Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #1 (of 2) — Writer: grant Morrison; Pencils: Doug Mahnke; Inks: Christian Alamy with Rodney Ramos, Tom Nguyen, Walden Wong and Mahnke
Final Crisis: Rogue’s Revenge #2 (of 3) — Writer: Geoff Johns; Artist: Scott Kolins
DC Universe: Last Will and Testament — Writer: Brad Meltzer; Pencils: Adam Kubert; Inks: John Dell and Joe Kubert
Unlike Marvel’s Secret Invasion tie-ins, DC’s Crisis mini-series this week are (mostly) worth a look. The Superman Beyond, by Morrison, is a cosmic adventure-inside-the-adventure wherein Clark is recruited to battle a multiversal disaster, alongside some of his parallel-Earth counterparts like Ultraman. The 3D (well, Morrison calls it “4D,” and the instructions on the enclosed glasses are a hoot, but it’s the same red and green lenses as always) effects, by Ray Zone, are awe-inspiring, and any story that takes a detour into Limbo to meet Merryman, from the Inferior Five, is OK with me.
The Rogues story, meanwhile, continues to be a much-above-average Flash story focusing on his villains, and the Johns-Kolins team harks back to the quality of Johns’ run on that title a few years ago, to good effect. The only mild clinker is the Last Will and Testament, which involves Geo-Force fighting Deathstroke, and has an enormous “Who cares?” factor to overcome (and, I have to confess, even though it’s on the “buy” list, I actually put it back; Meltzer’s glib pop psychology about heroism just didn’t do that much for me). On the other hand, fans of Andy Kubert should seek it out, especially because parts were inked by Joe Kubert, and that’s one of the best inside-the-family art team-ups this side of the Romitas.
Ambush Bug: Year None #2 (of 6) — Writers: Robert Loren Fleming and Keith Giffen; Penciller: Keith Giffen; Inker: Al Milgrom
Lots of in-jokes (and, the more of an oldtime DC fan you are, the more you can congratulate yourself for understanding them), at least half of which are actually funny. The big selling point continues to be the art — it’s good to be reminded just how elastic and well-composed Giffen’s style can be, especially when he’s having as good a time as he is here.
Kick-Ass #4 — Writer: Mark Millar; Penciler: John Romita, Jr.; Inker: Tom Palmer
Wolverine #68 — Writer: Mark Millar; Penciler: Steve McNiven; Inker: Dexter Vines OK, see: my problem with Kick-Ass is that the whole premise was “a superhero in the real world,” and fine, but now we’re being offered a ten-year-old girl ninja with an impossibly-sharp sword (not to mention superhuman acrobatic skills, a foul mouth and a hulking father figure that all seem to have been lifted from Jason Pearson’s Body Bags), and it feels like cheating, you know. There’s still some intrigue to watching the sad-sack title character struggle to be heroic, and the Romita/Palmer art continues to be gorgeous, but it still all feels a little too bait-and-switch for comfort. The Wolverine “Old Man Logan” offering is similarly OK-but-not-great; the art’s not quite as good, but the story’s a little better — who doesn’t love those future-set after-the-fall-of-the-heroes tales? — even if it’s all been fairly predictable so far, in its typically cynical Millar way.
Doktor Sleepless #8 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Art: Ivan Rodriguez
End of the first book, as information about the Doktor’s origin (and his eventual plans) is revealed, and while the emphasis of the series might be on science, its underpinnings are definitely more Lovecraftian than Darwinian. I’m interested enough to keep following along, although the lead-character-as-mad-scientist bit is going to be an easy tightrope wire to fall off of, and, hey, shouldn’t the cover have at least something to do with this issue?
Runaways #1 — Writer: Terry Moore; Penciler: Humberto Ramos; Inker: Dave Meikis
Ramos is a logical choice for a series featuring teens; his style fits the characters well (anybody remember his work on Out There, not to mention Impulse, or even DV8?). Moore’s capable of creating a good story, too, and while this first issue suffers a bit from too much happening at once (some of it, like the scene at the radio station, not particularly logical), it does manage to get the characters back across the country to the West Coast and off on a new adventure, and that’s enough to bring me back for at least another issue.
Stuff I read and liked enough to buy, but don’t have much to say about, so read previous reviews in the archives if you’re interested:
Legion of Super-Heroes #45 — Writer: Jjim Shooter; Penciller: Francis Manapul; Inker: Livesay
H. P. Lovecraft’s Haunt of Horror #3 (of 3) — Adaptations/Art: Richard Corben
Daredevil #110 — Writers: Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka; Artists: Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano
Ultimate Spider-Man #125 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Stuart Immonen; Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Amazing Spider-Man #569 — Writer: Dan Slott; Pencils: John Romita, Jr.; Inks: Klaus Janson
DMZ #34 — Writer: Brian Wood; Artist: Riccardo Burchielli
Phil Mateer
