My Week In Comics: 8-19-09

Okay, so I had to re-title this, since tomorrow I'll be back to the store for a new book or five. At least I came up with something permanent, instead of calling it "This week's..." or "Last week's..."

Blackest Night: Superman 1 (of 3): This tie-in to the "Blackest Night" event is probably the best of any of the BN books I've picked up. It's a success on all levels. The latest Black Lantern to be introduced is Kal-L, the Superman of Earth-2, who died during "Infinite Crisis." It plays a little like a horror movie, with Smallville depicted as the typical small town just before the monster begins its devastation, followed by the attack by BL Kal-L (and an unsurprising assistant) on Superman, Superboy, Krypto and Ma Kent. Considering that the Earth-2 Superman was considered by many to be more powerful, how the living current Kal-El is going to win the fight is a question. It even ties into current Superman events, as another black power ring arrives on New Krypton. Of course, this will lead to complaints such as "How can Superman be doing such-and-such on New Krypton at the same time he's fighting the Black Lantern Superman on Earth?" from continuity sticklers.

Supergirl 44: This is Part 3 of the four-part "Codename: Patriot" storyline. DC is promising that the stories going on in the Super-books regarding New Krypton and the plot by General Lane against Superman will set up something huge in 2010. It's intriguing to imagine what they're planning, considering how entertaining (for the most part) the current plot is. Ral-Dar, the Kryptonian who wounded General Zod, learns that he's a pawn in Lane's plans and escapes, headed to intercept the U.S. President (which, we learn, is exactly what Lane wants). As Superman gives chase, Supergirl and Mon-El go after Nightwing and Flamebird, who are headed towards Metropolis...or are they?

Superman/Batman 63: The world has been taken over by the mind-controlling Gorilla Grodd. The atmosphere is filled with kryptonite, which forced Superman to leave Earth, the other heroes have been eliminated, and only Batman fights on desperately. In other words, it's another issue that completely ignores what's going on currently in the DC Universe. Plus they stole the end from the "Stewie Kills Lois/Lois Kills Stewie" Family Guy episodes.

Superman Annual 14: It tells the story of how Mon-El's home planet of Daxam came to be -- and how Mon-El himself came to be, for that matter. It's interesting if you like Mon-El, I suppose.

Simpsons Comics 157: "Marge's Extreme Make-Under" -- Springfield has been named the ugliest city in America by a magazine and, thanks to the "Eye on Springfield" TV show, Patty and Selma take the brunt of the abuse. So Marge decides to defend their honor by looking more like them. Homer is not happy!