Green Lantern Corps #40

While I've been enjoying the Blackest Night storylines so far, this issue doesn't do much to advance things.

It's the old problem of what to do when you're faced with an unstoppable opponent. The Black Lantern Corps members seem to be oblivious to pain, and if their zombie-like bodies are damaged, they quickly reconstitute.

That makes it difficult for the heroes to have any kind of serious conflict - they can fight a holding action, run or be killed - and that's about it for options.

It sets up emotional conflicts, of course, as heroes have a grisly reunion with loved ones long gone, old friends and the recently departed.

The problem I have with the Green Lantern Corps is that there are too many Lanterns to keep track of - each one only gets a page or two before getting shuffled out of the way for the next story. It's probably unavoidable on a story of this scope, but it would be nice to see some of these characters getting a little more "screen time."

As always, it's a solid writing job by Peter Tomasi, and the art by Patrick Gleason is good, despite the complete lack of backgrounds - but that's because there are so many characters to squeeze in.

The Blackest Night continues to command attention, and even the side-stories (like this issue) are worth checking out.

The series reminds me of a conversation I had with my pal Gary when we were kids. We were watching a monster movie and I asked him, "What would you do if a monster came after you?" Without missing a beat, he said, "That's easy. I'd kick him in the nards and run."

Excellent advice, which I happily pass along to the heroes facing the Black Lanterns.

Grade: B

Dark Reign: The List: Avengers #1 (One Shot)

You know, I really wasn't planning to buy any of The List comics.

This mini-series of stories within the Dark Reign circle just seemed like another way to milk more sales out of a storyline that's really fading fast (at least in terms of my interest in it).

For cryin' out loud, Norman Osborn is the bad guy in every single issue Marvel has on the stands. If that's not overkill, what is?

The Dark Avengers have become the equivalent of bop bags - knock 'em down, and don't worry, they'll pop right back into place by the next issue. We've seen Hawkeye/Bullseye shot and stabbed repeatedly, the same for Dark Wolverine, Venom is shot, dropped into a bottomless cave, and he pops right back. Ares, Sentry and Ms. Marvel/Moonstone are more or less invulnerable. The point being, it's hard to care much when nothing that happens to them is going to stick.

So why did I buy this comic? Simple - Brian Bendis wrote it, and he's pretty darn reliable about these things. This issue provides a good mix of his usual sharp dialogue and lots of action sequences.

The concept of the series is simple enough: Osborn is making a list of the things he needs to do while he's running the country. He talks about the need for a plan - but nothing else that happens in the comic comes about because of his planning.

The art is by Marko Djurdjevic and Mark Morales, and it's quite good - dark, moody and intense.

The art is the best reason to pick up this issue. The story's not bad, but like so many of the stories in this series, it just seems to be marking time and holding everything in place.

Looking ahead, it may be difficult to pass up the other seven issues in this series, because they feature some outstanding talent, including Alan Davis, John Romita, Jr. and Adam Kubert.

But there may be a light at the end of the tunnel - the last issue shows up in November, so maybe the Dark Reign will wrap up by the end of the year.

Here's hoping.

Grade: B

Thursday's Comics

Always weird to pick up comics on a Thursday. I'd be mad at Labor Day, but it's a day off, so I forgive.

Here are today's comics picked up by yours truly:

- Adventure Comics #2 - Giving this one a chance.

- Avengers: The List #1 (One Shot) - Hoping this is the beginning of the end for the Dark Reign thing.

- Doom Patrol #2 - As much as I like this team, I don't see this comic being around in another year.

- Dark Avengers / Uncanny X-Men: Exodus #1 (One Shot) - The wrap-up to the whole super-teams mash-up.

- Green Lantern Corps #40 - Meanwhile, the Blackest Night rolls on.

- Hellboy #6 (of 8) - Such a good series.

- The Incredible Hercules #134 - Both good and funny.

- The Marvels Project #2 (of 8) - So far, so good...

- Models, Inc. #1 (of 4) - Millie the Model looks great, despite her age.

- Ultimate Avengers #2 - Cap and the Red Skull - with a twist!

- The Warlord #6 - It's slobberknocker time!

- Wednesday Comics #10 (of 12) - Two weeks to go!

And that's it!

Happy Anniversary!

Hey, how about that - today is the one-year anniversary for this humble blog.

I'm happy to report that we managed to keep to our goal of offering at least one comic book review every day in the part year!

There were a few close calls along the way (like the day I was sent out of town for a couple of days with no notice for my real-world job), but we somehow managed to meet that dreaded daily deadline. Special thanks to my lovely wife for her invaluable help and patience along the way!

Thanks to everyone out there for reading along, and special thanks to those who took the time to leave a comment or send in reviews - that makes it more fun for everyone!

Now we push on into Year Two, as we try to keep that string going!

Wish me luck!

Classic Comics - The Avengers #51

You can blame this blog and my interest in comics in general on this issue of The Avengers, cover dated April 1968.

When it was published, I was a student in Junior High School, and I didn't read comic books.

Of course, I had read them faithfully all through my younger days, and learned to read in part because of comics. But I was growing up.

As a kid in the '60s, once you got out of Elementary School, there was pressure to not read comics. The thinking at the time was that comics were just for kids (of course, there are plenty of people who still think this today).

My parents, bless them, never dictated to me that I had to stop reading comics, but they would occasionally suggest that I was getting to be too old to be reading comics. Other relatives did the same, and so did other adults I knew. Even the kids in school and in my neighborhood were outgrowing comics, so I finally decided it was time to grow up, put childish things aside and give up comics.

My resolve lasted for a few months, until I was sitting in class one day next to my pal Jeff. For reasons I can't remember, we weren't having a normal class that day in whatever class it was - it became a study period. The teacher stepped out for a moment, so Jeff showed me the new comic he had smuggled into class - this issue of The Avengers.

I was surprised for a number of reasons. First, that a kid my age was still reading comics. Second, that he had brought a comic book into the class - if the teacher caught him, she'd have confiscated it, probably forever. Third, the comic (which he let me read in the class, though I had to return it) was terrific, both in terms of the story by Roy Thomas and the art by John Buscema, with inks by George Tuska.

The comic featured a guest appearance by both Thor and Iron Man (who ended up in a big fight, thanks to some mind control action) while Goliath, the Wasp and Hawkeye fought the Collector and assorted monsters. (In retrospect, having Janet Van Dyne fighting the bad guys while wearing a bikini probably didn't hurt.)

Reading that comic, something clicked for me. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there was nothing wrong with reading comics at any age. Besides, didn't Dad occasionally pick up one of my comics and read it? Just like that, I was back into the comics buying habit (although it would be years before I'd track down my own copy of this issue - it was sold out at the newsstands).

