Wednesday's Reviews

A small week. A decent week, nothing particularly spectacular, but nothing horrendous either.

Brightest Day #2. Things continue to happen to our hapless heroes. Ronnie and Jason are still bickering, and Ray Palmer and the Professor are trying their darndest to separate them, but things look...complicated.

Meanwhile, a mother is preparing dinner for her family, when she sees on the television news that the Martian Manhunter is alive again. She calmly slaughters her family and tears her skin off. I could probably have done without even MORE gore in my comics, but perhaps I'm getting numb by now. Oh,and J'onn visits the old astronomer who brought him to earth. He looks pretty good...all things considered.

The Hawks are cranky. They track down Hath-Set's lair, with the various deathmasks of their multiple demises hung on the wall. A bit out there, decorating-wise, certainly. Carter gets mad.

J'onn decides to visit the daughter of Dr. Erdel, who is in a nursing home. He shows up looking like her dead father, and she, quite naturally just assumes that she's dreaming or something. They have a nice heart-to-heart talk, and we learn that J'onn wasn't the ONLY alien transported to Earth, which I find rather interesting.

Deadman is still getting jerked around...literally...by the White Ring.

Lots of plots are being set up, and I'm enjoying it.

Justice League of America #45. I actually kept looking back at the cover, because I was sure that this was really a Justice Society book. But no, even though most of the JSA IS there. Alan Scot is having a rather bad time of it, although it is nice to see Obsidian, and he actually has some lines! Oh, and Jade shows up. Apparently, the meteor that brought her to Earth from Oa, is actually part of the Starheart, and its presence is causing all kinds of shenanigans. Power Girl has gone off her rocker, and various heroes are fighting. Not bad. Not great, but not bad. Still...Todd!

DC Universe Legacies #1. Now this I did enjoy. I just love the hell out all those old farts in the JSA. There are two nice stories about Wesley Dodds, the Crimson Avenger and the first Atom. Interestingly, they are told from the point of view of lookers-on. In the first, the narrator is an elderly gentleman, who tells us about when he was a boy, and trying to make ends meet by collecting the protection money from store owners back in the bad old days in Gotham. This is when the Mystery Men were first beginning to show up, and he ends up being quite fascinated by them. It was really well done, and beautifully drawn by Scott Kolins, Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert.

The second story is from the point of view of a reporter, talking to his photographer, as they investigate a mystery out in a mansion, that involves Inza and Doctor Fate. and the Spectre. Len Wein writes this one as well, and the art is by J.G. Jones, so it's pretty gorgeous as well.

This was really good, and I'm looking forward to more of them.

Batman; Streets of Gotham #12. Dang it, but this was good. The first part has the Carpenter, that gifted young lady who showed up in Gotham City Sirens, building a lair for Catwoman. That is her profession, and she ends up working for a REALLY wacky Hollywood Director type, who wants to make snuff movies featuring various heroes, starting with Batman. She's rather enthusiastic, until she discovers, that she's supposed to be the guinea pig for the traps. Bummer. Also, Damian shows up and gives a garage and really cool bike to the kid who saved him from Zsasz a while back. Damian, you devious little tyke.

In Manhunter, they are still trying to figure out where Ramsey and his amazing dog are. Oh, and that REALLY creepy character Jane Doe shows up, and you won't believe who's skin SHE'S wearing. Creepy, atmospheric, and excellent.

Zatanna #1. This was...ok. Not terrible, but not great either. Ok. Not sure if I'll keep up with it. I'm not familiar with the villain, Brother Night, who comes off as a cheap magic version of the Joker.