she loves. She takes James. I don't know if that choice makes the most sense. But maybe the childish emotions of a Bizarro could confuse infatuation with love.

James again tries to reach the Supergirl portion of BizarroGirl's soul. He says that even if she looks like a monster, she could be loved as Supergirl is loved. Because people love Kara because she is brave, kind, and always trying to do what's right.

It almost works. But instead the third and final battle between the Supergirls breaks out. This is a great fight with strength, flight, breath weapons and vision powers all on display. All the fighting sequences in this episode were fantastic, well-choreographed.

And Alex shows up with a gun of synthetic Blue K, made when they discover that Kryptonite with ionic reversal will weaken BizarroGirl. I live in a world where blue Kryptonite was used to subdue a live action Bizarro after a super-brawl. Wonderful.

The ending of the episode tugs all the right heart strings. The decision is made to induce a coma in BizarroGirl. She'll be at peace. Realizing her mistakes, Bizarro apologizes the Kara. Supergirl promises she will help. The two are isolated, alone, hurting. They are reflections.

I almost welled here.

As for Max, he is in the standard issue DEO fishbowl.

But how long can he be kept there illegally? Max almost seems bemused, joking about BizarroGirl, saying illegal imprisonment is 'American', and throwing a threat about Eliza Danvers out. Lord is a supervillain in the classic sense, an amoral sociopath with a god complex. Even his quoting Prometheus, who stole the power of the gods, is a tip.

BizarroGirl is a lost cause. Cat is suddenly cold with Kara for dumping Adam. James is weird and leaves to see Lucy. Things with Winn are still chilly. Her family is in danger. Kara is suddenly alone, and emotionally vulnerable.

So why not throw the Black Mercy, a parasite that shows someone their ultimate fantasy at her. It is the right time.

Just a few more notes. The writers continue to throw in some great throwaway lines. Hank says that while imitating Supergirl the skirt was 'surprisingly comfortable'. Winn saying he knows Kara's height, weight, and measurmenets ... then reminding people he made her suit. Cat says that Kara is 'skittish like a horse'. She also talked about putting out an Amber Alert about Kara, showing she thinks of Kara as a child. Kara says BizarroGirl talks like Cookie Monster. Dialogue flourishes make the show that much better.

Anyways, I shouldn't be damning with faint praise. This was very very good. But this felt a bit like the pilot to me, too stuffed for its own good.

Review: Superman Lois And Clark #4

Superman Lois and Clark #4 came out last week and the book continues to be a very good read. I really like this book. I mean, I would happily read this as an ongoing monthly.

And this is my quibble.

This book is only 9 issues (maybe 8?). And this book's pacing is deliberate. This issue moves the plots forward somewhat. But there isn't too much progression. And that is the one thing that sort of gnawed at me as I read it. I don't like when the reality of a project pulls me out of the story. I enjoyed the story here, even the slow pace. But when done, I was immediately brought out of the story and started to wonder if we'll get where we needs to get to overall if the story goes this slowly. Remember, this book was initially billed as a 12 issue run before being truncated. Did writer Dan Jurgens think he had room to draw things out? Right now this title is half-done, not 1/3 done. I struggled with this dual struggle of enjoying the story but worrying about the end of the series.

Regardless, the book is great with nice moments between Lois and Clark. And that is why I read this book. Jurgens has the two truly be on equal footing in the book. Each has their own plot line and page count. And there is a nice flashback scene with the two together.

Art is done by Lee Weeks and Marco Santucci with inks by Scott Hanna and Sergio Cariello. They bring a nice classic weight to the proceedings. But I love that they also can tone it down to something more soft for the more romantic scenes. Really good stuff.

The book opens with a flashback of Lois and Clark enjoying their anniversary on this new world. In a bit of a risky move, they decide to head to Metropolis for a dinner and night away. They run into a blind street musician who recognizes Clark's voice. They almost run into Jimmy Olsen. It seems to me the two of them would weigh the risks and benefits of this trip.

But what I love is how Jurgens shows just how dedicated the two are to each other, how still in love they are. We see Lois buying a Superman shirt for Jon, teasing Clark about the New 52 S-shield. But that panel of them holding hands is just wonderful.

