From The Comic Shop #20: Saturday, January 29, 2011:

Thankfully, payday was yesterday, so that meant that I would be able to go to my local comic book shop, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida. I had one title waiting for me from last week and two more for this week.

From last week, Wednesday, January 19, 2011:


Legion Of Super-Heroes #9 (DC)

This week:

Action Comics #897 (DC)


Fables #101 (DC)

This is the first issue of the title I added to my pull list for 2011, thanks to DC Comics' price cut. While I've bought the first two trades of the earliest Fables storylines, this is the first monthly issue I've bought at full price. I did buy the special $1.00 Vertigo reprint of the first issue, but that doesn't count. I'm looking forward to reading Fables regularly each month. I expect to enjoy this title very much.

Speaking of special $1.00 reprints, I did buy two other $1.00 reprints off Acme's shelf reserved for the $1.00 reprints from quite a few comic book publishers. I glanced through Acme's Superman and Legion back issues, but I decided to save my money for some upcoming Annuals, such as Legion Of Super-Heroes and perhaps Superman/Batman, since this second title will tie in to the Doomsday Reigns storyline that has just begun in the Superman Family of books. So I glanced at the $1.00 special edtion rack and two titles caught my interest.

Magnus, Robot Fighter 4000 A D (Dark Horse Comics 1 For $1.00)

I'm familiar with the name of this original Gold Key title, but never had a chance to read this title. The Russ Manning art made this an easy choice.

Mata Hari #1 (Radical Premiere)

This is a fictional comic book about the real woman who was executed by the French during WWI as a German spy. This issue serves as an advertisement for the graphic novel by the same name that is scheduled to be published this spring. Most of the issue contains the first 15 pages of the graphic novel, followed by a text piece written by the author of the graphic novel giving some background about Mata Hari and some context of the times. I doubt I will be able to afford the graphic novel, but I enjoy anything that involves biography and history, even when it involves a fictional work or a comic book.

While I'm looking forward to the end of Lex Luthor hogging Action Comics, otherwise it's going to be a fun week of reading comic books. Plus I picked up the free MegaCon 2011 tabloid, listing all of the comic book and media guests. This past week I received an e-mail that informed me that I was approved for a press pass for MegaCon. I will be covering it for my podcast and blog Superman Fan Podcast.

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.

Preview #33: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, January 26, 2011:

Action Comics #897 (DC)

Only three more issues until Superman returns to the title that made him famous. It can't come soon enough for me.

Fables #101 (Vertigo/DC)

This is a title I'm familiar with through its first two trade paperbacks. With DC Comics' reduction of most of their cover prices to $2.99, it has freed up enough money in my slim comic book budget to add another title. I've wanted to add this one for quite a while, and here's my chance. I know I'm jumping in  during the middle of the title's run, but I've never been a "find a good jumping on point" for a title. One of my favorite comic book series ever was Planetary, and my first issue was #19. I didn't care that I was in the middle of a story and didn't know exactly what was going on. The story and characters were interesting enough that part of the fun was going back and finding older issues to catch up. I look forward to doing the same with Fables. I doubt I will be disappointed.

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.

Previews #32: Comic Book For The Week Of Wednesday, January 19, 2011:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #9 (DC)

This week is between paydays. Since last week I had a small stack of titles in my file, I'm going to have to wait until next week for payday to come before I can get this book, along with next week's stack.

I noticed that the Legion Of Super-Heroes Annual had been postponed until this week, but I don't see it listed under DC's releases for this week. According to DC's website, it has been postponed until February 2nd.

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.

Issue #108: Catch Up Week #25: Comic Books For The Weeks Of Wednesday, January 5 & 12, 2011:

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, January 5, 2011:

Adventure Comics #522 (DC)
Next Men #2 (IDW) (DC)
Terry Moore's Echo #27 (Abstract Studios)

Comic book for the week of Wednesday, January 12, 2011:

Superman #707 (DC)

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, January 5, 2011:


Adventure Comics #522 (DC) * * * *

Mon-El, the new Green Lantern of the 31st Centurey, responds an attack on a Science Police cruiser, and an attempt to free its prisoner, Saturn Queen. Legionnaire Tellus and Science Police Chief Cusimano are at Dawnstar's side, as she recuperates from her injuries in a mysterious attack in a previous issue. And the mystery about Professor Li's past becomes more intriguing. This was another solid Legion story. Even though it's clearly setting up a future Saturn Queen story, Levitz and crew combined a lot of action and character moments for a solid read.

