Apr 4th Comic RoundUp

posted by JediSheltie @ 1:10 PM

Yeah, I'm easily distracted, so what? MMO's are life stealing bastards. Kids, avoid them at all costs.

Supergirl #16

I'm going to be chartable and wait until the dust settles here. At this point in time it seems unwise to try and dissect what they're trying to accomplish without having the whole picture. If you're thinking, “Hey, sounds like you're suddenly not so gung-ho about this series you've been regularly defending”. No, I'm saying I'll reserve judgment until what's going on here is more fully formed.

There's some vaguely philosophically interesting points being briefly touched upon regarding the Phantom Zone, but the touch is very light, at best. The realigning of Kara's relationship with her father is... something I'll hold off on analysis, as well as the implications in Krypton's back story. Much of this seems, at first glance, quite unnecessary, I'll admit, but that's why I'm waiting.

I'm willing to give bonus points if this somehow ties into the current Action storyline, but with all the delays, I seriously doubt this will be anything more than an also-ran.

Justice League of America #7

Hey, the first issue, cool.

Okay, I read the Newsarama interviews (1, 2), and I don't, in any way shape, or form, disagree with Meltzer using the first 6 episodes to establish the team, and the “lesser known” members” prior to the big “public” debut. It's a great idea, one I support. Here's the problem. He could have done it better.

I hate to come back to the comparisons between JLA and Johns' JSA, but both writers did basically the same thing in their original arcs. They presented stories that involved the team formations, giving us the background on members who were brand new or about whom most readers would be unfamiliar.

Johns presented it in a way that included regular doses of great action that kept the story moving at a brisk pace. Meltzer continually left me asking when anyone is going to actually throw a punch. I said the JLA story will read a lot better in trade format, and I stand by that. The pacing issues will be a little less apparent when you read the story in one sitting.

In any case, issue 7 is actually the issue where the JLA “forms,” invitations are sent out and accepted. All that “Big 3 pick the members” stuff from the first issue is swept aside in favor of the convenience of “we who fought Amazo” being tapped for the job.

Headquarters are built, and yes, you know I'm an old Superfriends fan when I say I'm very “pro” on the new “Hall of Justice.” You other people get the bonus satellite, too, so you can be happy as well. Black Canary, chairwoman of the JLA? Sure, no problem there. I know, you're thinking “You're totally fanboy for that boring Kryptonian, how can you say that?” Easy, I really don't mind.

If you read most any JLA story, there's really never much weight put on a single “leadership” position. They fight as a team, and generally make decisions as a team. Saying Clark is the “leader” doesn't mean much. It means just as much as Dinah being the leader. You're probably not going to just ignore Bruce's tactical advice, or tell Clark not to keep the 50 foot tall atomic robot busy while the rest of the team captures the mad scientist.

Besides, maybe the chair just has to hang around the hall and give tours, you never know.

Superman Batman #33

This is the “we're buddies again” arc? Damn, what a waste. In fact, it's the only reason I even bothered mentioning this arc again in the column.

Yes, Bruce and Clark reaffirm their true friendship in the end here. Not wary or convenient allies, or merely persons of mutual respect, Bruce and Clark are friends, and years of John Byrne and Frank Miller peeing all over that might just be over.

Just kind of annoying it had to end here, in what was not a particularly spectacular arc that involved a laundry list of all bad cross-over cliches.

Yes, Despero was the final bad guy, and, you're not gonna believe this, but after both Superman, then Batman turn evil, they shake it off, and combine forces to defeat him. Seriously, never saw that coming. No, Mr. Verheiden, tossing in all other alien superheroes turning evil at the same time doesn't a hint of a vaguely original idea make.