There is an ease to this conversation and interaction. This just sounds natural and much more believable than much of what I have seen with Diana/Clark.

This Clark has been tracking down the people who were villains on the pre-Flashpoint world.

His investigation of Luthor has come up empty. But Clark isn't buying it. Luthor is and always will be dirty.

I loved this panel.

Alone in their hotel room, Lois gives Clark his gift, the black Superman suit he has been wearing. She pretended to be this world's Lois to pull some strings and get it made. This is another sort of risk. Lois knows ... well ... Lois. If this world's Lois hears she was involved in creating a suit, you know she'll track down Lois. (Confusing, I know.)

But I also loved how these two realize that even though they are marooned on this world, they have to be true to themselves. Clark has to hero. Lois has to investigate. And they are in love.

Now this was a great scene, adding some depth to the backstory of the couple and showcasing their character. So I loved it. But I also thought 'did we need this' scene. Or could those pages have been used to move the plots along. Because this series is half done!

We shift to the present and get a scene with Lois. I have some minor quibbles with this.

Lois, worried about the safety of her publisher, heads to the office. Remember, Lois was attacked by Intergang and Clark thought that they followed her by tracking the publisher's movements.

The office appears deserted. But there is a very old school, almost film noir message left for Lois to see. 

I just wonder if Lois would have actually just walked in like this, knowing how hard she has been trying to hide her identity. And I wonder how Intergang knew that 'Author X' would be the first to head to the office as opposed to anyone else, the cleaning crew, a secretary, the supply person.

I have talked about how the super-son Jon has been vacillating between precocious and obnoxious. But it is clear that he is putting the clues together that his parents are more than they claim.

Here he sees the Daily Planet revealing Superman as Clark Kent. There has to be a picture on the front page that shows a young Clark. Jon will probably put two and two together.

This is a very interesting wrinkle. But would it take this for Jon to see Clark? Wouldn't this be all over the news? Haven't we seen him on a tablet in school? I just think he would have seen it already.

Waiting outside the publisher's office just as Lois is there ... Bruno Mannheim! Head of Intergang.

Again, would Mannheim reveal himself and therefore put Lois on the defensive? Wouldn't he just have his flunkies follow her?

Regardless, this world is closing in on Lois and Jon.

Meanwhile, Clark is stuck battling both Blanque and Hank Henshaw in his fortress. We get reminded that Clark's powers are weakening for some reason.

Blanque is controlling Henshaw. And Henshaw seems to have some latent powers which are now manifesting. Is this the beginning of the Cyborg Superman?

With Clark reeling a bit and somewhat weakened, Blanque is able to leave the fortress and then bring the whole mountain down on Superman. Before leaving, Blanque plucked the information of Lois and Jon from Clark's mind. Blanque will know hunt them down for revenge.

Much like with Lois' plot, the world is closing in on this family.

So maybe next issue we get some significant movement forward.

But don't forget there is one more subplot brewing. A woman alien is coming to Earth to find the Oblivion Stone. She is in our solar system now. Getting closer.

This is the fourth issue of us seeing this woman tracking. I suppose this plot is creeping forward too.

I know that I have been picking at pacing and the length of this series. But I think I just have to pack that up. Because it isn't my job to determine the length of arcs of series. It is my job to enjoy books.

And I will say again, I love this book. Because it is here that I can read a Superman who acts like Superman. It is here I can read Lois ... any Lois ... and a Lois that reads like Lois. And I get to see Lois and Clark together.

I have said all along. Good stories trump all. And this is a good story. So thanks again to Dan Jurgens for bringing this book to the racks! I miss classic Superman and classic Lois! And I have them again.

Overall grade:B+/B

Review: Superman #48

Superman #48 came out this week, the next chapter in The Truth.

I have been complaining about The Truth almost since its inception. This isn't the sort of Superman I necessarily want to read. And with this mega-arc working through 4 titles, each with a different timeline and sometimes a very different Superman, it has been hard to embrace this vision. Outside of a depowered Superman, even outside Clark being exposed, it is more the characterization that has bugged me. The overly angry Superman in Superman/Wonder Woman. The sometimes stupid Superman in this title. The one quick to jump into a fight and endanger others in Batman/Superman. The whole thing has been something of a mess.

