New Team For A Three Part Girl of Steel Adventure

Hey there Cape Town Commuters...

Kara Zor-EL is a getting a new creative team...at least for three issues.

Starting in June with issue 65 writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Osborn) and ChrisCross (FireStorm) will be tackling the Maid of Might for three issues.

Here is the official description,

SUPERGIRL #65Written by KELLY SUE DECONNICK
Art by CHRISCROSS and MARC DEERING
Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
Co-ed of Steel? Supergirl goes undercover on a college campus to help Lois Lane uncover the truth behind a string of recent student disappearances! What they uncover, though, leads Supergirl directly into a confrontation with one of the DCU’s deadliest villains!
On sale JUNE 15 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Some are asking if this means trouble for Supergirl as there appears to be issues creatively with the character since Sterling Gates left the book.

My two cents...NO.

Stuff like this happens all the time in comics.

The current run with writer James Peaty is great, but it's all together possible that Peaty was never meant to be the regular writer.

Supergirl is a great book so we will continue to follow her story as news breaks.

Stay tuned Commuters.

Cape Town Capsule Reviews, 1/19/11 Releases

Well, our first podcast took up a lot of my time over the past week, but I expect to have more time for writing my regular weekly reviews. That said, we’re going to handle last week’s reviews in spitball fashion.

Here we go.

Supergirl #60

DC Comics

Nick Spencer and James Peaty have written a solid opener to this new arc, and kept from besmirching the work of former series writer Sterling Gates. Add to this, the gorgeous art of Bernard Chang who seems instantly at home on the book. Spencer and Peaty have created a truly vile new villain who might just be the “other son” of the Man of Steel’s bald nemesis. This was the best thing I read all week.

Morning Glories #6

Image Comics

Unfortunately, this is the weakest entry yet of the series. We jumped ahead about 20 years and found that life at Morning Glories Academy was just as confusing as ever. This was hopefully just a brief misstep in what has been an otherwise strong run by series writer Nick Spencer.

Iron Man #500

Marvel Comics

Matt Fraction tells an engrossing one-shot future-story in which Mandarin seems to be on the brink of world-domination as Tony Stark’s children attempt to stop the villain’s doomsday weapon. This is a great story in which Fraction establishes the resilience of Tony Stark’s character in the face of utter defeat. We also revisit Tony and Peter Parker’s relationship as it has been on rocky ground since Civil War.

Superman/Batman #80

DC Comics

This is one throwbacky story. You’ve got Bronze age Robin in his old speedos and wisecracking as he fights, Lois Lane with a thin striped tie, Batman smiling more than once, and a time travel story straight out of DC Comics Presents. The dialogue and story are all tongue and cheek and seems to be in writer Chris Roberson’s comfort zone.

Memoir #1 (of 6)

Image Comics

Memoir reminded me of 27 in that it didn’t really feel like the book that was solicited. The book’s dialogue was somewhat stiff and might have benefited from another draft or two. The plot was intriguing from afar, but in the end it did not grab me. John Cassaday has illustrated a mesmerizing cover.

Amazing Spider-Man #652

Marvel Comics

Dan Slott is really seeming a lot more comfortable with the world he’s established in this issue, the first part of his second arc on the title. Alistair Smythe, the Spider Slayer, is out for revenge on J. Jonah Jameson and plans to take out everyone he loves with the help of his insect army and Mac Gargan, the original Scorpion. This is a really strong story by Slott, but the surprise hear is the gorgeous art by Stefano Casselli. The last few pages with Spider-Man scaling the side of a rocket to save John Jameson are quite stunning.

Cape Town Capsule Reviews, 11/17/10 Releases

By Don M. Ventura

The Flash #6

DC

Logic has been asked to take a backseat in the final issue of the “Dastardly Death of the Rogues” storyline, the first arc of Geoff Johns’s re-introduction of the Silver Age Flash back into the DCU. This flaw is simply too large a leap to accept.

In this arc the Renegades, a team of Rogue doppelganger police from the future, have traveled through time to arrest the Flash for the future murder of the Mirror Monarch. The B-story involved Barry Allen re-opening of a cold case in which a young man is falsely imprisoned of murder. It turns out the Renegade Top is framing the Flash of Mirror Monarch’s murder so that he can prevent Barry from solving the cold case because the Top’s ancestor was the actual murderer. The Top knows that he will never be able to serve as a police office if an ancestor has a criminal record.

