Hello again GEN readers! It’s Jill a.k.a. The Nerdy Bird back with this week’s installment of DoubleDCoverage. Ready for a little action and adventure? Superman is back on planet Earth and Superboy is well, alive. Reviews for Action Comics #880 and Adventure Comics #1 are ahead, also, check out my star ratings for my other pulls from last Wednesday!
ACTION COMICS #880
Part Two of “Codename: Patriot” continues here in Action Comics. General Lane’s plan, whatever that is exactly, is going way too smoothly. Something has to go wrong soon, doesn’t it? Not from the looks of things. Even with their keen senses, Superman, Supergirl, Nightwing and Flamebird fly hopelessly into the open arms of certain disaster. At least there were some nice hugs along the way.
Superman and Supergirl are inbound for planet Earth, a big no-no these days for Kryptonians, chasing after Ral-Dar. He’s the Kryptonian who attempted to assassinate General Zod. General Lane uses the opportunity to launch fighter jets to counteract the “threat.” After Ral-Dar shoots down the jets with his heat vision, the heroes are left with their only move – saving the pilots. Superman and Supergirl, along with Mon-El, seek help from the Science Police. After some brief hesitation on the SP’s part, they agree to work together to capture the fugitive. In the most awkward scene I’ve viewed in a while, Lois comes racing into the SP headquarters looking for her husband, only to find Superman whom she can’t react to seeing as how he’s in costume. And who let her in anyway? There weren’t any other reporters around. Regardless, they do get one moment alone and she’s able to tell him their adopted son Chris is back.
Chris, otherwise known as Lor-Zod, otherwise known as Nightwing is in the Hollywood hills with Flamebird looking for their escaped Kryptonian fugitives. Instead, a group of fans and reporters who think they’re both attractive swarm around them. Hey, it’s just like REAL Hollywood! Upon hearing of the attack they race off but stop to argue when Chris hears Superman is back on Earth. Of course his first instinct is to go to his father for help but Thara reminds him they aren’t suspected to be Kryptonian and must not blow their cover by associating with him. They argue even more when Chris finds a girls phone number stuffed in his costume but that abruptly ends when he grabs Thara and kisses her deeply in midair. Their fugitives, Nadira and Az-Rel appear and break up the sweet moment and disable them with green and gold kryptonite. It was really Metallo and Reactron disguised my General Lanes’ new pet Mirabai.
Patriot is the name given to General Lane’s secret ally who is revealed this issue to be Ral-Dar. His fear of war between the two planets was so great that Lane was able to coerce him into assassinating Zod. He is obviously not a bad person, he is worried about the fighter pilots he shot down, but he is now in a situation he can not get out of. Julián López’s handled a lot of action this issue very well. I enjoy the fact that his males and females are attractive without looking overly muscular or overtly sexual. The writing this issue was by Greg Rucka and James Robinson and I’m very much a fan of both. I’m also a fan of the interconnected storylines between all of the Super books. It feels so much more epic when everyone is involved, writers and characters alike. “Codename: Patriot” continues this week in Supergirl. For the record, I still have no clue as to what’s going on in the Captain Atom second feature, but then again, I don’t think anyone else does either.
ADVENTURE COMICS #1
The classic title Adventure Comics is back but more importantly so is Conner Kent. Even more importantly, it’s ok if you call him Superboy. If you haven’t been following comics or didn’t read Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, you might not have known that so…surprise!
Conner is back in the present and settled with Martha Kent in Smallville. Not knowing his particular place in the world since his resurrection he’s put together a check-list of sorts to emulate Superman which he titles, “What did Superman do?” He’s enrolled in Smallville High School and gone back to the Teen Titans where Bart is extra happy to help him destroy their memorial statues. Of course he’s already helping people in danger, pretty blondes in danger that is. But Krypto, being the awesome dog, steals the spotlight and gets all the attention from the girl. Simon Valentine, a young boy keen on scientific discovery, finds more than he can handle in Bruin Lake. While collecting a water sample a giant creature rises out of the water. He knows Simon’s name as well as the fact that he will be Superboy’s greatest friend and greatest enemy but insists he is only here for Conner.