Now, with the end of The Truth coming up, somehow the four books have to intertwine and bring this thing to an end. I should be happy that we might be coming up on a Rebirth of Superman in his books. But, much like when World of New Krypton sprinted to its ending, I think I am going to be just as unhappy with the ending.

And so I read this issue and felt this was a giant step forward towards wrapping this up. But such rapid and ill-defined plot progression felt forced and therefore unsatisfying.

The art on the book is split between Howard Porter and Adrian Syaf. They each have a distinct style which makes the book feel a little disjointed as well. I prefer Porter's art and wish he had done the whole issue. It isn't that Syaf's stuff isn't good. I just think Porter has really done wonderful work here.

The book starts with Superman stopping a criminal named Kingslayer from blowing up a political debate. Steve Trevor is also on hand to try to protect the proceedings. I like seeing Superman helping Trevor and working as a hero.

But this is the beginning of where the four distinct times of the books come crashing together. Superman says that he has been made mortal by the Olympian gods.That means this is after last week's Superman/Wonder Woman. We don't know how long has passed from last month's Superman issue. Days? Weeks?

I've never heard of Kingslayer before. He seems delightfully goofy.

Kingslayer has been apprehended and placed in what sounds like a technological version of Wonder Girl's old pain lasso. Trevor begins to torture the villain for information.

Superman takes the high road, as he should, telling Trevor to stop.

But remember, this is the same Superman that we have seen batter and bash a tied up Parasite just a couple of months ago. How can he take the high road when he was doing the same thing?

That is the problem of The Truth.

One of the political candidates is J. Wilbur Wolfingham, a charlatan and con man from old DC Comics. After bad mouthing Superman in the opening scene, he tells everyone to listen to the Man of Steel and calm down. Because he's 'still Superman'.

But remember early in the series when everyone hated Superman. Where his friends cast him out? Where he was being shunned, even on the run from police? Where did all that hatred go?

Meanwhile, we meet another member of Vandal Savage's children. This one is a the Puzzler.

Working with Hordr_Root, Puzzler's human consciousness is downloaded into a robot. Then, much like with Hordr_Root's origin, the human body is killer. Only the data model, inside an attack mecha survives.

This origin is so similar to Hordr's and this character is so banal, I don't know if we needed him introduced. If the ending is so close, do we need another villain?

Now things get even more rushed.

Superman says a layer of his cells have been mutated blocking his ability to absorb solar energy. Unless I have blanked, I am pretty sure this is the first time that we have heard this. So suddenly we have an answer. But to drop it as one line in the middle of this book and not have it be more of a reveal feels off.

Even crazier, Superman has figured out that Kryptonite will kill those cells and therefore cure him. That also is one line dropped in the middle of this issue. Shouldn't that have been a bigger deal? Maybe an end of an issue bombshell? Clark has sought out Trevor because he knows ARGUS has Kryptonite.

Also, we learn this takes place after the Superman Annual. Vandal Savage has brought the Stormwatch satellite into orbit. The JLA is trapped. Wonder Woman is free. So Superman is doing this side mission while his friends are being drained? And what is Savage doing during all this? Just sitting back?

The time line is so crazy. I don't know what has happened when any more.

There are two good moments in the book worth reviewing.

One is Trevor saying that he was sad when Diana broke it off with him. He was sad that she went with Superman. But it is hard not to imagine the two together. They 'seem' perfect together.

Maybe Trevor is the voice of DC's leadership? Or maybe he is supposed to be saying that while they might appear perfect, they aren't. Seeing Steve voice his feelings was appreciated.

Superman does expose himself to Kryptonite and does feel the effects.

Wracked with pain, he says 'tell her ... that my last thoughts were with her'. He doesn't say Diana. So in my mind, he is talking about Lois.

Maybe when this is over, he'll tell Lois about this moment. But I doubt it. I bet Yang let's that moment stay like this ... vague.

Of course, the Puzzler, now the Puzzlr, shows up to try to kill Superman.

