JUSTICE LEAGUE 3000 #11: Terry has returned from Camelot Nine and had to cut a deal with Ariel Masters making him neutralize their implants or he will be forced to stay on Camelot Nine permanently. Ariel Masters decides to use Camelot Nine as the team’s new headquarters and Bruce thinks it needs a butler. Terry put together the Injustice League that consists of reborn versions of Bane, Captain Cold, Sinestro, Zeus and Lois Lane. Meanwhile, on the prison planet formerly known as Earth, a construction crew that is excavating the ocean finds two bodies that have been cryogenically frozen. Welcome to the future, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle.
Yay! We go through an entire issue without too much boring stuff to make out way to the final page and… Booster and Beetle. This is so awesome! Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis and Howard Porter turn the plot loose and gives us a wild issue. I so love this book because it is totally unpredictable. Luckily, this title hasn’t gotten onto the cancellation list because I so love it. Buy this book!
JUSTICE LEAGUE #36: Metropolis is under quarantine and meta-human powers are manifesting in many of the infected. Batman and Superman search for Patient Zero while
Lex Luthor is watching over the rest of the infected Justice Leaguers who he figures will die within the next 24 hours. They all became infected because they refused to leaves the city until it was evacuated. Lex admits he created the Amazo virus to stop metahuman criminals. It only affects humans, which leave Wonder Woman and Superman immune. Stage One gives people flu-like symptoms. Stage Two randomly gives out metahuman powers. During Stage Three, the cells break down and they die. And, as Lex wonders who wanted to kill him, that person hires another assassin to do the deed.
So…is Lex a good guy or is all of this his own fault and he has set this up from the beginning. That is the real mystery here, not who is going to live or die. Did Lex’ sister set this in motion? Anything is possible as Luthor has a boatload of enemies. Geoff Johns and new series artist Jason Fabok continue to set things in motion and keep us guessing. Another great mystery in what has become one of the flagship titles of the NEW 52 Universe.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #36: The team learns that they have been sent to the end of time and are standing on the last piece of the Earth. Nightmare Nurse casts a stabilizing enchantment so they can survive. While Bennett scouts ahead, a creature resembling Felix Faust attacks the rest before promising to give them air to breath as long as Nightmare Nurse returns him back to his true form. While he spent most of his life searching for the Book of Tithonus and finally was able to achieve immortality. But, with Earth gone, he finds himself lonely and says the only reason he tried to eat them was because he wanted companions. He sends them to a single rose that restores Alec, as it is the last of the Green in existence. A second Felix Faust, the real one, attacks them but is too late, as Nightmare Nurse makes a ship out of magic and they float away as the last piece of Earth dissolves. Meanwhile, Zatanna is stuck in an illusion world based on her past. Deadman, Black Orchid and Madame Xanadu are also here, trying to find everyone else.
Can we just get these people back home? I am slowly tiring of this storyline and I know that DC won’t be canceling this book anytime soon as…gee whiz: there’s a movie coming in the future. J. M. DeMatteis and Andres Guinaldo provide another lackluster issue, except we get to see two Felix Fausts instead of one and they are both pretty messed up! Not my favorite issue of this title and it seriously needs a bit of a creative shot in the arm before CONVERGENCE.
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNITED #6: While most of the team, with the help of many of the Legion of Super-Heroes, battles The Cadre, Miiyahbin is watching over Ultra. The cadre is here to make sure Ultra turns into Infinitus. While Brainiac 5 predicts victory, Black Mass grabs Equinox and Ultra and heads to the moon of Ryngor where Byth tells Supergirl she is too late to stop Infinitus and Green Arrow battles a brainwashed Hawkman. Byth convinces Ultra into for the Infinity Wraiths. Supergirl gets sent back to Earth where she explains what has happened to the Legionnaires and the rest of the team. While they can’t get back to Ryngor, Brainiac 5 has sent the Legion Lost to help out.
