JSA All-Stars #5

This is another of those comics that I want to like more than I do. I generally enjoy Matt Sturges' books, but there is something missing from this title to put it over the top. The cast is great, some of the best JSAers are here (notably Power Girl, Hourman, and the new King Chimera is great), but I'm just not wrapped up in the story the way I am in the other JSA book.

This issue has Stargirl lost in another dimension with Atom Smasher, and they continue to grow closer despite their age difference. Of course, I think that the villain Johnny Sorrow is disguised as Atom Smasher, leaving the real Smasher tied up or captured somewhere. Actually, maybe if Atom Smasher joined the team full time it might help the dynamics. They have enough bricks power-wise, but they could use the personality.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team defeats the otherworldly King of Tears (a Cthullian beastie) with the help of a gunslinging sorceress. She actually captures the King in a bullet casing... very weird. Perhaps this gal will join the team too, and that might help shape things up. Right now, too many cast members are generic voices that don't really add to the dynamics. Citizen Steel, Sand, Wildcat II, even the aforementioned Hourman and Power Girl don't usually bring any unique perspective to the comic. The clearest personalities are Cyclone, Star Girl, and King Chimera, so it is no surprise they are the most interesting.

Freddie Williams brings back the window in PG's costume, but it's not too bad. He does a nice job on the main team sequences, but I sometimes found the other dimensional stuff a bit hard to follow. Of course, that is probably on purpse, it is supposed to be an extended dream sequence.

Fair

Invincible Returns #1

Hrm. Too bad this is the standard cover, I would have liked to grab the Erik Larsen one.

I find it amusing that this is a new reader-friendly issue, and yet as a regular reader, I feel like I missed an issue. Has this been delayed or something? I totally forgot that Atom Eve was telling anyone about her delicate condition. And come to think of it, Robert Kirkman never explains just who she's talking to. This is supposed to be new reader friendly but I think it helps to have some background in the title. Cecil Stedman, DA Sinclair, Hard Rock, heck, this book is packed with old plot points and storylines. The plot doesn't even move forward that much, this mainly is sa check-out point for Invincible as he leaves Earth. As I said, I know what's going on, but I worry about those elusive new readers.

The Viltrumite War is already here, wow. It sort of feels like Conquest just ended. I feel bad for Invincible having to head out into yet another blood fest. Allen the Alien and Tech Jacket should lighten the mood though, so I'm happy they are coming along. I'm thrilled to see that the Guardians of the Globe are getting a mini, that should be a ton of fun.

Ryan Ottley has surpassed Cory Walker as "THE" Invincible artist. The backup story seemed off and odd, like it didn't fit in the Invincible universe, and Walker was the original artist for this book! Ottley has the blend down perfectly for this title; blood, action, and babes.

Fair

Batman & Robin #11

Grant Morrison doesn't pack quite so many mad ideas into this one, but he still does pretty well. I believe that's the Black Glove making his triumphant return to Gotham, so I'm hoping that Bruce Wayne can return in time to deliver a well-deserved beating.

Oberon Sexton can't be Bruce Wayne. Too obvious, although he might well be a great new character on his own. He looks iconic on the Frank Quitely cover, and he certainly holds his own inside the book. The demonology-based villains are fun, but the high point for me is seeing who is going to be steering Damian. Grant Morrison has not used a lot of established characters in his run, but I'm keen to see his take on Deathstroke the Terminator. Deathstroke really is NightBats' main enemy, so it makes sense that they should get to square off somehow.

So the big question is, what did NightBats find in under the Wayne family cemetary? I'm sure it is a clue about Bruce Wayne, but I don't have any idea what it could be.

Andy Clarke should take his place as a regular Batman artist. He's got the chops for it. His detail and figurework are tremendous.

Good

The Goon vol 7: A Place of Heartache and Grief

Damn, Eric Powell is fantastic. It amuses me that a writer who infuses so much oddity in his work can still deliver the drama and angst that makes the Goon work so well. I mean, one issue of this trade opens with a deformed cat talking with a deformed monkey. They look totally ridiculous and funny, but damn if it wasn't an ominous scene anyway. Another contrast is how the Goon is heading off to blow up a cursed burlesque house inhabited by evil bird women, but he's distracted on the way by a gigantic mutant transvestite that needs killin'. I mean, that is just crazy, right? So this is a humor book. So why am I so distressed when the Goon's gypsy friend is gunned down in the street my zombies? This book gives you a dash of everything and it totally works.

