I plan to review DC, Marvel, Vertigo and Wildstorm as a group and of course I can only review what I read. This is just a quick touch on each book, not an in depth review which would get too laborious, but maybe a worthwhile idea for a review of a series on occasion.
Note the issue numbers reflect the November solicitations.
BATMAN #659 - A really solid book now, constantly a “B”
DETECTIVE COMICS #825 – Again the fill in for Paul Dini was a little weak but a “B” book now days. It’s nice to see DC put solid and strong talent on both Batman and Superman, Since the One Year Later jump the two main icons have really been enjoyable.
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #5 – A waste of the paper and the talent. Frank Miller and Jim Lee can do better. When it shows a “C".
BATMAN AND THE MAD MONK #4 – A terrific mini-series, Wagner is doing a great job as a series this is an “A”
NIGHTWING #126 – Now back into the good side of books and is a “B” level monthly.
CATWOMAN #61 – An enjoyable comic, a solid book another “B”
ROBIN #156 – Again an enjoyable read and as a monthly a “B” book.
ALL STAR SUPERMAN – An “A” level book, really a great read and wonderful art.
ACTION COMICS #845 – A solid “B” book and looks to be moving up.
SUPERMAN #658 – Another solid “B” comic. Every month Busiek and Pacheo have managed to entertain us with solid writing and art.
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #31 – A “D” level disaster. The story is so convoluted that it is really failing right now.
SUPERGIRL #12 – A “B” book. Casey and Churchill are doing a really nice job in making this book readable and entertaining after it’s disastrous launch.
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #1 – An “A” book, Cooke and Sale rock. Of course this book will go up or down based on each arc as the team will switch after every story.
52: WEEKS 26-30 – Wow – a quality book and they have not missed a week. A “B” grade with an “A” for effort.
THE ALL-NEW ATOM #5 – Fun romp based on some Morrison ideas and Gail Simone doing the stories – a “B”.
AQUAMAN: SWORD OF ATLANTIS #47 – An “A” as long as Busiek and Guice are on this book. I hope the new team manages to hold onto the quality.
BIRDS OF PREY #100 – A really solid and entertaining book, I’ll miss Black Canary as she has quit the team for now, a solid “B”.
THE BLUE BEETLE #9 – A “C” book, okay so far, but has yet to make me anticipate an issue.
THE FLASH: FASTEST MAN ALIVE #6 – “D” book. The story has been weak, inconsistent artwork and this has Bart Allen as the Flash, which I love, but they have not delivered on this series.
FIRESTORM: THE NUCLEAR MAN #31 – A “C” book. Better then Blue Beetle, but again I’m not anticipating this book every month.
GREEN LANTERN #16 – Tough one to call as the art has been great, but the stories have been good and bad, as a series a “C”.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #6 – A “B” level book. Good solid entertainment and has gotten better ever issue.
GREEN ARROW #68 – A “B” level book, month in and month out really fast paced excitement.
ION #8 – A “C” level book, it has its moments and then those moments pass too quickly.
HAWKGIRL #58 – A “D” level book. A real disappointment, I like the character , the writer and can live with Chaykin’s art and the series has been flat, nothing is happening that I have cared about until this last issue.
JLA CLASSIFIED #29 – “C” book, depends on the arc. Not sure this book has a reason to exist.
JSA CLASSIFIED #19 “B” level, again depends on the arc, but this is spotlighting JSA members in solo adventures.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #4 – “C” book, the art is the saving grace for this book.
JONAH HEX #13 – “B” book, close to an “A” level comic, really great Western.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER #4 – “B” level. I like the Martian Manhunter and I think they are doing a decent job trying to re-Define the character.
OMAC #5 – “C” – weak and is only held together because the concept is interesting.
OUTSIDERS #42 – “B” great team action book.
RUSH CITY #5 – “B” almost an “A” this is a wonderful action movie, with Chuck Dixon writing and Tim Green as artist.
SECRET SIX #6 – “B” book, this was a terrific mini-series that ends here. Gail Simone has done a great job with these characters.
SHADOWPACT #7 – “A” – just out and out fun and madness.
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #2 – “B” love the back-up on Dr. 13 more then the Spectre lead feature.
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #4 – “B” another Judd Winick written book, that I’m enjoying a lot.
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #24 – “A” but I’m a sucker for the Legion and this has been a terrific series.
UNCLE SAM AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS #5 – “B” with better art and “A”, solid mini-series that really surprised me.
TEEN TITANS #41 – “C” level. I like the book, but it seems directionless.
DC has been doing a lot of mini-series as oppossed to new continung series and I think I like that idea. Not every character can hold a long term series that well as proven by sales histories and often after the initial writer leaves the books falter. So doing a mini-series to tell a story about a character is great as long as we bring them back for follow-up stories. Spectre had a 3 issue mini and now is the lead character in Tales of the Unexpected mini-series, so it seems like DC will continue with a character if the stories merit it. Plus I believe the mini-series allow more characters to be able to get the spotlight as the talent is not tied up on unlimited series.
DC also has the Archives series of hard covers reprinting the old Golden Age, Silver Age and more recent stuff in high quality reproductins. These are the best produced reprints of their kind and I'm only disappointed by the lack of issues published every year and too much of a focus on some of the Golden Age Superman and Batman stuff.
Recently DC has taken to doing the black and white reprints (a la Essentials) called Showcase. These reprints are great, 500 pages for $17 is a real bargin and I encourage people to pick them up.
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