Weekly Comic Book Discussion 8/31/2006

Cafe Society
1

Here it is.

I picked up X-Factor #8 and #10, after previously grabbing #9, because Peter David might actually handle Civil War in an interesting fashion.

I also snagged the new issue of Cable/Deadpool, and we at least learn who does the killing in the officially-spoilered “death” advertised for the delayed Civil War #4.

Young Avengers and Runaways continues to be okay.

She-Hulk : A surprise twist! Poor Andy.

Ultimate FF : Wobbles dangerously close to Grant Morrisonian “I’m living in my own head” territory.

2

There has been speculation that this Thor isn’t the real Thor. Back aways in Amazing Spider Man (I’ll have the issue number later if ya’ll want it) Hydra created a group of faux Avengers and Thor was one of the dollar store knock offs. With the Thunderbolts recruting all the nasty people, it is possible that the dressed up the faker as the real one.

3

Hawkgirl - Continues to suck. Chaykin was sure channeling Georgia O’Keefe for that cover…

Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters - America, F$%# yeah!

JLA Classified - Could be good, but Faith’s in it. And Nguyen is drawing it. Bleh.

Action Comics - I like this plotline. It’s one of those random alien things that always used to happen…

Justice - Woo. Poor Aquaman. Poor sidekicks. This is Tower of Babel and Identity Crisis, but with the Silver Age DCU.

4

Teen Titans - The Gap Titans are an interesting lot. A couple old Titans, 3 Kingdom Come characters, 2 cartoon characters (3 if Hot Spot isn’t just Joto with his name changed to match the cartoon), and a number of new characters. I’m particularly happy to see Mas Y Menos there. Other than that…Rose needs to get over herself…and her and Cassie need to kiss and make up. (Yeah, I said it. It had to be said.)

Transformers Evolution - Hearts of Steel - My only lament is that there are no toys based on these versions. I would give my left nut for a Steampunk Starscream. John Henry becoming buddies with the steam powered hammer amuses me greatly, to comment on the story itself.

Action - Sweet…Blue Jay and Aquaman. Also…fun Simpsons reference on the cover.

Man-Bat - Lackluster ending to a mediocre story. Clearly out of continuity, and I have to wonder if it was ever meant to be in-continuity.

5

Also, I just noticed Amos Fortume among the captured metas…what the hell does it take to kill that guy?

6

Trials of Shazam #1. I like the art. The story promises to be interesting.

Teen Titans - The first leg of this arc looks very cool, and I can’t wait to get the backstory on some of the interim Titans.

52 - Lobo. Tears off Starfire’s top. 'Nuff said.

7

I enjoyed this a lot, but I do have one problem with it, the Zatanna scene.

Z was right there when Nabu and the Stranger were explaining the whole thing about the end of the Ninth Age of Magic. She doesn’t need Billy to explain this to her.

8

No new comics for me (I’ve given up monthly comics cold turkey), but I got the new Season 7 Xander and Pylean Princess Cordelia action figures, from the Buffy/Angel toy line.

9

All-Star Superman - Good lord, but Luthor is a whiney bitch. I really, really like the ending, where he gave up the pretense of the primacy of human endevour over the Kryptonian interloper, and admitted he was just pissed because Superman kept him from taking over the world.

10

All Star Superman was very solid. Superman/Batman likewise.

11

I have another new theory regarding Booster Gold, and possibly Supernova.

Booster discovered something sinister about Skeets in Rip Hunter’s lab. He worked with Supernova to stage his own death to foil whatever Skeets is involved with. Maybe.

12

Supernova is almost certainly a bad guy.
Evidence:
-He teleports foes away instead of fighting them. Not exactly classically heroic.
-Clark gave him the thumbs up, but in the scene before we learned that his reporting kills have been dulled by the loss of his powers. Besides, the Planet also endorsed the Cyborg Superman.
-He taunted Booster. Sure, he had it coming, but why the ire? Either he’s connected to Booster, or was trying to goad him on.
And most of all:
-He shares a logo with GBS. GBS was a front for Intergang.

13

As far as the Booster being Supernova thing, I think it works. Booster’s public image is ruined, so he goes back in time to establish a new identity for himself. Unfortunately, his intereference with himself ends up inspiring his former self to get killed, which royally screws up time (hence why Rip blames Booster) This explains how Booster can be responsible for what Rip accuses him of even though he dies before doing anything seemingly disruptive. The real problem with this theory is: why go back in time at all? Other than to try to make everyone think that Supernova is definately not Booster… but that just seems to elaborate for too little payoff.