Okay, so Jeff Lemire and Neil Edwards have not only brought back the Legion of Super-Heroes but now we are about to get Legion lost besides? OH BOY! I sure as heck it reads better than either of their individual series did, because they were pretty dismal. Lemire’s story is fun and Edwards art is nice. But I want to get to the point of all of this and move on to the next story. There is something about this superhero team that strikes me as a third rate team that shouldn’t even have the Justice League name. Can we cancel them after CONVERGENCE and send these characters into the 31st century?
KLARION #2: Rasp gets into a fight with Klarion because Klarion is making moves on his girlfriend Zell. They finish their fight and make up, going back to school. Later, Later, Klarion and Zell have Dark Arts Training and get a bit romantic with each other while Rasp gets to meet a Buddybot creation of Coal and Necrot.
THANK GOD THIS THING GETS CANCELLED WITH ISSUE #6 BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING HERE! This is like a bad teen Romance title that doesn’t even qualify for that. I read this silly thing three times and what you got for my synopsis is about all I got out of it. It’s time for Ann Nocenti and Trevor McCarthy to take their act on the road and away from this title. .
LOBO #2: Lobo battles the Grunt Brothers and kills them before emerging from a Port-A-John at an amusement park. That is where he meets his new partners: Rave, Luna, and Emily. They all head to Shanghai where he takes out the next target: a robot wearing human skin. Unfortunately, a contagion has been released and that means Lobo and his new allies need to go out to battle zombies. They win the fight, even without Rave’s help.
Cullen Bunn, Reilly Brown, Nelson DeCastro and Alisson Borges: shame on all of you for taking paychecks for this piece of trash! This isn’t my Lobo and I just wish he had not been the last of his kind. He should have died with the rest of them! Why this title isn’t getting the axe with the other batch of titles getting the boot in March I have no idea!
NEW 52: FUTURE’S END #26-30: In issue #26, Michael Holt has Key and Coil follow Bruce Wayne. At Columbia University, Dr. Yamazake throws Jason out of his lab because he has deduced he is Firestorm. Jason discovers the text messages he has been receiving is from Ronnie Raymond while Ronnie insists he was getting them from Jason. Batman arrives, tells them that Green Arrow is NOT dead and the world needs Firestorm. Terry and Plastique go to see Tim Drake for help. Since there is no record of Tim in the future, he is not alive in the future, that means Brother Eye hasn’t cataloged his DNA. On Cadmus Island, Fifty Sue tells Brother Eye she is building a team to fight it. Brother Eye responds by showing everything it knows about her and that Slade is ready to betray her. Meanwhile, Cole tells Lana he knows she has romantic feelings for Slade. Madison arrives at Yamazake’ lab and, realizing who her father is, attacks her with plans to make her part of his next experiment.
In issue #27, Green Arrow and company leave their island in search of Cadmus Island and their mission to free the Earth 2 refugees. They find that the island is protected by an army of OMACs. On Cadmus Island , Mister Miracle is spotted by The Huntress, who is still under Brother Eye’s control and forces him to hide In Metropolis, Lois Lane returns home to find Cal waiting for her. He explains that Madison has gone missing and needs her help. She shows him the mystery box. The matchbox sent her to him while the pyramid showed her a prison. The red arrow represents Red Arrow, who apparently wants him to go to the coordinates she had been given. He won’t go until he finds Madison, so he suggests Lois go. Lois flies back to the coordinates and parachutes into what seems to be open sea. Meanwhile, Terry and Plastique prepare to search Tim’s apartment when Batman attacks him. Suddenly an explosive comes through the window, catching the pair within the blast.
In issue #28, Lois lands on an island and is immediately spotted by an OMAC, causing her to hide in the woods where she discovers a badly damaged Red Tornado. In Las Vegas, Frank Rock criticizes Faraday for being unable to protect Cadmus from Brother Eye. Fifty Sue arrives demanding revenge on Slade, who has aligned himself with Brother Eye. Voodoo arrives, surprised that the person she has been hired to kill is meeting with Faraday and Rock. In New York City, Tim’s bar is on fire thanks to the explosive that Plastique threw, allowing him to escape from Batman’s clutches. Meanwhile, Ronnie finds Cal sitting on his front steps and the two agree to team up to find Madison. Jason goes to speak to Dr. Yamazake and finds him watching the video of the attack that killed his wife. He has Madison in his new teleportation device and plans to use her as part of his experiment.