Wait. At no point in the story has Barry altered the past. This means the Top’s ancestor would have always had a criminal record and the Top would have never been able to be a cop in the first place. This took me out of a story that I had been enjoying up until this point.

Plotting aside, Francis Manapul has delivered another issue full of exquisite artwork. The chase scene between the Flash and the top is phenomenal. Manapul never wastes a panel on this book, and the coloring by Brian Buccellato is stunning. The chase scene in particular is phenomenal with all of the lights of the building illuminated in yellows and oranges.

I love Johns, but this ending threw me.

X-Men #5

Marvel

I’m still not sure how Victor Gischler has kept me interested in a storyline about vampires (something to which I admittedly have an aversion) but this book’s inaugural arc has been a fun ride while never becoming silly. Another feat considering the subject matter.

The newly vampired Wolverine and Xarus’s minions have begun their assault on Utopia and Cyclops has the troops ready. This is the action-packed story that this arc has been building up to and it is well paced and offers plenty of good scenes for the main characters.

With the vampires descending on Utopia, Cyclops has the impenetrable charactesr on the frontline and refers to them as “tough skins.”  In typical Emma Frost fashion, we are treated to “How can you possibly look at this glittering form of mine and lump something so glamorous into the category of tough skin?”  I appreciate Gishler’s infusion of humor where it is appropriate and fitting for the character and scene. X-Men is perhaps my favorite of the current long line of X-books.

Superior #2

Icon

While perhaps not “the most important comic book since 1938” as the cover promises, Superior is a fun and sometimes thoughtful book by Mark Millar and Leinil Yu. In the last issue, Simon Pooni was granted the powers of Superior (a movie super hero) and in this issue he seeks the help of his friend Chris to help him figure his powers out.

Millar is has mastered foul language to communicate awe and disbelief. This issue serves as an opportunity to establish Superior’s powers and allow Simon to begin mastering them. Some are easier than others. Superior sight and strength come fairly easy. Heat vision and flight will take some work.

As with the last issue, Millar proves that he can produce incredibly touching work that doesn’t become maudlin in the least. Scenes of Simon in physical therapy are featured between the panels of Simon as Superior trying to pull multiple train cars.

Yu’s work is equally important to this book. His work has continued to grow stronger with each project. The scene with Simon grappling with flight is wonderful as he awkwardly attempt to control his new powers. I have been enjoying Sunny Gho’s colors on Power Girl and her work on Superior is equally as strong.  

Batman: The Return (One-Shot)

DC

Deciding between this book and Batman Incorporated as the best book of the week was difficult. Batman: The Return is another fine piece of work by Grant Morrison who has firmly established an ability to find the distinct voices of the peripheral characters in the Batman universe.

The book opens with beautiful prose by Morrison involving the voyage of the frightening and bloodied bat that inspires Bruce Wayne to don a cape and mask as Gotham City’s protector. If you love Batman, try to avoid goose bumps while reading this opening passage.

The story serves as Batman’s assertion as the general of the Bat-family of characters (specifically Dick Grayson Batman, Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl and Oracle) as he doles out their specific tasks going forward. This book presents an exciting new status quo for these characters as Batman declares “From today on, Batman will be everywhere it’s dark, no place to hide.

While I have not always been an enormous fan of David Finch’s art (I’ve found that the eyes of his characters have been particularly soulless) but this book’s script plays to the artist’s strengths. The guy draws a hell of a batcave.

Supergirl #58

DC

Sterling Gates is closing up shop on Supergirl with this final two-part arc before Nick Spencer takes over the title in January.  The story focuses on Cat Grant who Gates introduced into the book as a foil for Girl of Steel, criticizing her and trying to break her down at every turn.

Three children in Metropolis have gone missing and the modus operandi appears to be that of Winslow Schott, the original Toyman and murderer of Cat’s son. Gates takes his time on this issue presenting some strong character work between Cat and Kara. The writer seems to want to bring some closure to Cat’s arc on this series by the end of his run.

Jamal Igle’s artwork is as strong as always.  His Toyman is creepy and unbalanced and all the toys have a properly haunting quality. The story concludes with the appearance of a character that hasn’t been in the book for sometime, an indication of more resolution to Gates’s run.

Osborn #1 (of 5)

Marvel

I wonder if it might still be a little too soon to return to Norman Osborn stories? Gone since being taken down in Siege about six months ago I opened this book and realized enough time has not passed for me to become nostalgic.

