HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
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ALL STAR SUPERMAN #10, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison; Art by Frank Quitely and Jamie Grant; Cover by Quitely

Great series - terrible shipping schedule. It is amazing that DC still tries to push this as a bi-monthly book, but it just never seems to happen. Issue #9 came out in November, about 4 months ago. #11 is slated for May, but it will be in July if this trend continues.

The only thing that is keeping this book from true greatness is its release schedule. Patient fans will wait the extra months, but most fans aren’t patient, especially when you have to be constantly on guard for the unexpected release of a new issue. In every other way this is probably the best Superman title in ages - you can bet you will enjoy it if you should decide to give it a chance.

GREEN LANTERN #29, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns; Art by Ivan Reis and Oclair Albert

I guess origin retelling has become something of a necessary evil - but I must admit that my eyes roll every time I see it. This issue starts a brand new arc in which we will revisit the origin of Hal Jordan. No idea if this is a strict retelling, or if the story is meant to uncover some previously “unseen” aspect that will have some future impact on the character. Likely the latter - as is usually the case with these.

The gimmick is overused, but Johns is building on an outstanding run, and really does deserve the benefit of the doubt. We shall have to see where this one goes.

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #40, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Jim Shooter; Art and Cover by Francis Manapul and John Livesay

Really, so far, so good. Shooter has gotten right into the flow on his young run on the Legion, and is doing a bang up job. There are a lot of people who were waiting to hear how he would do on this title before diving in - he seems to have a good handle on it. This issue is the first of a new story arc - time to get aboard. Should be solid, and especially safe for those who have steered clear from the Legion for a while now.

MS MARVEL #25, $3.99, Marvel Comics
Written by Brian Reed, Art by Adriana Reed and Chris Sotomayor

This title kind of makes me think “The Little Comic That Could.” For a long time this book was savaged by readers, mostly due to Ms. Marvel’s - for lack of a better term - outrageous costume. Comics get a lot of flak for their presentation of female heroes (Not undeservingly), and this title seemed like another high profile example of that. To make matters worse, the focus of the opening issues seemed to be solely on Carol’s worries over her image - a frivolous concern to say the least, which made things all the worse. But the characters have been strong, and the writing was great for an action title, the art outstanding, and over the last couple of years, this title has grown to be a pretty solid addition to the Marvel line-up. This issue is an extra-sized “anniversary” issue, doubling as a Secret Invasion warm-up. There are many worse titles you could add to your list this week.

TEEN TITANS #57, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by Sean McKeever; Art and Cover by Eddy Barrows and Rob Hunter

What is the first sign that a writer has really hit his stride on a title? You get excited when you see the next issue is coming out this week. That is where McKeever finally is on Teen Titans, and it is wonderful to see. This is the Teen Titans we always hoped he would write, but feared we would never see when he first took on the title. It has become a joy to read this title again, and that is something Teen Titans has been missing for a long, long time. The art ain’t too shabby either. The sooner you start buying this title, the better.

ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #4 (OF 5), $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Orson Scott Card, Art by Pasqual Ferry and Dean White.

Card’s second Ultimate Iron Man mini comes to a close this week - a little shorter than the last one, but considering the story, it probably works better that way. The story overall has been tighter this time around, thanks largely to the lack of time jumps (last one, if you will recall, featured a good part of Tony Stark’s childhood), but it isn’t entirely certain that this one will have any more concrete an ending. Last one just seemed to end, the story picking up this time around right where the last one ended, instead of having things all tied up at the conclusion. This time - while that is a hope, things do not seem to be going in that direction. It has the feeling of an ongoing - perhaps there is another one in the works?

WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #1, $2.99, 32 Pages, Marvel Comics
Written by Fred Van Lente, Art by Andrea Di Vito and Laura Villari

Jeff Parker’s X-Men First Class concept worked well, so why not try it for the “Second Class?” Of course, it is tagged Wolverine probably for the name value (and Second Class probably didn’t sound as flattering), but that is all marketing. This title will feature the “international” X-Men class that we first saw in 1975: Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, and Nightcrawler, along with Kitty Pride (which would suggest that this doesn’t start at their beginning with the X-Men, since she didn’t come along until later). The First Class concept has proved to be a good one - let’s hope Van Lente can make it work a second time.

SPOTLIGHT PICK OF THE WEEK

BLUE BEETLE #25, $2.99, 32 Pages, DC Comics
Written by John Rogers; Art and Cover by Rafael Albuquerque

Sadly, this looks to be John Rogers’ last issue of Blue Beetle for some time. DC is spinning it as a “break,” which means he may well come back to the title someday, but no day soon. Issue #36 is set as a Spanish Language issue, and #27 starts Will Pfeifer’s guest stint.

