On a big week with some heavy hitters like Blackest Night #5 and Cry for Justice #5, it was Superman: Secret Origin #3 that was the big winner.
Superman: Secret Origin #3 - A+
Our big winner this week. With Geoff Johns staples like Blackest Night and Green Lantern also being released, I had this book picked to finish in 3rd place. But Geoff Johns and Gary Frank (along with a few others) have created an almost perfect comic book. I never get enough of Frank’s Christopher Reeve inspired Superman. But aside from such an iconic vision of Superman himself, Frank also pegs the rest of the cast. Along with classic characters like Lois Lane, the creative team makes minor characters like Ron Troupe feel like they’ve been working in the Daily Planet since 1938.
The only disappointment is that we don’t actually get to see Lex Luthor. But its only a disappointment because I can’t wait to see how Gary Frank does him up right.
The issues greatest highlight was the full page splash of Clark Kent opening his shirt to reveal the Superman logo. I’ll catalogue that page with all the other pages/panels in my comic-reading history that remind me why I love reading them.
Justice League: Cry For Justice #5 - A
5 issues in and I’ve been positive and negative about James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli’s mini-series. Mainly because Robinson’s Hal Jordan is a little different than Geoff Johns. He’s a little meaner and I can’t see the Hal in Green Lantern justifying torture to get his way. Aside from that, its been a really enjoyable book. Cascioli’s art has been top notch and the integration of so many characters, especially all the Z-list villians has been a lot of fun. But this story all clicked into place when someone, we don’t know who, burned the right side of Red Arrow’s body and ripped his arm off at the bicep. A full page spread just as disturbing as Frank’s Clark Kent in Secret Origin was inspiring.
Blackest Night #5 – B
A good solid book. Some great character moments, some humor and some action all worked together, but some slightly predictable moments may have taken away from this issue being as strong as #4.
Wonder Woman #38 – B
This has been a perplexing book. Its not a book that I can’t wait to read every month and its by no means a book I plan on dropping. Its always intruiging and entertaining, and whether its Aaron Lopresti or Bernard Chang, it always looks beautiful. Though there seems to be something missing that’s preventing this book from entering my top echelon of books.
The Dark Tower: Fall of Gilead #6 – B
If I had to pick a favorite artist, it would probably be in the vein of Ivan Reis or Gary Frank. Traditional superhero artwork. But Jae Lee has been more of a driving force on this book than I ever thought. The rest of the creative team has remained, and Richard Isanove has done an admirable job aping Lee’s style, but its just not Jae Lee. This has easily been the strongest issue as a whole since Lee left the series chief art duties.
Green Lantern #48 - B-
As a hardcore Green Lantern/Geoff Johns fan, it pains me that this is a B- book. But I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I gave it a good grade based on favoritism. While we learned some interesting things, like Sayd pledging herself to Larfleeze for his help, or the Indigo Tribe’s connection to Abin Sur, the overall review of this book was kind of “eh.” It was more of a setup book for Blackest Night #5 than anything.
Justice League of America #39 – C
This issue was a Blackest Night tie in, but this book still feels really disjointed from everything else in the DCU. The McDuffie/Milestone really balled up the flow of this book and is still suffering. Robinson and Bagley are on the right track, but they still have some repairs to make.
Superman #694 – D
A throw away issue. I’ve really been a big supporter of this entire Superman saga/crossover/event/thing, but this issue just wasn’t necessary. I don’t really need to know why Mon-El is wearing a new suit. I would have liked the relationship between Mon and Connor to be a little more awkward. All of a sudden they’re buddies, but you don’t see how that happens.
Teen Titans #77 – F
Its been 3 days since I read this issue and I don’t even remember what happened in it. Oh yeah, the Deathstroke issue. I guess it might be important to see how Jericho is coming back, but I guess I’m just tired of all the Wilson family drama. I’d rather Deathstroke just kick some ass instead of dragging all this family baggage around with him. I do want to make it known that this is no fault of J.T. Krul. I’ve enjoyed his books so far, but I’m just tired of the Wilson drama.
-Gint
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