Issue #100: Catch Up Week #24 Part II: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, October 13, 2010:

Continuing catchig up on the recent comic books I've read:

Madman #1 (Image Firsts $1.00 reprint)
Superman #703 (DC)
Adventure Comics #519 (DC)

Madman #1 (Image Firsts $1.00 reprint) *  *  *  *

Back when my son was quite a bit younger, he really liked the crossover title Superman/Madman Hullabaloo. That was my first exposure to the character of Madman. I enjoyed the zaniness of the characters and story, as well as Mike Allred's art style. It really reminded me of underground comic book artists such as Charles Burns, whose work I've never read (or underground comics in general) but have seen examples of his work. This was a fun read as well, as we get hints of Madman's origin and his first crazy adventures. If you haven't read Madman befroe, this reprint is the perfect introduction.

Superman #703 (DC) *  *  * 1/2

While I remain underwhelmed by the premise of this storyline, this is the second straight issue that has given me a pleasant surprise. For the first time in JMS's run, the events of New Krypton are brought into the plot, as well as the aftermath of War of the Supermen for the Man of Steel, through a conversation with Batman. This issue also brings in a topic that is all too often ignored in superhero coics, collateral damage. I do think that Superman would give more regard to peripheral damage, it works well in this story. The Man of Steel just needs to walk faster to get this storyline over as soon as possible.

Adventure Comics #519 (DC) *  *  *  *

This issue combines two plots, the Legion Espionage Squad going after the Khund Zaryan, and a visit to the 20th Century by another group of Legionnaires, as Brainiac checks off his own bucket list. While the Zaryan story was interesting, my favorite part of the issue was Brainiac's bucket list. This look at the early years of the Legion is a lot of fun. It adds to Legion lore without contradicting anything which came before it.

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