Metamorpho: Year One #6 of 6

Issue #6 gives the reader a look at Metamorpho's first meeting with the JLA. Here writer Dan Jurgen's reaches into his Silver Age bag of tricks and does a fun job of making the introductions. I remember reading similar stories as a kid in the 70s and totally buying into the actions of the JLA here. As an adult, I can appreciate what Jurgens was shooting for and chuckle at it.

"Metamorph: Year One" was not a ground breaking minseries. It was a bread and butter consolidated retelling of Metamorpho's origin. I believe Jurgens was just looking to tell a good story without making any drastic changes to Metamorpho. He succeeded. However, what is presented here is so in line with canon that you really don't have to read the story. There are no shocking moments where you think, "I didn't know that" or "that was cool". You just get the nuts and bolts here.

Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer: Gotham by Gaslight

In this issue of the challengers search for Ray Palmer, we find them on Earth 19, otherwise known as the Earth from the Elseworld Gotham by Gaslight. Bob explains it best, "A world identical to your Earth during the time period known as the Victorian Era". Of all of the search for Ray Palmer books, I enjoyed this one the most. I didn't read "Gotham by Gaslight" but really liked the characterization of this Earth's Batman and Blue Beetle. Writer Brian Augustyn has fun with all of the characters here and does a good job of moving the team from point A to point B. Of course, once again, Ray Palmer isn't found, but the book is still and enjoyable read. The art by penciller Greg Tocchini and a gaggle of inkers is actually quite consistent and good. Tocchini does an excellent job of conveying both action and emotion.

While not a must read to keep up on all things "Countdown", I found this to be best of the bunch for the Ray Palmer books - faint praise if you've read the other books.

Metamorpho Year One #3 of 6

Since I have "Batman and the Outsiders" on my pull list, my local comics shop thought I'd like to read "Metamorpho Year One" and put it in my box. I probably would not have requested this even if I had known it was coming out, but the fist three issues have been an interesting read. Writer Dan Jurgens is going for an action/adventure flavor instead of straight out superhero action. Rex Mason is portrayed as a handsome adventurer with his eye on the bosses daughter. All of the elements of Metamorpho's origin are here with Rex's boss Simon Stagg playing the villian role and Rex' girlfriend, Sapphire Stagg, playing the confused/mixed feeling girlfriend. The action and intrigue really gets rolling in issue #3 with the addition of Stagg's advesary, Maxwell Tremaine. Mike Norton's pencils and Jesse Delperdang's inks provide good visuals. However, I preferred Jurgen's layouts in the first two issues. Metamorpho is drawn a little too skeletal in the face for my liking as well.

Dan Jurgens has been one of my favorite writers over the years and he his having fun with Metamorpho. While the story is connect the dots as Metamorpho's origin is pretty basic, Jurgen's adds enough action, romance, and intrigue to keep it interesting.