JediSheltie's Comic Round-Up - Nov 22 Releases

posted by JediSheltie @ 12:41 PM

In what may, or may not, end up being a regular feature, I've decided to post some thumbnail reviews of some of what was in the ole pull-box this week. Basically, Action 845 was there this week, but I'm not sure it requires the full-on review treatment, so I thought I'd mix it up a little bit. Again, just to reiterate, the comics to be reviewed here are the ones I read regularly. So, in case you haven't been paying attention to my other posts, don't look for anything from Marvel here, okay?

Here's what was “of note” this week:

Action #845

“Last Son” continues with part 2, which is going swimmingly on page 5 (I'm guessing here, they don't number them anymore), where Lois makes the following statement:

“Clark, people like Ma and Pa Kent were put on this Earth to be good parents. We weren't. You're here to save it. And I'm here to find the truth in it.”

If I had email / forum signature, I might put that in it. Thankfully, I don't. Regretfully, Lois has had a bit of a change of heart by the time the issue ends, after an “intervention” on behalf of a newly returned Bizarro, whose leash is now firmly tethered to Lex Luthor. Luthor sends Bizarro to retrieve the child, leading to wonderfully rendered pounding in downtown Metropolis courtesy of Adam Kubert.

This is a slightly more “intelligibly” scripted Bizarro, who manages to communicate without inducing a headache on the part of the reader. The completely, “unerringly” backward Bizarro of Loeb's Superman/Batman was a bit of an annoyance at times.

The supposed origins of the boy are revealed in the final pages. It's part 2, so I'm sure that leaves a couple twists to come. The origin is curious in terms of this story reportedly being a reworking of Donner's concept for a Superman sequel.

Suffice to say, it now seems like it was going to be a pretty direct sequel.

Wonder Woman #3

Ah, my quarterly dose of the Amazon. I suppose I won't belabor the current “controversy” over the books release schedule, though, should I ever find myself running a comic book company, I'll think twice about hiring “noted television scriptwriters.” I mean, seriously, I don't even watch Gray's Anatomy. From what I'm told, it lacks explosions.

As to the book itself, it would be a little easier to complain about it if it stunk. It doesn't. The story has been good, combining iconic aspects of the character with a few that might not be so iconic, but are certainly elements of the past. Anyone whose primary memories of Wonder Woman come from the TV series will find a lot to appreciate, as her secret service alter ego, Diana Prince, is back.

For the past couple issues, and this one, three of Wonder Woman's notable past villains, Cheetah, Giganta, and Dr. Psycho have been battling Donna Troy, who has taken up the mantle of Wonder Woman, and Cassie Sandsmark (not Debra Winger), the current Wonder Girl, in an effort to lure Diana out into the open, demanding the “real” Wonder Woman. All three villains have undergone a bit of an “upgrade” and we found how in this latest issue, as the “mastermind” of the plot is revealed to be another of Wonder Woman's old foes.

We also see Hercules, the guy who took over Wonder Woman's role as the god's agent on earth after Diana “retired” to help the world in other ways. And, for good measure, Robin is currently along for the ride, since he and Cassie are both Teen Titans. I know I'm making this sound a bit more complicated than it really is. I'd recommend the Wikipedia links for all applicable characters if you need the back story, but if you're reading from the beginning, it doesn't really matter all that much.

And let's face facts, you've got ample time to pick up the back issues before the next one comes out...

The art on the book is top notch. The Dodson's work is prestige caliber. As most of the delay rumors seem to revolve around the writing and not the art, I suppose they have a lot of time to really put some polish on it. Let's just hope that someday Wonder Woman will return to being a monthly title. I'll even accept a hit in the art department if necessary.

Uncle Sam and The Freedom Fighters #5

I won't burden anyone with a ham-fisted “our story thus far” attempt. I'll just put in a shameless plug for the series here. The art is excellent, and, if you're on the “same page” politically as Palmiotti and Gray, you'll probably be enjoying the script. And if you're not, buy it anyway and enjoy Stormy Knight's cleavage.

The only real problem with the story at this point is one that plagues any lower-tier team book when the threat becomes too pronounced, namely explaining why the big guns don't show up to save the day instead. Palmiotti and Gray address the issue, though a bit less convincingly than I would have liked.

Ultimately, I have my fingers crossed for the day that Clark and the series central antagonist, Father Time, meet up. That guy is aching for a Kryptonian knuckle sandwich.