Comic Book Case

Justice League Darkseid War: Superman (apple pies and a bird in the sky)

This issue was probably the most fun out the Darkseid War series. Writers have tired to show a  arrogant/douchey Superman, sort of lording his powers over others and actively acting like he is better than others. I've never really liked it myself because it is usually annoying but this was fun because it was ultimately him out of character having been corrupted by the fire pits of Apokalypse. Seeing Superman not care about the damages he causes when he saves people and seeing him just let all sorts of stuff happen to Metropolis because he wants to finish his pie is both hilarious and interesting. Superman hears everything, meaning that he hears what everyone says about him; the fear and hatred that comes from them and he has ultimately had it. Like every moment like this, we kind of get the feeling that this is a side of himself that he doesn't acknowledge turned up notches. What makes the issue is Jimmy Olsen who is trying to appeal to the Superman he knows, trying to get his hero to remember, regardless of how harsh he is to him. Superman's corruption will not destroy Jimmy's faith. The resolution makes little sense but the black design for Superman does look just brilliant.

Justice League Darkseid War: Flash (not outrunning him this time)

So at one point in comic book history the Flash outran an aspect of death so this time he tries to outrun death again and this time he cannot outrun him. This is more of an argument between Flash and death over how death is inescapable. It's a bit by the books in terms of the conversation; death is the ultimate fairness and is necessary for the universe. What is interesting is seeing how Barry's hands are essentially tied, especially when the Black Racer points out that he could find anyone else to take over like Zoom or Grodd. Flash is essentially the only with godhood totally forced on him because there is no one else, which is fitting for this story. Batman and Superman embrace their new godhood while Billy and Hal become ones through necessity, whereas with Barry it's because he has no actual choice: Either he becomes death or the power of death will go to someone who uses the power for their own ends. I do feel all these books needed more narration from Diana.

Justice League Darkseid War: Shazam (Billy's Home for Imaginary Gods)

Darkseid has died and in the shock of the the death of such a powerful god, Shazam finds himself without gods but luckily the Wizard has been able to get new gods from the Source Wall to take their place. However, before Billy can take flight he must first fight for control, saving both him, the world and the Wizard from one of the gods. This issue is probably the weakest of the Darkseid War books and that may primarily just be because Shazam hasn't stood out in the League. A joke here and there but he's never been that interesting. I think Shazam is a lot like Cyborg, you really only like him because you already knew him and new readers getting in the New 52 would know Cyborg from the Teen Titans show but Shazam was only in one episode of Justice League: Unlimited. He's never been given a chance to shine since his debut in Justice League. The issue was decent but I feel that because there has been so little from him as a character that I can't find myself to care. A lot of the issue seemed like it was supposed to be a test for him, tempting him to give up, give into temptation, fear, or rage but he never spends more than two pages on anything.

Justice League Darkseid War: Green Lantern (only Hal Jordan could deus ex without deus exing)

So this may be my favorite Darkseid War book in the whole line so far. Batman's felt a bit flat long term and promised something more later on where Flash's was heavy handed and Superman was more funny than anything else and we already talked about Shazam. In the wake of Darkseid's death, his Mother Box has gone searching for a new god to control it and has set it's sights on Oa. With no one wanting to become it's new god, the box has fused with the Central Power Battery and is using the Parademons to kill Lanterns and turn them into Parademons. Finding no other way, Hal becomes the god of light. This issue was interesting because it connects Hal back with his own history with is father and his own fait in the gods. Seeing Hal realize that what Batman meant when he sat on the Mobius Chair. Whereas Bruce and the other's books didn't really show us anything we didn't already know and maybe this is what all the books should be doing. Seeing Hal wield a ring of infinite knowledge and power was awesome and I loved every page. One issue I have is I still don't know when this takes place because the Guardians are all still alive and in Green Lantern,  Sinestro killed all but two of them.

Superman Lois and Clark (awesome)

So because Superman and Wonder Woman broke up last month, I decided to celebrate by buying this book here and I have to say it was just awesome! Taking place after the events of Convergence, Pre-Flashpoint Clark and Lois Kent end up in the Post-Flashpoint world. Deciding to stay hidden to keep them and their son Johnathan safe, they have adopted the name White while living in the country with Lois writing novels exposing corruption in secret while Clark dons a different uniform and does superhero work in secret. This issue was so good that I had to read their Convergence tie-ins just to make sure I didn't miss anything. There isn't a lot revealed so far. Clark has spent time checking on those who were enemies in his own world, currently Hank Henshaw and Lois is doing a piece on Intergang, with both of them hiding their pasts from their son Johnathan as well as Clark's powers failing slightly. According to interviews, this series may play or reveal why Post-Flashpoint Clark lost his powers. I don't know why I like Lois and Clark so much as a couple, I think it comes down to it's simplicity, Clark and Diana screams of potential stories but because how wide their own universes are, it just seems to loud and gaudy. I also think it comes down to how you like Superman, I've always like him with more emphasis on the human element, with Superman liking being Clark Kent over Superman at times, an inverted take on Batman at times.

Batman #46 (So Batman Inc with different logo?)

Again this issue has the same problem that all the other issues have had so far, Bruce is still more interesting. Gordon and Mr. Bloom finally meet face to face for the first time and he introduces himself. It's hard to tell what or who he is exactly but he says he was one of the people who tried to make Gotham better. We still don't know who he is but that is then taken off the table when Geri reveals that she has had created more mech suits with the symbols of League members. The idea is to essentially train people to use the suits in other cities under a symbol they are inspired by. At the same time Julie and Bruce talk about their future and I kind of feel that Julie is going to die and it will be the push Bruce needs to get his memory back or possibly the seed that he has realized is important.

Justice League United #15 (we all get together to fight Nazis)

Honestly this was the best story this book has had in a good while. We had a lot of characters in different places meeting different people and then converged together to save the day.The double page panel of the O.M.A.C. robot, Easy Company, S.H.A.D.E., the JLU, and the German pilot just trying to get to the Abbey mowing down Nazis is just beautiful. It's all a good story but it does resolve itself too quickly and too neatly though I did like it. The problem is definitely that the book doesn't really end the stories on a high note since the first one with the Legion of Superheroes. There were good ideas with Steel and Robotman, and Batgirl and Vandal Savage working together but it never seems that it has an impact or that it's just the idea over actual storytelling. I'm hoping that the next story will have a better ending where everyone involved will be able to use their skills better and with a stronger ending.

Starfire #6 (memories, drownings, pancakes, and battles)

This issue really did do a lot of fun stuff that has been built up rather well. I still don't know how I feel about the three + different story points being treated like different things but it does seem to work. Sol's backstory with Maria was a bit weird at first but the last night he had with her is important and explains his interactions with Starfire. Sol was sadly pushed to the back of the story though he is now in custody and time will only tell if he will play a role later or if his story will resolved. The bounty hunter story was awesome as he just marches through humans and is built up to be a great threat only for Starfire to just handle him like a bag of potatoes. What is unique was the internal dialogue we got this time, I liked how different it read compared to her external dialogue, it was much more serious and grim. I don't really know how to feel about Dick Grayson showing up to meet Starfire for the Titans event but time will tell.

@Images are property of DC Comics. Marvel titles will be reviewed at the end of the month to help pad fill that week and a downloading issue.