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.

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