From The Comic Shop #30: Saturday, May 28, 2011:

I had a few weeks worth of comic book to catch up on. I haven't been to my local comic book shop, Acme Comics, in Longwood Florida, since Free Comic Book Day. So, I'll list them here in reading order, with the title I'm looking forward to reading the most listed last:

Superman #711 (DC)
While Superman is my favorite comic book character, the current Grounded storyline has been one of my least favorite plots. But Chris Robeson's writing has made recent issues better than Straczynski's original run which began this story.

Action Comics#901 (DC)
The Man of Steel finally makes his return to his original title after an almost two year absence. How DC Editorial has been handling Superman lately has left me with a wait and see attitude for the new Reign Of The Doomsdays story.

Legion Of Super-Heroes #13 (DC)
This title has been my favorite regular DC Comics title. I prefer its stories over the recent Superman stories, sad to say. But the Legion is my second favorite group of characters, after the Man of Steel. So it is one of those titles I'll always read. And Paul Levitz has continued to show that he hasn't lost his storytelling ability.

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #4 (of 6) (Vertigo/DC)
I missed the original Cinderella  mini-series, sad to say. I'm enjoying this spin off as much as Fables itself.

Fables #105 (Vertigo/DC)
I'm looking forward to this issue. The cover looks very ominous, as the Fables are safe, temporarily, in their refuge.

John Byrne's Next Men #6 (IDW)
John Byrne continues to show, like Paul Levitz, that he is as good of a writer, and artist, as he ever was. With each issue Byrne develops an interesting story with plenty of plot twists. This series is as good as the original Next Men series from the 1990's.

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 #42: Comic Book For Wednesday, May 25, 2011:

Action Comics #901 (DC)

Now that Superman is back in Action Comics, I'll see if I like the new Doomsday story better than the Luthor story from this past year's worth of  issues. At the moment, I have an open minded, wait and see attitude. Actually, you know who I would like to see return to the Superman titles? Clark Kent; it would be nice to see him regularly again. Maybe I'm getting older, but I like reading about the secret identity as much as the caped super hero.

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 #41: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, May 18, 2011:

Fables #105 (Vertigo/DC)

The Fables Super Team story continues, and the cover seems pretty ominous.


Legion Of Super-Heroes #13 (DC)

The Legion's battle against the Legion Of Super Villains continues.

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.

Episode #120: Comic Book For Wednesday, May 4, 2011:

Adventure Comics #526 (DC) *  *  *  *


The Legion Academy trouble making cadets finally show that they did learn something at the Academy. We also learn the secret behind how Chemical Kid got his powers from dear old Dad. This issue was a good change of pace, showing them using their heads for something other than for figuring out new ways to get into trouble. I almost felt sorry for the bad guys. Almost. The second story, Mosaic, was about Legionnaire XS. It was nice to see her again. She was part of the post Zero Hour Legion, if I remember correctly. Her power was super speed, like the Flash. What I liked about this story was that it shed a little light into the break up of Night Girl's relationship with Cosmic Boy. It was a good story for character development, but I did like the main story a little better.

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 #40: Comic Books For Wednesday, May 11, 2011:

Superman  #711 (DC)
Even though I've liked the latter issues of this storyline since Chris Roberson took over for J. Michael Straczynski, I'll be glad when Grounded is over. Plus another cool John Cassaday cover.

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #4 (of 6) (Vertigo/DC)

John Byrne's Next Men (IDW)

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 #119: Comic Book For Wednesday, April 27, 2011:

Action Comics #900 *  *  *


This issue has received a lot of publicity, less for reaching such a milestone than the controversy of a plot development in one of the shorter stories in the back (which I won't spoil here). My favorite stories were some of these back stories. The main story, which wrapped up the Luthor story in Action and set up the next plot with Doomsday. Superman's conflict with Luthor was psychedelic and trippy, but not too incomprehensible.It wasn't bad, but it didn't blow me away either. I'm taking a wait and see attitude, to see if the Superman titles will improve over recent storylines. I give The Black Ring Finale / Reign Of Doomsday *  *  *.


Life Support, written by one of the producers of Lost, is about Jor-El preparing his son's rocket, and needing help from someone to solve certain problems. It was a sad and touching story about what parents will do for their children. I rate it *  *  *  *.


Autobiography, written by Paul Dini, is about a conversation Superman had with another being with powers and abilities far beyond normal men, who was also a planet's protector. But he/she found a battle it could not win against, and had to make a choice. It was a different Superman story, but very thought provoking. I also give it *  *  *  *.

