Countdown to Adventure #6 of 8

"Countdown to Adventure" just kicks ass. It is a fun, action packed story. Writer Adam Beechen has some strong woman in this issue. All of the significant others and a warrior princess prove strong here. Beechen has done a great job of building this story over the last six issues and has me looking forward to a great climax. I liked this trio in "52" and the extended story here hasn't changed that. Penciller Allan Goldman is in fine form here and does great work. His women are strong and sexy without being slutty and he's guys aren't always striking a pose.

If you haven't been getting the monthlies, you should pick this up when it comes out in TPB.

The Twelve #1 of 12

I missed this one last week, but caught a few of the reviews out there for it. "The Twelve" follows twelve World War II era heroes that are awakened from suspended animation in 2008. The events occur in the post-Civil War Marvel Universe as well. In reading reviews on the internet, I had heard that this story might be similar to Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and decided to check it out. As luck would have it my LCS had a couple of copies left when I went for my weekly comics run.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski provides a good setup here. I'm not up to speed on my WWII Marvel superheroes but I believe all of the ones presented here are original. The narrator is Dick Jones - the Phantom Reporter. Dressed like the DC's Phantom Stranger without any powers, he provides the reader's view into this story. I like the tone set here and Chris Weston's character designs are good. Each character of the twelve looks like the could have stepped out of some WWII comic.

The last panel of the book is the reason most cited for the "Watchmen" comparison and I can see why. However, the tone set here really isn't like Moore's creation. I haven't decided whether I'm going to buy the whole series in monthlies or wait for the TPB, but I am intrigued.

Action Comics #861

We have reached part four of the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" arc and the paces slows down a bit for some exposition. The pacing over the first four issues has run hot and cold with the feeling that Geoff Johns may be stretching this into six issues. As a stand alone issue, this issue provides more background and catching up than action. The cover is a bit misleading and doesn't really match what is happening inside the book. Johns really has Superman's voice down and the Legion's reaction when Superman steps into an argument is quite good. Of all of them, I like Johns' Polar Boy the best. Artist Gary Frank continues to do some good work here. The "dead eye" critique mentioned in my last review is somewhat addressed here. It is interesting that Frank's Braniac-5's eyes are full of life while his Superman sometimes get that dead/crack head stare going.

If you've been wondering what is going on with Braniac-5 and what the plan is, this issue begins to answer those questions. It looks like next issue may go into the background of the JLE with part six providing the action-packed climax.

Countdown to Final Crisis #13

The fight between Prime and Monarch continues in issue #13 with the excellent line from Prime of "I'll kill you! I'll kill you to death!" One can only hope that Dini and company were going for a good joke here as it comes across very funny. Prime is really an idiot. Prime also gets to shout out "I am not a boy! I'm a man! Man!" If that were only followed by "Baby". Are the writers poking fun at the Superboy issue here? Probably so and it is funny. We stay on Earth-51 for this issue and by the explosive ending we probably won't be coming back too soon. It looks like Apokolips is the current destination and with that a return to Jimmy Olsen and the Amazon/Granny Goodness connection I would think.

This issue doesn't advance the story much but does provide some good visuals. If you're tired of death in the DCU, then bypass this one. Jason Todd keeps the Red Robin uniform as the traveling four Ray, Kyle, Donna, and Jason head off to the Source. No other story lines are updated here.

Not the best issue of the series but no where near the bottom of the bunch either.

The Pull List - January 23, 2008

Looks like a DC week with no Marvel or Image books on my pull list coming out:

ACTION COMICS #861
BATMAN #673
BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #6 (OF 6)
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6 (OF 8)
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 13
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5 (OF 8)
GREEN LANTERN #27

Lots of good stuff here with "Green Lantern" and "Action Comics" topping the list. Both books written by Geoff Johns have been very good lately. I'm also looking forward to the conclusion of Peter Tomasi's Black Adam miniseries. What is the magic word? Maybe will find out this issue. Will Grant Morrison keep my attention with "Batman"? His "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" didn't thrill me. The final three are all Countdown related. As we near the beginning of "Final Crisis" the Countdown books have been getting better. We'll see if Starlin can build some more excitement in regarding the demise of Kirby's New Gods.

I'd really like to know when Kirkman is going to get over his holiday hangover and get some of his books back out. January was a Kirkaverse dry month and I'm itching for some new "Invincible", "Brit", "Astounding Wolfman", and "The Walking Dead". The pages over on his website Kirkmania for these titles just makes me want to get them in my hands more.

