Whee. Got all my books read for a change - left work early because I wasn’t feeling well. Can’t say this week’s crop of books cheered me up much, but there’s some good stuff in there.
New issue of Exiles presents an interesting reversal on the Galactus story; NextWAVE made me laugh quite a bit as they presented a few characters I’d never thought to see in the core Marvel U…oh, and New Avengers gives us a moment in the life of the Sentry.
Seven Soldiers - Finally here! I was diappointed it didn’t tie the minis together more firmly, but it was still an interesting ride. Klarion’s bit at the end was veeery interesting, as was the take on the New Gods - a hint for the Big Things brewing for them?
52 - More New Gods references (in obvious places), interesting Klarion cameo. Ralph’s trip through Hell was oddly anti-climactic.
Spoil Seven Soldiers for me. I think my comic store let me down.
52 was very solid, and it looks like we’re set up to start resolving some things.
Ion - So, Kyle got the fun Monitor, it looks like. Instead of the ‘You’re supposed to be dead, I’m going to fix that’ that Dick’s monitor’s giving him, he gets costume critiques.
Hawkgirl - Why are the apparently Rannian guards in the Hawkman uniforms? Other than that, not a bad issue. The art is vastly improved. And no giant monster vaginas!
Batman/Superman Annual - This Ultraman is officially the STUPIDEST supervillain to walk this, or any other Earth. Also some odd continuity While this is clearly Morrison’s Crime Syndicate, or based on them, Ultraman says Owlman is Bruce Wayne. Continuity error or retcon? Also, DC has apparently once again tweaked Marvel on Deadpool, since anti-Slade is acting seriously Deadpoolish. Beating on Superwoman with his own arm. It is joy. I also loved how they kept keeping him from actually saying his name.
Do you know which of Diamond’s distro centers serves your area? Their Memphis center was involved in a screwup where they (and thus their customers) didn’t get SS or Legion this week. Next week, instead.
As to spoilage…hell, a LOT of stuff happened…Some high points:
[spoiler]We find out that the New Gods are partially responsible for the creation of the Sheeda - they advanced a neanderthal, who advanced his people. Neanderthal scientists created the time machine that the Sheeda would use in their harrowings.
The Sheeda attack New York. Guardian, Shining Knight, and Zatanna and her buddy try to help with it. Klarion watch with interest, but doesn’t really get involved. Mr Miracle confronts Darkseid - offering his own freedom for Aurakles’ (the neanderthal, and the giant from the MM mini). Darkseid blows his brains out. Klarion tricks Z’s buddy into giving him her magic die - he refers to them as Fatherboxes. Bulleteer mostly tries to stay out of things while bringing the chick who seduced her husband to the hospitals for her injuries. Chick revives and attacks her. Sheeda queen attempts to kill Ystin, but the horse saves her.
The president authorises SHADE to nuke Manhattan (or the radio dude jokes about same - hard to tell). But they don’t have the resources.
Klarion forces Frankenstein to use the time machine to take him to the Sheeda’s time (using the glyphs the Sheeda use to control their undead minions).
Guardian reconciles with his wife, Bulleteer’s car kills the Sheeda queen.
Klarion apparently becomes the Sheeda king.
Mr Miracle apparently comes back to life.
Ali Ka Zoom (also surprisingly alive) takes Ystin under his wing.
All of this is narrated by one of the Tailors, who is talking to a man who is not Cyrus Gold, but is being made into him - that part I don’t really get, but, eh.[/spoiler]
That’s not even near all that happens, but it’s a general rundown of the story.
52 - Anybody else think that Fate’s Helmet is trying to warn Ralph about what’s going to happen to him, and Ralph’s just not listening? Seems like these vignettes he’s been shown are hints of how Ralph’s going to end up, because he’s seeking magic only to regain his wife.
Action Comics - I wonder if this kid could be the beginning of the “new” Mon-El that’s been rumored for Legion…
Legion # 23 - best issue Ive read all year. Most or all plot points touched on and advanced in a Levitz-esque manner, pre-boot characters and concepts brought back to life, and some intriguing twists. Is Brainy showing some signs of precognitive ability? Hmmm…
As a matter of fact, I was sure until the last-page reveal that the unseen presence that was distracting Saturn Girl was Dream Girl.
I also didn’t get a Legion this week, so that would seem to fit. How did you find out about the problem?
Did you get all the answers to the crossword puzzle?
Justice #8 was out this month, pretty solid. Nice to see the Stranger.
Superman/Batman Annual #1 is a hoot, even if only because we see how Deathstroke turned out on Earth 3. (Here’s a hint. That version of him is simply Marvelous.)
Hawkgirl #57 - Carter’s coming back soon, Carter’s coming back soon…
(From the cover, looks like Kendra’s chanting along with me)
Ion #7 - Fascinating Monitor cameo.
Trials of Shazam #3 - I officially like this series. I’m going on record with that.
Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters #4 - Nice. Very nice.
I’m afraid I didn’t even bother. <_< Looked at a few I couldn’t figure out, figured it wouldn’t make sense without them, and gave up.
You realise you’ve just called out the torches and pitchforks, yah?
(I agree with you…it’s a damn good series. But…you know…massive changes and all that.)
Without brusing up on the back issues, I could only figure out three or four of them, and one of the answers
“wino penitent” contains “open”
didn’t even seem to have anything specifically to do with the Seven Soldiers…unless you have to do the whole puzzle to see the connection, or else I’m simply missing the reference.
JSA Classified, Secret Six, Action, Jack of Fables, and Planetary round out my purchases for the week.
JSA Classified actually makes Rick Tyler interesting. I thought that was impossible.
I’m enjoying Garth Ennis’ The Boys, although their prep work against the Kix looks dangerously close to what SHIELD was doing during their precipitous decline (i.e. monitoring the sex lives of their enemies).