It's something my family finally accepted about me - they would occasionally ask, "Are you still reading comic books?" I'd say, "Yep!"

I sometimes wonder if I would have made my way back to comics eventually. It seems likely, but I'm still grateful to Jeff and The Avengers for giving me that nudge just when I needed it most. They brought me back to the fold, and aside from some months of poverty during and after college, I've been here ever since!

Grade: A

Wednesday Comics #9 (of 12)

Since Monday was a holiday, new comics won't arrive until tomorrow, so you get an extra review today, and then tomorrow we'll have our usual review of a classic comic and a rundown of the comics I picked up at the comics shop.

Since we have no comics for Wednesday, it only seems right to review last week's Wednesday Comics.

This still falls into the "noble experiment that doesn't quite work" category, and the blame seems to rest almost entirely on the writing. Granted, there's a real trick to writing for the Sunday Funnies format, and some writers here have mastered it - Gibbons on Kamandi, Pope on Strange Adventures, Palmiotti on Supergirl and Baker on Hawkman.

Some writers have had flashes of excellence, but have stumbled a bit here and there - Arcudi on Superman, Bullock on Deadman, Busiek on Green Lantern, Kubert on Sgt. Rock, Kerschl on The Flash / Iris West and Simonson on The Demon and Cat Woman.

Some almost defy description, so we'll have to defer judgment until the run is finished - Gaiman is doing wild, unexpected things on Metamorpho, for example.

Others just aren't working for me at all (as always, your mileage may vary) - Azzarello on Batman, Berganza on Teen Titans, Didio on Metal Men and Caldwell on Wonder Woman.

The artists, on the other hand, have turned in some amazing work, and most are using the larger format to good effect. This large format allows for lots of different styles, from the classic style of Sook and Garcia-Lopez to the more stylized work of Baker and Pope.

It's a shame the editors didn't focus more on a variety of stories, like you'd see in the classic Sunday sections - humor, soaps, horror, puzzles, stuff like that - but hopefully this will be enough of a success to encourage further experimentation with a future edition of Wednesday Comics.

And I'd urge the creative teams to study the classic strips to learn the tricks for creating a story that keep the reader hooked and anxiously awaiting the next episode, one page at a time, once a week.

Despite my jabs here, I'm enjoying the format, and would love to see it become (at least) an annual tradition.

Grade: B+

Daring Mystery Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1

Marvel continues to be numerically challenged, as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary with the release of a series of comics centered on the line's Golden Age titles.

Of course, the company was known as Timely then (more or less), and didn't become Marvel permanently until the '60s. But what the heck.

Thankfully, these special issues have been good - I'd even say they've been surprisingly good, since most of them focus on characters that aren't around much these days (unless you count The Twelve, although it hasn't been seen in a while, either).

This issue focuses on one of The Twelve - the Phantom Reporter (which has to be one of the most offbeat hero names in recent memory).

The story recounts his origin, which as far as I know has never been told until now. Written by historical novelist David Liss, the story is a tense mystery, as reporter Richard Jones tries to solve the mystery behind the murder of an old friend, and finds himself mired in city politics, underworld plots and the search for a sinister formula that promises... well, that would be telling.

It's a well-done story with a minimal amount of super-heroics, but lots of intrigue as Jones tries to find the balance between fighting the bad guys in print and in the back alleys.

The art is by Jason Armstrong, and it's very good - his characters are distinct and memorable (not always easy when there's not much in the way of traditional superhero costumes in evidence), he evokes the era well, and provides a dark, moody feel to the story.

With comics this good, I hate to see the anniversary end!

Grade: A-

Strange Tales #1 (of 3)

Now here's a comic that really lives up to its title!

This revival of Strange Tales features about a dozen short stories about assorted Marvel heroes and villains, as depicted by some of the most unique talents in the comics business - and more importantly, these are artists and writers who usually don't work in the super-hero field.

The result is a mix of stories that are pretty darned entertaining, including: an Inhumans story that focuses on their pet dog; a wedding tale about the She-Hulk; Spider-Man moves to a new town where he should fit in, but doesn't; Dr. Strange, in my favorite story in the issue, faces an old enemy and an impossible challenge; Bruce Banner and the Hulk find dating a real challenge; Modok looks for love; and Wolverine loses his cool.

If it sounds bizarre - well, it is pretty odd. Creators like Peter Bagge, Paul Pope, Nick Bertozzi and Nicholas Gurewitch give us their funny, odd and somewhat warped view of the strange world of superheroes.

This definitely isn't for everyone, and your mileage may vary - some may find it just silly, and others may not care for the unusual art styles included. I'd advise giving a few stories a quick read at the ol' comics shop before plunking down your hard-earned $4.99.

But I really enjoyed it (well, I enjoyed most of it - a couple of the stories were just ok), and I'm looking forward to the next two issues - it's nice to get a different take on the genre, and you won't find many comics more "different" than this one.

Grade: B+

Incognito #6 (of 6)

Ed Brubaker is one of those writers who never seems to get as much attention as some of the industry's bigger names, yet month after month he writes some of the best comics on the stands.

This week's example is the final issue in the Incognito series. This is "grim and gritty" done right.

It stars Zack Overkill, a one-time villain who was de-powered and put into witness protection, where he lived a wretched existence.

Over the six issues of this series we've seen him run the gamut from hero to fugitive to prisoner, but with this issue the cloud of mystery around his origin is finally dispelled, and the hidden story of his life is brought to light in shocking fashion.

It's a hard-hitting, action-packed conclusion, and a heck of a lot of fun.

The art is provided by Sean Phillips, whose dark style is perfect for this kind of hard-boiled, pulp-style storytelling. I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.

This issue is just further proof that Brubaker is one of the best in the business right now. Exhibit "A," your honor.

Grade: A-

The Invincible Iron Man #17

Back when I was in Junior High School we read a "controversial" book for English class.

It was Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, and what really amazed me about it was the fact that they were letting us read a science fiction story (though it took place in a real world setting). Of course, those of us in the class also liked the "naughty" pages and would eagerly report on which pages to check out.

It told the story of a man whose limited intelligence is boosted by a revolutionary experiment - but (mild spoiler warning here) the tragedy is, the effect isn't permanent, and we see his mind start to slip away from him.

That's the tragic story unfolding right now in Invincible Iron Man, as Tony Stark continues the drastic step of purging his brain to keep Norman Osborn from getting his hands on key information about the heroes of the world.

As a result, Tony is losing his intelligence - and since that is his true superpower, it leaves him in a bad way while he continues to run across the globe, trying to elude Osborn's agents.

It's a interesting story by Matt Fraction, if difficult to watch - especially with this issue, as the effects become more pronounced. It has been fun to watch Tony moving backwards through his Iron Man armor, working from today's most advanced version through earlier, more simple models. (He keeps having to change suits because they keep getting smashed up by assorted enemies.)

