Issue #135: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, October 5, 2011:

Invincible #83 (Skybound/Image)
Action Comics #2 (DC)

Invincible #83 (Skybound/Image) *  *  *  *


Invincible learns a shocking secret, then continues to adjust to his changing home life with Atom Eve. Two of Invincible's arch villains go through life altering events, and Robot and Monster Girl struggle to adjust to like back on Earth.

Mark is still going through a period of adjustment in his career as a superhero. I still wonder if the setbacks he suffered in recent issues are consequences from the end of the Viltrumite War. How and when he will emerge from his funk is unknown. It's not looking like it's going to happen any time soon. We still don't know what tragedies Robot and Monster Girl suffered elsewhere. I wonder how Cecil is going to use his new "assets" in future crises.

This storyline after the Viltrumite War seems like it's setting up future plotlines, but in the capable hands of Robert Kirkman and company, it's far from boring. Each issue in this "quiet" story builds more anticipation for when things will heat up again for Invincible. As Robert Kirkman has shown before, it will happen, and sooner rather than later.

Action Comics #2 (DC) *  *  *  *


As the cover shows, superman is now in the hand of Government forces. And it's not hard to guess who the bald guy is in the upper left corner in the background. Superman shows he can dish it out as well as he takes it.We're introduced to Dr. Irons and John Corben, so I wonder how long it will be before we meet their alter egos, as we knew them in their last continuities.

Just like the first issue, this one lives up to the title. There's a lot of action between Superman and Army troops. I like Rags Morales' art, except for one panel each where Superman and Lois look off. Superman seems a little small in one panel, and Lois seems to have a stronger chin in another, resembling a European woman more than the Lois Lane we're familiar with elsewhere in the issue. I'm still pleased with this issue. I like where this story is going, so I guess I'll wait until the second storyline before having a final opinion about this new Man of Steel. So far, so good.

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 and pages on facebook. Follow both the podcast and blog on twitter @supermanpodcast.