Capes Volume 1 TPB

Continuing to meet my son's "Kirkmanina" decree, I picked up the "Capes" TPB. "Capes" follows the story of Capes, Inc. a hero-for-hire type company. Robert Kirkman was going for funny in this series and the comedy seems forced at times. You can tell that this is early work from Kirkman. While Kirkman was already putting out "Invincible" and "Tech Jacket", "Capes" is not up to even the lesser "Tech Jacket"'s standard. The story is pretty light and fun with some interesting Kirkman-twists along the way. It does have some funny moments and I liked Bolt and some of the players, but the concept didn't seem like enough to support an ongoing series. I think this team serves as a good backup to any of the Kirkaverse titles out there.

Blue Beetle #23

"Blue Beetle" continues to sit a top my list of most fun reads each month. Writer John Rogers has done an excellent job of presenting Jaime's character growth over the last year's worth of issues. Artist Rafael Albuquerque has grown into an good artist as well and I'm always put of when he's not on board this title. Albuquerque captures the "Blue Beetle" vibe for me. Rogers tips his hat to all of the Ted Kord Blue Beetle fans out there with his pinup of "W.W.T.K.D" over Jaime's strategy board on the first page. Rogers' incorporation of the Blue Beetle legacy characters is outstanding. You really get the feel that Jaime respects the legacy. The first half of this issue is discussion and strategy with the last half implementing the strategy. Rogers has Jaime showing his growth utilizing the Blue Beetle armor and looking good doing it.

There's a lot going on in this issue and quite a few surprises. Issue #23 continues the streak of fun and exciting reads for this title. Even if you are a die-hard Ted Kord fan, hop on the Jaime bus for a few issues, you won't regret it.

Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #5 of 8

The opening scene of "Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters" #5 proves once again this this book is written for mature readers. The beginning of this issue focuses, somewhat, on the Human Bomb and I like what writer's Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are doing with the character. The Red Bee's story continues to evolve as it impacts various members of the team. Palmiotti and Gray must have been given some form of free reign with these characters because they have no problem providing some shocking outcomes with them. I liked seeing the return of the Ray's dad in uniform and his attitude about all of this. Renator Arlem's art is the perfect match for the tone set here and reflects the bleak nature of the circumstances.

The miniseries continues to be interesting, but it would be nice to have it in TPB form to read it all eight issues in one sitting.

Countdown to Mystery #5 of 8

The Eclispo story stays front and center in this issue and I really enjoyed it. Now that the story is focusing on Spectre and Bruce Gordon, I have to say that the it is way more interesting. Bruce Gordon is a bit nuts and the Spectre has a hard time dealing with his insanity. Chad Hardin takes over the penciling duties for this story and does a fine job here. I think Dan Brown's coloring really makes the story pop and provides just the right mood.

Over in the backup story, Dr. Kent Nelson continues to loose his mind as he deals with the death of Inza and his dealings with Dr. Fate's helmet. I like how writer Steve Gerber takes a side trip with the "KillHead" comic by Inza Fox. I'm hoping that spending this time on Inza means that she will be returning to Dr. Fate's side. This story continues to be interesting and I like how Gerber has setup the character of Dr. Nelson.

I like what DC is doing with both Dr. Fate and Eclipso. Both of the characters have been rebooted as interesting, conflicted individuals. I think both will go a long way to upping the readability of DC's magic stories if used properly.

Tech Jacket Volume 1 TPB

In an attempt to fulfill the decree of my son to get all of writer Robert Kirman's Image output, I happened upon "Tech Jacket". "Tech Jacket" predated the premiere of both "Invincible" and "The Walking Dead" and was Kirkman's first creator-owned output from Image. It should also be noted that "Tech Jacket" predates DC's current version of Blue Beetle as the similarities in both execution and tone are interesting. The whole time I was reading this book I kept making comparisons to "Blue Beetle". While "Tech Jacket" didn't grab me as much as Kirkman's "Invincible" did, it was a fun read. Kirkman mixes in tidbits from other superheroes including Green Lantern, Iron Man, X-O Manowar, and others and makes what could be a generic superhero book an interesting read. In Invincible's initial adventures, Kirkman kept the character on Earth. Here Kirkman gets the hero off planet for the the six-issue arc. The covers for issues #7 and #8 are in the TPB and I would have liked to read those issues. Of note, the art here by E.J. Su is different than what you see in Kirkman's current series. It has a slight manga-feel to it without being overdone. I think it fit with the tone of the series.