The art, I should add, continues to be outstanding, as Salvador Larroca does some great work here with the big events and the small personal moments.

While I wasn't looking this comic earned an Eisner Award for Best New Series, and I can't argue with that - this run has captured the essence of what made the movie so good and puts it on the printed page. Recommended!

Grade: A-

Justice League: Cry for Justice #3 (of 7)

Up to now, I've really been on the fence with this series.

The painted art by Mauro Cascioli has been very good - dark and grim like the story, with some strong, over-the-top sequences.

Where this series is really struggling is in the story. I read it and think, "What happened to James Robinson?" Once one of DC's best writers (I'm thinking Starman here), I have to assume he's just overworked at the moment, because the writing in this comic seems to sway between being just average to being really poor.

The opening sequence is a good example, as Supergirl shows up and Green Lantern asks her if she's a hero or a villain. In response, she sheds a single tear. Yow. (How could she not punch him in the snoot?)

And this is another issue where everyone stands around talking and having flashbacks.

I realize this issue is trying to be grim and gritty, but we get yet another scene of the "good guys" torturing the bad guys for information (one in each issue - collect 'em all!), and lots of grisly deaths (perhaps Blackest Night will set these things straight).

So far, I'm just not feeling it. This comic doesn't read like the Justice League at all - the team seems assembled completely at random.

There's still time to turn things around - but I'm starting to wonder. If only they'd bring the real James Robinsdon back...

Grade: C

Ultimate Spider-Man #2

It's good to see that the title of this comic has reverted to Ultimate Spider-Man, instead of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, which (for some reason) I found irritating.

Whatever the title, this continues to be the best Spider-Man comic on the stands. Or at least I think it is. It has been for about 10 years now, but I recently stopped reading Amazing Spider-Man, and I skipped all the other Annuals and Spider-Man Family books, so maybe I'm missing something.

But this is Spidey in his purest form: in high school, dealing with all the difficulties that you'd expect from that setting - school, classmates, romance, homework, holding down a job and being a wise-cracking superhero - in other words, all the stuff that made the character so much fun when he first appeared.

My only quibble is that Bendis seems to be dumbing Peter Parker down, as he complains about his GPA being low - Parker was always the smartest kid in the school (he invented his web shooters, for crying out loud), so that seems like a hollow complaint.

But otherwise the characterization is spot on, and we're slowly learning about what happened to our cast since the Ultimatum events - for example, why did Peter and Mary Jane break up, and how long has he been dating Gwen Stacy? What heroes are still alive? Who's the new menace threatening to take over New York?

I really like David Lafuente's art, although he has a few quirks that may take getting used to - for example, Spider-Man's head is awfully round, and Gwen looks very Manga-ish - but those are minor complaints. His art is loaded with energy and enthusiasm, and is a great match for the youthful exuberance of the comic.

I'm so glad this comic continues, because it's great to see new adventures of a Spider-Man who reads like the original - fast, funny, sometimes outmatched but never defeated. Good stuff.

Grade: A-

Yet Another Comics Haul

Here's what your pal Chuck picked up today at the Comics Shop:

- Agents of Atlas #10 - Sorry to hear this is being canceled, but glad to hear it will live on in back-up story heaven!

- Black Panther #8 - Another good series, although we'll have to see how the new writer works out.

- Daring Mystery Comics #1 - Another 70th Anniversary issue for Marvel - these have been quite good.

- Incognito #6 (of 6) - Sorry to see this pulpish noirish comic bookish series end.

- The Invincible Iron Man #17 - Hey, what's that odor? It smells just like Flowers for Algernon.

- Irredeemable #6 - This pops right to the top of my reading list every time.

- Justice League: Cry for Justice #3 (of 7) - Everyone is so angry here.

- Mystic Comics #1 - Two 70th Anniversary comics in one month - seems like overkill.

- Strange Tales #1 - Wow, does this look like a lot of fun.

- Ultimate Spider-Man #2 - Hmm, the indicia has dropped the word "Comics." Good move.

- Wednesday Comics #9 - As a friend pointed out, what happens next week - does this become Thursday Comics?

Oh, and I tracked down a copy of Sherlock Holmes #4, which I missed last time around.

The Classics - All-Star Squadron #1

Let's take a moment and pay our respects to the genius of Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox and John Broome. Back in the early '60s they came up with the idea of Earth-2, a parallel dimension where the heroes of the Golden Age of Comics could exist.

The genius was that it kept those characters fresh without taking away from the "new" characters on Earth-1. Now that those two realities have been smushed together into the modern DC Universe, you have a more muddled history for DC, stretching back to before World War II, which means superheroes have been around for more than 70 years, and today's heroes are just the latest in a long line.

And yes, I know there are now 52 alternate worlds - but the original 1 and 2 are merged, even with the recently-revealed "new" Earth-2. (Aren't you glad Crisis cleared all this up?)

But back in the early '80s (before the Crisis on Infinite Earths), Roy Thomas moved from Marvel to DC, and one of his first projects was to revive the Justice Society of America in its own comic - but this one would be set back during the days of World War II, when the heroes were at the peak of their powers - and the comic would have a different title.

Cover dated September 1981, the first issue of All-Star Squadron provided a set-up that gave Thomas all kinds of freedom in terms of the heroes he could choose from, including everyone from the original Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman (who were sparingly used) to Green Lantern, the Flash, Plastic Man, Hawkman, Robotman and dozens of others - including new characters he created for the series!

Providing the pencil art was Rich Buckler, who turned in some of his best work ever, and the inker was the outstanding Jerry Ordway, who continues to provide art for the occasional JSA story today.

There's a ton of story crammed into this first issue, as a team of villains capture heroes across the country, and the heroes left standing must band together to stop the plans being hatched by the time-traveling Degaton.

It was a great start to a long-running series that entertained JSA fans for years.

I'm glad that today's JSA is enjoying great success, but I miss the WWII adventures of those Golden Age heroes. That's the era where they first burst on the comics scene, and in many ways, that's where they belong.

It would be nice if there were room for both. I suspect Roy still has a few WWII stories he'd like to tell about the All-Star Squadron.

Grade: A-

Justice Society of America #30

One of the strengths of a team superhero comic is the interaction between the characters. It allows lots of room for romance, conflict, humor - all the things that make up a good story.

Conflict seems to be the first order of business in the first storyline from the new creative team - writers Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham and artist Jesus Merino. The Justice Society can usually count on being able to overwhelm an opponent by sheer force of numbers, so they're understandably shocked when they find themselves up against an even bigger army of super-villains who have set an ambush.

It's interesting to note that this issue is written very much in the style of a Marvel comic (settle down, that's not a bad thing) - lots of conflict (both between heroes and heels and between JSA teammates), lots of action and some mysterious subplots unfolding.

