Action Comics #857 — Writers: Geoff Johns and Richard Donner; Artist: Eric Powell
This is worth it just for the cover, which features the Bizarro Justice League and am gloriously sick and wrong (it looks like some early-Mad parody as drawn by a drunken Wally Wood). The insides don’t quite live up (or down) to it, but the Powell art carries it through nicely, and the end result — we’re back to the square Bizarro World, watched over by Bizarro #1 and populated by weird dopplegangers of the Superman cast who aren’t capable of using the correct form of the verb “to be” — feels just about perfect.
Doktor Sleepless #3 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Art: Ivan Rodriguez
Worth reading, although after three issues the title character hasn’t developed much of a personality yet — he’s a little too much of a mouthpiece for Ellis’s research into tulpas and other weird Carlos Casteneda-type fantasy crap (by this time in Transmetropolitan, say, we knew quite a bit about who Spider Robinson was, and what kind of havok he was likely to wreak). There’s more than enough reason to hang around and see what develops, though.
Thunderbolts #117 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr.
Here’s Ellis in straight superhero mode, and he shows how casually good he is at it: One scene with Robby talking to Doc Samson does more to put his problems into perspective, and make sympathetic sense of his motivations, than an entire Penance mini-series. With serious super-villain maintenance problems about to erupt next issue, this looks like a ringside seat for some of Marvel’s best action/adventure writing this side of World War Hulk.
Streets of Glory #2 — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Mike Wolfer
Minor-key Ennis, as he plays with Western tropes like the rube, the old flame who looks like a schoolmarm, the half-breed menace, etc. Between this, Lone Ranger, Jonah Hex and the various horror westerns that debuted a few weeks ago, we seem to be in something of a revival of the genre, and Ennis’s obvious affection for the form makes this one worth following.
She-Hulk #22 — Writer: Peter David; Penciller: Shawn Moll; Inker: Victor Diazaba
As David wisely observes in the letter column, if he’d tried to duplicate or continue Slott’s funny-lawyer/continuity-heavy style, it wouldn’t have worked — so instead we’re suddenly in a new set-up, with Jen as a bounty hunter and a number of interesting twists and turns (one of which involves her neck). This is a good place to jump on for new readers, especially since David practically defines the phrase “dependably entertaining.”
Superman #669 — Writer: Kurt Busiek; Penciler: Rick Leonardi; Inker: Dan Green
Busiek’s dependably entertaining, too, although there seems to be a lot going on in this title right now, between the unfinished Arion story and now this new one. The “Third Kryptonian” turns out to be someone we’ve never seen, and the occasion for some well-developed ideas about Kryptonians in space, and the rest of the galaxy’s attitudes towards them. Leonardi and Green aren’t flashy, but they’re clear storytellers, and this contnues to be one of the better DC superhero books, miles above Countdown and its ilk.
Velocity: Pilot Season #1 — Writer: Joe Casey; Artist: Kevin Maguire
Surprisingly good — it’s nice to see Maguire’s light, sexy, professional artistic touch again, so good at both expressions and action, and Casey knows how to craft a stand-alone story that introduces the character for new readers, shows what she can do and even manages to slip in a theme. Would that all comics were able to meet those minimum standards….
PVP #35 — Creator: Scott Kurtz
This is one of those books I never mention, but am always happy to buy — as a collection of daily strips, it reminds of buying all those Peanuts and B.C. and Dennis the Menace paperbacks years ago. It’s not at that level, of course, (come to think of it, it’s more like the Tumbleweeds pbs), but it’s consistently comfortable and funny (and even, every once in a long while, surprisingly touching), and Kurtz’s pop-culture/gaming chops give it some zing. His art continues to improve, too — check out the Hallowe’en party scenes, with Brent as a Yellow-Submarine era John Lennon, and pirates both living and dead.
Phil Mateer
