Issue #66: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, July 29, 2009:

Superman #690 (New Krypton #35 / World Without Superman) (DC)
Fantastic Four #569 (Marvel)

Superman #690 (New Krypton #35 / World Without Superman) (DC) * * * *

The main part of the issue is the battle between John Henry Irons as Steel against Atlas, as portrayed on the cover. After the battle is over, there are several vignettes. First is the Guardian and the Science Police, which teases to Superman: Secret Files 2009, due to be published on Wednesday, August 12. Next is a five page story involving the young Zatara, grandson of the original from the golden age of comics. There is a one page feature of Jim Harper (The Guardian) and Kimiyo Hoshi (Dr. Light), sit in the park watching their children play together, which teases to Superman and the Justice League Of America. I don't know if the Zatara story and this one are connected or not. The final vignette involves the Green Lantern Sodam Yat and the 31st Century Legionnaire Tellus, who are both in our century. They both make unusual requests of the other, and this story teases to Superman Annual #14, scheduled to be published on August 19. The main story with Steel was a good story, but my favorite parts of the issue were the co-features in the back of the issue. It seems that the current great run of Superman stories will continue, especially with the upcoming storyline Codename: Patriot.

Fantastic Four #569 (Marvel) * * * *

This issue is the concluding chapter of the Doom's Master story. With Dr. Doom so easily vanquished, things do not look good for the FF. Of course one of the great things about a FF battle is how they think through the battle as quickly as they use their fists. There are several plot threads through this battle that come together at the end to provide a ver satisying, if surprising ending. This issue is the last for Mark Millar and Brian Hitch, who are only partially involved in this issue. Millar plotted the issue, which was written by Joe Ahearne. Brian Hitch drew the cover, and the inside art was drawn by Stuart Immonen, whose art I loved on Legion Of Super-Heroes and Superman, so I can't complain. I've read some reviews of this issue which were underwhelmed with this conclusion, but it worked for me. I certainly never would have thought of it, and I never make a criteria for how I like a comic book story. This will, however, be my last FF issue for the forseeable future. I would like to continue reading this title, but with the new Adventure Comics, as well as the mini-series Superman: Secret Origins, scheduled to begin publication on September 23, not to mention vol. 3 of Powers (according to writer Brian Michael Bendis on the podcast Word Balloon) sometime in November, I need to make some room in my budget for them somehow. I might have to revise my pull list further to budget these. I'll keep you posted.

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