Comic Reviews 9/3/10

Title: SUPERMAN/BATMAN
Issue Number: 75
Title Story: Resurrection
Publisher: DC
Creator: Siegel & Shuster/Bob Kane
Writer: Paul Levitz
Artist: Jerry Ordway
Colors: Pete Pantazis
Letters: Steve Wands
Cover Artist: Frank Quitely
Price (USD): $4.99
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero


DC is celebrating the seventy fifth issue of this successful series with an
oversized issue that not only has a solid lead story guest-starring the Legion
of Super Heroes but several back up features from a wide array of creators -
more about that later. The lead story begins in the twenty second century as the
Legion headquarters is attacked by a green-skinned man with considerable powers.
What seems like a rampage is actually a calculated mission. He steals a time
sphere and heads for Smallville in the year 2010. The big picture reveals he is
searching for something in our time to use against Superboy, Clark Kent that is,
as a boy. The Legion arrives in time to save Superman after his bout with the
time traveler and they put Clark in the care of Batman. But they also need
Batman's help in finding a way to defeat the mysterious attacker - Braniac 5 is
smart but he needs help sometimes. Then it is off to visit Superman as a boy and
save him and their own future. This is an interesting story with solid art. As a
stand alone tale it is very fitting for this special issue. But there is a lot
more that makes it worth the price. The filler material is a series of two-page
shorts with the unique stamp of the creators involved. Steven Seagle and Teddy
Kristiansen do a bit of a parody with Steve receiving a call from a DC editor
asking for him to do something for SUPERMAN/BATMAN #75. It is funny enough for
just two pages. Billy Tucci serves up what at first appears to be the World's
Finest up against a giant Joker is really a couple of kids they are the real
deal at a comic convention. Adam Hughes contrasts the origins and history of
Supergirl and Barbara (Batgirl/Oracle) Gordon that is a visual delight. J.T.
Krul and Francis Manapul tell one of the most interesting stories. Batman (Dick
Grayson) and Red Robin (Tim Drake) are having a discussion about the fact that
Tim once kissed Cassie after the death of Conner (Superboy) Kent. Time wonders
if he should tell Conner now that he is back. Meanwhile Conner is asking Clark
what he would do if he found out that Bruce Wayne had kissed Lois. The advice of
the two mentors is the crux of the short piece. Jill Thompson offers two splash
pages - one each of Catwoman and Lois Lane both on the job. Mike Johnson and
Michael Green tell a story through the eyes of kids playing super hero. The kid
Batman waxes nostalgic over the death of Superman. The art by Shane Davis,
Sandra Hope and Rafael Albuquerque is appropriate for the theme. A really cool
entry by Duncan Rouleau poses the question "Who is best at being a superhero's
best friend?" - Krypto or Ace the Bat Hound. Azzarello and Bermejo put together
a dialogue between Lex Luthor and Joker with Lex discussing plans to kill
Superman while Joker arguing it is better to have the hero kill you thereby
violating their major oath. It is told in a cartoon style to emphasize the
humor. Another exceptional short by David Finch and Scott Williams features the
future Damien as Batman talking with a grown Conner Kent as Superman as they
meet to honor their predecessors. The final story by Peter Tomasi and Gene Ha is
a touching one as a father is putting his son to bed. The boy expresses concern
about the bad guys and the monsters they sometimes use. The father assures him
he is safe based on how they have prevailed in their previous "adventures"
against Mister Freeze, Despero, Black Manta and others. It is a fine way to end
just a great comic book.

Title: STAR WARS BLOOD TIES: JANGO & BOBA FETT
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Dark Horse
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Chris Scalf
Letters: Michael Heisler
Cover Artist: Chris Scalf
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Science Fiction





For a change of pace I decided to pick up this first issue of a Star Wars title.
The setting is in the years after Senator Palpatine was elected Supreme
Chancellor - 22 years before the Battle of Yavin. The series will explore the
blood ties between some of Star Wars' famous and infamous characters. This first
arc is about Jango Fett and his clone son Boba. At an early age Jango began
training his son to follow in his footsteps. One of the most important lessons
is to be fearless. So Jango sets him to an almost impossible task. After
spraying Boba with the scent of the Pardlam he exposes him to a Bayleg. The
Bayleg feed on the Pardlam and so this giant Monster goes after Boba with
extreme vigor. The Bayleg are the most feared creature anywhere. If Boba can
survive and bring back a trophy he will have faced the greatest fear of his
life. The scene gives us insight into their relationship. The rest of this
chapter deals with a mission Jango receives from Count Duku. The assassin is
task with finding and killing a man who has sensitive information that must stay
a secret. The only clue to him is the mask he always wears, a helmet. Since he
never removes it he will be easy to spot. The twist of the plot is what Jango
will find under that mask. I found this a well-written story with good pace and
good characters. At this point in his life Boba has become more of a partner
than a son. He is the Robin to Jango's Batman - so to speak. While we are
gaining a look at the training of the famous bounty hunter we are also drawn
into a scheme of secrets that will expose an amazing secret. It is easy to just
jump right in if you are at all familiar with the prequel trilogy. I recommend
it.

