Modern Marvels
DC Comics Pick of the Week: Action Comics #973
Superman
unwittingly leaves a trail to the Fortress while Lois continues to dig into the
mystery of Clark Kent. Dan Jurgens
continues to prove that he has a grasp on Superman as a character like few
others. Since the onset of Rebirth,
Jurgens has put several plates into play:
- How will Superman react to New 52 Lex Luthor?
- Who is Mr. Oz?
- Who is Clark Kent?
The last story arc established a détente between Luthor and
Superman, with both realizing that their nemesis is not the same man that they
have known on both sides. This story arc
drives into the mystery of the second Clark Kent and the potential danger he
poses to Superman’s private life.
Honorable Mentions (an above average read): Deadman: Dark
Mansion of Forbidden Love #3, Deathstroke #12, Justice League of America
Rebirth #1, New Super-Man #8, Red Hood and the Outlaws #7, Wonder Woman #16
(Yes, Rebirth is this good!!)
Other reads: All-Star
Batman #7, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #7, Detective Comics #950, Earth 2
Society #21, Flash #16, Gotham Academy Second Semester #6, Hal Jordan and the
Green Lantern Corps #14, Suicide Squad #11, Supergirl #6, Superwoman #7, and Titans
#8
Marvel Comics Pick
of the Week: Ms. Marvel #15
At
first it seems like this issue has dropped the previous thread of Kamala being
confronted by a member of on-line guild, and instead introduces a story of
cyber-bullying and the levels at which a second-generation immigrant feels they
have to over-compensate in modern America to validate their culture and break
down stereotypes. It quickly ties the
two together by the online entity threatening to blackmail Kamala being the
same one involved in the cyber-bullying.
Ms. Marvel continues to be a delight, an all-ages female-centric title
that manages to cover topical issues without preaching. It is one of the few female friendly titles I
feel comfortable allowing my 10-year old daughter read.
Honorable Mentions (an above average read): Amazing
Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #4
Other reads: All-New
Wolverine #17, Black Widow #11, Deadpool the Duck #3, Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers
Supreme #5, Foolkiller #4, Inhumans Vs x-Men #4, Jessica Jones #5, Kingpin #1,
Power Man and Iron Fist #13, Totally Awesome Hulk #16, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
#17, Uncanny Inhumans #1.MU, and Unworthy Thor #4
Silver Age Spotlight
Marvel Silver Age Pick of the Week: Fantastic Four #56
Klaw attacks
the FF to try and drive the Black Panther to him. A great issue with a lot of tension. Klaw appears as he would be until the Modern
age with a great design by Kirby, and a fantastic power set. Lee and Kirby draw tension by having the
Fantastic Four separated: Johnny is out looking for Crystal, Reed and Ban are
in the lab, and Sue is cleaning up the apartment. This allows Klaw to ratchet up the menace by
taking on Sue and Ben one-on-one. The
only gap in plot is the fact that Klaw attacks at all. There really isn’t a reason for him to be
here, other than this is the FF’s comic.
Klaw knows who T’challa is and where Wakanda is, so using the FF as a go
between doesn’t work. However, the
climax kind of uses that conceit to its advantage, as T’Challa sends Reed a
needed component to help Reed, as Klaw intended, but the macguffin is delivered
via a remote controlled automaton and not in person, thwarting his
revenge. We also get a rare sight, Reed
beating a foe hand-to-hand, using the Vibranium bands delivered by the Black
Panther to pummel Klaw into submission.
Honorable Mentions: Daredevil #21
Other Reads: Amazing Spider-Man #42, Amazing Spider-Man
Annual #3, Avengers 33, and Fantastic Four Annual #4
DC Silver Age Pick of the Week: Funny Stuff #35
I don’t
have much to say, but Funny Stuff is probably my second favorite humor title of
this area. Blackie Bear and J. Rufus
Lion are strong features, but the stars are Dodo and the Frog, and their strips
whether a multi-page story or a strip ad-page topper are a delight.
Honorable Mentions: Adventure Comics #130 (Superboy feature
only), Star Spangled Comics #82 (Tomahawk feature only)
Other Reads: Animal Antics #15, Western Comics #4
Golden Age Greats
I didn’t make much progress with my
DC Golden Age Reading List. Green
Lantern #6 was a chore to get through.
It surprises me a lot, but this is the Golden Age title I struggle with
the most. The character as he is used
isn’t compelling enough to sustain a 60+ page story and the direction is
wrong-headed. Enlisting Alan in the
army, severely limits the stories you can do with him, and while I know
continuity wasn’t a concern in the 40’s, it puts the quarterly book at odds
with the monthly feature in All-American where Alan is still a civilian radio
engineer.
