From The Comic Shop #40: Saturday, September 24, 2011:

From the week of Wednesday, August 24, 2011:

Flashpoint: Project Superman #3 (OF 3) (DC) (originally published August 24, 2011.)

I missed this issue when it was published exactly a month ago today. The fine staff of Acme Comics were able to find a copy of this final issue. I enjoyed the first two issues of this Flashpoint tie-in mini-series, and would have hated to miss the conclusion. This was the only Flashpoint series I read, but in retrospect, I would have checked out more, if not all, of the Flashpoint event titles. I grew up on DC's Imaginary Stories with Superman, and Flashpoint seems like it was right up that alley. Unfortunately, my budget wouldn't have been able to handle it. So, I'll just have to settle for this title.

From last week, Wednesday, September 14, 2011:

Legion Lost #1 (DC)

All I know about this title is that some members of the Legion of Super-Heroes get stuck in the past in "our" time. Since the Legion is my second favorite DC title after Superman, I have to check it out. I would be very surprised and disappointed if I don't like it.

This week I got two titles, Legion Of Super-Heroes #1, and Fables #109, both published bu DC.

Of all of DC's relaunches, Legion is supposed to be one of the titles least affected by the relaunch. Superman has been one of the characters who has been most affected by this relaunch, at least in Action Comics. Paul Levitz remains as the writer of this title. Based on his track record since he once again took over the writing chores of Legion, I feel the most confidence that the quality of stories will remain high after DC's relaunch.

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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.

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 #52: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, September 21, 2011:

Fables #108 (Vertigo/DC)
Legion Of Super-Heroes #1 (DC)

Since Friday is payday, I will be going to my local comic book shop, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida, on Saturday. Since I wasn't able to go last week, I'll be picking up Legion Lost #1 as well. I look forward to reading both Legion titles. While the main Legion title, from what little internet publicity I've read so far, will change the least when compared to other DC series, like Superman, Legion Lost will be about a group of Legionnaires stuck in the 21st Century. Since writer Paul Levitz returned to write the Legion, it has been a stronger title than it has been for years. There's a sense of continuity instead of constant reboots as a series of creative teams did good but completely different versions of the Legion. Now it's on a firm foundation and adding to a rich history of Legion Lore. With Legion Lost, I don't know what to expect, which is half the fun of reading a great comic book series. While the Superman and Legion titles are the only titles of DC's New 52 that I'll be getting, not knowing what's coming is part of the fun of going to the comic shop. And, of course, while Fables won't be affected by DC's relaunch, it has always been an excellent title to read each month.

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 #131: Comic Books For The Weeks Of Wednesday, August 31 & September 7, 2011:

Invincible  #82 (Skybound/Image)
Action Comics #1 (DC)

How I read my new comic book issues each week is to shuffle the ones I look forward to reading most to the bottom of the stack, so that I save the best for last. For at least a year, a Superman issue hasn't made it to the bottom of the stack, unfortunately, until this week. I've purposefully avoided reading the internet publicity of the Superman relaunch, beyond the cover art of the new uniforms. It feels good to look forward to new Superman stories again. That's a feeling that's been missing for a while.

Invincible #82 (Skybound/Image) *  *  *  *  *


Invincible continues to have a crisis of confidence after recent events, and is reexamining his role in the world. He does think of a unique way to handle a villain he captured recently. As usual for this title, it's something you don't see in the average superhero title. Atom Eve is going through her own issues, and the world is not as admiring of Invincible after the recent destruction of a major American city. I can't help but wonder if this is another ramification from the aftermath of the Viltrumite War. I wonder what the world will think of Invincible if and when they discover that he allowed the Viltrumites to live on Earth. Also, a character returns after a long absence, setting up another future plot thread. There's not a lot of superhero action in this issue, but Robert Kirkman's knack for character development makes this as interesting of an issue as you could hope.