Conner finds Superman while looking through Lex Luthor’s childhood home in Smallville. They have a heart-to-heart about good ol’ Lex and it seems Conner finally feels not like Superman, not like Lex, but his own person. He even tells Superman that if he ever sees Lex again it will be too soon. Unfortunately that’s not the case as we get to see the other half of Conner’s check-list, “What does Lex Luthor do?” Number one is “Lies to Superman” and Conner checks it off. You can’t see it but I’m making a sad face right now thinking about it. The second feature is one of the best I’ve read so far. It features the Legion but this time focuses on Thom Kallor, the Starman from the future living in our present. He helped bring Conner back but is now on another secret mission. Thom heads to Bruin Lake to meet with the creature there that turns out to be Legionnaire Tellus. Tellus attempts to fix Thom’s mind but is overcome but how far it has deteriorated. They must complete their mission, which includes R.J. Brande’s will, before it’s completely gone.
I can tell you right now that Adventure Comics is going to be THE book to follow this year. Besides Blackest Night of course. Not a whole lot happens in this first issue action-wise but a whole crapload of stuff is being set up for sure. Either way it’s just so nice to see Conner back and I can’t wait to see where Geoff Johns takes him. Now I must talk about the art. The fabulous, amazing, tremendous, several other positive adjectives art. Francis Manapul is simply a revelation. I saw the two-page spread of Conner, Krypto and Ma a few months ago but it still took my breath away when I turned the page. Conner looks every bit the hero in every single panel and Krypto of course, looks adorable. The second feature art by Clayton Henry is a wonderful companion to the main piece and even though it’s drastically different from Manapul’s work it doesn’t stand in opposition to it like some of the features tend to do. If you haven’t already picked this one up, do so today.
BATMAN #689 – Batman’s getting a little too touchy-feely for my tastes. Not to mention, happy.
BLACKEST NIGHT #2 (OF 8 ) – Aquaman Black Lanterns galore, Deadman, the Spectre and Hawk but not Dove. Interesting.
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN #1 (OF 3) – Deadman is playing a larger part in this series than I expected. It’s telling that Bruce’s parents haven’t been called as Black Lanterns but Dick and Tim’s have.
BOOSTER GOLD #23 – Booster has to fix another mess created by the Black Beetle who also shows up in the Blue Beetle second feature.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #39 – This book is slightly behind all the BN action but holy crap were there some great reveals, both relating to Kyle.
RED ROBIN #3 – Thanks for preventing Tim from telling us why thinks Bruce is still alive Cassie. Come on already!
SUPERMAN SECRET FILES 2009 – If you haven’t been following the Super books but want to start this is a fantastic way to get caught up! There’s detailed files on everyone involved plus there’s a few new stories thrown in the mix.
WEDNESDAY COMICS #6 (OF 12) – We’re at the half-way point. Highlights this week: Green Lantern and a really cute Supergirl. Lowlights: Teen Titans and Wonder Woman have gotten even worse.
My pull list for next week:
BATGIRL #1 I’m doing this one no matter what! =)
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM #3
BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1 (OF 3)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #36
THE OUTSIDERS #21
POWER GIRL #4
SUPERGIRL #44
SUPERMAN ANNUAL #14
WEDNESDAY COMICS #7 (OF 12)
Which two should I review for DoubleDCoverage #22?
August 19th, 2009 at 5:16 am
I still haven’t finished reading last week’s stack and it’s Wednesday again! Too soon or too many comics?
Loving the Dead Man in Blackest Night as well although his sense of humor removes the element of catastrophic doom he should be feeling.
August 19th, 2009 at 6:43 am
I didn’t know that Batgirl is coming out… today! Review that Batgirl, … girl! I would like to see what your thoughts are on Gotham Knights. I am really not liking it. I loved Dini’s work on Detective and I’m blown away on how different it is from his past work on detective. Adventure Comics really just brought me back to Superman. I haven’t been too intersted on the World of Krypton even though it’s great for the character. I went to the Superman pan and just watching Rucka, Robinson, and Johns talk about a character that they really fully understand and care about was really cool. So I guess I’ll wait for the trade. Thanks, again I love your Reviews/blog.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Well, I guess I’ll have to give Adventure Comics a try, then.
Whoa, you didn’t like Batman? I thought it was awesome!
August 19th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Yay for Batgirl. That book kicked my butt. I wasn’t even going to get it, but the opening really sucked me in.
Can’t wait!