Metropolis

Sorry for the lack of preamble lately, folks.  I am anticipating having to train someone at my “real” job sometime soon-ish and I wanted to try and get caught up on my reading before that happens, so my days and nights have been spent doing just that.  Honestly – my life isn’t the Quentin Tarantino film that you think it is. 
 
Straight on in to the comics for us then? After you….
 
POWER GIRL 2 – I don’t know why I’m just not feeling this book. I’ve always been a big Power Girl fan….well….a fan of her “assets” at any rate. Add in the writing team of Palmiotti and Gray, the always wonderful Amanda Conner on art and Adam Hughes on covers and you should have a winning team. One thing I’m not thrilled with is the introduction of a supporting cast that felt a little wedged in, with no time to get to know any of them, and not to mention the Ultra-Humanite as the first villain. For a kid raised on PLANET OF THE APES you would think I would dig seeing big talking gorilla villains more than I actually do.  I’ll stick around for a good while to see if this book grows on me, but I’m gonna call this one – OKAY. 

 
MASQUERADE 4 (of 4) – All in all this was a pretty inconsequential mini-series, but a decent read. Definitely not for anyone that doesn’t already read Alex Ross’ Project Superpowers stuff already.  OKAY. 
 
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS TWO 0 – By now if you haven’t given it up for Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s fanfic Roy Thomas-esque wankfest – you probably never will. Not much to say about this beyond the fact that it appears the Black Terror mini-series was the only necessary reading of the three tie-in mini-series. But my favorite thing about this one dollar priced lead-in to the new series is the new two page origin recaps. And first up is my favorite character in the P.S. universe, Black Terror, the super pirate himself. So….did you know Black Terror was a pharmacist? I’ll have to point that out to my pal Tyson. OKAY.
 
SUPERMAN/BATMAN 61 – As lame an idea as Penguello is – it is twenty thousand times more interesting than either Penguin or Metallo. OKAY.
 
BATMAN: STREETS OF GOTHAM 1 – Gotta admit – this is not what I was expecting from a new Paul Dini written monthly of Dick Grayson/Batman.  It isn’t bad by far. It was pretty good, if only your standard Batman story with a few mentions here and there that this isn’t the Batman we all know and love. Other than that – pretty standard Batman versus Firefly story. Plus the first issue seems to be all set up for a longer arc, and I had been spoiled by the single issue stories in Dini’s run on DETECTIVE COMICS. However, the new fangled “Second Feature” (I’ll still call it a backup story, no matter what Dan Didio says!) was pretty darn nifty. Marc Andreyko returns to his creation Manhunter and does in just a few short pages, what Dini spends the majority of the book doing; i.e. setting up the new status quo. And honestly – at this point, what with BATMAN AND ROBIN 1 and BATMAN 687, haven’t we already done this to death? We get it! Dick Grayson is Batman. Move on! GOOD STUFF!
 
THE BOYS: HEROGASM 2 (of 6) – I have a feeling I’ll be trying to explain my owning this book to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. I feel dirty now, and have to go shower.  OKAY.
 
INCOGNITO 4 – Ed Brubaker proclaims this his favorite issue of the series to write, in the book’s back matter. Sadly, I can’t agree with him. He makes a valid point about the protagonist having the knife really twisted in his back here, and everything falling apart for him, but it isn’t nearly as subversive and wicked fun as the three previous issues. Still head over heels better than anything else that came out this week. GOOD STUFF.
 
WAR OF KINGS: ASCENSION 3 (of 4) – Dangit! I should have known stupid old Darkhawk would find some way to get out of his mental prison (or whatever). I get a slight thrill seeing this 90s mainstay get the proverbial crap beat out of him, which is good seeing as he has now kinds sorta framed himself for the murder of Queen Lilandra.  Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!! Screw you, Darkhawk! GOOD STUFF.
 
PUNISHER 6 – After the fanboy nerd porn of Punisher kicking some major ass last issue, I was a bit disappointed to see that this issue didn’t feature the resurrected villains killed by Scourge attacking Punisher en mass. In fact this issue is largely The Hood giving the old/new villains a big old pep talk, and the last half of the issue is sketchbook material by Tan Huat. It was good issue, but I was expecting to look like the guy sitting in the barcalounger in those old MTV commercials – getting blown away. GOOD STUFF.
 
ULTIMATUM SPIDER-MAN: REQUIEM 1 (of 2) – This is everything that Bendis’ final issue of the regular series should have been. Heartfelt and full of emotional beats as well as a few swell Spidey action scenes. I’ll consider this two issue send off to be the true final issue of the ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN series, and not that very ballsy wordless half effort a few weeks ago. BUENO EXCELLENTE.
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA 600 – I usually collect this is trade paperback form, but due to all the hoopla I succumbed to Marvel’s media manipulation and bought it anyway. Luckily the new trade collection came out today as well. YAY!  Unfortunately it only has issues 43-48 and I didn’t pick up 49 or 50 (Marvel returned to the original numbering with this issue), so I’m missing two issues for a full story and kind of don’t want to read this until I have those.  So…..NO RATING!