Issue #69: Catch Up Week #14: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, August 26, 2009:

This past Friday was payday so that meant it was time to visit my local comic book store, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida http://acme-superstore.com/ . This will catch me up on the comics for the past two weeks.

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, August 19, 2009:

Supergirl #44 (DC)
Superman Annual #14 (DC)
Invincible #65 (Image)

Supergirl #44 (Codename: Patriot #3) (DC) * * * *

There are more black ops intrigue at Project 7734 and Gen. Lane. The Metropolis heroes gather to combat a Kryptonian assassin. Someone makes an appointment with Cat Grant. Strange things are going on with Nightwing and Flamebird. Events are set in motion against the Superman family of heroes which will be unveiled in future issues. This storyline is beginning to take on some political intrigue, which adds some interesting plot twists to this developing saga. The new storyline promises to keep my interest high in the Superman titles.

Superman Annual #14 (DC) * * * *

This issue highlights the prviously unknown, at least to me, origin of Mon-El and his homeworld of Daxam. It ties into the just finished New Krypton and new Codename: Patriot storylines. It also links with a recent storyline with the religious fantaical leaders of Daxam in a recent Superman plot. The Annual gives a logical reason that Mon-El's powers were so similar to Superboy's (Superman's). This look through Daxamite history is a very satisfying story on its own, without thinking about how it ties into the current Superman plot. It serves as a good jumpng on point for any comic book reader not familiar with the Superman titles, but interested nonetheless.

Both of the issues featured this week carry a five page preview of the upcoming Superman: Secret Origins mini-series by Geoff Johs and Gary Frank, It shows a young Lex Luthor in Smallville, although obviously older than Clark at this point of the story. At the end of the preview it lists as the publication date of isse #1 as September 2nd, but at the DC Comics web site it lists the release date as September 23. I have been looking forward to this mini-series since I firstheard the title. When I heard that Johns and Frank were the creative team on it, I was sold even without a preview.

Invincible #65 (Image) * * * * *

This issue, with the header Invincible War: Aftermath, titled Conquest: Epilogue is exactly what it is is labeled. Mark Gayson, aka Invincible, recuperates from his wounds in the secret hospital deep underneath the Pentagon. His relatioship with Atom Eve deepens, but is everything as alright with Atom Eve as itappears? They attend the funeral of one of their super hero colleagues, killed during the Invincible War. At first appearance, someone not familiar with writer Robert Kirkman's storytelling style, this obviously transitional issue might seem boring. But Kirkman uses at least an issue between huge battles to allow the characters to catch a breath and introduce new plot threads that will bear fruit in later issues. This one is no different. While our heroes are recuperating, Kirkman is settng the stage for the stakes being set higher for them. That is one reason that reading a Kirkman written comic book is almost a sure fire guarantee of buying an excellent issue every month. Speaking of which, on the inside back cover, which almost always shows a next issue preview, Omni-Man and Allen the Alien are portrayed wit the title Preparations For War. I can't wait.

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, August 26, 2009:

Superman #691 (Codename: Patriot #4) (DC)
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special #2 (Codename: Patriot #5) (DC)

Superman #691 (Codename: Patriot #4) (DC) * * * *

Taps are sprung on our heroes while disaster befalls Metropolis, and Superman battles a Kryptonian assassin while Gen. Lane takes his operation to a new level. This issue develops an almost Bourne Identityesque secret intelligence operations intrigue to this story. I would have never thought the New Krypton storyline would have developed in this way. This i the way to make a "dark" Superman story. Place Superman in a "dark" situation. We'll see if the "light" of Superman will shine through and overcome the situation. That is what keeps me coming back for the next issue and keeps me enthused with the quality of Superman stories. This continues to be the greatest era in Supeman stories in a long time.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special #2 (Codename: Patriot #5) * * * *

This Jimmy Olsen speial continues the story begun in the first Olsen Special, released during the early part of the New Krypton story. Jimmy Olsen continues to be one step ahead of Jonathan Drew, Codename Assassin, as he continues the investigation that he began in that first special, about Project 7734. But the heat is turned up on Jimmy, and he feels it. He makes some troubling discoveries as he hunts the facts and each one puts his life in peril. The plot involving secret intelligence ops I discussed in Superman #691 is even more intense and interesting. This story was worth the $4.99 cover price.

Send e-mail about this blog to mypulllist@gmail.com .

The web site for Superman Fan Podcast is: http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/ . The podcast blog is http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/ , and e-mail for this podcast can be sent to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com .

Join the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups at facebook, and the twitters for both @ supermanpodcast.