Rogers will be missed. He really elevated this title to greatness, and having him leave right when this title is really starting to establish itself is a real blow. Pfiefer is a good man to carry the torch - he did well on Aquaman and Catwoman, but it is always tough to let go after a run like this. If it ain’t broke, after all.

Issue #25 should be a solid issue. Worth checking out, if only so you finally know what you missed for 2 years…

DC COMICS

ALL STAR SUPERMAN #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
AUTHORITY PRIME #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #15 $2.99 Now: $2.69
BLUE BEETLE #25 $2.99 Now: $2.59
COUNTDOWN LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #8 (OF 8) $3.99 Now: $3.49
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 5 $2.99 Now: $2.59
GREEN LANTERN #29 $2.99 Now: $2.69
JSA CLASSIFIED #36 $2.99 Now: $2.69
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #40 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NIGHTWING THE LOST YEAR TP $14.99 Now: $11.99
SECRET HISTORY AUTHORITY JACK HAWKSMOOR #1 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SPIRIT #15 $2.99 Now: $2.59
TEEN TITANS #57 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #6 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #5 $2.99 Now: $2.69

DEVIL’S DUE

DRAFTED #6 $3.50 Now: $2.99
SHEENA #5 $3.50 Now: $3.19

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #4 $3.50 Now: $2.99

IDW

ROGUE ANGEL TELLER OF TALES #2 $3.99 Now: $3.49

IMAGE COMICS

SAVAGE DRAGON #135 $2.99 Now: $2.59
SPAWN #176 $2.95 Now: $2.69

MARVEL COMICS

DAREDEVIL #106 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ESSENTIAL OFF HB MARVEL UNIV MASTER ED TP VOL 01 $16.99 Now: $13.99
GHOST RIDER TP TRAIL OF TEARS $14.99 Now: $11.99
HULK #2 2ND PTG MCGUINNESS VAR $2.99 Now: $2.69
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #34 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #11 $2.99 Now: $2.59
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED PICTURE DORIAN GRAY #4 (OF 6) $2.99 Now: $2.59
MIGHTY AVENGERS #11 $2.99 Now: $2.69
MS MARVEL #25 $3.99 Now: $3.49
NEW AVENGERS #39 $2.99 Now: $2.69
NEW UNIVERSAL TP EVERYTHING WENT WHITE $14.99 Now: $11.99
POWER PACK DAY ONE #1 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
SHE-HULK 2 #27 $2.99 Now: $2.69
SPIDER-MAN PREM HC ONE MORE DAY $24.99 Now: $15.99
SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #3 (OF 5) $3.99 Now: $3.49
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #52 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE HUMAN #3 (OF 4) $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE IRON MAN II #4 (OF 5) $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #120 $2.99 Now: $2.69
ULTIMATE X-MEN #92 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #1 $2.99 Now: $2.69
WORLD WAR HULK AFTERSMASH DAMAGE CONTROL #3 (OF 3) $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #10 $2.99 Now: $2.69
X-MEN LEGACY #209 $2.99 Now: $2.69

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE

It has been a number of years since we saw those “colors” minis (Spider-Man Blue, Hulk Gray, and Daredevil Yellow), but along with Tim Sale’s Marvel Exclusive, we are getting a fourth installment of this concept - Captain America: White. Of course, they say they planned 4 all along, but what’s a little marketing spin between friends? This series looks as if it is going to take a grittier look at Captain America and Bucky’s story in World War II than we are used to. Not a bad approach - things were so rosy in Cap’s early days, despite the Nazi menace. They left out the whole “War is Hell” aspect. Seeing that inserted back into the Captain America saga should prove to be a good read.

ALL STAR #1?

According to the February 2008 comic sales figures, DC had exactly one issue breach the top ten: All Star Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder #9. What? OK, I know that hype sometimes drives comic sales, and despite the horrific nature of this book (and it really is that bad), it would sell well. But the most sales for DC? Over Justice League? Justice Society? Countdown? Any Superman or mainstream Batman book?

You wonder why, sometimes, your comics aren’t as good as you might like? Why publishers seem strangely insistent on pushing the strangest things? Here is your answer! When the top selling DC book is All Star Batman, it is a wonder that the whole DC line-up hasn’t become an affront to the Superhero genre. I guess the time to stop blaming the publishers is long past. We all vote with our wallets after all. If someone can explain why this title is better than Justice League of America from any perspective, it would be great to hear!

NOTE: Opinions here may not reflect those of X-World Comics LLC or it’s staff and are solely the opinions of the writer.

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