Things are getting serious at this point too. The Goon, Franky, and the rest of the gang are pretty established as the top guys in town. The kids love them, everyone owes them money, and they've taken care of the zombie problem on Lonely Street. So that's why it is so ominous that a strange foreign priest has shown up and rededicated the local forces of evil to take out the Goon. And since they have the power to take out a gypsy and then negate the scrying of another, these guys are not to be trifled with. I love the callback to Dr. Alloy too, he is in jail to control his homicidal tendencies, but he's still helping out the Goon with some sweet walkie-talkies.

Eric Powell's strengths as an artist are well known. He draws horrific monsters and zombies, animation style violence, and great dames. His work has such a great mix of pencil and painted, these issues are beautiful to look at.

Good

Superman: New Krypton vol 2 HC

Let me start by saying I don't like the idea of a whole city of Supermen flying around. It negates Superman's coolness, and by having him basically follow Alura and the rest of the Kryptonian leadership around, he's been reduced to a guy who seems to do nothing except say "Yeah, but!" and "You can't do that!" all the time. The story in this collection is powered by Alura Zor El and General Lane, Superman is basically a tag along.

There are some great moments, but even these don't deliver quite as well as they could. I love the idea of the Kryptonians taking out Supes' rogues gallery and banishing them to the Phantom Zone. Having human cops die while guarding those cons is a great move too, as is bringing in the JSA and JLA to confront the Kryptonians about what they've done. When things break down (as they had to) I loved seeing Hawkman, Mr. Terrific, and the others try to hold their own against thousands of Supermen. But if you are doing something like that, make it BIG. Bring in EVERYONE. Where was Shadowpact? Where was the rest of the JLA and JSA? This could practically support a mini-series, so the encounter felt a tad rushed to me.

The cameos in this are pretty fun, although I vastly prefer Tim Truman's Creature Commandos to the ones Geoff Johns re-introduces here. And hoo boy, I'm mad that James Robinson remembered Agent Liberty. I knew when he first showed up that he fit the bill for one of Robinson's dramatic kills, and I was right. Liberty spends the whole trade crawling around some vents. He's immediately killed the moment he gets out. I know he's not a classic character or anything, but why not just make up some new cannon fodder?

I do like the development of New Krypton as its own planet, so I'll get the next trade from the library too, but man, I really need Superman to take a more active hand in the proceedings.
I do like the Superman house style these days. Pete Woods, Renato Guedes and Jamal Igle have a great balance between Silver Age design and modern realism.

Fair

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #5

Hoo boy, Medusa is in danger of becoming a full-time villain. Meanwhile, Ronan the Accuser has mellowed out to the point that I'd say you can't call him a villain anymore. All it took was the affections of Crystal and the guy becomes a pussycat! DnA explain that all the troubles up to this issue have been the result of Medusa and Maximus' meddling as they attempt to endear the Inhumans to their Kree subjects. Medusa has a plan to put her people at the top of the food chain that is downright evil, and when Gorgon gets too big for his britches, she puts him in his place by beating the crap out of him. There are a lot of fun character developments here, but since the story sort of swoops in to the conclusion of the Imperial Guard mini, this probably wasn't entirely necessary. If you're a fan of the Inhumans, I'd recommend this just for the spotlight that Triton and Gorgon get, they usually are more background characters. I do need to see Ronan smash someone with his hammer soon.

The art has a hilariously jarring change halfway through the issue. Pablo Ramiondi picks up for a few pages here and there, and the art is clear and understated, as he always tends to be. Tim Seely provides a few pages with the added consequence of an increase in chest circumference for every female in the book. Crystal swelled so alarmingly I had to jump to the credits to see what happened.

Fair

Justice Society of America #37

Man! I do love these alternate future stories, especially when they're tied in to a nice current story like this one is. Bill Willingham has been a favorite of mine for awhile, and I'm loving his Mr. Terrific-centric take on the JSA. The Fourth Reich got the drop on the heroes last issue, but that doesn't last long, as the combo of toughness and smarts on the current team enables them to take out all but one or two of the Nazi superteam. The Veil of War kind of cheats, activating a powerful power-dampening device that leads to a victory for the bad guys. It seems they never lose again, since the other half of the story is Mr. Terrific leading a resistance in the future, days before his execution. We get glimpses of Blue Beetle IV, Superman, Batman, Oliver Queen, and a reference of Blue Devil (a Willingham fave from Shadowpact), so this is shaping up to be a nice little DCU-wide story next issue.

The high point of the issue had to be the Kid Karnevil Dr. Mid-Nite fight though. I won't spoil, but I'll give you a hint how it goes; the fight takes place in the dark where one of the combatants has a distinct advantage.

Jesus Merino is a solid super-hero artist at this point. I like his aged takes on the heroes and everyone looks good and dashing in the present. I'm also starting to come around on Lightning's design, she is rather unique looking.

Good