The story involves Frontline Norah Winters who has been assigned to write an expose on Norman Osborn. Norah admits that she feels partially responsible for him getting away (literally) with murder by not exposing him when she had the opportunity. We then get into some business about the legality of Norman’s incarceration and ultimately his move to a special containment center for super villains.

While I never felt invested in the story, Kelly Sue Deconnick moved the story along fine and absolutely has an ear for dialogue—a scene between Norah and Peter Parker was a good example of this as a brash Norah reveals touches of humanity. Also, while I didn’t dislike Emma Rios’s artwork on the book, I did not like her rendition of Peter who seemed a tad too young for the character.

Osborn ends interestingly enough to warrant picking up the second issue of this mini, but I’m not yet committed to the entire run.

Spider-Girl #1

Marvel

I walked away from this book much in the way I did Superboy a few weeks ago. While it wasn’t bad, it doesn’t seem to have enough heart to it.

Writing strong teenage characters can be difficult, and while Paul Tobin is in the right direction, there is something that rings a bit strained in his attempts here. Spider-Girl is part of the “Big Time” relaunching of Spider-Man related titles and it is a pretty average opening. I thought the use of Twitter for Spider-Girl to communicate to her fans was an interesting concept, but it wasn’t well executed.

Spider-Girl is off preventing small crimes from occurring while the Fantastic Four deal with a major baddie off screen (who appears in the final panel). The book’s light approach to Spider-Girl’s crime fighting efforts works tonally, but it doesn’t succeed in a way that Batgirl (by Bryan Q. Miller) does—a title with a similar protagonist.

Clayton Henry’s artwork is quite nice however. Henry’s characters are expressive and he draws strong action sequences.

Wednesday's Finest, 10/27/10 Releases

By Don M. Ventura

Incognito: Bad Influence #1
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Incognito: Bad Influence brings us back into the life of Zack Overkill, a former villain who was forced into the witness protection program and then begins to fight crime for the thrills of using his powers. As the story begins, Zack is out of witness protection and has begun working with the S.O.S.

While the world Brubaker is writing is set firmly in the present, there are great flashes to the types of villains that were rose to prominence in the Silver Age of comics: G.I. Gorilla, Dick Deadly, Zhing Fu, and of course Dark Leopold and his Nuclear Nazis. Brubaker is having a good time on this book and it shows with some of these throwbacks, illustrated nicely by returning artist Sean Phillips.

Phillips draws grittiness quite capably and fits Brubaker’s style perfectly. Incognito has a classic pulp/noir comic book feel to the art and the story. Like Chris Samnee or Mike Deodato, Phillips uses shadow appropriately to capture the tone of the story.

There’s a great narration by Zack as he walks home with his groceries. “I guess another plus was I didn’t have a shitty day job for cover. But I still had to deal with the lame details… Paying rent, buying groceries, taking out the garbage… All the little human bullshit.” With that last line, the panel is a crossing signal. What says conformity to the rules of man like an illuminated “Walk” sign on a city street?

The story begins with Zack being taken into custody for returning to a life of crime. He protests, claiming to be set-up, but his arresting officer Zoe Zeppelin isn’t buying it. Brubaker flashes back to the beginning of the story to explain how Zack got into this predicament. Zack has inadvertently been set up to look like an unreformed villain and S.O.S. is going to use this to bring down Simon Slaughter, a rogue S.O.S. agent.

Brubaker is a master storyteller and it is enjoyable seeing him produce more creator-owned work. I’ve been following his recent titles (Secret Avengers and Steve Rogers: Super Soldier) but I enjoy the spontaneity of a book like this, where the fate of a character might occur at any point in the story.

Action Comics #894
DC

Of Paul Cornell’s run on Action Comics, this issue has been the strongest. Each month, Cornell has pitted Lex Luthor against a classic DC villain as Superman’s greatest enemy continues his search for a mysterious source of power.

The strength in this issue is that it showcases Lex approaching a problem in a manner that most people wouldn’t. That problem is that he’s dead. Cornell writes a good Lex as he becomes frustrated that he is dealing with death in too predictable a manner. “I feel helpless…” he says. “I can’t be helpless."

Cornell is not presenting a new take on the character, he’s using what has always been there and is saying to readers, “Well, this is what Lex would do in this situation” and it all feels true to the character. It’s the antithesis of what Straczynski is doing on Superman.