In issue #29, Cal and Ronnie get into a tussle with Cadmus security that reveals Cal’s talents as the former Red Robin. Jason Rusch is being held by Cadmus Security but manages to grab a keycard and run towards the lab. Cal, Ronnie and Jason all converge into the lab. Ronnie pulls Madison out but is struck by the energy bolts. Jason tries to join hands with Ronnie who dematerializes causing Jason to touch Madison. Ronnie apologizes to Jason for what he did and then explodes. Madison and Jason are now united and he is part of the Firestorm Matrix again. Cal finds a burned and dying Ronnie and remembers how he saw all his friends in the Teen Titans die.
In issue #30, Red Tornado tells Lois how she was taken prisoner on the island. Team Arrow has arrived at the island and are forced to battle OMACs and inmates. Emiko and the Outsiders battle them as they become one giant OMAC. Deathstroke prepares to kill Green Arrow forcing Lana to hit him with a rock and for her and Cole to try to escape. They get to Green Arrow, but so does Deathstroke who gets his head ripped off his shoulders by Fury. Barda is happy to see that Scott is with Fury while Green Arrow sends Red Arrow and the wounded back to the boat. Green Arrow, Scott, Fury, and Barda head into the main facility and are attacked by Power Girl. Barda holds her back, allowing the others to escape. Red Tornado warns Lois to save herself and she races to the beach, where she sees Oliver. As the boat leaves the island, Barda defeats Brother Eye's control of Power Girl, resulting in a huge explosion which probably killed them both. Brother Eye survives by infecting Lois' phone
Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, and Keith Giffen combine with Scot Eaton, Aaron Lopresti, Andy MacDonald, Patrick Zircher, and Tom Raney for the next five chapters in this epic. We all know this ends in march, right before CONVERGENCE. And we also have been told that the final pages with tie together with everything else in the present day. With that kind of teaser, is it not a surprise that I totally can’t wait for this title to race to its’ conclusion.
NEW SUICIDE SQUAD #4: Vic Sage demands the Secretary of Defence allows him to be able to control the Suicide Squad’s nano-bombs. The Secretary refuses and so does the President. He and Amanda get into it and he tries to punch her out when Amanda turns the tables opn him and reminds him they are on closed circuit television. Meanwhile, Deathstroke is torturing Deadshot for sheer pleasure when he learns that Harley Quinn and Black Manta have arrived to rescue Floyd. Miraculously, Deadshot gets a shot off and hits Deathstroke in the chest, allowing all to escape and look for Joker's Daughter. Later, Anatoli gets a hospital visit from a man offering to help improve himself at M.A.R.S. Systems.
So here’s my bet/guess: Sage is the man. Just saying! What we have here is another fun issue from Sean Ryan and Tom Derenick and, with a movie on the way, you will be seeing this book around, or at least a book bearing this title, for some time.
RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #36: Last issue, Jason injected himself with a dose of Venom that is leading him to kill the terrorists he is fighting. Starfire caused Roy to be badly burned by her space leap and has taken him to the hospital so he can be treated. When Jason finally comes down from the Venom and tracks down Roy, it leads to a confrontation between Oliver Queen and him. Devastated by what she has done, Kori ends up in Poland where she acquires a mysterious drug that makes her dream of Tamaran. Essence arrives at the hospital and heals Roy, leaving him in the capable hands of his former mentor. Jason heads off to find Kori, who he believes is searching for Crux.
So, in the NEW 52, we have Kori as the drug addict instead of Roy. Wish I had thought of that. Thanks to Scott Lobdell and RB Silva for giving us a lackluster issue with average art. No really: thanks for nothing as this book continues its’ very uneven roller coaster ride that makes me sometimes wonder how this book stays in production.
RED LANTERN #36: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.
