Issue #28: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Legion of Super-Heroes #45 (DC)
DC Universe: Last Will and Testament #1 (One Shot) (DC)
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #1 (of 2) (DC)
Superman #679 (DC)

Legion of Super-Heroes #45 (DC) * * * *
There are various scenes of individual Legionairres recuperating from their recent battles, but of course the universe rolls on, requiring the Legion's services. Brainiac, Light Lass and Star Boy deal with the rouge planet, seen only on monitor screens at the Spaceguard Command Center. Lightning Lad and Element Lad take down on rowdy oversized aliens who take their frustrations out on Science Police officers, after the U. P. Young Heroes tryouts are cancelled because of the tremors caused by the rogue planet. It's interesting to see the Legion prove themselves invaluable to the UP after being treated like unwanted orphans in recent issues. Overall it was a fun above average read.

DC Universe: Last Will and Testament #1 (One Shot) (DC) * * * * *
While I'm not reading Final Crisis (except for the Legion of 3 Worlds tie-in) but this issue was too intriguing to pass up. It did not disappoint. We see various DC heroes in very personal moments as they deal with the possible end of the world. Being a Superman fan, of course, my favorite was Clark having a man-to-man talk with Pa Kent. The main plot of the issue is Geo-Force going after Deathstroke for revenge after the death of his sister Terra. The battle is brutal , and the ending shocking. The heroes' idea of how it ended is slightly different from the actual events, and they are unaware of certain secrets revealed in the battle. I'm sure this particular plot point will lead to a future storyline. Brad Meltzers excellent script was embellished by the always gre4at artists, Adam and Joe Kubert.

Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #1 (of 2) (DC) * * * *
Clark Kent is torn from Lois' bedside at Metropolis hospital by one of the Monitors to join other "Supermen" from other universes to battle a threat to Earth, winding up on the "nowhere" Earth. This issue is a typical Grant Morrison bizarre story, and is a promising first issue. The threat was not so cosmic that it was hard to wrap a reader's mind around it, as it was in Infinite Crisis. Morrison has created some "trippy" characters. Depending on how the second issue develops, this story may wind up a 5 * story.

Superman #679 (DC) * * * *
The issue is as advertised on the cover, and is reminiscent of the Death of Superman issue, although Superman isn't killed in this issue. There is a touching flashback scene between Clark and Lois, that has continued from the first issue of James Robinson's scripting. There is a big development with Lana at Lexcorp, and Jimmy spots a mysterious figure who keeps popping in and out on top of a nearby building. Action Comics still is a better Superman book, but with several plot developments in this issue, Superman might catch up. Robinson's story has the potential to be the best that has appeared in Superman for a long time.

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