Pete Woods is back after a month off and his work is excellent as usual. Specifically with Death, a Vertigo character with whom I am admittedly not familiar. His Death is charming and slightly whimsical as she listens and explains to Lex throughout the issue.

Fantastic Four #584
Marvel

Man oh man, did this book have some good stuff for fans of Benjamin J. Grimm, arguably one of Marvel’s most beloved characters. This is the second issue of Writer Jonathan Hickman’s infamous “Three” storyline, but the focus is primarily on the everlovin’ blue-eyed Thing.

Ben has a serum that will allow him to become human-form Ben for one week every year. Hickman has all of the team’s voices down and he uses this to perfect effect in the Johnny/Ben scenes. But it’s the final scene between Ben and Alicia that is so powerful, so amazingly touching, that you will regret not giving this book a try.

Credit the appropriately simple dialogue and Steve Epting’s gorgeous artwork. Alicia’s expression and the knowledge that this is something that both character’s have longed for (for far too long) makes this scene so damned chilling. Add to this, an appearance by the Silver Surfer and his employer in the final scene and you have yourself one of the best books of the week.

Supergirl Annual #2
DC

Annuals. The Bald Eagle of comic books. A spare amount appear here and there every few months to remind readers of the olden days when most comic books had a big fat Annual or Special to end an ongoing storyline or tell a super-sized story.

I was surprised to see an Annual in my comic stack this week and I became immediately nostalgic—until I saw that $4.99 cover price. But Sterling Gates has brought another solid Supergirl tale. After leaving the Bizarro world in Supergirl #57, she crash lands in the future and meets up with the Legion of Super Heroes—only this is the Legion that Superboy grew up with.

Gates sets up a really interesting storyline in this issue as Supergirl, acting one hundred percent like a teenage girl, and snoops into her future… and her fate. I’m hoping this is something that doesn’t have to be wrapped up immediately because Gates is leaving the book in December.

Gates catered to my rule of using no more than ten Legionnaires in the book, which keeps things from becoming confusing. The art is split between Matt Camp and Marco Rudy, but the work is distractingly different. Camp has a crisp clean look to his work, while Rudy’s has a rougher quality and in some places rushed.

While regular Annuals might infringe on my ability to eat and drink, it’s a format that I would enjoy seeing more frequently.

Secret Avengers #6
Marvel

Brubaker can write straight superhero stories too, and Secret Avengers has been a good one. Of the three ongoing Avengers titles, this one is easily my favorite though it doesn’t feel like an Avengers book.

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, makes an appearance in the first story of the “Eyes of the Dragon” arc. The story involves the reappearance of a sinister group called the Hai-Dai who have been using violent means to locate a magic scroll that will bring Shang-Chi’s evil father back to life.

I applaud Brubaker’s sparse use of characters in this team book. One of my gripes about Brian Michael Bendis’s Avengers books is that it has wall to wall characters that all seem to speak similarly. Brubaker only uses who he needs.

Mike Deodato as always is well paired with Brubaker. This book is something of a Special Ops superhero book and Deodato style of using a great deal of shadow helps convey the book’s tone. The story opens with great fight scene—Brubaker and Deodato demonstrate why nobody should wake Shang-Chi from his slumber.

Teen Titans #88
DC

Nicola Scott knows how to draw a good comic book. And Teen Titans #88, while not Earth-shattering, is a good comic book. Scott’s pencils are clean and energetic when they need to be. We’re treated to a great fight scene between the Titans and a marauding group of zombie-like men called the feral boys.

This is Writer J.T. Krul’s first issue as the ongoing writer on the book and this is solid start. He’s assembled all the familiar faces to the team and we are treated to a final panel (and another beautiful two page spread) with the newest Titan: Robin. Krul includes a great scene between Batman and Robin in the middle of the issue where Batman is concerned that Damian has no exposure to his peers.

Krul opens the issue by giving each of the characters enough face time, aptly demonstrating that he can write a good team book. Writers like Geoff Johns and Brubaker make it look easy. Krul gives us a peek at where he is going to be taking each of the characters over the course of the arc, and perhaps further, and he doesn’t seem to be throwing any of the characters to the sidelines.

This is my first trip back to Titans Tower in a few years. It feels as though I never left.

