Issue #124: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, June 15, 2011:

Legion Of Super-Heroes #14 (DC)
Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #5 (of 6) (Vertigo/DC)
Invincible #80 (Skybound/Image)
Supreme Power #1 ($1.00 Marvel's Greatest Comics)

Legion Of Super-Heroes #14 (DC) *  *  *  *


The main plot of the issue is highlighted on the cover, Ultrra Boy and Wildfire battling Immortus, which ends in a very different and interesting way than the usual hero vs. villain fight. Professor Li has some plans  to battle the threat using Star Boy, although Dream Girl has an ominous premonition. Saturn Queen gets some help in finding the mysterious third world that stands in her way of returning chaos to the galaxy, in a very shocking way. Colu begins rebuilding, and there might be a hint of some connection between two characters on opposing sides of this conflict. As usual, there is a great mix of characterization, action and plot development in the usual Paul Levitz way. This issue has done an excellent job of setting up the characters for the final conflict, with only two issues to go before DC Comics relaunches their superhero universe.

Cinderella: Fables Are Forever #5 (of 6) (Vertigo/DC) *  *  *  *  *


Cinderella is on her way toward what may be her final conflict against her greatest enemy, codenamed Silver Slipper. She gets some unexpected help out of her latest jam, but I never saw that twist ending coming. This has been a great mini-series. I wish I would have picked up the first one, which was subtitled, From Fabletown With Love. What a great way to mix the spy genre into the Vertigo Fables universe. I hope to pick up the trade paperback of the first mini-series, and hope to be able to afford future Cinderella mini-series.Maybe if I click my heels together three times.

Invincible #80 (Skybound/Image) *  *  *  *  *


The cover pretty much sums up the action in this issue, but it's not all fisticuffs. In fact, to sum up this issue in one word: changes. We see how Mark's mother is dealing with her ex-husband's return, Mark and Eve's relationship after last issue's revelation, and what's up with Mark's old college roommate William. Never saw that coming, but I did like William's last comment in that scene. The issue also has a confrontation with a new super villain that probably has never been seen in a superhero comic book. It made me think that, if superheroes were real, we'd probably see situations resolved like this once in a while. And, also typical of writer Robert Kirkman, he has written an ending that makes me want to read the next issue right now!

Supreme Power #1 ($1.00 Marvel's Greatest Comics) *  *  *  *  *

The best way to sum up this Marvel Max title (for mature readers) is a Marvel version of Superman's origin. The DC story this issue most reminded me of was Superman 2001, published in Superman #300, June 1976. In that classic Superman story, baby Kal-El landed in the ocean and was rescued by a Navy diver and raised as the adopted son of a U. S. General. In Supreme Power, an alien humanoid infant is found and raised secretly by the U. S. Government. The story shows just how dangerous it could be for a growing child to learn how to control developing super powers. I never read this series when it was originally published, not enough money to squeeze it into my budget. This is a J. Michael Straczynski "Superman" type comic book story I can enjoy, along with the Gary Frank art. Maybe one day I will pick up the rest of the series. I'll have to put this on my wish list, or maybe click my heels three times. Now, where are my shoes?

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