Friday Night In The 21st Century is a fun lighthearted story about Lois giving Clark a rare evening at home with close friends. This story, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Gary Frank was a nice change of pace, a simple and fun read. *  *  *  *


The Incident is probably the story that garnered the most publicity when this issue was released. It involves a decision Superman makes after recent actions by the Man of Steel create an international incident for the United States. While I wasn't as upset with his decision as some members of the public have been, I thought that DC made a mistake by taking that route, and seem to be back pedaling afterward. If this was done just as a publicity stunt I don't think it worked. From some of the reaction I don't think it will make people want to read Superman, just the opposite. And if DC didn't expect this reaction from the public, maybe they're out of touch with Superman, and their audience. It was a decent story, and I'd give it 4 ( * ) because of Superman's reasons for making this decision, but it only gets *  *  * because I don't think that DC should have toyed with one of the foundations of the Man of Steel's character.

Only Human, co-written by Richard Donner and told in storyboard form, was about someone who gets super powers through a high tech suit. There was some good interactions between Clark and Lois, who take differing opinions over this new would be superhero. *  *  *


The issue ends with a great two page spread drawn by Brian Steelfreeze, showing Superman's changing looks over the decades.

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 #29: Saturday, May 7, 2011 & Free Comic Book Day:

Adventure Comics #526 (DC)

For Free Comic Book Day I attended three comic book shops, my regular store, Acme Comics, Comics Central, 1425 WP Ball Boulevard, Sanford, FL and Coliseum of Comics in the Seminole Towne Center Mall. Each store had a three FCBD per person limit, so I got nine FCBD titles:


Mouse Guard / The Dark Crystal (Archaia)


2000 AD (Rebellion)


Civil War Adventure (History Graphics Press)


Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Predators / Top 10 Deadliest Sharks (Zenescope Entertainment)


Atomic Robo (Red 5 Comics)


Baltimore / Criminal Macabre (Dark Horse Comics)


Bongo Comics Free-For-All (Bongo Comics)


The Tick (New England Comics)


Super Dinosaur (Skybound/Image)


I also bought a number of cheap back issues. I didn't want to walk out of a comic book shop without buying something from the store.


The Nightly News #1 (Image Firsts $1.00)


Superman #158 (Triangle # 2000:26) (DC)


Action Comics #796 (DC)


DC Comics Presents #56 Superman & Power Girl (DC)


Noble Causes: Family Secrets #1 (Image)


Dynamo 5  #'s 0, 3 & 22 (Image)


Justice League Europe  #29 (DC)


Marvel Mystery Comics (Selections from #'s 8 - 10) (Marvel)


Flaming Carrot Comics #'s 2 - 4 (Desperado/Image)


I've got a lot of good reading to look forward to this week.


I took my sister with me also. Since she has Down's Syndrome I got her children's comics:


Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse By Floyd Gottfredson (Fantagraphics Books)
This was the one which I look forward to reading the most from her comics.


Pep Comics Betty & Veronica (Archie Comics)


Darkwing Duck / Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers (Boom! Studios/Boom Kids!)


Kizoic Kung Fu Panda / Richie Rich (Ape Entertainment)


Rated Free For Everyone (Oni Press)


Sonic The Hedgehog (Archie Comics)


Top Shelf Kids Club 2011 (Top Shelf Productions)


Young Justice / Batman: Brave & The Bold Sampler  (DC)


Star Wars Clone Wars / Avatar: Last Airbender (Dark Horse Comics)


Of course, this doesn't mean that the three comic book stores I plan on visiting will have them all. The three shops I plan on visiting are, starting with my regular comic book store, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida, Comics Central (1425 WP Ball Boulevard, Sanford, FL (407) 321-5111) and Coliseum of Comics at the Sanford Mall.


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 #39: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, May 4, 2011 & Free Comic Book Day:

Adventure Comics #526 (DC)
The conclusion to the Legion Academy story.

This coming Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, and here are a list of the FCBD titles that catch my interest.

Locke & Key (IDW)
Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal (Archaia)
Super Dinosaur (Skybound/Image)
2000 AD (Rebellion)
Atomic Robo (Red 5 Comics)
Baltimore / Criminal Macabre (Dark Horse)
Deadliest Sharks & Prehistoric Predators (Zenoscope)
Elric: The Balance Lost (Boom! Studios)
Jake The Dreaming (Radical)
John Stanley's Summer Fun (Drawn & Quarterly)
Spontaneous (Oni Press)
The Tick (New England Comics)
Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse (Fantagraphics)

Of course, this doesn't mean that the three comic book stores I plan on visiting will have them all. The three shops I plan on visiting are, starting with my regular comic book store, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida, Comics Central (1425 WP Ball Boulevard, Sanford, FL (407) 321-5111) and Coliseum of Comics at the Sanford Mall.


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.