Supergirl Makeover: Amanda Connor's Action Comics #252 Redo

DC Comics continues to commision new takes on classic covers by several of their artists (see the links below).  Amanda Connor has released this cool take on Action Comics #252 with the first appearance of Supergirl.  I'm pretty sure this was one of the many imaginary stories that the Superman books regularly published.  Thankfully he isn't yelling "Great guns!" as he did in the original (below).  Good call on Connor's part!

Frank Quitely and Jim Lee have also submitted updates to classic covers (Green Lantern and Justice League of America respectively).

The Amanda Connor variant appears on Supergirl #58 on sale November 17th.

Wednesday’s Finest, 10/20/10 Releases

By Don M. Ventura

Kick-Ass 2 #1
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Of the books listed in this post, there was not a bad one in the bunch. This caused a night of internal debate for me.

After much deciding, Kick Ass 2 was the finest Wednesday had to offer. For everything I feared Superior might be, I was already prepared for in the sequel to Kick-Ass. The shock of foul-mouthed Hit-Girl is gone. We are now allowed to just enjoy the progression of Dave Lizeski’s story. The question that should be asked with any sequel: Is there a story to be told?

The answer is yes. Kick Ass 2 does a little moving back and forth as a means of exposition. It’s just enough to show us where the story is heading, before moving back to the beginning of the tale midway through this first issue. As usual Millar understands pacing. He moves from scene to scene effortlessly, catching us up quickly with the characters.

John Romita, Jr. is perfectly suited for a story like this. His work can be dynamic and he draws movement incredibly well, but I’ve found his strength to be the somberness he brings to panels. For example, there is a scene where Mindy is telling her adopted father Marcus that’s she’ll quit the heroics and violence. Romita Jr. brings so much “acting” to both of the characters in this scene. I haven’t been a fan of Romita Jr.’s work on The Avengers, but I am reminded here why he remains one of my favorite artists. Dean White’s colors are exquisite and bring both grittiness and vibrance where it is required.

And where had the story progressed? Kick-Ass started a revolution at the end of the first series with other would-be vigilantes donning costumes and wild monikers. Kick-Ass 2 opens with Dave being trained in hand-to-hand by Mindy at the YMCA; Dave believes the next step is to form a super-team. Kick-Ass befriends another costumed avenger, Dr. Gravity, who has just the proposition that Dave is looking for. By the end of the issue, Dave brought face to face with the world he inspired.

I was not as enamored with the original Kick-Ass book as I was with the film, but I enjoyed what Millar and Romita, Jr. put together. Kick-Ass 2 feels like the evolution of the characters and the “real” world they inhabit. Both Mindy and Dave, besides the costumed-adventuring, have the weight of the world on their shoulders in this issue. They are both lost without the costumed alter-egos.

As expected Millar brings his strong (in every sense) comic dialogue. Whether it’s Doctor Gravity explaining the origins or his gravity pole, Dave and Mindy practicing at fighting skills in the ring, or when Dave’s friend argues the sexiness of May Parker in her night dress in the first Spider-Man film.

This is a great beginning to a story that asks “What happens next?” At the end of the last page I wondered the same thing.

That’s the sign of a good comic book.

Hulk #26
Marvel

Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman charged out of the gate last month on their inaugural issue of Hulk and they continue to charge this week.

Man oh man, Hardman draws an incredible Hulk. Actually, he draws an incredible everything. Thor appears midway through and a battle of testosterone ensues—and you don’t want it to stop. Hardman’s action sequences are nothing short of sensational. First we get Hulk with a Mjolnir to the stomach and then Thor ends things with a spectacular lightning bolt. The colors by Bettie Breitweiser are nothing short of exceptional. The blue-green background during the Thor and Hulk face-off was vibrant and striking.

Parker has brought great passion to this book. This could have become a throw away title after Jeph Loeb left, but Parker is writing Hulk exactly as he should. This is a tough a nails Hulk who’d die before he backed down. Not because he’s necessarily a hero, but because he’s a soldier.

If you’re thinking, “Wait, didn’t Iron Man and Hulk just go at it last month as a result of a misunderstanding?” Just wait. There’s an excellent payoff.

Parker, Hardman and Breitweiser continue to soar on this book. Let’s hope for a long run.

Superman/Batman #77
DC

Last month Supergirl teamed up with Batgirl in Batgirl #14 and the pairing was great. I wrote then that I was a sucker for just about any Batman-family and Superman-family characters joining forces and I got exactly what I wanted from Superman/Batman #77.