SECRET ORIGINS #7: In the first story, we see Barry Allen visiting his father at Iron Heights. Barry recalls how the last time he saw his mom alive was when she put him on the bus one day when he was worried about a race that he had to run at school. When he got home, he found his mother dead in a pool of blood and his father being taken away in handcuffs. He promised that he would find the real killer and eventually got a job with the Central City Police Department as a forensics expert. One night, he gets struck by a blot of lightning while working in his lab and is covered in chemicals. Once he had healed, he found he had a new ability that allowed him to fight crime. His father begs Barry to stop coming to see him. But Barry insists he won’t stop trying to set him free.
In the second story, set five years before the Apokoliptian invasion, we see Helena Wayne training with her mother, Catwoman. Some time later, Selina began to consider letting Helena out on her own. She designed a costume based on her hero Robin Hood. One night, the alarm in the Batcave went off, found she was too late to save her mother, and went after the killers on her own. Supergirl saved her and they became best friends. During the invasion, they leapt into a Boom Tube that sent them to our Earth as opposed to Apokolips. Helena discovered this Earth’s Selina Kyle was not at all like her own. She designed a new uniform for herself and began her own crime fighting war as The Huntress.
In the third story, Kon-El has come to S.T.A.R. Labs to learn about himself. Following the lead of Caitlin Fairchild and Rose Wilson, he tried to make a name for himself. He met the Teen Titans and became a hero. He was a hero for a while, even after meeting Superman and not totally getting a nod of approval from him. At one point, he fought Jon Lane Kent who came from the future to destroy all metahumans. Even before he gets the test results from the doctor, he knows he is Superboy. As he leaves, we learn that he may be half human and half Kryptonian, but 10% of his DNA is from an unknown source.
So, we all know that this title bites the dust in March and I’m not surprised. It truly tried to tap into a classic title and never really succeeded, especially at five bucks and issue. Well, the first story by Robert Venditti, Van Jensen with art by Miguel Sepulveda gives us the “secret origin of Barry Allen and, the only thing new was his being in a race and the whole thing with his bow tie. The second story by Paul Levitz and Jonboy Meyers was nice, with some warm “fuzzy” moments between Selina and Helena. The third story by Frank J. Barbiere and Robson Rocha left me confused. If you are 50% human and 50% Kryptonian, how do you get another 10% in you? Oh yeah: we always hear about giving 110%. That explains it!
SINESTRO #7: Previously reviewed as part of GODHEAD ACT 2.
STAR SPANGLED WAR STORIES #4: Carmen’s helicopter is shot down and leaves her as the only survivor. But it’s only a dream as she is still undercover with a scientist from the terrorist group. “Tiffany” and head to the Rinaldi Spa and Retreat before they are taken down 20 sub-levels to meet with a man named Forrest for dinner. He has found out that the chemical attack was a success and orders more of the chemical be made. Meanwhile, G.I. Zombie has directed the terrorist missile to Sutterville, Tennessee, where it has caused a zombie outbreak. A nearby jet firebombs the town, seemingly ending the crisis. The CDC arrives to clean up and assist any survivors. Also arriving is Gravedigger with word that the infection is not airborne.
Yes, I totally love this comic and yes I will be totally bummed out when it goes away in March. When you start with a killer cover by Darwyn Cooke and then dive into a fun, roller coaster ride of a story by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Scott Hampton, how can you lose? Unfortunately, even four issues in, it has not been able to capture an audience. So, I guess it’s time for DC to pack in their “war” titles as every one to date, BLACKHAWKS, MEN OF WAR, G.I. COMBAT, and now this, have all had short runs. Well, I guess there is still room for OUR FIGHTING FORCES, OUR ARMY AT WAR and THE LOSERS.
SUPERMAN #36: Ulysses has taken to the airwaves saying that the Fourth Dimension is the place to be and offering the chance for six million humans to join him in the Fourth Dimension. Superman finds Ulysses and demands to know what is going on. He explains that he is offering humanity a chance and ends the conversation quickly. Neil’s parents decide they will go with him as they agree with their son’s decision. Crowds begin to form around the ship and fights break out as people want to be the first on board.The Fourth Dimensioners warn that violence is unacceptable and bans any who have fought from getting on board. Ulysses meets with Klerik in prison, then goes to his parents, and forbids them from coming along, saying that he is trying to protect them. Superman arrives and demands answers, leading to him being attacked by Ulysses. He says there is only one way to have perfect world and Earth needs to pay the cost.