It's quite a switch, since up to now the team has been portrayed as one big happy family - but the conflict makes sense, and sets up the already-announced split in the team. That's also a good thing, because the cast here is way too big - it's like an out-of-control issue of Legion of Super-heroes or the X-Men.

But you definitely get the sense that the creative team is moving the pieces into place for something big.

The art is quite good - Merino's layouts are dramatic, the characters are well-rendered and distinct, and he has some pages that really pop (especially the Flash's burst of speed).

I don't think this new take on the JSA is quite there - it needs more humor and romance, for example - but it's definitely moving in the right direction.

Grade: B+

Disney Buys Marvel?

I usually don't post news stories here, but this is too big to pass up: regular reader Pete sent me this link to a story about Disney buying Marvel for $4 billion!

The deal apparently includes all the characters, rights, etc. My first reaction was "Oh, no!" - but then I thought about Pixar doing a movie based on Marvel characters and I felt much better about the whole thing.

We'll see how this goes... but it should have the Internet in an uproar for a few days, at least.

Fantastic Four #570

Getting a new creative team on a comic book is sort of like going on a blind date - you never know what you're going to end up with.

Even if you liked a writer or artist's previous work, you never know if they're going to have the same success with a different book - sometimes, it's just not a good match.

So new writer Jonathan Hickman and new artist Dale Eaglesham take over the adventures of the Fantastic Four with this issue. Hickman's been doing good work on Secret Warriors, and Eaglesham just wrapped up an excellent run on Justice Society, so one would expect good things from them here.

After reading the first issue, I have to say - the jury's still out on this one. That's because we're just getting the first part of the new storyline, so it's a bit early to decide whether the book deserves a "thumbs up" - but so far, I see no reason to think the story will earn a "thumbs down."

Here we have a good mix of family interaction, pseudo-science exploration and old-fashioned comic book-style action (though the opponent never seems particularly menacing - Reed hardly breaks a sweat here). It's the FF by the book.

Still, the characters all "sound" right, and Reed (who is the focus of the story) is well-portrayed as the ultra-intelligent hero with a heart. He's trying to find the answers to some very big questions, and it'll be interesting to see where it goes.

The art I like a lot. Eaglesham has tons of talent - his characters are individual and expressive, his actions scenes are strong, and his layouts tell the story cleanly. I'm not sure how I feel about little touches, like the short-sleeve shirts on the new FF uniforms (except for the shirtless Thing, of course) and Reed's permanent stubble, but those are minor complaints.

The final grade on the new team is going to depend on where the story goes from here, and while the opening round was solid, it remains to be seen if the new creative team and the Fantastic Four will be the right match. But so far, it's promising.

Grade: B+

Batman and Robin #3

Here's the final issue in the opening chapter to Batman and Robin, and sadly, it's also the last issue for artist Frank Quitely.

His style is unique, with perhaps a little Geoff Darrow in there, and maybe a smidgen of Bernie Wrightson. But whatever the source of his inspiration, Quitely manages to create a world that is dark, dynamic and often horrific, with art that combines a realistic flair with an abstract style. If that makes any sense.

His work is always compelling. and I'm sorry to see him wrapping up his run.

Grant Morrison continues as the writer, and here he crafts a strange and disturbing tale that focuses around an evil circus and its demented owner and operator, Pyg.

The Dynamic Duo (gee, I always wanted to write that) get to show off their physical prowess and get in lots of fighting. But the team also shows some flaws, as they overlook an important matter that may come back to haunt them.

As the new team (in the comic at in the real world) settles in, so far, this has been a strong effort and well worth checking out - though the material is a bit rough in places and this may not be suitable for young kids.

Grade: A-

The New Avengers #56

When a franchise starts creating spinoff titles, that's usually a good sign that the end is near.

Look at the Uncanny X-Men. Once the top book in the industry, now it keeps dropping in sales. Why? Because the brand has been watered down. New X-Men, X-Men First Class, X-Force, X-Factor, New Mutants, etc. etc. etc.

Soon the reader gets tired of the overload and starts drifting away from the titles - but the line limps on as the company keeps trying to milk every last dollar out of the readers. (By the way, DC and the other comics companies are equally guilty of this.)

At Marvel, it happened to Spider-Man and it's about to happen to the Hulk, but that character is in a race with the Avengers.

The Avengers spent a lot of years near the top of the sales charts, and then, through a series of lackluster stories (don't get me started on teen Tony Stark), it came crashing down.

But it's been revived over the past five years (or so) by Brian Bendis, who shook up the status quo and infused the New Avengers title with some new characters, powerful stories and unexpected directions.

Of course, nothing breeds excess like success, so now there are other Avengers titles to choose from: Dark Avengers, Mighty Avengers and the assorted mini-series, such as the recent one starring Ronin (Hawkeye) and Mockingbird.

Thankfully, Bendis has maintained control of the "original" Avengers comic, New Avengers, and continues to take it in surprising directions. In the latest issue, he has the team stricken by a mysterious force that has wiped out their powers - which is a bad thing when an army of super-villains show up who are apparently immune to the effect. Then throw the Dark Avengers into the mix and things really get interesting.

The art is by the always-excellent Stuart Immonen, with inks by Wade von Grawbadger, and they manage to cover the army of characters and the chaos of battle with great skill.

I'll admit that I'm suffering from Avengers overload, and if those other titles went away, it wouldn't bother me a bit. But this comic, I like.

Grade: B+

Green Lantern #45

This issue should carry a warning: "Now with 100% less Green Lantern content!"

Of course, Hal Jordan is busy right now fighting for his life over in the Blackest Night mini-series, so this issue (which also ties into that series) focuses on some of the other colorful Corps stories, with special emphasis on Sinestro and Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris).

Written by Geoff Johns, the issue features some good moments, but is largely focused on moving all the pieces into place, as the Black Rings continue to seek out more dead heroes and villains to resurrect.

The art is excellent under Doug Mahnke, with some strong moments here. He's rapidly moving up on my "favorite artists" list.

There's not much else to say about the issue without giving away important story elements, but it's not all grim events - there's a funny moment with Larfleeze (Agent Orange) that should get a laugh.

This issue isn't crucial for following the Blackest Night events, but as always, it couldn't hurt.

Grade: B

The Flash: Rebirth #4 (of 6)

When reviewing the last issue of The Flash: Rebirth, I wrote:

What this series really requires of the reader is patience and trust that the creative team knows what it's doing. I wouldn't go along with that idea for most comic books, but with this issue, I'm on board.

And this issue, judging by the genuine chills, cheers and emotional moments, pays back that trust.

I was tempted to just write "Wow!" for my review here, but that would be cheating. But after the surprisingly slow build-up for this series, and the threat of a dark, grim and gritty future for the character, this issue delivers the goods in spades.

