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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

This Week's Comics 8-12-09

Once again I've procrastinated almost to the point where this has to be renamed Last Week's Comics. I think I was a bit intimidated by the fact that I bought 7 books on Wednesday, and then a trade paperback (or TPB) a couple days later. It was a good week, though. I didn't find much not to enjoy. Since 5 of these books are tied together in 2 separate events, I'm going to lump them together...

Action Comics 880, Superman Secret Files 2009 1 (of 1): The "Secret Files" cover calls the issue a guide to the "Codename: Patriot" crossover. There are plenty of details in the file pages but unless you haven't been reading the Super-books and suddenly want to jump in, it's not a must-read. On the other hand, Part 2 of "Codename: Patriot" (in Action Comics) has all kinds of good stuff, from Superman's return to Earth and a reunion with Lois Lane to a romantic moment for Nightwing and Flamebird that ends badly. Speaking of Super-books...

Adventure Comics 1: This could be an event in itself: a new book starring Superboy, another dead hero now alive again (revived in "Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds"). Conner Kent, cloned from the DNA of both Superman and Lex Luthor, returns to Smallville to live with Ma Kent (and Krypto!) and resume a normal life of a teenaged superhero, whatever that is. This book co-stars, in a separate feature, the Legion of Super-Heroes, with the last page indicating that Superboy and the Legion will get together before long. This book should live up to its title.

Blackest Night 2 (of 8), Blackest Night: Batman 1 (of 3), Green Lantern Corps 39: And we get to the bigger event, at least for now. "Blackest Night 2," in addition to picking up on Black Lantern Martian Manhunter's attack on Barry Allen and Hal Jordan -- which interrupts a nice moment between Gotham police commissioner Gordon and his daughter Barbara (formerly Batgirl, now Oracle) -- we're also, among other things, introduced to Black Lantern Aquaman, whose return has severe consequences for the current king of Atlantis. One moment in this book leads directly into the "Blackest Night: Batman" tie-in, as the new Batman and Robin are investigating the removal of Bruce Wayne's skull when they encounter Deadman, who failed to stop his own body (Deadman's a ghost, you see) from being taken over by a black power ring. Enjoyed both of these a lot. However, since I haven't been reading "Green Lantern Corps" prior to this, some of what goes on in that book is unfamiliar to me, and what is familiar is a rehash, with some extended dialogue, of events depicted in "Blackest Night 1," so this is a book I probably won't buy again as the Blackest Night storyline continues.

Red Robin 3: I wasn't thrilled with the first two issues, and wasn't sure about whether I'd buy this one or not. It turned out to be an improvement. Our hero finds a clue that he's sure can help him find Bruce Wayne. We don't get to see what that clue is, of course, and we still don't know why he's so convinced Bruce is alive. Meanwhile, he's offered assistance in his quest from Ra's al Ghul. Will Tim make a deal with the devil?

Y: The Last Man - Motherland: This is the 9th of 10 TPB collections, so we're nearing the end of the story. Surprises abound for Yorick and crew in Hong Kong, as we learn what (maybe) caused the death of every other male on the planet.

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