Supergirl enlists the help of Robin to solve a mass murder in Metroplois and, even with this dire backdrop, there is no shortage of comedy. Josh Williamson has written an exciting and fun one-shot that has Supergirl continuing to deal with the guilt over the fate of New Krypton, which brings a strong sense of continuity to the character. Williamson does equally well with his interpretation of Damian Wayne; the character is as full of hubris and as snarky as he is in Grant Morrison’s Batman and Robin.

Ale Garza has drawn a dynamic book, starting from the opening page as Supergirl floats over the horrific crime scene being pelted by raindrops. There is a lot to love on the pages of this issue.

Morning Glories #3
Image

Nick Spencer is amazing me with each succeeding issue of Morning Glories, and issue #3 is no different. It is exceptionally well paced; I was flipping through the last pages so quickly because Spencer and artist Joe Eisma created an amazingly suspenseful third act to this book.

The book opens with opens 500 years in the past with an eerie scene in a dungeon as two presumably innocent prisoners attempt to figure out why they have been taken captive. Another mystery is presented to the readers of Morning Glories in the form of the cryptic messages written on the walls of the dungeon: “The hour of our release draws near.” The message is revisited inexplicably at the end of the issue.

Morning Glories is shaping up to being the Lost of comic books. Like last month, I tossed this book on top of my large pile of comics, read it immediately, and was immersed in the growing mystery. Spencer continues to drop small hints at what is happening at the school and with the kids, not enough to figure anything out, but enough to keep speculation blooming.

Power Girl #17
DC

I picked up Power Girl on a lark when Judd Winick was took over the reigns. I wanted to read something with a good jumping on point and I’ve always enjoyed Winick’s writing. Power Girl is always solid and this issue may have been my favorite.

The first half of the story co-stars Batman as he helps Power Girl resolve the mystery of the creature she fought in the last issue. After reading Winick’s take on Dick Grayson Batman I wondered why the writer couldn’t get a crack at one of the many Bat-titles coming in the next few months. I fully endorsed Power Girl’s sentiment of the new Dark Knight in this issue: “I digs me some Dick Grayson scooting around in the Kevlar pajamas.”

Sami Basri has illustrated one gorgeous issue after another. I am shocked that he is able to do a monthly series because his work looks terribly time-consuming. The coloring by Sunny Gho and Jessica Kholinne is equally superb; I love the depth they bring to the flesh tones and costumes.

Winick closes the issue with a WTF scene and an excellent final panel. Power Girl says: “What the Hell is going on here?” and the caption for the next issue reads: “Next: What the hell is going on here!”

Skull Kickers #2
Image

While I was not completely won over by the first issue of Skull Kickers, I found the title to grow on me with this second issue; Jim Zubkavich’s script demonstrates again a knack for both broad humor and subtle humor.

There are priceless sound effects incorporated in this book. The dwarf jumps towards a giant with the words “powerful leap” above him (instead of “Whoooosh!” perhaps). The giant brushes him away violently: “powerful smack.” Later the dwarf is trying to keep up with his tall accomplice. The sound effect for the dwarf: “run, run, run, run.” For the giant: “stride, stride” It is so ridiculous and charmingly clever.

We still don’t learn much about the two anti-hero protagonists in this book other than they live for violence and earn a living in a less than respectable manner. Zubkavich offers a couple of pages of FAQ’s at the end of the issue to explain a little more about the book (very little).

I think I’m now well invested in Skull Kickers.

From Gates to Spencer: Supergirl Gets a New Writer

While New York’s Comic-Con didn’t bring one world-shaking announcement after another like July’s San Diego sister, there were certainly some good news to be had in terms of new titles, creative changes, and upcoming events.

For me, the most interesting creative change is writer Nick Spencer’s move to Supergirl after a wonderful run by Sterling Gates. For more than two years Gates has successfully taken Supergirl from “What do we do with her?” to “What do we do with her next?”

Jeph Loeb reintroduced the Kara Zor-El character back into DC continuity in the pages of Super-Man/Batman and then didn’t seem to know what to do with her once she had her own title. Joe Kelly took the book on next and didn’t do much better.

It wasn’t until issue 34 when Gates seemed to come out of nowhere and stripped down all of the character’s complexities and presented readers with a story about a teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders, trying to find her way. Gates introduced a perfect foil in Cat Grant and a mentor in Lana Lang—this was an excellent use of these Super-supporting characters.

