Trinity #1

   Apparently there's a new movement in comics.

   Most comics try to end each issue on a cliffhanger, to keep the reader coming back next issue.

   But the idea now seems to be: make the final page of the issue a complete mystery, so the reader will come back to find out what the heck just happened. (Both DC and Marvel have been guilty of this lately - I'm looking at you, Civil War II.)

   I have to tell you, that doesn't work with me.

   Case in point: the new series Trinity, which features Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

   But don't buy this issue expecting some kind of action-packed adventure. Instead, it features those three powerful figures getting together... for dinner.

   (You heard me.)

   There's a lot of nice art on display here - Francis Manapul is one of the most creative artists working in the business today, and if you like double-page spreads of each hero in a poster-style pose, you'll get that here.

   But the story, also by Manapul, is mighty thin. And I have no idea what's going on in that final page.

   So will I be back for the next issue? (Shakes Magic 8-Ball. It reads: "Probably Not.")

Grade: B-

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Trinity #52

This issue of Trinity brings an end to the third of DC's recent weekly series.

I have to admit that I only read a few issues of 52, which the critics seemed to enjoy. I did follow Countdown, which was quite a letdown. The only reason I picked up Trinity was because of the creative team - I've been a fan of Kurt Busiek's writing and Mark Bagley's art for a long time. But could they handle a weekly comic? Thankfully, the answer ends up being: yes.

Still, this series has been a bit up-and-down. It featured a big, sprawling story, but at times it seemed to spin out of control, as there were just too many characters (heroes and villains) crowding into the scene.

It also suffered from "Alternate Reality-itis," a story device that has been worn out lately.

But the biggest sin was that, for too many issues, it didn't feature the title characters. They spent most of the run either absent or transformed into godlike versions of themselves. It comes down to expectations - I was looking forward to stories with the real McCoys.

On the upside, the story was clear and made sense (almost) every step of the way (which is more than you can say about Countdown). It also provided an interesting examination of DC's "Big Three" and what makes them special.

But the biggest plus for the series is Mark Bagley's art. Not only did he turn in 12 pages of excellent art for each issue, he also managed to do it once a week for a year! Not many artists could match that feat, and most would shoot themselves before trying. Kudos to Bagley and the other artists who filled out each issue on time.

This issue wraps things up rather neatly - in fact, the issue is almost too calm. But Lois' final words are almost funny, considering what's going on with Superman now. Not to mention Batman, who's dead, and Wonder Woman, who's also going through something serious (sorry, I haven't been reading that one).

So, a decent series, a serious achievement - and now we can look forward to the tantalizing Wednesday's Comics, which promises to be a lot of fun.

Grade: B+

Trinity #40

Having just read a half-dozen issues of this title in order to be able to read and review this issue, I have to say, Trinity is not Kurt Busiek's best work.

If it's any consolation, it's not his worst work, either. (I think he got that out of the way early in his career.) But I have such high expectations of him, perhaps that's why this series has disappointed.

With 12 issues to go, and after too many issues since Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman disappeared from Earth, they're finally back - sort of - and facing off against the evil forces that exiled them in the first place.

What Busiek has done here is create a sequel - of sorts - to his epic Justice League / Avengers crossover. But to fill 52 issues, he's had to introduce all kinds of side stories, and as a result, we haven't really seen the main characters in months.

There have been some interesting concepts at work here, and it's a clever examination of the inner workings of the "big three" heroes - but unfortunately, that doesn't make it a compelling comic to read.

There's no problem on the art side - Mark Bagley turns in his usual excellent job. You definitely get the feeling he's a fan cut from the Geoge Perez mold, considering the staggering number of characters (many of them redesigned) he has on display here.

The backup is a bit confusing, but seems to be setting up the final story arc in this series. I wish I was enjoying it more - I want to like it. But I'm really tired of Alternate Earth stories, and the art is the only thing keeping me going here.

Grade: C+

Trinity #32

I'm really impressed with what writer Kurt Busiek and artist Mark Bagley have managed to accomplish with Trinity.

Most writers would not have the discipline or the talent to create a weekly comic, and few artists could maintain the Kirby-like pace of drawing 8 to 12 pages of art every week. But this team is just 20 issues away from doing just that, and my hat's off to them.

It's also impressive that the work in the books has been nothing but professional and top quality.

I just wish I was enjoying it more. Busiek seems to be enjoying his exploration of what makes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman special, and their unique place in the DC Universe, but as a reader, it just seems to be dragging on forever.

It takes a lot of story to fill 52 issues of a comic, and they have lots of story going on here - but it just keeps going and going. There's a quest on an alien world, there are battles between an army of good guys and an army of bad guys on an alternate Earth, there are plots still unfolding being hatched by Morgan Le Fey and Enigma, and Krona is still out there somewhere destroying galaxies.

I know it'll all wrap up soon, and it'll no doubt be well done - but the story is threatening to collapse under its own weight, and there are five months to go!

