Issue #118: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, April 20, 2011:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #12 (DC)
Invincible #79 (Skybound/Image)
Fables #104 (Vertigo/DC)

Legion Of Super-Heroes #12 (DC) *  *  *  *


This is the first direct salvo between the Legion and the reformed Legion of Super-Villains.Brainiac 5 continues draining the time travel energy from Star Boy in the hopes of returning him to sanity, while Saturn Queen and the rest of the Super-Villains proceed with their quest to bring chaos to the United Planets. Other Legionnaires investigate Sun Killer in Okinawa, as Green Lantern Mon'El and Dyogene go to the destroyed Rock of Eternity. Paul Levitz and the art team continue to combine action and character development in the classic Legion manner, without rehashing old Legion stories. The Legion title has never been better.

Invincible #79 (Skybound/Image) *  *  *  *


The tone of the issue is summed up with the cover, which shows Mark and Eve visiting the retired Multi-Kate, Immortal and their twin children. There are some scenes of Invincible getting back into the superhero groove, but the emphasis is on Mark settling back into a normal life on Earth. That doesn't make for a boring issue, however. Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley know how to create interesting scenes of characters having conversations. And this issue delivers an emotional impact.

Fables #104 (Vertigo/DC) *  *  *  *


The Fables' super team continue their training to fight Mr. Dark, while Mrs. Spratt continues her own training. Bigby and Snow come to a personal decision. The situation continues to get darker for the Fables' community as they try to survive. Fables is another title that combines great character development and action. And, looking at the cover teaser for the next issue, things might be getting even darker for the Fables.

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From The Comic Shop #28: Wednesday, April 27, 2011:

Action Comics #900 (DC)

Superman FINALLY returns to the title that first introduced him to the world. Hopefully, we'll have better Superman stories in both of his titles the rest of the year.

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From The Comic Shop #27: Saturday, April 23, 2011:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #12 (DC)

Invincible #79 (Skybound/Image)
It's too bad my local comic shop, Acme Comics, hadn't been able to get their backorder of issue #78 from Diamond Comics Distributor before this issue was published. Their original order of #78 was shorted, and a lot of what they did get was damaged. They have been in contact with Diamond since then, and are more frustrated than me about it. I did go to two other comic shops, but no luck so far finding the lost issue #78. I might have to order it online. I'll keep you posted.

Fables  #104 (Vertigo/DC)
The Fables' super team is revealed.

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Issue #117: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, April 13, 2011:

Superman #710 (DC)
Adventure Comics #525 (DC)
Cinderella: Fables Are Forever (Vertigo/DC)
John Byrne's Next Men #5 (IDW)

Superman #710 (DC) *  *  *


In this issue Superman has his second encounter with Batman during this Grounded storyline, but this time he encounters the original, Bruce Wayne. Half of this issue is a flashback to a previously untold story of when they first met, before their costumed superhero days. Batman gave the Man of Steel some heat felt advice. It was a touching scene. The only thing that bothers me is that it shows how faulty the Grounded storyline is. The less the issue is involved with that plot the better it is. Thank goodness it's almost over.

Adventure Comics#525 (DC) *  *  *  *


Chemical Kid gets a rude awakening, and the senior class of Legion Academy take their final exam. It's a great issue of action and character development, which writer Paul Levitz delivers with each issue. At the end of the issue is a second feature about the Black Witch and Blok, and her struggle to contain the evil wizard Mordru. It was a very touching story. I'll be sad to see this Legion Academy storyline come to an end.

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever (Vertigo/DC) *  *  *  *  *


Cinderella continues her quest to hunt down her deadliest enemy, the Silver Slipper. What I like about this series is that intercut with the action are flashbacks which reveal their past encounters, as they relate to Cinderella's present situation. They add depth to the story as Cinderella makes her way through the underbelly of the Fables' world.

John Byrne's Next Men #5 (IDW) *  *  *  *  *


We learn more about Bethany's role in the future, as well as more about the brutal lives of the other Next Men  in their various eras of time. Just when I thought Toni couldn't have been mutilated any more in the Confederacy, she suffers more. But eventually, there's no holding her down. Nathan goes from prisoner of one army to another, and Jasmine suffers from the plague. The next issue teaser features a scene that was mentioned in an earlier issue of this new series. John Byrne is doing a great job of slowly unveiling the story while keeping my interest high.

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Preview #38: Comic Books For Wednesday, April 20, 2011:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #12 (DC)
The Legion face off against the reformed Legion of Super-Villains.

Invincible #79 (Skybound/Image)
I just hope my local comic book shop, Acme Comics, has finally received the rest of their order of issue #78 from Diamond.

Fables #104 (Vertigo/DC)
I think the Fables' superhero team might go into action.

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From The Comic Shop #26: Saturday, April 16, 2011:

Superman #710 (DC)
A very cool John Cassaday cover.

 Adventure Comics #525 (DC)
The Legion Academy story continues.

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #3 (of 6) (Vertigo/DC)
Fables' top spy continues her conflict against her greatest enemy, the Silver Slipper.

John Byrne's Next Men #5 (IDW)
The Next Men continue their individual travels through different eras of time.

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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.

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Issue #116: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, March 30, 2011:

Action Comics  #899 (DC)
Jimmy Olsen #1 (One Shot) (DC)
Terry Moore's Echo #29 (Abstract Studios)

Action Comics #899 (DC) *  *  *  1/2


We come to the final installment of the Lex Luthor Black Ring Saga, and learn all the details from the villain, who operated behind the scenes. and was revealed at the end of last issue. Also, how does Luthor hold his own against his manipulator? That's for you to find out. I enjoyed the move and counter move by the two adversaries, but the ending was a little out there for my taste. But it does set up an interesting villain for Superman to face when he returns to Action Comics with issue #99, after a two year absence. It's been too long in my book.

Jimmy Olsen #1 (One Shot) (DC) *  *  *  *


This collected all of the Jimmy Olsen second features that ran in the back of Action Comics until the end of 2010, when DC dropped the price and page count. The remaining chapters that were not published fill out the   story. First of all, I love the Amanda Conner cover. She has a way of showing the humor and emotion of a scene. This is the story that introduced Chloe Sullivan of the TV show Smallville to DC Comics. I really enjoyed this story. I like a Jimmy Olsen who has pluck and is resourceful, and doesn't need Superman to bail him out all of the time. The plot gives Jimmy plenty of opportunities to think on his feet, dealing with party hardy aliens and would be world conquerers. This oversized issue was worth the $5.99 cover price.

Terry Moore's Echo #29 (Abstract Studios) *  *  *  *  *


First of all, the cover is a scene from one of the panels in the book. Terry Moore has all of the characters in place now for the grand finale issue. He also does a masterful job of using dialog to develop each character and give them their own moment in the spotlight. We finally learn the motives of all of the major players in this story. Now all that's left is to learn which side will win in the final issue. While it's sad to see this title end, Terry Moore will publish a How To Draw Women comic book in June, and the first issue of his new series, Rachel Rising, in July. I'll be getting both. As I've said before, I've never read a bad issue by Terry Moore.

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