Kirkman has come a long way with his dialogue since he published these stories. Some of the dialogue comes off as rushed and clunky. However, the story is pretty good. You can see Kirkman laying the seeds for future stories along the way. I hope the Kirkman revisits this character. I'd like to see him team up with Invincible or Brit in their series.

Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood #1-4 of 5

Back in the day, I read the original "Question" series and really liked it. It was good to catch up with the character when he was brought into "52". I wasn't so attached to him as I had been out of comics for so long and his demise in that series didn't affect me much. I did, however, grow to like the Rene Montoya character. Now, I didn't have a burning need to read any further adventures of her, but when my LCS put this miniseries in my box, I decided to try it out. I haven't read much of Greg Rucka's work either and he's dealing with some "Se7en" type stuff here. I was reading issue #2 "Lust" at my son's wrestling meet and had to hide it from the moms in attendance. This miniseries is definitely for adults only. The art is a bit uneven but matches Rucka's tone. As the story progresses I've worried a bit about the new Question's place in all of this. Hopefully with issue #5 we can see her come out on top if not unscathed.

At this point, it would be best if you just waited for the TPB. I think the collected edition along with some extras might be a better fit for this type of series.

Wonder Woman #16

Part Three of "The Circle" is quite an excellent read. Writer Gail Simone has come on strong on "Wonder Woman" and is reestablishing the title character as one badass warrior. The flashback sequences to Diana's birth are very good. The script for these sequences is nicely handled. Simone has presented a powerful image of Wonder Woman and I like the direction that she is taking her. The Dodsons' along with help from Ron Randall elevate Simone's writing with their portrayal of Diana and company. This is the way to present a female superhero. The Dodsons' Wonder Woman is both powerful and sexy without looking like something out of Maxim magazine.

I was wavering on dropping "Wonder Woman" but Simone has pulled me back in. If DC editorial stays out of the way and lets Simone tell good stories, I'm on for the long haul.

Teen Titans #55

One panel into "Teen Titans" #55 and the Titans are down one major player. Writer Sean McKeever begins to make his mark on the team beginning this issue. The first story arc was an editorial mandate story and he did a fine job with it. Now, McKeever takes a breath with this issue and starts building to what he has planned for the team. More on that over at Newsrama. This issue picks up the pieces from the "Titans Tomorrow" story line and lays out where all of the team are. I'm not sure whether I care about the hooking up of Cassie and Tim. It somewhat mirrors what was going on between Nightwing and Starfire in the original series and seems a bit of a retread. Hopefully that plot line will go away. I do like the playfulness of Ravager and how she screws with the opposite sex. It's affects on a young Kid Devil, however, might not be so nice. I'll go along with what McKeever is working on Miss Martian but I'd really like to see that character go somewhere other than dark. You have Ravager, Kid Devil, and Miss Martian all dealing with dark personalities and that is just a little too much. I like the addition (or not) of Blue Beetle. Jaime is a great character and brings fresh eyes to this franchise. I like having him hang around.

Sean McKeever is a good writer and I'm hoping that he can return this title to prominence with solid story telling and characterization. DC needs to stop the carousel of artist on this series and stick with one team. Jamal Igle does a decent job here but I'm not sure he's fully up to the task either. With Dan Didio now serving as editor, here's hoping that a top art team is assigned and Didio stays out of McKeever's way and lets him tell good stories.

JLA Classified #51

For those of you out there that want to see Barry Allen as the Flash, Arthur Curry as Aquaman, and a classic representation of Oliver Queen, then this is your book. Writer Roger Stern goes old school with the JLA this issue going back to when the team was just forming its identity. It is a classic lineup with Black Canary, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Martian Manhunter alongside the previously mentioned heroes. Both Superman and Batman also make a showing. Stern provides a good story with a powerful protagonist and a good reason for the JLA to get involved. John Byrne's penciling is top notch providing good characterization and detailed panels. Mark Farmer handles inking Byrne's pencils quite well. While the alien bad guy looks a bit silly, he comes across as very powerful due both the Stern's direction and Byrne's depiction of him in action.

I was very satisfied with this issue. Both Stern and Byrne are a power team and really compliment each other here. I should note that my LCS owner commented that he was selling more "JLA Classified" now and he wondered why. When I pointed out the team of Stern and Byrne he nodded his head in agreement. It is good to see that the comic buying public doesn't forget the greats.