Next Men #2 (IDW) * * * *

Federal Agent Antonia Murcheson came out of a portal in the Civil War era South, and is treated as the escaped slave she is assumed to be. Nathan comes out of his portal in the middle of a European battlefield during WWII. Jasmine has appeared in Great Britain several centuries in the past. The issue ends with a surprise discovery by one of them. The next issue teaser features Bethany. I asusme we''ll pick up her story next month. While we're no closer to solving the mystery that was set up in last month's issue, we are learning what happened to our heroes at the conclusion of the Dark Horse Comics Next Men series from the 1990's. Writer and artist John Byrne is doing a good job of advancing the story in this title in these first two issues, better than he did on his run on Doom Patrol a few years ago.

Terry Moore's Echo #27 (Abstract Studios) *  *  *  *  *


Julie/Annie, Dillon and Ivy have a new sense of urgency on their mission to stop the  supercollider. HenRi's agent is busy tying up loose ends, permanently, and is on the trail of our heroes. The issue ends on a very touching moment as Julie/Annie, Dillon and Ivy take care of some personal matters before they embark on their mission, while there's still time. Even though this is the second issue of our team traveling to the site of the supercollider, to risk their lives in an attempt to stop its activation, the story does not feel like it's spinning its wheels. The personal progression of all of the characters advances the plot along just as if it was full of non stop action. Terry Moore knows how to write for his characters, and is a good example of how to write comic books.

Comic book for the week of Wednesday, January 12, 2011:


Superman #707 (DC) *  *


Superman is caught in a small town's situation, with a factory that is the town's main employer, but is also a major polluter. Lois Lane is also on the story, covering the factory's lack of compliance with environmental regulation. The Man of Steel is caught in a quandary, the need to hold the company responsible for its actions and the citizens' need for a place to work. The situation brings Superman and Lois into the conflict in a surprising way. But the Man of Steel's doubts begin to eat at himself, and are getting worse, not better. I find it rather pathetic. If the foundation to this story that was begun by J. Michael Straczynski were more solid, it would be a better story. But i couldn't buy into the premise as he set it up, and the issues of the Grounded storyline have not changed my opinion so far. Note to DC's editors: file away the doubting Superman plot, and don't pull it out for a very long, long time. On second thought, just put it in the shredder.

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.

From The Comic Shop #19: Friday, January 14, 2011:

This weekend my schedule was turned around a little bit. Saturday my wife and I had a church meeting to go to, then I worked on what is usually my day off. One of my co-workers is a Green Bay Packers fan, so I traded days off so she could enjoy the game. I'm taking Sunday off so I can watch one day of the NFL playoffs (which I am doing as I type this). So I decided to get up a little early Friday morning to go to my local comic book shop, Acme Comics, in Longwood, Florida, before I went to work.

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, January 5, 2011:

Adventure Comics #522 (DC)
The Legion titles really have become some of the best comics I'm reading right now.

Next Men #2 (IDW)
I'm liking what John Byrne is doing with his series which he's bringing back for the first time since it was published by Dark Horse Comics in the 1990's.

Terry Moore's Echo #27 (Abstract Studios)
The anticipation is rising as the series approaches its conclusion in three issues.

Comic book for the week of Wednesday, January 12, 2011:

Superman#707 (DC)
Even though some individual issues of the current Grounded storyline have been good, it has been hard to get excited about this title so far, despite the excellent John Cassaday covers.

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.