Title: GUARDING THE GLOBE
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image Comics
Writers: Robert Kirkman & Benito Cereno
Artist: Ransom Getty
Inker: Ransom Getty & Cliff Rathburn
Colors: FCO Plasciencia, Ron Riley & Thomas Mason
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero




First the requisite disclaimer: I do not read INVINCIBLE so I am totally
unfamiliar with any of the characters or circumstance in this spin-off title.
Apparently the Guardians of the Globe are an organization of super heroes that
have been appearing in INVINCIBLE for years. Now the main title has that hero
off in space leaving an opening for these characters to shine on their own in a
separate title. My purpose on first read is to see if this reads like a comic
anyone can pick up and enjoy with no foreknowledge - like myself. It opens with
a big fight scene with invaders called the Flaxan. They come from another
dimension and can only stay a short time. Each time they return they are more
formidable. The new leader of the Guardians, Brit, has to get up to speed on
this threat. Anyway, fight, fight, fight and as time runs out the Flaxans
retreat to their dimensional portal. Robot calls an audible beckoning the team
to follow and take the fight to the enemy but only Monster Girl makes it through
with him before it closes. With their ranks further depleted (as we learn in the
dialogue some have died, some retired and Invincible is off planet) the leader
of the Global Defense Agency, Cecil Stedman, decides it is time to really go
global and get as many powered beings as they can stationed around the world to
truly be the Guardians of the Globe. That is the lead-in that introduces the
present core members and the change in status they are about to go through. What
follows is a look at some of the personal lives of the heroes, a recruiting
session by Brit in Nepal, and the mysterious actions of some known as the Order
that will no doubt be a big part of the conflict in future issues. I found this
to be a very easy to read comic. The scripting is one of the things Kirkman does
best and the art is a style that works well for super heroes. If you are into
the genre like most of us are then I think this title would be a good one to
pick up for a fresh start apart from all the other titles on the racks.

Title: SCIENCE DOG SPECIAL
Issue Number: 1
Publisher: Image
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Cory Walker
Colors: Kanila Tripp, FCO Plascencia & Dave Stewart
Letters: Rus Wooton
Price (USD): $3.50
Release Date: NOW ON SALE
Genre: Super Hero





The second Kirkman title out this time is SCIENCE DOG. It is evidently a
character he has been working on for ten years but never found the time or venue
to due the character right. However it is so near and dear to him that he has
included a short twelve-page Science Dog story in every twenty-fifth issue of
INVINCIBLE. The first two are collected in this special and the story will
continue in INVINCIBLE #75. The main character is indeed a talking dog that
walks like a human. Fresh back from a victory in another dimension he gets no
rest when the alarm is raised. Off he goes in his jet pack to stop something
creating damage downtown. A giant robot is smashing things. It is run by Walter,
a super genius who shares origins with Science Dog. Back in the day Walter and
Daniel were lab assistants to a scientist working on time travel. The doctor
always had his pet dog for luck but one day at a crucial time in the initial
experiment the dog ran towards it followed by Walter trying to stop it. They
both got sucked in and underwent evolutionary changes. The dog gained
intelligence surpassing humans by a factor of ten along with strength and speed
exponentially increased. Walter also evolved in intelligence and gained the
power of telekinesis. Daniel was crippled in the accident and now works with
Science Dog to keep the world safe. Naturally Walter set out to take over the
world but has always been thwarted by Science Dog. The ensuing battle in the
present is very interesting. Walter analyzes SD's every move and narrates what
seems to be the motives only to prove that Science Dog is always one step ahead.
When things seem to go wrong Daniel is ready with his own robot to join the
action. But what happened to Science Dog? To be continued...
This is not a bad comic but it is not a great one either. It has the basic
elements of a hero with science fiction elements. It gets a bit campy with the
usual villain spouting off his superiority but always overlooking the hero's
resourcefulness. The art is certainly good enough for any mainstream comic. I
think the characters would be more interesting with a more serious tone and
deeper plotting.

*****
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If you think you know the answer to the trivia question send your guess via
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please but guess as often as you like.

Last week's trivia question:
From the Silver Age: Can you spell Mr. MXYZPTLK's girlfriend's name? (Hint: it
is spelled just like it sounds!)
The answer is Miss GZPTLSNZ. The winner by the dice roll is Mike Dooley.

Here was your no prize question:
What was the "oldest continuously run family store in North America" through
2008?
In April 2009 Alphonse D'Amico purchased the family businesses in Kittery Point,
Maine for just over $1 million. D'Amico said later he had purchased Frisbee's
Market and Cap'n Simeon's Galley restaurant with the intent of allowing Cindy
and Frank to continue to run the two businesses until such time as they can get
back on their feet and buy them back.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who shared the cover title with THE X-TERNALS?

Here is your no prize question:
Besides Frank and Nancy Sinatra what is the only other father/daughter
combination to each have a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100?

Folks, you never know who among the readers is knowledgeable about the question
so don't hesitate to send in an answer - even days after it appears.