Issue #92: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, June 30, 2010:

Comic book left over from the week of Wednesday, June 23, 2010:

Superman #700 (DC)

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, June 30, 2010:

Action Comics #890 (DC)
Invincible #73 (Image)

Superman #700 (DC) * * * 1/2

This milestone issue had a great cover by Gary Frank, and most of the content was good if not fantastic for such a milestone issue. The issue contained three separate stories. The first wrapped up the New Krypton story with Superman's return to Earth and Metropolis, just in time for Lois Lane. Their reunion was very touching. It's good to know that Superman is back on Earth.

The second story was a flashback of a team up of Superman and a young Dick Grayson Robin. It reminded me of one of the earliest comic book stories I can recall, a Superman Robin story that became a Robin/Superboy team up. There were no similarites between the two stories. It was good to see Dan Jurgens do another Superman story, and his art and storytelling talent was better than ever.

The weakest story of the issuesad to say, was the final story, which introduces the new storyline in Superman for the next year. Done by the new creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski and penciller Eddy Barrows, this story is the prologue to the new Grounded storyline. I have been having misgivings about this story with each news release about it published by DC Comics. I'm still not sold on the storyline, while I am trying to keep an open mind. I didn't buy the reason Superman is going on his quest, after he is confronted by a widow. Her reason for being angry with Superman for not being on Earth seemed to me to be one that Superman would have already dealt with earlier in his career. Without getting into spoilers, the woman's anger at Superman had nothing to do with the just concluded New Krypton story. It would have been stronger if it had, and tied in the consequences of the old story into this new plotline. I hope JMS tells some great stories to change my opinion about this plot.

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, June 30, 2010:

Action Comics #890 (DC) * * * *

The storyline for the next year in this Superman title will feature none other than Lex Luthor as the main character. As the cover suggests, this new plot follows up Luthor's involvement in the Blackest Night Green Lantern story. After a taste of power as an Orange Lantern, Lex begins a quest for ultimate power. I was concerned with a preview of this issue, showing Lois Lane having dinner with Lex. If she would have begun an affair with Luthor I would have dropped Action and maybe Superman, but that worry was quickly dealt with when we learn just what is going on with Lois. The new story in Action looks to be more promising to me than Superman. Except for the New Krypton story, this has seemed to be the case in the last few years with Superman comic books. The only thing that concerns me is that here we have a plot about a strong Lex Luthor and another about a weak Superman searching for what to do with himself. Kind of sad.

Invincible (Image) * * * * *

After the last rock-'em, sock-'em issue, this was more of a quiet issue, but that's a good thing. That's what I like about a Robert Kirkman story. He's not afraid to let the dust settle after an action packed issue to let the characters catch their breath and recuperate. That switch in pacing keeps the story interesting. This issue is a series of vignettes setting up the next stage of the Viltrumite War saga. We learn Mark's fate after last issue's battle, and his father gets to know his other son Oliver better. This was a quiet issue, but the anticipation of the plot set up going on in this issue kept my interest high.

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