Issue #39 Catch Up Week #8 Part II

This time I will be blogging about the comic books I bought during the month of December, 2008. I did not make it to Acme Comics (http://acme-superstore.com/) the last two weeks of the yearI did not look forward to driving on I-4 on Christmas Eve, and of course the next week comics did not come out until Friday, January 2, 2009. The comics for the first two weeks of January will be in Part III.

Comic books for the week of December 3, 2008:
Noble Causes #38 (Image)
Sgt. Rock: the Lost Batallion #2 (of 6) (DC)
Justice Society of America #21 (DC)

Noble Causes #38 (Image) * * * * *
Only two issues left before Jay Faerber ends the title. At least he's ending the title on top. In this issue Rusty and the rest of the Noble team investigate the mysterious rust on Cosmic Rae's body. Celeste tries to figure why the woman involved in the attack on the Nobles claims to be her husband's granddaughter, when Colonel Comet had no children. And Doc Noble makes a mistake I would never want to make with Olympia. What makes this issue excellent is that it deals with the aftermath of superhero battles and collateral casualties that are never dealt with in super hero comics.

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion #2 (of 6) * * * * *
Easy Company catches hell in the forest with the rest of the troops. They are then sent to bring reinforcements back to the force in the forest. This issue explores bits of WWII history, like the Japanese-American troops who fought with valor in Europe, and the zipper-like sound that 88mm shells made in the air. Nothing is ever easy for Easy Company, and Sgt. Rock is Rock. This mini-series is a worthy successor to the classic Kanigher-Kubert comic book.

Justice Society of America #21 (DC) * * * * *
The dark secret of Gog is finally revealed, and the factions of the JSA battle Gog and each other. The issue ends with another shocking conclusion, setting up the conclusion with the next issue. What makes this issue excellent is that it's not just superhero fisticuffs and mindless destruction of public property. The way the characters engage with each other even as they battle each other shows the emotions each character feels during the battle. Not every super hero battle has that depth, unfortunately.

Comic books for the week of December 10, 2008:
Echo #8 (Abstract Studios)
Invincible #56 (Image)
Action Comics #872 (New Krypton #7) (DC)
Watchmen #1 (DC)

Echo #8 (Abstract Studios) * * * * *
Julie faces the mysterious crazy old man with the metallic hand at the motel. The conflict is horrifying, and it turns out there is more to this crazy old man than we previously thought. Ivy continues searching for clues in the last motel room Julie stayed at, in Ivy's unique way. The horror of what Julie has accidentially become entangled in is more intense with each issue, and we are slowly learning just what the mysterious metal's properties are. Terry Moore is as much the master of action-adventure in this title as he was a master of relationship stories in the classic Strangers In Paradise. This issue is not appropriate for young children or readers who do not like gory action, but it is not pointless violence. The interaction of the characters is leading to some unknown point in the future when this conflict will come together, to what end we can only imagine.

Invincible #56 (Image) * * * * *
Mark and Atom Eve deal with the aftermath of their evening, and we learn we don't want to threaten any of Mark's friends or we might wind up like the guy on the cover. Mark does have some Viltrumite in him after all. Kid Omni-Man goes back in action again. Robert Kirkman knows how to combine super hero action and character development ina way too few comic book writers know how to.

Action Comics #872 (New Krypton #7) (DC) * * * * *
The story lives up to the cover. We do see the return of the Creature Commandos, a group I had never heard of before. I like how Geoff Johns weaves in characters from DC Comics vast history into his stories. I'll have to search on line about the Creature Comandos and learn about their original appearances in comics. Superman is in Kandor, trying to bring the Kandorian murderers of Stryker's Island prison guards to justice. Luthor and Brainiac interact with each other, and Kandor comes under attack. And what is the secret of Doomsday's body that Gen. Lane knows and Luthor discovers? New Krypton is an excellent story, and each issue makes me look forward more to how its conclusion is going to change Superman's world during this new year.

Watchmen #1 (DC) * * * * *
This is a reprinting of the first issue of Watchmen in its original format. I have the graphic novel already, but who could resist picking up this copy and getting a feel on what it was like to read this story as a monthly comic. The cover is a new one, but the original cover is reproduced as an inside cover. This is one of the few titles to get 6 (*)'s for me, and, as I've said before in this blog, could serve as a textbook on creating comics, not just grim and gritty stories, but the subtle techniques used in this story.

Comic books for the week of December 17, 2008:
Supergirl #36 (New Krypton #8) (DC)
Back Issue Bin: Legion of Super-Heroes #3 (DC) reprinting Adventure Comics #340

Supergirl #36 (New Krypton #8) (DC) * * * * *
Kara and her mother deal with the consequences of what happened to Zor-El after the end of the human attack on Kandor. We also meet Superwoman, and get a little more familiar with Nightwing and Flamebird. The New Krypton story is not heading to a happy ending, but continues to be an excellent Superman story.