It does this by finally introducing the mysterious villain behind the disruptions in the Speed Force - our old friend, the Reverse-Flash (who was revealed on the last page of the previous issue, and on the alternate cover of this issue, lest you think I'm spoiling any surprises).

Here writer Geoff Johns finally starts revealing those plot points he's been carefully keeping just out of sight, and artist Ethan Van Sciver turns in another outstanding issue, with striking layouts, emotional splash pages and high-powered pencils. Colorist Brian Miller also deserves lots of kudos for his outstanding work here.

Finally, the mysteries around the true nature of the Speed Force are revealed, and that's when... well, stuff really starts happening.

I know Barry Allen has been back since his appearance in the first issue of Final Crisis, but with this issue, we see the return of The Flash. (No offense intended to those who think Jay Garrick or Wally West are the ones deserving of the title.)

If you're a Flash fan, you must read this issue.

Mark me down as "can't wait to see the next one."

Grade: A+

A Pile of Comics!

Lots of good stuff at the comics shop today. I picked up:

- New Avengers #56 - This one has taken an interesting twist.

- Batman and Robin #3 - The last of Quitely's run, alas.

- Dark Reign: Electra #5 (of 5) - This has been quite good.

- Fantastic Four #570 - The first issue for the new creative team. Looks promising!

- Flash Rebirth #4 (of 6) - Wow! After a slow start for this series, this issue gave me chills. If you were ever a Flash fan, you should read this issue.

- Green Lantern #45 - More Blackest Night action, which has been darned good so far.

- The Incredible Hercules #133 - A fun book.

- The Incredible Hulk #601 - Glad to see this back with Greg Pak at the helm.

- Justice Society of America #30 - Hey, Dr. Fate's back! Or is he?

- Secret Warriors #7 - This takes a surprising turn.

- Wednesday Comics #8 (of 12) - Two-thirds of the way there!

I somehow overlooked Sherlock Holmes #4 (of 5), so I'll have to pick that up next time around!

The Classics - Rip Hunter... Time Master #16

Bear with me, I'll get to the comic is a minute. First, a story.

About 15 years ago I was working for a local TV station and I was given the opportunity to write an original children's special - the topic was up to me, and the only stipulation was that it had to be educational and practical in terms of budget - in other words, it had to be something we could shoot on the cheap.

I thought about it a long time, and since the show was aimed at kids, I decided to seek inspiration (some would say steal) from the books and comics I enjoyed as a kid. One of my favorites - and one that I actually learned from - was Rip Hunter... Time Master.

That comic featured four friends who traveled through time, courtesy of Rip's invention, the Time Sphere. Rip was the leader, his friend and lab assistant Jeff Smith was his right-hand man, Bonnie Baxter provided the love interest, and her kid brother Corky was the obligatory kid.

They were very much in the vein of the Challengers of the Unknown and Cave Carson - close friends and family members who shared amazing adventures.

The Time Sphere would carry them to the past (and occasionally into the future), where they'd meet famous historic figures, witness events and enjoy all kinds of adventures.

For example, in this issue (cover dated Sept.-Oct. 1963), a criminal hijacks the Time Sphere (luckily Rip has a backup) and sets out to build a "Criminal League of the Ages," which will include Captain Harry Hawkins, the infamous English highwayman, and Baron De Koven, the Black Knight.

As a kid, I never minded the way writers would sneak in some education with the story - it gave it an added dimension that's (sadly) almost completely missing from today's comics.

Rip Hunter always featured solid art in the classic DC style (though of course the artist and writer were never credited - Wikipedia lists Jack Miller as the writer and Ruben Moreira as the artist), and each issue was a treat, filled with adventure, twists and turns and a fun story, all "done-in-one."

Back in the world of TV, I used the idea to write an hour show that featured a kid being sent back in time when his Uncle's invention is accidentally activated (that part we shot in the engineer's shop at the TV station). He visits several time periods, learns about the history of the area (we shot at existing historic sites and used local actors to play historic characters), and along the way the viewers learn about history and such.

It turned out well, especially considering our monetary limitations, and when it appeared on the air it got good reviews, although one writer suggested that I had lifted the idea from the Back to the Future movies (which had honestly never occurred to me).

Hey, I wonder if Robert Zemeckis read Rip Hunter, too?

Grade: A-

Conan the Cimmerian #13

Here's a comic that seems to fly under the radar of most fans.

That's a shame, because Conan of Cimmeria is consistently an excellent read.

This issue wraps up the six-part adaptation of Robert E. Howard's story Black Colossus, and it's outstanding. Writer Tim Truman has an excellent grasp of the Hyborean Age, the brutality of armed combat and the dark magic that fills the shadows (and our nightmares). I'm not sure how much of the comic script is Howard and how much is Truman, but it all reads like Howard, and that's the highest compliment I can pay any writer.

The art is by Tomas Giorello, with color by Jose Villarruria, and what a fantastic job they do here, especially considering it's one of those jobs that has to be a nightmare for any artist. "Draw 500 horsemen racing down a hill toward an invading army of thousands of Stygians." But they manage it with great power and skill. They evoke horror, fear and brutality, and still manage to draw one of the sexiest women in comics with the barely-covered Princess Yasmela.

Admittedly, "Colossus" isn't one of Howard's best stories, but even his average stuff is well worth seeking out. It's a brutal fight to the finish, and not to be missed.

Back when Roy Thomas left the Conan books in the '80s and lesser writers took his place, I thought the series could never be that good again.

That's one of those rare moments when I'm glad to be proven wrong. Kurt Busiek got this series off to a great start, and now Truman is carrying the banner high. If you're not reading this series, you're missing out.

Grade: A

Daredevil #500

This is a comic that very few creators have ever managed to get a grip on.

Oh, a few have done well with it. Stan Lee, Wally Wood, Gene Colan, Frank Miller, Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker have done outstanding work on Daredevil's adventures. But so many others never seem to know what to do with the character.

Perhaps it's because he doesn't have any real powers, other than his radar sense, which is more a gimmick than a power. Maybe it's because he's an attorney in the real world - not an occupation many have warm feelings about, although they've been careful to paint him as a "good" lawyer. Whatever the reason, Daredevil has been everything from a wise-cracking, de-powered Spider-Man to a grim avenger of the night.

The best and worst moments in DD's career usually happen when a creative team decides to make a drastic change. Examples include: Wood's creation of a new red-and-black costume (good); sending Matt Murdock off to the West Coast (bad); Miller and McKenzie introducing new supporting characters and turning to darker storylines (good); giving DD a new bio-costume (bad); focusing on strong writing and street-level stories under Bendis (good); and exposing DD's identity to the world (bad).