Enter white-hot writer Spencer and artist Bernard Chang to take over the reigns. Spencer's work on creator-owned Morning Glories proves that the guy knows a lot about character development and creating an exciting story. He also has a strong ear for teenage dialogue which I surmise will be used in this run on the Girl of Steel.  Check out his Jimmy Olsen follow-up (and introduction of Chloe Sullivan) in the pages of Action Comics #893.  Good stuff indeed.

This has been bittersweet news, but Gates is promising that word of his next gig at DC is forthcoming. I’m crossing my fingers for a move to the Justice League of America!

Superman/Batman (and Wonder Woman): Apocalypse

By Don M. Ventura

I think the reason the last two Superman/Batman movies have been adaptations of Jeph Loeb-penned stories is that they are big action-adventure stories with great guest stars and wonderfully evil villains.

In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies we were treated to the first arc of the Superman/Batman comic book series in which the heroes bring down President Luthor after battling it out with what seemed like every hero and villain in the DCU.

DC Universe Animation succeeds again here with this story, originally told by Loeb and the late Michael Turner, in which Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El arrives on Earth after several years in suspended animation. As well, the animators are to be complimented on their adaptation of Turner’s character designs. The animation is as strong in this film as viewers have come to expect from these films.

All the beats are there: Kara crash lands in Gotham, Batman serves up a heaping serving of mistrust, Superman and Kara bond, more mistrust, Wonder Woman takes Kara to Paradise Island, then Darkseid steps in. Screenwriter Tab Murphy includes all of the important plot points without everything feeling rushed; a feat for a 78-minute film.

The voice-acting is what we have come to expect from the leads. Kevin Conroy is, and always will be, the best animated Batman. Tim Daly returns as Superman, a role played for two seasons of the animated series plus a few animated movies. But it is Ed Asner who steals the show as Granny Goodness, one of Darkseid’s most sadistic cronies. Asner goes over the top only when required. Otherwise he brings a quiet creepiness that we have come to appreciate in producer Bruce Timm’s villains.

Summer Glau is fine as Kara. I read some rumblings about her work, but there was nothing that bothered me about her acting skills here. Andre Braugher is perfectly cast here as Darkseid. His voice, a deep baritone, is devoid of any humor and he is well suited to take on the role of the ruler of Apokolips.

One small qualm is that this movie could have used one more name in the title: Wonder Woman (voiced here by Susan Eisenberg from both series of the Justice League). She is as much a lead in this as Superman and Batman and her character is treated excellently here. I’m an enormous fan of watching Wonder Woman kick some ass, and there is plenty to be kicked in this film.

Green Arrow takes center stage in his own ten-minute short that immediately grabs you and only lets up for the remaining 30 seconds before the credits roll. I could have done without an extremely brief appearance by a C-List villain near the end, but it doesn’t take much away from another winning featurette.

Once again, DC Universe proves to be a force to be reckoned with in the animation field. Now let’s see those live action ventures!

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (One More Day)

Tomorrow is the big day!  DC Universe releases their ninth animated feature Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and everything I have seen so far has me completely psyched.  Plus there is going to be a Green Arrow feature—if it's the same quality as the Spectre feature from the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths DVD, it's going to be something special.  Nevertheless, I promise to present balanced reviews of both tomorrow night!

Wednesday's Finest, 9/9/10 Releases

By Don M. Ventura
Titles released on September 9th.

Batgirl #14
DC Comics
I am sorry to say that I have not picked up any of Bryan Q. Miller’s Batgirl run prior to this issue, because Batgirl #14 was an excellent read. More than that, it was fun. How else could it live up to a title like “Terror in the 3rd Dimension”, a borderline goofy one-shot featuring Supergirl and two dozen marauding Draculas?

Kara Zor-El, who doesn’t go by Linda in this issue, comes to spend a Friday night with Stephanie since neither of them have any derring-do to do. Being a couple of teenagers, the two head to Gotham University where they eventually find themselves at a 3-D vampire film. When a nearby science experiment goes awry, unleashing 24 hard-light carbon copies of Dracula, the girls are ready to bring the cadre of vampires to justice (although in a hilarious scene, we see that Stephanie is unable to leap into action as quickly as Kara).