Back Issue Bin: Legion of Super-Heroes #3 (DC) * * * * *
This issue was published in 1973, and reprints Adventure Comics #340, January 1966. The Computo story is a classic Legion story, and this issue is part one of that story. We see the death of one of Triplicate Girl's bodies, after which she became Duo Damsel. For Legion fans like me this is a great find, especially when it waasn't expensive. This particular copy isn't in great condition, but isn't about to fall apart, whic is fine with me.

Comic books for the week of December 24, 2008:
Top 10: Season Two #3 (of 4) (DC)
Invincible #57 (Image)
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #2 (of 6) (Dark Horse)

Top 10: Season 2 #3 (of 4) (DC) * * * * *
Most of the issue involves Peregrine's husband Lloyd going to a Premise Keepers Origin Weekend convention, so that he can become more established in just what his superhero identity is. It has a very unusual conclusion. The precinct is not any closer to solving the murder that opened this mini-series, but catches a break in the investigation of wizards giving kids magic words that transform them into super heroes. This is what I like in a comic book, taking the super hero genre and giving it a unique twist. And this mini-series still delivers.

Invincible #57 (Image) * * * *
Invincible gets help from the old Teen Team in learning what the floating globes are that seem to follow Invincible around. He thinks he knows where it came from, and winds up in the situation shown on the cover, battling Wolf-man. Things don't bode well at the end of the issue for either character. We learn a little more about Wolf-man, and are clued in about what has happened in his own title, without taking us out of this story in Invincible. Kirkman really knows how to introduce those of us, like me, who don't read Wolf-man's individual title. The only thing is that the conclusion will be in The Astounding Wolf-man #11. That is one reason I knocked off a (*) on my rating. This story is not as complex as some recent issues, and is a straightforward action story. But that's fun too.

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas#2 (of 6) (Dark Horse) * * * * *
More bizarre villains come to the diner, with horrific consequences for the cook. I think I would want to avoid this diner completely, if I lived in this world, no matter how hungry I was. Kraken is the only one trying to resume his life as a hero, investigating the recent events involving Number Five. Kraken's reunion with his siblings doesn't go well, and we learn who the two bizarre villains are after. Gerard Way's writing continues to tell a great story in his sophmore effort.

Comic books for the week of January 2, 2009:
Legion of Super-Heroes #49 (DC)
Fantastic Four #562 (Marvel)
Justice Society of America #22 (DC)
Superman #683 (New Krypton #9) (DC)

Legion of Super-Heroes #49 (DC) * * * * *
Saturn Girl's and Phantom Girl's investigation into the actions of Princess Projectra comes to a head, Brainiac 5 reaches a breakthrough in his research into the rogue planet, allowing the Legion to formulate a plan of action. The next, and last, issue of this volume of LSH, seems to be set up to end with a bang. I just hope after the Legion reappear in the new Adventure Comics that it will have a steady vision, instead of starting over so to speak almost every year, as it has recently. After the Legion of 3 Worlds mini-series, I hope the Legion are set up with a clear vision that will carry it into a more stable future.

Fantastic Four #562 (Marvel) * * * * *
The issue opens with the most unusual funeral scene I have ever read in comics. We see the Watcher observe the service in the background. We learn some of the talents Reed and Sue's daughter Valeria has, a chilling conversation between Dr. Doom and Reed, and s special evening for Ben. Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch continue their great run on the FF.

Justice Society of America #22 (DC) * * * * *
The battle with Gog ends in this issue in a very unique way. The conclusion is as exciting as the previous issues that set it up, and it is a fitting end. Some of the pages are done by Alex Ross in his classic style. The last three pages are the best of the entire storyline. This Kingdom Come story lived up to its promise and remained faithful to the original Kingdom Come mini-series. The cover was perfect for this concluding issue. With the end of this story, I will be dropping JSA from my pull list. I have no doubt that Geoff Johns will continue telling great stories, but I picked up JSA specifically for its Kingdom Come story. With my tight comics budget, it's time for me to drop this title, to make a little more room for some upcoming titles, like Geoff Johns' Secret Origins: Superman mini-series.

Superman#683 (New Krypton #9) (DC) * * * * *
Members of both the JLA and the JSA go to Kandor to bring the Kryptonian murderes to justice. A battle breaks out between the two sides. Superman and Allura's confrontation forces Supergirl to take unexpected action, and some unexpected allies show up at the end of the issue. This story has been building to this flashpoint, and there was quite a spark to set it off. I can't wait to read the final chapter of New Krypton.

This issue catches me up to the titles I bought this previous Wednesday. I will blog about those tomorrow, and I hope to return to a regular schedule after that for the rest of the year, except for vacations, of course.

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Now all I have to do is catch up on my expanded show notes for Superman Fan Podcast. It can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/. The expanded show notes can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about this podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

I realize most of my ratings of late have been 5 (*)'s, but I don't collect comics I really don't like, and these last months have had some excellent stories in almost all of the titles I read. So I'm not ashamed of my generous ratings. I would rather build up a good story rather than tear down a bad one.