Let me explain that last point. It's always a good shock to have the hero's secret identity exposed, and Bendis did it as well as it has ever been done - but it also cuts the hero off from his history and supporting characters and leaves him out in the cold - something they realized too late on Spider-Man. And it's something you can't "un-do" without jumping through some major hoops or cooking up a ridiculous explanation (again, see Spidey).

Anyway... with this issue, Brubaker wraps up his run on the title, which has been quite good, largely a continuation of what Bendis had done, with a continued focus on crime and street-level action.

But the stories just keep getting darker and darker, and the result is that members of the supporting cast are put through all kinds of hell so DD can be tormented about his part in their fate. Am I the only getting tired of the ever-tortured hero?

To be honest, I miss the wise-cracking good guy who battled against the odds and found a way to win through his courage and wits. But I suspect it'll be a long time before he shows up again (if ever).

None of this is to take away from the good work done in this issue by Brubaker and artists Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano. They turn in a tight final chapter on the conflict between Daredevil, the Kingpin and the Hand, touching on DD's origins and adventures since. They also manage to launch the series off in yet another direction (which may or may not be to your liking. Me, not so much).

The issue is filled out with a preview of new writer Andy Diggle's work (not enough here to get a sense about it), a new and delightful short story written by Ann Nocenti (who had a long respectable run on the title years ago) with art by David Aja; a darned impressive pinup gallery; a reprint of a classic Frank Miller issue; and a gallery of all the covers in DD's history.

Of all Marvel's heroes, Daredevil has to have the most peaks and valleys in his publishing history. He started out strong, waned, became the most popular comic in the stable under Miller, slowly declined and faced cancellation, only to be revived by Bendis and Brubaker to be one of the best-written comics in Marvel's line.

It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for "The Man Without Fear." Given past ups-and-downs, I'd be a little worried if I were him.

Grade: B+

The Web

There seems to be an unwritten rule in comics that every 10 years or so, a company needs to trot out some of its older characters to see if they can be rebooted for a new generation of readers.

That seems to be in play at DC this year, as the company once again attempts a return for the line of heroes that originated with Archie Comics, some of whom date back to the Golden Age.

Here we have The Web, who I first saw in the mid-1960s as a supporting character under the Radio Comics banner. It was remarkable at the time because it was probably the worst comic I'd ever read (up to that time). It was written in an attempt to mimic the success of the Batman TV show and Marvel Comics, and the creative team got almost everything wrong, from the poor attempts at camp humor, the laughable "hip" dialogue, and the forgettable villains. The comic quickly died a well-deserved death.

The characters returned in the early '80s in Archie's short-lived Red Circle line of comics. The Web returned at DC in the early '90s as part of its ill-fated Impact Comics line, and this time it was (if I recall correctly) set up as a SHIELD-like organization, fighting the bad guys. Cancellation soon followed.

Now the concept is back yet again in DC's new imprint called The Red Circle, although this time around the heroes are apparently being folded into the DC Universe.

The title character is a hero in the Tony Stark / Bruce Wayne style - an ultra-rich businessman who decides to use his skills to fight the bad guys.

Of course, today the word "Web" has a completely different meaning, and the comic uses the Internet definition to good effect.

DC is smart to turn the Red Circle comics over to a darn good writer, J. Michael Straczynski, and a strong art team in Roger Robinson and Hilary Barta.

But despite the talented team, the comic seems awfully rushed, and we have lots of questions unanswered - the big one being, what are The Web's powers and where did they come from? He's powerful, but it would be nice to have some idea of how he's managing these stunts.

Still, it's a promising start. Hopefully this time around those Archie heroes can stick around for a while. Like Coach always said, "Keep running that play until you get it right."

Grade: B

Wednesday Comics #7 (of 12)

Just over halfway through the run of Wednesday Comics and I have to declare it a brave, clever, entertaining and delightful failure.

Which is not to say that I'm not enjoying it.

Each edition is packed with terrific art, at least a few good stories - some clever, some fun, some adventurous - and several storylines that just don't work.

Let's run 'em down:

- Batman has great art, but the story is a mess. I have no idea why he's torturing this guy or what's going on. Some guy got killed in the first issue, it involves his pretty wife and some other guy, but that's all I remember. Some kind of recap would be a big help.

- Kamandi is still the cream of the crop - fantastic art and a compelling story, it makes perfect use of this format.

- Superman is finally back on track after several weeks of whining and moaning. It's tough to feel sorry for the most powerful hero on Earth, but here we get back to some action sequences. Thank goodness! I like the art.

- Deadman is another interesting strip that works well, but his adventure into the afterlife is just now starting to make sense.

- Green Lantern, like Superman, finally hits the action button, although the page isn't much more than a short fight scene. The art is quite good, though.

- After moving along at a glacial pace, the lighthearted Metamorpho strip finally starts making sense here. This nicely captures the spirit of the original comic.

- The story in Teen Titans is also finally making some sense, but it's hard to care about the story, and I have to admit I'm not crazy the art.

- Strange Adventures gives us the strangest Adam Strange ever - but it's a real delight to see the new twists Paul Pope has layered on this concept. Lots of fun.

- The award for the cutest page goes to Supergirl, as she seeks help for her super-dog and super-cat from a grouchy Aquaman. A bit silly, but this strip continues to be a hoot.

- Metal Men features fantastic art and a story that's moving at a snail's pace. The first issue started out with the team in the lobby of a bank and they're still there!

- Wonder Woman might as well be printed in another language - it's just indecipherable. I'm not even sure what order to read the teeny tiny panels. I just skip this page, sorry.

- Sgt. Rock and Easy Co. continues to move along very slowly. After a month-and-a-half of Rock being tortured he finally gets to stand up. Great art.

- The Flash continues to mix the storyline between superhero action and a focus on Barry Allen's wife, Iris West. The story seems to be spinning out of control, as more than a dozen Flashes convene to fight Gorilla Grodd, but what's going on and why there are numerous Flashes is a mystery. A new reader would be lost here.

- The Demon and Cat Woman is another strip that baffles, since I can't really remember what's happening here. Cat Woman stole something from the Demon, escaped and was transformed into a real cat by an old witch, and the Demon went after her and now they're both dealing with Morgaine Le Fay. I think. Good art but confusing story.

- I like Kyle Baker's art on Hawkman, but the printing doesn't seem to be doing the strip any favors. Still, it's entertaining and continues rolling along at a brisk pace.

So to tally up the score, we have lots of great artwork displayed nicely in a big format, but only six or seven out of 12 have compelling stories. None of the strips are outright bad, but I would only rank two of them as outstanding.

Still, I'm enjoying this experiment, I salute DC for having the guts to give it a try, and I'll be around for the rest of the run. I'm hoping the average of great stories to average stories will continue to rise.

Grade: B-

Power Girl #4

Four issues into this series and I'm still not quite sure what to make of it.