Superman/Batman #45

I am enjoying writer Michael Green's "Search for Kryptonite" arc. While the issue #44 served as a prelude, this issue finds Superman, Batman, and a few friends spanning the globe scooping up all of the K that is out there. I was very impressed with penciller Shane Davis and inker Matt Banning's art. From the design of Superman's protective armor to toyman's ride, Davis does a fantastic job. I especially liked his take on the new Aquaman. This is my first story involving this character and I liked Green's take on him. Green poses some interesting questions towards the end of the issue and I like where he is going with these characters.

The last two issues have been the best Superman/Batman in quite a while.

Countdown to Final Crisis #14

"Countdown to Final Crisis" is getting better as we wind down. While a few threads have been left alone - Jimmy Olsen, Holly & Harley, Mary Marvel, and, thankfully, Piper & Trickster, this issue continues to focus on Earth-51 and the battle raging there. This is an action packed issue as all of the players on Earth-51 are involved in one battle or another. The Earth-51 Batman/Jason Todd thread was very interesting providing the best splash page of the series. I don't much care for the Jason Todd character but the costume that he wears on Earth-51 is quite nice. Dini and company keep the pace up and move the Earth-51 story along. However, the Ray Palmer story seems to be petering out. The art is very good here. My only quibble is still the sudden aging of Prime. He looks a bit older than he was just six months ago. I guess maiming and killing will do that to you.

While this story is moving a head at full speed, the other threads of Countdown are hanging in the breeze. It will be interesting to see how Dini ties all this up in just 13 more issues.

Marvel Zombies 2 #4 of 5

I can feel the stretch in this issue. What has been up until this issue a tight and interesting miniseries, writer Robert Kirkman slows the story down just enough to make this miniseries reach five issues. I hope this wasn't done to make a better collected TPB. After the reveal of Colonel America in the last issue, this issue doesn't really advance the plot very much. It bordered on being a boring, pedestrian read. At the end of this issue, Kirkman has almost painted himself into a corner, leaving not much left to say. Hopefully the last issue will be a bit more interesting with some true Kirkman twists and turns added in.

Catwoman #75

I don't read "Catwoman". However, in perusing my LCS new comics rack I saw that "Catwoman" #75 was a "Salvation Run" tie-in. Having seen Catwoman fighting alongside the Outsiders in "Batman & the Outsiders", I was wondering how she ended up being sent off planet. After a recap of the events of "Salvation Run" #2, we catch up with Catwoman and Lex Luthor on the jail planet. The question that I have to address is

Is this comic required reading for "Salvation Run"? The answer is No. It provides a good side story involving Catwoman and some of the major players but it isn't critical reading for the miniseries.

It is a decent read and does provide some good character moments. I liked David Lopez's art and thought he did a good job of capturing all of the villains present here. Will Pfeifer's story serves as a connect-the-dots story to explain Catwoman's absence from the main miniseries after her arrival with Lex Luthor. He does a good job of getting Catwoman from A-to-B. The final splash page make me want to get Part 2 of this to see where Catwoman landed and what was going on.

For the long term, this issue didn't impress me enough to put this on my pull list.

Legion of Super-Heroes #38

I'm hooked! Jim Shooter's return to "Legion of Super-Heroes" has breathed new life into the book. After such a long absence from writing these characters combined with all the restarts and reboots, I thought it would take Shooter 4-6 issues to get back up to speed. This was not the case. Shooter has hit the ground running and has captured each member's characterization. The art by Francis Manapul is the cherry on top of the Shooter sundae. Manipul produces some nice pages giving a lot of detail. This first arc is moving forward quickly and is setting up new characters, new situations, and future plot lines along the way.

This is the way to come back to a title. Take note, Shooter is in full form here.

BRIT TPB Vol. 1 and #1-3

Robert Kirkman continues to expand upon his Kirkmanverse with the addition of the monthly "BRIT". Brit is a very old, invulnerable government operative. The TPB collects three one-shots and presents them for the first time in color. I enjoyed the TPB as Kirkman pulls out the stops and just has fun riffing with the character. It took a while for Kirkman to put together the monthly with all of his time spent on writing three Image monthlies and quite a few other books over at Marvel. Instead of writing this one Kirkman steps up as editor and has handed the writing chores over to Bruce Brown. Brown does a fine job of developing Brit's extended family in the first three issues and does some unusual things with the character. I like the interactions between Don and Brit's sister and the action is non-stop. Cliff Rathburn the cover colorist and gray tone artist of "The Walking Dead", provides very nice art here. He captures the action nicely.

"BRIT" is a fine addition to the Kirkmanverse and my pull list. I just hope that Kirkman can keep the output level up with now four Image monthlies coming from him.