Well, that can’t be too good! Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. turn up the heat and it looks like Ulysses may not be the nice guy he led Superman to believe he was. And what is the deal with Klerik? Neil meets with him and all of a sudden, his demeanor changes and he and the Man of Steel are brawling? That must have been one intense conversation! I love where this title is going with the new creative team and cannot wait to see what they have for us next month.
SUPERMAN UNCHAINED #9: We begin years ago with Jedidiah Colder threatening Martha Kent and feeling the wrath of a very young Clark Kent. He knew then that he could be a powerful weapon if he wanted to be and now, Lex Luthor reminds him that he IS a weapon. Lex has equipped Superman with a syringe containing solar fuel. The idea is that he will explode with a two-hundred megaton blast that will wipe out the incoming invasion. Lois hugs him and thanks him for everything as he prepares to face the armada alone. As he heads into space, it becomes obvious that Wraith’s attack is taking out computers all over the planet. Wraith appears, grabs the syringe from a weakened Superman and injects himself with it, exploding and destroying all of his people. Several days later, Lois tells Clark he needs to take risks with his career not knowing that a little boy once took a great leap from a corn silo to learn to fly.
Scott Snyder, Jim Lee and Dustin Nguyen end the longest running mini-series in history. Well, not really but it sure seems that way. This title was announced at the 2012 New York Comic Con and came out in June of 2013. It was designed to be an ongoing series to coincide with the MAN OF STEEL movie. Then it turned into a limited series that was going to end in April. And then it was delayed. And cancelled. And resolicited. And finally…the end. Not with a bang but truly with a whimper. It looks nice, it reads wonderfully, although the book was truly more character driven than action oriented. If you didn’t buy the series, look for cheap back issues or buy the TPB. The highlight was the double-sized fold-out poster page from issue #1.
SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #13: We begin five years in the past as Superman and Wonder Woman fought the Parademons. She was headstrong, he was concerned about innocent lives, and to say they didn’t really hit it off would be an understatement. Today, the pair are involved in a relationship and are heading out on a date when the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant gets attacked by the Atomic Skull and Major Disaster. They are trying to get inside so the Skull can feed on the power core rods. With their date going from bad to worse, Clark and Diana had to the power plant, where Atomic Skull attacks Superman with radioactive vomit while Major Disaster takes down Wonder Woman. But, before they can escape, Wonderstar arrives and threatens to kill the bad guys.
I so love Peter Tomasi’s writing and have always been a big fan of Doug Mahnke’s work starting with the under-appreciated MAJOR BUMMER. But this is the longest comic book with nothing happening that I have read all month. Well, things happen: Diana complains, Clark complains, they go on a date and complain some more. Then they go fight the bad guys. And who the heck is Wonderstar? Sorry…is my nap over yet? This is NOT the way to start a new creative team on their way.
SWAMP THING #36: The Metal has begun burning The Grove. Capucine cuts her way through the fire and saves Brother Jonah. Alec begins to attack the machines, destroying A Calculus in the process. He reopens the Grove long enough to check on Capucine and Jonah, before sealing it again and heading to The Rot. He meets with Abby and, although she believes that Anton Arcane has returned, he has come to warn her of the Metal. They agree to form an alliance. Meanwhile, the Calculi argue about the need for an avatar for the Metal. And they decide on Lady Weeds.
That was an interesting turn of events, even though I am a little confused. Didn’t we see the end of Capucine LAST MONTH in SWAMP THING ANNUAL? So, once again, DC can’t keep their continuity straight! This is the most annoying part lately with comics, be it DC OR Marvel. We have continuity issues all over the place with things happening before or after events in other titles. Whatever happened to the days when editors were so continuity conscious that there were copious notes devoted to it? Charles Soule and Jesús Saíz do an amazing job nonetheless as their collective run on this title slowly comes to an end as does the title in March with issue #40.