Action Comics #1 (DC) *  *  *  *


 Grant Morrison has been hit and miss for me, I was pleasantly surprised by this issue. Morrison can be incomprehensible at times with his stories, but there's none of that here. It's more in the vein of All-Star Superman than Superman Beyond 3-D, thank goodness. First of all, despite the changes with this relaunch, the basic characteristics of Superman's personality are recognizable. Morrison does a good job of incorporating bits of the golden age Superman into this new version of the Man of Steel. If I wasn't familiar with the original Superman and his rough and tumble crime fighting style, I might have found this new Superman a little disturbing. But he does harken back to his golden age roots. Most of the traditional supporting cast is introduced, and there is even a tiny reference to his connection to the Legion of Super-Heroes. There's a lot of action and plot development in this first issue, plenty for the reader to sink his teeth into. I do like this "primitive" look for his uniform, which I would call with no disrespect the "." Superman look. This new Superman shows that Truth and Justice aren't always the same as Law and Order. It's still early, but, so far, I dig this new Superman. I look forward to reading George Pérez's version of the Man of Steel in Superman #1 later this month.

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 #51: Comic Book For The Week Of Wednesday, September 14, 2011:

Legion Lost #1 (DC)

This title is my second of four series I'm picking up from DC's New 52.The Legion of Super-Heroes are second only to Superman as my favorite character(s). So I wasn't going to miss either of the two Legion titles. I'll be picking up this title next Saturday after payday, so it'll be another week before I'll get to read it.

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 #39: Saturday, September 10, 2011:

Invincible #82 (Skybound/Image)
Action Comics #1 (DC)

Each week, after I return home with the titles I bought from my local comic book shop, Acme Comics, I arrange that week's titles in ascending order of my favorite titles, saving my favorite title of the week for last. Sadly for a Superman fan like myself, it's been a while since I've placed a Superman title at the bottom of the stack, especially on week's I've bought Invincible. This week, I'm saving Action Comics #1 for last. I've kept from most of the internet coverage and speculation about the relaunched Man of Steel, wanting to read this new #1 issue of Action without the distractions of preconceptions influenced from anything I've read about it. I did read a little bit about this first storyline by writer Grant Morrison, and saw the cover art online. It piqued my interest, with what I'll call the "Jethro" Superman look, with a short sleeved Superman t-shirt, short cape, blue jeans and work shoes.(Jethro was a character in The Beverly Hillbillies TV show from the 1960's.)

Another think that intrigues me about this new Superman relaunch is the fact that I don't know what to expect. thanks to the less than stellar Grounded and Lex Luthor stories in the Superman titles, I'm looking forward to this relaunch, where the Man of Steel is concerned, more than I otherwise would have. I'm going into this DC relaunch with an open mind. If I decide I don't like the Superman titles, as much as I would hate to, I'll drop them and pick something else to read. It won't drive me out of reading comic books. I like the art form too much, and I'll just try out other titles that have interested me but I haven't been able to fit into my budget.

I hope this next year of reading Superman comic books is more interesting than this year has been.

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 #50: Comic Book For The Week of September 7, 2011:

Action Comics #1 (DC)

Well, I can finally say that I can afford to buy a mint copy of Action Comics #1. I'm looking forward to Sueprman getting a fresh start, after about a year of less than fantastic stories. And with Grant Morrison writing this series, I hope that he does as good of a job as he did on All-Star Superman, and not the almost incomprehensible Superman Beyond, the two issue Final Crisis tie-in (even though I did enjoy it).

This is going to be an interesting time to be a comic book fan in general, and a Sueprman fan in particular. I don't know what to expect, which makes me look forward to reading Superman comic books in a way I haven't felt in too long.

My hope is that the relaunched DC Comics, and Sueprman in particular, can reach a new generation, as the Man of Steel has done for the past seven decades. While I am happy with what has become the traditional Superman costume, I'm okay with the new, redesigned Superman costume. I agree with the thought I've heard other comic book podcasters express, that every generation has a right to their version of super heroes, and Superman in particular. Maybe this relaunch can present super heroes in a way that appeals to this modern, younger generation.

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 #49: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, August 31, 2011:

Invincible #82 (Skybound/Image)

This week is between paydays, so I'll have to wait until next week to go to my local comic book shop, Acme Comics in Longwood, Florida. It's a shame, because Invincible is one of my favorite comic book titles.

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.