Well, a month in and already broke my resolution to post something weekly, not counting my preview posts. That puts it about average. But I'll regroup and start over. None of the comic book titles I read every week came out on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.
Comic books for the week of Wednesday, January 27, 2010:
Supergirl #49 (World Against Superman #24) (DC)
Superman #696 (World Against Superman #25) (DC)
Terry Moore's Echo #19 (Abstract Studios)
Superman: Secret Origin #4 (of 6) (DC)
Comic books for the week of Wednesday, February 3, 2010:
Superman: World Of New Krypton #12 (of 12) (World Of New Krypton #26)
Comic books for the week of Wednesday, January 27, 2010:
Supergirl #49 (World Against Superman #24) (DC) * * * *
Two major plots weave through this issue, Supergirl's battle against Silver Banshee and Lana Lang's health emergency. Kara's fight with Banshee was more interesting than I expected. It added a different perspective to the Banshee's backstory was surprising and added depth to the character. Lana's deteriorating health led her to the hospital, and we are provided a clue as to the cause of her health problems by the end of the issue, as well as a hint of the possible return to a villain we haven't seen for a couple of years. Inspector Henderson's law enforcement career might be taking a different path after this issue. I enjoyed this issue better than I thought I would. Like the type of comic stories I like best, this one had a lot of action, plot and character development.
Superman #696 (World Against Superman #25) (DC) * * * *
This issue deals with the aftermath of the explosion at Science Police Headquarters. Lois Lane has a brief but touching scene. Mon-El, Nightwing and Flamebird get an unexpected ally, we see a flashback of Mon_El's time as Gen. Lane's prisoner, and he and the Guardian make a surprising discovery as they clean up after the explosion. As this storyline winds up toward the end of the Superman and New Krypton story, the Superman titles are very good, and this one is no exception. Only four more issues until Superman #700. Will that issue mark Superman's return? I haven't heard any rumors, I'm just asking. And Action Comics only has fifteen more issues until it hits the big 900. I wonder what DC Comics has in store for Superman in the next year and a half? All I know is the War Of The Supermen mini-series will be later this year. It looks promising, but I'll be glad to see Superman return to his regular title, the present storyline notwithstanding.
Terry Moore's Echo #19 (Abstract Studios) * * * * *
Julie makes contact again with Annie while Ivy watches the news about the attack at the bar from last issue. Someone new is chasing Dillon and Julie. To mention any more of the plot might risk leaking spoilers, so I'll just say that the plot development in this issue feels like the story is rounding the final curve, on its way to the finish line to begin the final lap. It feels like everything is in place now to begin weaving the plot threads to the climax. But there's a lot of story to go, and I'll be coming back for each issue.
Superman: Secret Origin #4 (of 6) (DC) * * * *
This issue continues Superman's introduction to Metropolis. We get to see Lex Luthor for the first time in this mini-series, and we also see the origin of one of the Man of Steel's major villains. Those of us familiar with Superman history knew who it might be from the last issue, but I won't spoil it here for everyone else. The developments with Lois and Jimy are interesting, and we see one of Superman's first battles with a super villain. It's interesting to see that Metropolis doesn't know what to make of its newest citizen. I've heard the phrase "green with envy" before, but there's no closer match than the color of Luthor's eyes. Other than the first two issues, with Luthor once again growing up in Smallville, and Clark starting as Superboy and belonging to the Legion Of Super-Heroes, these last two issues could fit in with any past origin, even John Byrne's Man Of Steel reboot. After the jarring relaunch of Superman with MOS, this mini-series is not as hard for me to accept. I know some Superman fans, some of whom are around my age (almost 50), aren't happy with this change in his origin. I've read a number of Superman origin stories from past decades and they all differ in some ways. This is a good enough story that I can accept it and continue following his stories. Others may not agree, but I won't say you're wrong. We all have different tastes and a right to our own opinions.
Comic book for the week of Wednesday, February 3, 2010:
Superman: World Of New Krypton #12 (of 12) (World Against Superman #26) * * * *
I was very pleasantly surprised by this issue. It had a very dense plot, a lot of character development and wrapped up both the murder mysteries and the plots of intrigue nicely. But Superman is left with some questions about his decisions. I wasn't expecting to like it after I first heard about the fate of New Krypton being decided in the next Superman mini-series, the 3-issue Last Stand Of New Krypton. A few of the later issues of World Of New Krypton didn't seem to advance the story much, as I've said before. Tighten the plot and Last Stand would fit nicely in this 12 page mini-series. The last page leads into that story, with a stop first in Superman #697, due to be published on February 24. Overall a fitting end to a pretty good mini-series. I was satisfied with the establishment of Kryptonian society. Their superior attitude is one we could reflect on and examine ourselves to see if we harbor that same attitude to others who are different from us. And if nothing else has, this mini-series has shown that what makes Kal-El Superman is as much human as it is Kryptonian, perhaps more importantly so. His humanity may not be as powerful as his Kryptonian heritage and powers, but it is the rudder that steers his ship, and we can be grateful for that.
Next week: As far as I know it will be another slim week. As far as I know right now, only Action Comics #886 wil be published. Powers #3, which, if I rmemeber right, was scheduled to be released within the first two weeks of this month, is now scheduled for the first week of March. Well, right now that makes it easier on my comic buying budget. I still have a suprlus from my comics allowance from the skip week the last week of December. But I've got a lot of back issues I can re-read. I just finished re-reading The New Frontier by Darwyn Cook, and am re-reading Planetary. But I'm getting in the mood to read Albion, by Alan Moore's daughter Leah Moore and her husband John Reppion.
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