As I've said before, the art by Amanda Conner is wonderful - she's one of my favorite comic artists. The story just oozes fun, her characters are so expressive, her comic scenes are hilarious (I love the sequence where Power Girl and Terra are watching a horror movie), her women are sexy, her storytelling is clear and professional, and her work is just a delight from start to finish.

It's the story by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti that still seems to be finding its rhythm. This "done-in-one" issue has three parts: the opening character bits with P.G. and Terra; a fun action sequence where the two fight an invading army of fantasy characters; and the focus on PG's professional and personal life, as we learn more about her company and employees.

It's all light and fun and features sharp dialogue - but it never quite goes anywhere. The issue just feels like it's offering a little downtime for the reader, a breather between the series opener (issues 1 through 3) and the story that follows, of which we get an odd tease at the end of this issue.

Since the series is just starting, it seems odd to have a "down time" issue already - but despite that minor complaint, this is a series I'm enjoying a lot. The characters are fun to be around, the stories are breezy, and did I mention the art is fantastic?

Grade: B+

Archie #600

OK, sue me - I couldn't resist checking out this issue, especially after all the media attention it has received.

In case you missed it, this issue of Archie shows what happens when the eternal teen finally grows up. He marries Veronica!

Of course, most of the comics-reading world probably had the same reaction to this news: "What, is he stupid? Obviously Archie is supposed to marry Betty!"

Not to worry - writer Michael Uslan knows what he's doing: getting the attention of both fans and the media.

The story's structured in such a way that they have lots of leeway for future stories (as always, we try not to give away key plot points here at Chuck's Comic of the Day).

What I found most interesting was the art by Stan Goldberg. His depiction of the older (as in early 20's) Riverdale gang is largely the same, they're just a little... well, rounder. I suppose that is what happens to us as we get older (at least that's what happened to me).

Still, it's an interesting look at the future, although I'm surprised at the career plans the members of the gang have. With a couple of exceptions, they are not terribly ambitious. Did Jughead go to college to end up flipping burgers? Maybe it's the recession.

Archie is really an amazing phenomenon in comics - the series is pretty much the same as it was 60 years ago, but by keeping current with trends and fashions, and providing fun stories that young readers can relate to, it continues to be among the top-selling comics in the U.S. (and one of the few still managing hefty sales outside comics shops), and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Kudos to the company for coming up with a storyline that has me picking up my first Archie comic in years - and I'll probably be back for the rest of the issues in this series, too.

Grade: B

New Comics!

Hey, this is post #400 - and so far, no missed days. How about that?

Anyway, here's what I picked up today at the comic shop - a light week indeed:

- Wednesday Comics #7 - Still fun, but a real mixed bag.

- The Web #1 - I was never a big fan of these characters in the '60s or in their later versions, but I figured, what the heck.

- Power Girl #4 - Worth it just for Amanda Conner's art. (I know, I say that every month.)

- Justice League of America #36 - Stalling for time, but at least Len Wein is writing it!

- Daredevil #500 - This has been a strong series, and this issue sadly wraps up Ed Brubaker's run.

- Conan the Cimmerian #13 - The last chapter in the excellent Black Colossus adaptation.

And...

- Archie #600 - Set in the future, in which Archie proposes to Veronica. Gad, he's an idiot. If only I owned the first issue of Archie - I'd sell it out of anger (but mostly I'd sell it for the 30 grand).

Oh, and I picked up an action figure of Goodwin and Simonson's Manhunter, a character I've always liked.

The Classics - Sandman #8

Here's a terrific comic that didn't cost a cent. No, I didn't get it by trading or stealing.

I got this issue of Neil Gaiman's Sandman as a gift. At the time it was issued (the cover date is August 1989) I got all my comics through Westfield Comics, an excellent subscription service which is still up and running today and still providing great service - highly recommended, and tell 'em Chuck sent you! (OK, end of plug.)

As I recall, DC Comics and Westfield went together to offer this complimentary issue as a way to promote the series, which was starting to get some serious buzz from the fans.

It was a promotion that worked well on me - I added Sandman to my list after that, and got them all right up to the last issue.

The fantasy series focuses on the character Dream, the personification of the world of sleep and the imagination. He's just one member of a family of similar creatures, and is closest to the sister introduced in this issue, Death.

The setting allowed the exploration of all kinds of stories, including love, damnation, destruction, creation - you name it. Gaiman built a lush mythology all his own, and peopled it with fascinating characters, heroes and monsters.

It's the series that established Neil Gaiman as one of the outstanding modern fantasy writers, and the heir apparent to Alan Moore's crown.

I don't want to give away too much about this particular issue, but it explores the nature of death and life and is one of the better single issue comics in modern memory.

The Sandman comics have been collected many times over, and if you're inclined toward thoughtful fantasy, then you can't go wrong with any of the collections (though I should add that most of them include adult content).

The stories are intelligent, thoughtful and clever - always a good read. The series was also blessed with an array of outstanding artists, such as this issue's Mike Dringenberg and Malcolm Jones III.

Of course, the series is now known as a classic, so I'm not really telling most of you reading this anything new. But it does give me a chance to say "Thanks" to my pals at Westfield Comics for introducing me to one of the most literate comics in the history of the genre.

Hopefully I've passed the favor along to other readers out there!

Grade: A+

Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #5 (of 8)

After a bit of a delay, it's good to see this mini-series back on track.

But gaps in publishing are the best argument for waiting for the collected trade edition. As much as I enjoy this comic, which always brings a smile (even with its horror setting), I have to admit I'm having trouble remembering the story so far.

But maybe it's not necessary to remember - this issue really tells you everything you need to know. Hellboy's friend is dying, and the only chance to save her is to get her to a nearby castle - which just happens to be surrounded by flames and guarded by an invincible opponent.

Add to that a deadly foe plotting against everyone's favorite monster, a surprising guest appearance and lots of action, and you have yet another outstanding issue to enjoy.

The comic also features as six-page MonsterMen backup drawn by the excellent Gary Gianni, who apparently squeezed in some more excellent artwork in between his regular gig drawing Prince Valiant every Sunday.

Whether you wait for the trades or pick up the floppies, you'll rarely go wrong with Hellboy. I can honestly say I've never read an issue about Mike Mignola's creation that I didn't enjoy - and I've read 'em all.

Grade: B+

The Marvels Project #1 (of 8)

As part of the celebration of Marvel's 70th Anniversary, the company has been issuing a series of special issues devoted to its Golden Age characters, such as the Human Torch, Captain America and the Sub-Mariner.

Those have led up to this mini-series, The Marvels Project, which will apparently unveil the "true" history of the Marvel Universe, beginning with the first appearance of super-powered characters.

The idea is to show how it's all connected - presumably in ways we never thought about before.

