Comic Reviews!
Action Comics #854
Astonishing X-Men #22
Green Lantern Corps #15
Superman #666
Superman/Batman #39
Action Comics #854 - I think I've figured out what the goal is of these Jimmy Olsen stories in the Superman comics lately. They want you to hate Jimmy, so when they kill him, fans will rejoice. If that is Busiek's goal, he is doing a damn fine job. While most of his Superman run has been a lot of fun, the way they are writing Jimmy's these days makes him easily the most annoying character ever. There are a few good things about this comic: This story does have a redeemingly good use of Krypto. I did appreciate how the Jimmy vs "Titano" fight ended. I liked how the artist drew Krypto. Other than that, I couldn't stand this issue and have gone from a Jimmy fan to the "Jimmy Olsen Must Die" camp in a few short issues. For so much of the Post-Crisis era writers were able to write "Superman's Pal" without making him seem to silly and Silver age-ish. In particular, I remember the story arc of Jimmy finding out about his father and the connections to the Post-Crisis Cadmus. However, Busiek seems to be in the "return everything to the Silver Age" camp of DC and pretty soon we'll have Jimmy saying "Super-Duper!" again. I like Silver Age Superman and Jimmy Olsen comics a lot. I have the Showcase volumes to read for that. I just don't want my characters to talk and act like they are still in the Silver Age in today's comics. (Although I do like having a flying dog with a cape still in the comics, so I guess I'm not ready to leave all the silver age behind. (2/5 stars)
Astonishing X-Men #22 - Joss continues to deliver a cool story. I just wish it came out more often. This is one of the first issues in a while where I really liked Emma Frost. The Kitty/Peter relationship is being handled really well. The art is generally fantastic as usual from John Cassady with my only art complaint being how he draws Scott this issue. (4.25/5)
Green Lantern Corps #15 - The Battle of Mogo is one of the more exciting mass battles I've read in a while. Gibbons paces it well and has it follow a handful of characters rather than try to show what is happening to every individual Lantern. Gleason's art captures the Chaos of war and the variety of entities the two Corps would have quite well. (My favorite background Lantern was the one shaped like a brick.) (4.5/5 stars)
Superman #666 - I remember when Action Comics #666 came out and I was disappointed that DC didn't do anything special for the "Number of the Beast" issue. This time around they gave us a perfect story for the event as Superman becomes the "Beast from Krypton!" Superman is a big ol' dick for most of this issue and Busiek does a real good job of weaving a story with connections to the actual Christian apocalypse story and Superman's Kryptonian heritage. Best of all, is the art by Simonson. He is one of my favorite comic artists and this issue has all the coolness I expect from him. (4.75/5)
Superman/Batman #39 -This issue is a lot better than the last one. The story is a lot tighter and Nguyen's art is really good. The only complaint I have about the art this issue is that Superman looks asian. The story does leave off with a fantastic cliffhanger this issue. Not a fantastic issue, still, but better. (3/5 stars)
Astonishing X-Men #22
Green Lantern Corps #15
Superman #666
Superman/Batman #39
Action Comics #854 - I think I've figured out what the goal is of these Jimmy Olsen stories in the Superman comics lately. They want you to hate Jimmy, so when they kill him, fans will rejoice. If that is Busiek's goal, he is doing a damn fine job. While most of his Superman run has been a lot of fun, the way they are writing Jimmy's these days makes him easily the most annoying character ever. There are a few good things about this comic: This story does have a redeemingly good use of Krypto. I did appreciate how the Jimmy vs "Titano" fight ended. I liked how the artist drew Krypto. Other than that, I couldn't stand this issue and have gone from a Jimmy fan to the "Jimmy Olsen Must Die" camp in a few short issues. For so much of the Post-Crisis era writers were able to write "Superman's Pal" without making him seem to silly and Silver age-ish. In particular, I remember the story arc of Jimmy finding out about his father and the connections to the Post-Crisis Cadmus. However, Busiek seems to be in the "return everything to the Silver Age" camp of DC and pretty soon we'll have Jimmy saying "Super-Duper!" again. I like Silver Age Superman and Jimmy Olsen comics a lot. I have the Showcase volumes to read for that. I just don't want my characters to talk and act like they are still in the Silver Age in today's comics. (Although I do like having a flying dog with a cape still in the comics, so I guess I'm not ready to leave all the silver age behind. (2/5 stars)
Astonishing X-Men #22 - Joss continues to deliver a cool story. I just wish it came out more often. This is one of the first issues in a while where I really liked Emma Frost. The Kitty/Peter relationship is being handled really well. The art is generally fantastic as usual from John Cassady with my only art complaint being how he draws Scott this issue. (4.25/5)
Green Lantern Corps #15 - The Battle of Mogo is one of the more exciting mass battles I've read in a while. Gibbons paces it well and has it follow a handful of characters rather than try to show what is happening to every individual Lantern. Gleason's art captures the Chaos of war and the variety of entities the two Corps would have quite well. (My favorite background Lantern was the one shaped like a brick.) (4.5/5 stars)
Superman #666 - I remember when Action Comics #666 came out and I was disappointed that DC didn't do anything special for the "Number of the Beast" issue. This time around they gave us a perfect story for the event as Superman becomes the "Beast from Krypton!" Superman is a big ol' dick for most of this issue and Busiek does a real good job of weaving a story with connections to the actual Christian apocalypse story and Superman's Kryptonian heritage. Best of all, is the art by Simonson. He is one of my favorite comic artists and this issue has all the coolness I expect from him. (4.75/5)
Superman/Batman #39 -This issue is a lot better than the last one. The story is a lot tighter and Nguyen's art is really good. The only complaint I have about the art this issue is that Superman looks asian. The story does leave off with a fantastic cliffhanger this issue. Not a fantastic issue, still, but better. (3/5 stars)