So.
Countdown #49.
Exhibit A of How a comic book can go from “hardcore sucking” to “can’t wait for next week”.
Did NOT see that one coming.
I guess we now know why “Jimmy Olsen Must Die.”
Countdown #49: Solid work, but it’s still not grabbing me the way 52 did. I suspect that 52 built itself on momentum taken from Infinite Crisis, which Countdown couldn’t, and also that Countdown is more of a commercial work grabbing 52’s market and pimping DC’s current line and leading into the next big thing, while 52 arose somewhat more organically. Still, it’s readable and the story’s early yet, so I’m not jumping ship.
**Birds of Prey #106:**I know it’s not their book, and that they’re the bad guys, but I kind of wanted to see the Six put on a better fight. They really got their asses kicked.
Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #30: Nice. Very, very nice.
Thanks for kicking it off!
I agree, Countdown dropped my jaw on pages 2-3. They’ve got me for the long run, now. Of course, I was okay with the first two issues - but this one knocked the mystery out of the park.
Countdown # 49 - Still hasn’t caught me as 52 was able to do, but still not bad. I’m guessing that Superman still has the super-hypnotic suggestion from the LSH, otherwise the JLA would’ve known better than to stick Karate Kid into a prison cell. Um, yeah, that’ll work.
Are we to infer that Superman had slipped Jimmy some Gingold, what with the “you know whose pal I am” comment? ('cause Jimmy didn’t seem to know what happened) Or that he’s a wrong-Earth Jimmy – one of the Elastic Lad versions?
Supergirl and the LSH #30 - Seeing the original LSH over in JSA/JLA has made me realize that this book… isn’t that fun anymore. I’ll wait for the new writing team, but they desparately need another letter column or something.
Wonder Woman - Points for including the JLA for Wonder Woman’s other job in the DCverse, but BIG points off for not having the JSA, too. There’s no way that Hippolyta goes on a rampage in DC without Alan, Grant, and Jay showing up to see what’s up with their friend, Polly.
Birds of Prey #106: Hell yes.
Fantastic Four #546: “Aw that’s just crude…” I love McDuffie’s dialogue.
Supergirl + Legion #30: A satisfying conclusion.
Countdown #49: Takes a shot
I picked up the Marvel Zombies : Dead Days one-shot against my better judgment… blech.
She-Hulk - finally, She-Hulk leanrs the truth behind Banner’s exile, and the result isn’t pretty. She gives Stark a well-deserved verbal whipping, too. Regrettably, Dan Slott is leaving this title after a few more issues - I’ll give the new guy a chance, but it may just be a chance for me to finally get rid of one more Marvel from my pull-list.
Fantastic Four - why the hell does this have an Initiative banner on the cover? I love McDuffie’s work, but I’m left slightly unsatisfied by this resolution.
Superman/Batman : Meh.
Robin - Good wrap-up of a good arc. Looking forward to more.
Shadowpact - Holy crap! Zauriel!
Wonder Woman - Nemesis? He’s the man. Unexpected ending.
Birds of Prey - Solid stuff, I just hope Tora sticks around…
Legion - Nice fakeout. Really intriguing last pages.
Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes: Jeez, you couldn’t tell us the winner in the last panel? I miss the days of leaders elected by the readers.
Avengers: I lose track of which one is ‘New’ and which one is ‘Mighty’, not that it matters. Sentry versus Ultron. I’m guessing Sentry is holding back because Iron Man may be in there - after Civil War, I’d prefer to see him dead, but that’s not likely. Enjoyed the line, “I don’t throw everyone into the sun.” The rest was forgettable.
Justice League: Curious as to how this will conclude, and how it ties in with Countdown.
Flash: It’s hard to do an original Rogues story.
Checkmate: First, I hate crossovers with books I don’t read (Outsiders). This title may soon be dropped. Not much to say for it.
Hero[sup]2[/sup]: Enjoyable parody from Giffen / DeMatteis. Miss Maguire’s art, though.