I have no idea what his powers are. But it seems like he shoots puzzle pieces at technology which allows him to get control. It's crazy. But visually he and the flying puzzle pieces are pretty grabbing. Porter has always drawn mecha like this well, starting (for me) with Armek of the Hyperclan. I had to include this splash of the robot towering over a withered and green-tinged Superman. Beautiful.

Superman is pulled out of this sure death situation by Trevor. But the K-treatment seems to be working. Superman feels hungry and somehow that means he is being cured. So Clark jumps into a huge vault stuffed with Kryptonite.

Okay, this issue was hard for me to wrap my head around. This Superman acted like Superman should, fighting crime, stopping senseless violence, thinking of Lois, using his head, trying to be a hero. Unfortunately, it feels almost incongruous from what we have seen before in The Truth.

Worse than that, the understanding of his condition and the K-cure seem to have come out of nowhere. This was dropped in our laps, never hinted at in any other place.

I have said it in other reviews and I'll say it here. I am ready for this mega-arc to be over. And, given some snippets I've seen, I am interested in seeing Yang on a more classic Superman. Thankfully we'll get there soon.

Overall grade: C

Review: Justice League 3001 #8

Justice League 3001 #8 came out this week with an issue titled 'A New Beginning'. Anyone who has read this blog for a while will know that I am a sucker for 'bold new directions' and will most likely pick up a book where that is splashed on the cover.

This issue is a new beginning for this book. The team is different. Suddenly we have an all female team, united against a new threat. I almost feel, for better or for worse, that we will be putting a bunch of the mysteries of the early issues behind us, maybe never to address again. I am going to miss Beetle, Booster, and Turtle Jimmy Olsen. Will we see the vengeful Lois Lane/Ariel plot finished? Will we see her Injustice League with Bane and the others?

But this is book where I am introduced to Lady Styx, a new villain who is mysterious and intriguing. And Giffen and DeMatteis are sliding some Legion of Super-Heroes into the book! As one of their fandom, I have been  clamoring for any sight of them.

For me, most importantly, I get to see Supergirl leading an incognito League against a universal threat is great. And since her introduction in the book, Giffen and DeMatteis have thrust her into a role of leader, even if she is still a youngish Kara. Seeing her come to terms with this, seeing her 'replacing' Superman (a theme which has been part of her character since 1959) is wonderful.

Scott Kolins is on art and brings a sort of grungy dystopian sensibility to the book. He also redesigned some of the costumes the heroes are now wearing. I love Supergirl's new look which has a feel of the 70s Adventure Comics look, but includes red shoulders like the Crisis-era Kara. And the cape, a giant S-shield, is pretty cool.

On to the story.

Last issue the Scullions swarmed throughout the universe, taking over the universe in the name of Lady Styx. Only some of the heroes escaped. And now the League is basically on the run.

Six months have passed since that last issue and we see how the members of the League are all living incognito on Takron Galtos, biding their time until they can strike. Diana is a welder on a construction crew (shades of the Bombshell 'Rosie the Riveter'?). The Flash is still suffering from PTSD. Ice and Fire are living together, using passwords to ensure safety.

And Kara is living alone, wondering how it all happened. Styx had been infiltrating planets all along and simply took over. That second panel, a small Kara, small, alone, framed in a box in a box. You just get the sense of how imprisoned she feels, how claustrophobic this life must be.

Each member does have a transversal which allows them to head to their 'headquarters', a demolished Paradise island, the temples and columns in ruins and overgrown.

In this sequence, Giffen and DeMatteis give us a quick rundown of how all the members feel. It is like a rapid fire character check to set the stage for how they all feel 6 months into this secrecy. It is clear this team is still a bit in disarray and hardly a Justice League united.

Diana is impatient and wants to rush in and fight. Fire agrees. Ice wants to do what's smart. And Guy, whose personality is slowly being erased by his host body's DNA/personality, thinks planning is important. Is that Guy or Shirylalla that is the voice of reason?

But there is Kara at the end, arms folded, taking charge and saying that they need to wait. Even in this sequence, it is clear Supergirl is the leader here. She is the last to talk. Her panel is bigger, implying she is bigger. So much information given in the page layout.

