Issue #42: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Final Crisis #7 (of 7) (DC)
Justice Society of Amaerica #23 (DC)
Legion of Super-Heroes #50 (DC)
Fantastic Four #563 (Marvel)
Terry Moore's Echo #9 (Abstract Studios)
Superman #684 (New Krypton #12) (DC)
The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 )of 6) (Dark Horse)

Final Crisis #7 (of 7) (DC) * * *
First of all, I should note that I did not read any of the previous issues of Final Crisis. I was hooked into buying the last issue of this event series from a preview of the first scene of this issue. It showed the White House of one of the multiple Earths, reflecting recent events in the news on our Earth (which is all I will say to avoid any spoilers). So my views don't reflect reading any of the previous issues. The art was fantastic, and some of the events of this issue followed the conclusion of the Superman Beyond 3D, which I did understand. Having only read this concluding issue, I can't say how the conclusion will affect the DC Universe. What I have heard from some podcasts I have listened to about Final Crisis, there are a lot of people who did read this entire series scratching their heads. The story jumps back and forth in time, and was somewhat incomprehensible. I enjoy comic book stories that have a lot of layers to the story, like Watchmen, but it did a better job of telling a comprehensible story through time hopping,ala Dr. Manhatten, than Final Crisis did. Some events seem to follow the conclusion to Legion of 3 Worlds, which has yet to conclude, and which I am also reading. Morrison's All-Star Superman was a lot better story. Final Crisis seemed to break one of the cardinal rules of storytelling: The reader should not have to work to understand the story.

Justice Society of America #23 (DC) * * * *
This issue was a Faces of Evil tie-in featuring Black Adam, with an Alex Ross cover. The issue begins with the JSA dealing with the consequences of the Kingdom Come story, and Black Adam's quest to resurrect his beloved Isis. This Jerry Ordway drawn story is setting up the next JSA story involving the Marvel family. This issue is not all set up. It has a few shocking developments. There are a few "easter eggs" such as Tawney Flakes and a Fawcett newspaper (I won't tell you where they are). This was put in my pull list, even though I had dropped the book, but the Jerry Ordway art hooked me. I wanted to at least see what the next story was shaping up to be. If there weren't other titles I want to budget for I would continue collecting this title. But this will be the last issue of JSA I collect, for a while.

Legion of Super-Heroes #50 (DC) * * *
This is the last issue of the LSH, which will move over to a new Adventure Comics (#0 scheduled to be published the first Wednesday in February). This issue wraps up the battle with the rogue planet,with Brainiac 5 having devised a battle plan. The battle takes up almost all of the issue. Brainiac 5's tactics are brilliant, as usual, and the end has an unexpected surprise, but the issue itself was all action and little character development a Legion issue usually has. It was an ok storybut I was expecting something more from the last issue of a Legion title. I am looking forward to the new Adventure Comics, which I've heard will be written by Geoff Johns. That excites me very much, with how well he has done on Action Comics.

Fantastic Four #563 (Marvel) * * * * *
The FF celebrate with Ben his recent engagement. Even though most of this issue was full of "quiet" moments, when it's full of character development, it's as interesting to me as an action packed issue. The end of the issue has a lot of action, as Dr. Doom's mysterious mentors appear on the Earth of an alternate dimension. This issue is setting up another fantastic FF story by Mark Millar and Brian Hitch.

Terry Moore's Echo #9 (Abstract Studios) * * * * *
This is a quiet issue, which is needed after the catastrophic events of the previous issue. "Quiet" issues are just as important as action issues. For me as a reader, they give us a chance to catch our breath along with the characters. When a writer and artist can hold readers interests in a "quiet" issue, it shows their talent as much as action issues. Terry Moore succeeds in this regard. Ivy wraps up her investigation into the events of the motel, and her questioning of the waitress who served Julie and Dillon is revealing about Ivy herself.

Superman #684 (New Krypton #12) (DC) * * *
This is the first mediocre issue of the New Krypoton story. The Faces of Evil tie-in with Parasite, showing his extraction from the Phantom Zone, doesn't advance the New Krypton plot. The most interesting development involves The Guardian. The big reveal at the end is news to Superman, but not for us. The feature about the Parasite shows how creepy he is, beyond his looks, but doesn't bring anything new to the New Krypton story. And I have to ask about the Faces of Evil tie-ins, what's the point. Are theses issues leading into something, or just a spotlight on the various villains of the DCU?

The Umbrella Academy: Dallas #3 (of 6) (Dark Horse) * * * * *
This issue reveals more of #5's journey from the future, and the mysterious assassins who are hunting him. And we get a very interesting look into the afterlife. Gerard Way is showing he is not falling for the "sophmore jinx". this second mini-series builds on the original one, and brings depth to the characters. And the threat to the heroes is even greater than what they faced in that first story. As long as he will publish Umbrella Academy mini-series I'll be reading them.

Trade Paperback Special: The New Frontier vol's. I & II (DC) * * * * *
I missed out on this title when it came out in the original issues, and I've regretted it ever since, especially after buying the Justice League: New Frontier animated DVD. I took my daughter shopping at the Sanford Mall, where Coliseum of Comics was having a grand opening event. I got $5.00 off both volumes and I was not disappointed. Darwyn Cooke takes all of the silver age characters, even the non-super hero ones like the Losers, Suicide Squad and the Challengers of the Unknown, and weaves them into a tale that shows the fall of the Justice Society and the rise of the Justice League. And Cooke creates a threat that demands they all need to join forces in order to defeat it. The threat is enough to challenge all of our heroes, and is frightening indeed. This two volume trade paperback was worth the wait, and I have had to re-read it already. If you have not read New Frontier, buy it, and make sure you get both volumes. If you just get the first one, you won't be able to rest unril you read the concluding volume.

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