Issue #96: Catch Up Week # 22. Part I: Comic Books For The Weeks Of Wednesday, August 4 & 11, 2010:

Comic book for the Week of Wednesday, August 4, 2010:
Superman: Last Family Of Krypton #1 (of 3) (DC)

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, August 11, 2010:
Adventure Comics #517 (DC)
Superman #702 (DC)

Superman: Last Family Of Krypton #1 (of 3) (Elseworlds/DC) *  *  *  *  *

Growing up during the 1960's I loved the "imaginary stories" that I read in Superman comics. I wasn't going to miss this reintroduction of the Elseworlds imprint, which was DC's modernized version of those imaginary stories from the '60's. This issue was not a disappointment. It also served as the first comic book story from Superman writer Cary Bates, who worked for DC from the 1970's and 1980's. The basic premise of this story is that the entire El family, and not just baby Kal-El,  survived Krypton's destruction to arrive safely on Earth. Not only do we see how such an event would change history, but we see how each member of the El family has different struggles adjusting to a new life on Earth. Superman's familiar supporting castis reintroduced in different and interesting ways. The characters are set up to tell an interesting story in the remaining two issues. Cary Bates hasn't lost his touch with writing a comic book story, and has adjusted to today's more sophisticated storytelling style, when compared to the typical DC comic book from the 1970's, just fine.

Superman #702 (DC) *  *  *  *

While I still do not care for J. Michael Straczynski's basic premise for this current storyline, I was pleasantly surprised with this issue. The previous issue, the first full issue of the current plot, really did not seem to be much of a story, just a series of disconnected scenes of Superman's interactions as a cross-country pedestrian. There was an actual story in this new issue. It was Superman's version of dealing with illegal immigration, of a different kind. Another thing that I enjoyed about this story was how well it showed Superman inspiring others by his example. And the John Cassaday cover is another treat.

Adventure Comics #517 (DC) *  *  *  *  *

While the regular Legion  title features the current Legionnaires, Adventure has settled in as a flashback Legion title, showing its early days. What I enjoy about writer Paul Levitz's approach is that, unlike other writers who explore the past of a title, he does not contradict anything that has happened in past Legion stories. He fills in the blanks of early Legion history, and in an interesting way. In this issue, Levitz shows how Legion founders Imra Ardeen, Rokk Krinn and Garth Ranzz settle in to their new life. The rest of the United Planets, and especially the Science Police, don't expect much of these teens, and they have to prove themselves. And the three Legionnaires are still geting to know each other, which leads to a few surprises which haven;t been revealed before. I'm enjoying how Paul Levitz is making early Legion history new again.

Send e-mail to mypulllist@gmail.com.


Superman Fan Podcast can be found at http://supermanfanpodcast.mypodcast.com/. Expanded show notes are available at http://supermanfanpodcast.blogspot.com/. Send e-mail about the podcast to supermanfanpodcast@gmail.com.

You can join both the Superman Fan Podcast and My Pull List groups on facebook. Follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.