Hello again GEN readers! It’s Jill a.k.a. The Nerdy Bird back with another installment of DoubleDCoverage. This week the S’s have the spotlight. I look at two titles that couldn’t be farther apart in plot and style - Superman: World of New Krypton and Secret Six. See what I mean and check out the star ratings for the other titles released last Wednesday!

SECRET SIX #8    

Things have settled down with the Six now that the Get Out of Hell Free card is considered lost. So what’s a team of miscreants to do with their down time? Stock up on booze and dog collars at the local Super Store and double date - that’s what. 

Jeanette has told Deadshot they’re going out together whether he likes it or not and he’s desperate to find a chaperone. Catman refuses so it’s perfect timing when Scandal runs into an old friend while shopping. And by old friend I mean the stripper the guys dressed up as Knockout to cheer Scandal up issues back. Her name is Liana and she’s totally hot for Scandal. After hearing Deadshot’s predicament, Scandal decides to throw caution to the wind and date a woman who looks just like her dead lover.  There’s only one condition, Scandal tells her teammates they aren’t allowed to kill anyone for any reason while they’re on the date. They agree but Ragdoll stows away in the trunk of the car on their way out.

The four eventually wind up at a club and are spotted by one of the Zyklon B Brothers, a skinhead gang with a grudge against the team. Scandal, Deadshot and Jeanette are in civilian clothes for the night but everyone at the club is dressed as heroes or villains - including the all-Power Girl band. A guy dressed as a Blackhawk attempts to pick up Liana while Deadshot is in the toilet and Scandal beats the crap out of him and his friends. Deadshot already has the Zyklon Brothers made by the time he’s attacked in the bathroom. They’ve successfully resisted killing anyone so far but decide it’s best to move on to dinner so as to not tempt fate. The brothers eventually show up there too but Jeanette’s had enough and takes them out. Liana takes all the violence in stride so there may be hope for her yet.

This was an entertaining filler issue but it’s the extra content that steals the show. The last few pages are a view inside Ragdoll’s dreams. No one ever found him in the trunk of the car and it seems he was locked inside for three days. Ragdoll travels the DCU in Tiny Titans style, checking in with the Six, helping Batman, hitting on Wonder Woman and even reciting his own Lantern Oath. I’m a fan of Gail Simone’s writing style in general but she has some of the best comedic style I’ve ever read.

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 (OF 12)

The Guardians on Oa have finally become aware of the new planet in space sector 2814 and they agree something must be done. They’re sending Hal Jordan to investigate and you can bet he won’t be welcomed with open arms. But that’s for another time and place, for the moment Superman is learning what it’s like to serve and lead at the same time.

General Zod introduces Commander El (Superman) to some unfamiliar weaponry and his new XO, Lieutenant Nar. He’s been assigned to train Red Shard, a law enforcement and civil defense unit.  They make a terrible first impression on their new Commander when he finds them cheering Non on in a fight with a indigenous animal. Like Superman, Non was just assigned to this unit. Most likely to keep an eye on him. He does the only thing he can do - assigns them cleanup duty and exercises all day.

A brief visit with Alura is interrupted when Zod overhears Superman discussing his distrust in his new leader.  He meets up with his new friend Tyr from the labor guild. It seems not everyone on New Krypton is content with the status quo and some of them think a new world should mean a new beginning for everyone. Superman agrees and asks him to keep him informed should anything more specific start being discussed.  

Zod quickly finds him again and gives Commander El his first mission. A herd of Thought-Beasts are rampaging and present a danger to the planet’s generators and it’s up to him and Red Shard to stop them by any means necessary.  Always the gentle giant, Superman uses his mind where his unit would use brute force. Like a good country boy he uses them to corral the herd even though the creatures put thoughts of  Pa Kent’s death in his mind as he’s working.  Zod can’t help but be impressed even if it wasn’t how he would have handled the situation. He’ll be put to the test again sooner than he thinks. A faction of the Labor Guild has taken hostages at a gala in the hopes of gaining equal status. Superman now has to stop Commander Gor from taking Zod’s preferred way out of a messy situation. Violence. 

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2 (OF 3) - People are literally getting ripped to shreds in Gotham. I like it.  The girls better step it up for the last issue.

BOOSTER GOLD #19 - Extra Booster is always good but this issue was just filler until the next arc.

GREEN LANTERN #39 - Page 16 was worth the price of admission. And I don’t care what any of you say - Larfleeze is adorable. 

TITANS #12 - Is the Jericho storyline interesting enough to still be going on and crossing over to two other titles? No.

TRINITY #45 - Marginally better than last week.

So, what did YOU think? What are you excited to be reading and what could you live without?

My pull list for next week: 

ACTION COMICS #876
GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY #19
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #35
ORACLE: THE CURE #2 (OF 3)
TRINITY #46
VIGILANTE #5
 

Which two should I review for DoubleDCoverage #4?

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• DoubleDCoverage #27
• DoubleDCoverage #24