I want to like it, and I admire the craft - but my interest is fading fast.

Grade: B-

Trinity #24

As this weekly series nears the halfway mark, we pause to reflect on how it's going so far.

Trinity has been something of a rollercoaster ride in terms of story - sometimes it's been strong, and sometimes it has meandered around.

More than once I've thought about dropping it, but I'm hanging in there for two basic reasons: I have faith that Kurt Busiek is a good enough writer to bring this monster home; and Mark Bagley's art has been terrific. The backup story by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza with art by Tom Derenick and Wayne Faucher is also very good.

The latest issue is actually one of the better in recent months, because we start to see signs that the story is actually heading in a specific direction, and not just a collection of random events.

In this issue, we see the evil Trinity (or is it a duo?) consolidating its power in Europe, but they're not in agreement about everything. Meanwhile, Hawkman receives a message from ancient Egypt, the League starts to make a comeback, Krona is trying to talk to planets, and Kanjar Ro and Despero have a meeting of the minds.

Busiek has a lot of plotlines floating around out there - no doubt that's necessary, since he's filling 52 comics - but it makes the cast a huge one, and difficult to keep straight sometimes, especially when the story veers off into an alternate reality.

I really think the biggest problem is with the basic premise - the idea (as I understood it, anyway) was that this series would focus on the Trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - yet those three characters have been absent from the book for more than a month! (Remember, we're talking about a weekly here.)

It may be asking a bit much for fans to stay patient while the story spools out, but if this issue is any indication, the payoff should be worth the wait.

I hope!

Grade: B+

Trinity #19

The idea of a weekly comic book has been tried before, but it wasn't until two-and-a-half years ago that a successful weekly appeared - DC's 52, which branched off from Infinite Crisis.

That success led to last year's follow-up, the less-successful Countdown, which was intended to lead into the Final Crisis, though it did so in a clumsy manner.

Now we have Trinity, which doesn't seem to have any connection to another series at all (though presumably it could be leading up to one). The book's focus is on the "Big 3" - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - and so far it's been something of a roller coaster ride.

Which is to say, some issues have been very good, and some have been just so-so. The basic idea is that the "Big 3" are somehow linked as a trinity, and their influence has affected the real world of the DC Universe. Along comes three bad guys - Morgana, Despero and Enigma, who set out to take the place of our heroes and reshape the world.

As this issue picks up, the bad guys have succeeded, and the last two issues have been laying the groundwork, explaining the new reality to the readers.

It's obvious that writer Kurt Busiek has put a lot of work and a lot of thought into the new status quo, but the story is pretty deep in the weeds, as heroes and civilians try to understand their place in the new world. I'm not sure they're any more confused than the reader.

I think the problem I have with the comic is that we've had an overload of these "retooled reality" stories, and while Busiek is a good enough writer to carry it off, I'm just tired of the concept. Busiek did the same thing when he took over the Avengers (with George Perez), Loeb did an alternate reality story in the Superman/Batman comic, and we're seeing it now in Final Crisis - and those are just three off the top of my head!

Mark Bagley continues to serve up excellent artwork here - I really think he's the heir apparent to the mantle of Gil Kane. Their styles are somewhat similar, though Bagley gives it his own spin. And the fact that he can maintain this 12-pages-a-week schedule is a tribute to his professionalism.

DC deserves a lot of credit for managing to serve up a weekly comic like this - the logistics must be a difficult chore at best - and the quality of the work is strong. But this single issue isn't the best of the bunch, and would be an impossible spot for a new reader to jump on - it's just too much to sort out. Hopefully it'll all clear up soon.

Grade: C+

Trinity #15

After the shocking disappointment of Countdown, it would have been easy to discount the next weekly comic from DC. But with Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley at the helm, it seemed like a sure bet.

Busiek is one of the most talented comic book writers around, and Bagley is an outstanding artist - and one of the few pencillers fast enough to be able to produce 12 pages of artwork every week.

The series started out strong, with some excellent characterization of the "Big Three" (Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, of course), and lots of guest stars sprinkled throughout.

The book was (and is) sort of a flashback to the "split" comics Marvel put out in the '60s, like Tales of Suspense and Tales to Astonish, with two heroes in separate stories splitting the page counts.

With Trinity, the big three get the opening 12 pages, and the other eight pages are dedicated to supporting characters. All well and good, but after the strong start, the comic seemed to lose its way. More characters were piled on, more subplots added, and soon you needed a scorecard just to get through an issue.

To be honest, I was about to give up on the series - until this issue. With this issue, the book kicks into high gear, as the story of the Trinity - and the trio of villains who've been plotting against them - comes into sharp focus.

A sure sign of an entertaining story is when the heroes and the villains both show their intelligence, and we see that in spades in this issue. The art, as always, is outstanding, and Bagley manages to breath new life into characters who have been around a long, long time.

There are lots of other characters hanging around the edges, but the series has its focus back - and my attention, as well. Grade: B+