 There is one other member, Batman, who is the most impetuous of the group. She is off  trying to destroy the indestructible Scullions. Supergirl needs to teleport in and get Batman out before things go south. I like the mecha-look here.

But what I like is that, of all characters, it is the Batman character who is the most hot-headed, the most like to rush in blindly, the one who doesn't want to plan. It is the concept of Batman flipped on its head, a nice addition to a book like this.

 Remember Batman is actually Tina, a school age girl and descendant of Bruce Wayne. She's brilliant and hot-headed. I guess it makes her more of a Damian character which is reinforced in my mind when we see her dressed in Robin garb.

Diana and Teri have to tell Tina to slow down. That rushing into battle is foolish. Diana has to begrudgingly  agree that Kara is right.

I do feel bad for Teri who is still suffering from PTSD, decompensating whenever she sees Scullions or is reminded of Clark's death.

We do see that the headquarters isn't completely safe. Someone is skulking in the shadows, watching the team. Who could that be? Guesses at the end.

 The team is splintered even further. Fire and Ice feel like a separate faction within the team. They feel like outsiders and Ice wonders if they should just leave. These two were part of the 'Bwa-ha-ha' League as was Guy.

So it made sense to me that Guy approaches the two and says he needs them and will be part of their subgroup. It is only the memory of Ice which seems to be stemming the personality re-write, reminding him that he is Guy. I think that is a nice touch. This isn't the headstrong Guy. He is scared of disappearing.

One quibble here. Fire talks about Guy striking Tora a few days earlier. Now we did see Guy slap Tora last issue but isn't that 6 months ago? Unless Guy is a serial slapper, it shouldn't be so recent.

I have commented how it was implied that Supergirl is the leader here. We are told she is the leader later in the issue. And I love the characterization here.

First off, I like the fact she keeps the pictures of the dead Leaguers on the wall, a reminder of what she has lost.

She also is worried that she isn't ready for this leadership role. She can see that the team is looking to her for guidance and she worries she won't be up for the challenge. This feels like a classic Kara who is striving to be the best she can be, is ready to step in for Superman, but is still growing and maybe a little unsure of herself.

But she won't back down from this responsibility. Fists clenched, she is determined, showing that fierceness of character I love in her.

Love this new Supergirl costume. The red shoulders harken back to her Crisis-era costume. But the reversed yellow/red of the s-shield with the high collar and knee-high boots is groovy. As is this cape.

Kudos to Scott Kolins for the design.

We finally get to meet the lead villain, Lady Styx.

In flashbacks, we see her simply announce that she is taking over the galaxy. Her army has been in place for some time. Her ascension to power is simply 'the period at the end of a sentence'. Love that line.

Styx is on Naltor (Dream Girl's home planet) and has a drone version of Saturn Girl go and fetch Terrance, Teri's brain damaged brother who was a key character in JL3000. There are odd acolytes in front of her. One could be Wildfire or Timber Wolf. Are Giffen and DeMatteis slipping the actual Legion into this book? Why not? So many continuities have been woven into this book. I miss the Legion. I really don't want them to be evil.

So that makes me wonder if the shadowy figure could be a 'good' Legionnaire. Shadow Lass? Cham? In the end, I think my guess is that it is Ariel/Lois. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

As for Styx, she is a wild character. There is some Kirby Thor elements here. My first thoughts were she reminded me of Karnilla or Hela. But then I wondered if there was some Gemworld in here. And given the Legion element and this being Naltor, could she be an evil White Witch??

Styx needs Terrance to help find and defeat the League because the presence of Supergirl and Tina/Batman wasn't anticipated. I still think this is some nexus of intersecting realities given the multiple continuities seen. Maybe a pre-Crisis Silver Age Supergirl wasn't anticipated in this future?

Whew! This is what a bold new direction is supposed to be, keeping the foundation of a book but shaking it up. We have a new universal threat, infused with Legion of Super-heroes elements (hurrah!). We have an unsteady team, hiding away, and being led by a young Supergirl. And we have versions of classic characters tossed into the mix of a dystopia. It all works.

So if you are looking for a jumping on point, a place to swim in the deep end of DC mythology, this is the issue for you.

Overall grade: A