Issue #107: Comic Books For The Weeks Of Wednesday, December 22 & 29, 2010:

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, December 22, 2010:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #8 (DC)
Invincible #76 (Skybound/Image)

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, December 29, 2010:

Action Comics #896 (DC)

From the back issue bins:

The Adventures Of Superman #576, March 2000 (Triangle # 2000: 11)
Superman & Batman: Generations 2 issues 3 & 4 (DC)
Superman & Batman: Generations 3 issues 1, 4 & 7 (DC)

Comic books for the week of Wednesday, December 22, 2010:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #8 (DC) *  *  *  *

The two plots of this issue are the continuing fight against the Durlan assassins and the results of the Legion election of a new leader. The fight against the Durlans heats up in this issue. And the new leader sets a new precedent that has never happened before. The action and character development continues to be top notch. I'm enjoying Legion stories like I haven't for a few years.

Invincible #76 (Skybound/Image) *  *  *  *  *

The Viltrumite War continues with the battle in space, which fills most of the issue. I won't say more in order to avoid spoiling the plot, but at the end of the issue, Mark comes to a shocking realization. Unlike DC's long New Krypton storyline, each issue of the Viltrumite War clearly advances the story at an even pace, and has not lost any steam. Each issue raises the stakes highter and higher. This issue is no different. I can't wait until next month's issue to read what happens next.

Comic book for the week of Wednesday, December 29, 2010:

Action Comics #896 (DC) *  *

This has been the most disappointing issue of Lex Luthor's quest for the Black Lantern energy. He has hired the villain team of the Secret Six to protect him from Vandal Savage. Luthor's battle against Savage is confusing, and the end of the issue becomes a game of follow the bouncing detonator, as individuals on both sides of the fight try to gain control of the detonator that would set off the bombs scattered through the LexCorp building. The best part of the issue was the Jimmy Olsen second feature. Lois hooked Jimmy into being part of a charity auction, with the prize being a date with Superman's Pal. The identity of his date is a big surprise, but no bigger of a surprise as is the ending. Since the new year will mark the end of the second features, as DC drops the cover price as well as the number of pages, this story will be continued in Jimmy Olsen #1, scheduled for a March release. I'll be buying it to read how the story concludes. I wonder how Jimmy will get out of this jam?

From the back issue bins:

The Adventures Of Superman #576, March 2000 (Triangle # 2000: 11) (DC)

Superman has once again been transformed into the Electric Blue Superman, and continues his battle against Brainiac 13's transformation of Metropolis. Meanwhile Lex Luthor, with his daughter Lena, attack the villain at the source. It was fun to see Stuart Immonen's art once again. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. I liked the character moments sprinkled within the action, and the twist ending left me wanting to get the next issue in the story.

Superman & Batman: Generations 2 issues 3 & 4 (Elseworlds/DC) *  *  *  *  *
Superman & Batman: Generations 3 issues 1, 4 & 7 (Elseworlds/DC) *  *  *  *  *

Gen 2 told the story of Superman's and Batman's interactions with the various Justice League members over the decades, in 11 hear jumps. Gen 3, being a 12 issue mini-series told Darkseid's quest to defeat Earth and its heroes, which spanned ten centuries. With these issues, which I bought at Acme Comics' New Year's Day sale, I am now only missing issue #12 of Gen 3 to complete the mini-series.

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.

Preview #31: Comic Book For The Week Of Wednesday, January 12, 2011:

Superman #707 (DC)

We're now just over halfway through the Grounded storyline, which has not impressed me, even while I've enjoyed individual stories. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Reign Of Doomsday will be like later this year.

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.

Preview #30: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, January 5, 2011:

Adventure Comics #522 (DC)
Next Men #2 (IDW)
Terry Moore's Echo #27 (Abstract Studios)

I'll have to wait until after payday next Friday to pick up these books. But these have been some of the best title's I'm reading. I will be glad when I can add the Superman books to this short list 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.

From The Comic Shop #18: Saturday, January 1, 2011:

Action Comics #896 (DC)
Legion Of Super-Heroes #8 (DC)
Invincible #76 (Skybound/Image)

And thanks to today's 50% off sale for back issues at my local comic book shop, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida, I was able to plug a few holes in my comic book collection:

The Adventures Of Superman #576 Triangle # 2000:11) (DC)

Superman & Batman: Generations 2 #'s 3 & 4 (Elseworlds/DC)

Superman & Batman: Generations 3 #'s 1, 4 & 7 (Elseworlds/DC)

Now the only issue I'm missing from this mini-series is issue #12.

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.