TEEN TITANS #4: When we left off last issue, Red Robin was about to meet his end at the wrong end of a robot named Algorithm. Luckily, he has a few tricks up his sleeve and manages to escape. So he sends out a distress call to the other Titans, who are in the middle of dealing with a gang of Wonder girl fans who are bothering Cassie’s mom. Algorithm gives chase and catches Tim but, before she can finish him off, Manchester Black tells her not to harm him. Then he arranges to have her teleported to his chamber where he knows Tim will come and rescue him by destroying her, which he does. By the time the rest of the team arrives, Red Robin is convinced that Manchester Black is on the side of right and they should all team up with the fine folks at S.T.A.R. Labs.
Yeah, like I did not see a Manchester Black “face turn” evident. In case you might have forgotten, Manchester Black, in the old DC Universe, Manchester Black was the vigilante who The Elite. This guy once gave Superman a stroke…literally! He was an anti-hero who served time with the Suicide Squad and eventually commits suicide when he realizes he is truly a villain. So, in the NEW 52, can we expect less? I look forward to what Will Pfeifer and Kenneth Rocafort do with him, although I am getting rather puzzled by the whole Wonder Girl Fan Club thing going on. Can we just give Tim Drake/Cal Corcoran his own book and put this team thing to bed?
TRINITY OF SIN #2: Nimraa, Servant of the Shadow sends Pandora and The Phantom Stranger to The Shadowlands. On Earth, the Question is troubled by his past and sends him to the Shadowlands too. They all are transported to the Rock of Eternity and Nimraa uses the Trinity’s artifacts to open a portal that covers the Earth in darkness.
I didn’t think combining the Trinity of Sin into ONE book(with the addition of The Question) instead of two lackluster books would suck as bad as this. But when I am wrong, I AM WRONG! Three characters that I don’t care about(well-Pandora DID have her moments once she figured out her all thing) are shoved into a comic book courtesy of J. M. DeMatteis and Yvel Guichet. Is it any wonder that this book is mercifully put to sleep in March?
WONDER WOMAN #36: The Amazons are not all happy about Wonder Woman’s decision to allow the Sons of Themyscira to live on “Paradise Island”. Diana is called to meet with the Justice League because a number of villages around the world have become havens of vegetation only, with all human life disappearing. She goes to Thailand and attacks Swamp Thing, blaming him for causing this. Aquaman arrives to break it up and she admits to being under a lot of pressure as Queen of the Amazons, chief peacekeeper and trying to handle Superman’s recent issues. She returns home to discover that the rains have caused the clay statue of Hippolyta to crumble.
With great fanfare we bid farewell to Azzarello and Chang and we get…THIS? Okay, so David Finch has some beautiful art, although this is not his best work. But letting his wife Meredith write this? BIG MISTAKE. First, we have a plot about the vegetation thing that gets dropped mid-way through the book so Diana can crawl onto the psychiatrist’s couch and vent. Then, she goes home and finds mom is dead. Too many plots are introduced throughout this issue with not a one of them showing any signs of potential resolution any time soon. And what DID happen to those villages? We’ll never know because you can bet that won'’ ever get addressed in JUSTICE LEAGUE. A semi-beautiful mess.
WORLDS’ FINEST #28: As the secret history of Superman and batman continues, Wonder Woman becomes involved. The great oracle tells her she must get involved in saving the lives of a young Clark and Bruce. We see Bruce at the zoo with his father when a man attacks. The attack is interrupted by Jarvis the butler, but Diana eventually has to intercede to save the young Wayne’s life. At another time and place, Intri of Apokolips, who promises to take him to his parents, visits Clark. Again, Princess Diana intercedes to save his life, even as he eventually saves that of his mother. Coincidentally, the gods once visited Lois Lane and told of a future that she would eventually remember-once she had been reborn as a robot.
Paul Levitz gives us the second part of a story that should be in SECRET ORIGINS. But, since the girls he has written in this title since issue #1 are no longer the stars of the book, you have to go with something else. Using Lois Lane as the narrator is a cool device that works awesomely! And Jed Dougherty’s art, very much in a George Perez/Phil Jimenez style, is top notch. I am totally enjoying this story arc.
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