Issue #26: Cach Up Week #5

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, July 30, 2008:
Project Superpowers #5 (of 7) (Dynamite Entertainment)
Justice Society of America Annual #1 (DC)

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, August 6, 2008:
Ultimate Origins #3 (of 5) (Marvel)
Terry Moore's Echo #5 (Abstract Studios)
Joe Kubert's Tor #4 (of 6) (DC)

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, August 13, 2008:
Fantastic Four #559 (Marvel)
Action Comics #868 (DC)

Real life reared its ugly head again, "Curse you arch fiend!" No family tragedies or the like occurred, it's just a lot of errands I had to take care of. After I catch up here, I have several episodes of Superman Fan Podcast to catch up on. It never ends, just like comic books, I hope.

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, July 30, 2008:
Project Superpowers #5 (of 7) (Dynamite Entertainment) * * * *
The story has begun to progress from a series of vignettes of forgotten golden age super heroes to a story racing to a conclusion. The plots are staring to come together (there are only two more issues in this first mini series after all). The Fighting Yank and the ghost of his Revolutionary War ancestor face the concequences of their actions; Dynamic Boy's fight against Hydro, Pyroman and the Flame brings the conflict between the Dynamic Family and the escaped heroes to a new level; the Target is hunted by police; Black Terror, Samson and the Scarab continue their fight against the Frankenstein army; and we are introduced to the Arrow. This reintroduction of forgotten, and minor, golden age comic book characters continues to be interesting and educational. I can't wait to see these heroes more fleshed out individually in future story arcs. This first mini-series is a great introduction to the group, but it'll be great to see each character get more of a spotlight.

Justice Society of America Annual #1 (DC) * * * * *
What's not to like about this special issue? First of all there's the Alex Ross cover. Then there's the Jerry Ordway art. I was introduced to his work in the pages of The Adventures of Superman, which continued the numbering of the original Superman after John Byrne got a new #1 with his mid-1980's revamp of Superman. this story continues the story from JSA #17, when Gog sent Power Girl somewhere else. She winds up on Earth-2 from before the Crisis of Infinite Earths. Earth-2 is back, part of the new multiverse. Once again Huntress is the daughter of the Earth-2 Batman and Catwoman, and the children of the JSA, told in such comic book series as All-Star Squadron and Infinity, Inc., are now members of the renamed Justice Society Infinity. We meet the adult Earth-2 Robin as well as a very old Joker. There are several subplots which involve Huntress, and a very surprise ending involving Power Girl. At the end of the story is a great two page spread of a Norman Rockwell-esqe artist painting a group portrait of the JSA. It's a great contrast of the the group trying to sit for the artist, and the painting he is creating. And of course the story is continued in the next regular issue of JSA. Look for a few "easter eggs" in the scene with Power Girl in her bedroom, showing elements of Superman's inspiration, as well as a map of Krypton, originally from a Superman Annual.

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, August 6, 2008:
Ultimate Origins #3 (of 5) (Marvel)
Terry Moore's Echo #5 (Abstract Studios)
Joe Kubert's Tor #4 (of 6) (DC)

It was another great week of comic book reading. It was tempered by the recent news of the death of Joe Kubert's wife from breast cancer. He credited her as his strong right arm in establishing his comic book school, with her education in Business Administration. My condolences go out to the Kubert family.

Ultimate Origins #3 (of 5) (Marvel) * * * *
The Ultimate Fantastic Four continue their investigation of the strange obelisk, and we are introduced to the beginnings of the Ultimate mutant universe. We are introduced to a young Magneto and Dr. Xavier before he became a paraplegic. Magneto has an interesting motive for his megalomaniacal personality, different from his past as a holocaust survivor in the regular Marvel universe. It's great reading the beginnings of the Ultimate Marvel universe and the different twists to familiar origins, told in an updated, more sophisticated way we've come to expect from the Ultimate universe.

Terry Moore's Echo #5 (Abstract Studios) * * * * *
Julie and Dillon are thrown together as they run from Henri, Inc., who want the remnants of their mysterious "suit" in the most desperate way. And Ivy is hot on Julie's trail, and seems to have learned her deductive skills from Batman. What she can learn from the trash from a vehicle is scary. Lucky for Julie, Dillon has some unique friends to help them out, we hope. Terry Moore continues to show he is a master storyteller. His realistic portrayal of people, especially women, is fantastic. He can also draw people with different shaped heads, facial features and body types. And the preview image of issue #6 is very ominous.

Joe Kubert's Tor #4 (of 6) (DC) * * * * *
Tor and his female companion face underground perils and find themselves hunted by the "ape" tribe. It was sad to read this issue, knowing Joe Kubert was a recent widower. But his mastery of portraying character emotions using only art and captions, with no word balloons, is amazing. And his panel layout continues to be a textbook for students of comic book art, like me. This series goes on that short list of series that can be used as a textbook for teaching comic book layout and storytelling. That would be a good topic for a future blog on a week that no comic books come out.

Comic Books for the week of Wednesday, August 13, 2008:
Fantastic Four #559 (Marvel) * * * * *
Mark Millar and Brian Hitch continue to create one of the best FF stories in a long time. Johnny finds his fat in the fire big time after his recent tryst with a female super villain. Sue meets with Alyssa, Reeds ex-girlfriend from his single days, and reveals a shocking secret (and it isn't that she and Reed were having an affair). And you won't believe the reveal that Millar/Hitch make at the end of this issue. Ben has a great scene to open the issue. What's up with Mrs. Deneuve and Valeria is left for a future issue.

Action Comics #868 (DC) * * * * *
Brainiac part 3: Greetings continues Geoff Johns run on the greatest run of Superman stories, other than All-Star Superman, in a long time. I'm still hopeful that James Robinson can do similar things for Superman. And from the news comic from the recent ComicCon in San Diego, it looks like we have a lot of great things to look forward to from Geoff Johns. This is definitely the best Brainiac story ever. The issue opens with a great scene between Cat Grant and Supergirl, especially one panel in particular. We learn a shocking new facet about Krypton's destruction. And Koko, Brainiac's pet from the first Brainiac story from the silver age, makes an appearance. Ma and Pa Kent make a brief appearance near the end of the issue, and in the next issue preview. And check out the panel with Steve Lombard, showing a dark secret about how a few sports reporters cover some sporting events. This is the most frightening Brainiac story ever.

Send e-mail about My Pull List to mypulllist@gmail.com.
I hope to catch up on Superman Fan Podcast this next week. It can be found at http://www.supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/. Expanded show notes can be found at http://www.supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about my podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

If you haven't already, check out Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, written by Marc Tyler Nobleman and illustrated by Ross MacDonald. It is a young reader's biography of Jery Siegel and Joe Shuster during the years they were creating Superman. The book is getting rave reviews, and is avialable at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com. Also check out the author's blog http://www.noblemania.blogspot.com/.