Tracking down and defeating the renegade Draculas is expertly laid out by Lee Garbett. This is especially so in a two-page spread showing the heroines in a number of oddball settings; most notably a photo booth where the action is depicted in four photos, beginning with a very regal Dracula and ending with Supergirl and Batgirl making funny faces to the camera. Garbett clearly has as keen a sense of humor as Miller does.

While Grant Morrison has brought some fun to his Batman and Robin series, Batgirl has got to be the lightest of the current slate of Bat titles. Miller takes several opportunities to establish the chemistry between Batgirl and Supergirl as well as managing to have fun with their differences (both as heroes and as their alter egos). I will also admit to being a sucker for a good pairing of any Batman and Superman protégés.

I enjoy a well structured story arc, but it refreshing to come across a good one-shot like this where it isn’t necessary to remember what occurred in previous issues. It delivers on the humor while further establishing the friendship of these two young women.

And I can’t finish without touching on the fantastic cover by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau. It is wonderfully busy, but sets the tone of the story inside perfectly.

X-Men #4
Marvel Comics
X-Men titles have never consistently been my cup of tea; this is mainly because the creative teams seem to change so often. New writers often come aboard to reintroduce obscure and little-beloved characters that they believe deserve a fresh spin. I’ve not historically been impressed with the results.

However, this new title has been solid in spite of a plot centering around a vampire army’s attempt to recruit the X-Men into their fold. Paco Medina’s artwork is top-notch. There’s a fantastic scene with Logan violently doing the best he does against a horde of the undead.
Victor Gischler has taken on what would seem a thankless task: heading up the "Curse of the Mutants" storyline. But he is handling the story with great excitement and has kept the story progressing nicely.

A minor qualm with this book has been the covers which have so far consistently shown action that does not appear in the book. That said, Gischler continues to put out good stories with strong cliffhangers.

The Amazing Spider-Man #642
Marvel Comics
Mark Waid returns to this book with great aplomb and demonstrates that he understands Peter Parker as much as anyone. Waid delivers some great comedy as Peter races across town to make a first date, then immediately interrupts the scene by a crowning Lilly Hollister on a Goblin Glider (trust me, it’s good stuff).

She is being chased by an army of Spider-villains led by Doctor Octopus who makes a creepy appearance—which is a testament to Mark Waid’s ability to set up a scene. The book goes quickly from light to chilling as Spider-Man, Harry Osborn, and Mary Jane are subdued by Ock as he delivers Lily’s child.

The artwork by Paul Azaceta fits the tone nicely, but feels rushed and awkward in some parts. This five-part arc titled “Origin of the Species” is a welcome departure from Joe Queseda’s needless four-issue “One Moment in Time” story.

Weird War Tales One-Shot
DC Comics
There may be a theme here. I am really enjoying my arc-free books this week.
I grew up on books like Weird War Tales and the other horror anthologies that flourished in the seventies for DC Comics, such as Weird Mystery Tales and Secrets of Haunted House.

This issue submits three tales for our approval: Darwyn Cooke and Dave Stewart present an oddity called “Armistice Night”, the story of Earth’s greatest deceased warriors at something of a family reunion (too peculiar in places); a second story, titled “The Hell Above Us”, revolves around a sunken sub and its last doomed survivor. Written by Ivan Brandon with chilling illustrations by Nic Klein, this was the best of the three; Jan Strnad and Gabriel Hardman offer a final piece about a mortally wounded young soldier with an affinity for dinosaurs titled “Private Parker Sees Thunder Lizards.”

Stories like this are best judged twofold: 1) did you enjoy it while reading it, and 2) did you continue to think about it afterwards? In other words, did it haunt you?
Yes to both.


Thor, the Mighty Avenger #4
Marvel Comics
Like Batgirl, I was impressed to read a second one-shot this week that was also lighter than a run of the mill Thor tale. Thor, the Mighty Avenger has been surprise. Since I was a kid I’ve never warmed to this character, but I’ve been hooked by this simple take on the God of Thunder.

Stripped away is all of the posturing and dread seriousness. In it’s place we have a fish out of water tale about Thor’s banishment to midgard (Earth).

In this issue he is visited by the Warriors Three who take him out for a boy’s night out in England that quickly turns to fisticuffs between the four Norsemen and Captain Britain. Writer Roger Langridge continues to impress with his take on Thor; it is both funny and accessible. Equally, I am becoming an enormous fan of Chris Samnee’s art. It is deceptively simple, but there is so much expression and character in his straightforward illustrations.