I'm tempted to gripe that series like this always try to tie everything together in a neat bow of convergence and coincidence, and often strain credulity to manage it (we see the Ultimate Origins series bowing its head in shame over there).

I don't really think it's necessary - the stories are already interesting without trying to link everything together - but I suppose there's no resisting the impulse to make things "make sense."

Thankfully, Marvel was smart enough to put some of its best creative talent on this issue, including writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting. They take us back to the late 1930s, linking the beginning of the Marvel Age to the heroes of the Wild West in a clever way.

This series covers some familiar ground, but also sets up some interesting subplots along the way that (thankfully) make sense without really changing anything about Marvel's history as we know it.

It's not always easy to make history fun, but so far, this series is off to a great start.

Grade: A-

Adventure Comics #1

This series kicks off with a couple of handicaps and two strong points.

Among the handicaps: it stars the newly-reborn Conner (Superboy) Kent, a character I've never been too crazy about. He has potential, and hopefully this issue will bring it out, but he's always been just another B-list character to me.

Also working against it is the general malaise that seems to have fallen over the Superman family of comics, as they're all overshadowed by the New Krypton storyline.

On the plus side, the story is written by Geoff Johns, one of DC's best writers, and a guy who's very good at crafting new beginnings for characters who have been, shall we say, underused in the past. His story here is a good reintroduction to the character and his new setting, with some interesting twists along the way.

The art by Francis Manapul is also good - light and fresh, well-suited to a story about life in Smallville.

Another strong point is the backup feature starring the Legion of Super-heroes. This first story is mysteriously set almost entirely in the present, but it features Johns' patented final page teasing upcoming storylines, and that's always fun.

So all in all, not a bad package, but nothing earth-shattering yet, either. It is great to see Adventure Comics back on the stands, though we'll have to give this one a few more months to get a better idea of where it's all going.

Grade: B+

Ultimate Comics Avengers #1

After almost 10 years, the Ultimates finally have the right name for their group - The Avengers - and a new creative team to guide the title out of the turbulent waters of Ultimatum.

Well, part of the team is new - writer Mark Millar returns to the comic he co-created, this time teamed with artist Carlos Pacheco.

The good news is, the comic is much better than the last version of the Ultimates (though one wonders how it could have been much worse).

Of course, I have to admit to having kind of a love/hate relationship with this comic. Some of the elements of the Ultimates stories I enjoyed - the slight retooling of Captain America, character tweaks to Thor and Iron Man were interesting, and the massive scale of the stories was fun - but there were things I didn't like, too, including making the Hulk a mass murderer, turning Henry Pym into a serial wife abuser / murderous thug, and generally making all the heroes less heroic. One friend of mine dropped the book early on, saying he preferred stories about heroes who were actually heroic. I held on, but I often agreed with him.

So here's the latest version of the team. The story re-establishes the characters, sets up a mystery and launches into a huge action sequence that's a lot of fun. There are some shocking moments and a last-page revelation that sets up a heckuva story to follow.

Pacheco's art is quite good, with lots of dynamic sequences and detailed art. His work is strong, and only suffers in comparison to Bryan Hitch's art - but the same could be said of any other artist who took the job.

It's good to see this comic getting back to big story, clear storytelling and the kind of twists and turns you'd hope for.

So far, so good.

Grade: B+

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1

Now that the ugly business that was Ultimatum is behind us, the Ultimate Universe has been reconfigured into the Ultimate Comics Universe, and the first two releases popped up this week.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man picks up six months later, and hoo boy, have things changed for Peter Parker, and I'm not just talking about the clumsy new title for the comic.

Of course, I can't really talk about the changes without giving away some of the juicier parts of the story - but the good news is, it all works, and has that same feeling of fun, adventure and discovery that was the hallmark for the original Ultimate Spidey series.

Brian Bendis continues as the writer for the book, and that's good news. He has a lot of great comics to his credit, but not many better than his work on this title. It's just a shame he can't write Amazing Spider-Man, too.

The art is in the hands of David Lafuente, one of the brighter up-and-coming artists in comics today. His work just bubbles with energy and enthusiasm - a perfect fit for this comic.

This first issue sets up several plots and mysteries for future exploration, and apparently we're going to see more super-powered supporting characters, including some from other super-teams.

I was genuinely afraid they were going to toss out this comic with the rest of the Ultimate Universe. How nice to be wrong!

Grade: A-

Blackest Night #2

I always thought zombies made poor monsters. Slow, shambling, easy to outrun or fight back against - as long as you stay out of their grip, what's to worry about?

Not that I'd like to run into one, especially with their modern upgrades - these days they're fast, fierce, smart and utterly evil.

Those are exactly the kind of undead creatures the heroes in the DC Universe are facing, and as this issue of Blackest Night shows, it may be a battle they can't win.

The army of the Black Lantern Corps continues to grow as rings seek out the dead and somehow reanimate and reconstitute their corpses.

Here we see the battle raging on several different fronts, including quite a few members of the Justice League (some alive, some not). The central figures are Green Lantern and the Flash, who team up to take on the Martian Manhunter.

Geoff Johns has a gripping story building here, and Ivan Reis provides some powerful art, including some stunning full-page spreads.

For a battle like this to be an epic, at some point while reading it you have to wonder, "How can the good guys possibly win?" It's a question you'll ask yourself more than once here.

The fun part is seeing how it all works out. Bring on the next chapter!

Grade: A-

Back in Business!

Sorry for the delay - I had to go out of town a few days to help my oldest son move to his new home in Texas, and I got back late Wednesday, so I didn't get to my Comic Shop this week until, oh, about a hour ago.

So, 24 hours late, here's what I picked up this week:

- Adventure Comics #1 - Hard for any comics fan to pass up a first issue, isn't it?

- Blackest Night #2 - Or in this case, a second issue.

- Green Lantern Corps #39 - More Blackest Night action.

- GrimJack: The Manx Cat #1 - Yet another first issue!

- Hellboy: The Wild Hunt #5 (of 8) - It's been a while since issue #4, hasn't it?

- The Incredible Hercules #132 - Finally, a cross-over with the Asgardians.

- The Marvels Project #1 - How many number ones can one week hold?

- Ultimate Avengers #1 - Well...

- Ultimate Spider-Man #1 - Apparently at least two more.

- Wednesday Comics #6 - Halfway there!

And that's it.

Today's Comics? No Idea.

Usually your pal Chuck posts a list of the comics he picked up at the comic shop on our weekly holiday, Comic Book Day (most people just call it "Wednesday").

Unfortunately, he's on the road right now and won't be able to post his list until tomorrow. Sorry to keep you waiting, faithful readers - but bear with us. He'll be home soon, if the friendly skies cooperate!

The Classics - Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #8

I'm pretty sure this was the first issue of Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos I read when I was a kid - I got it in a trade with a friend in the neighborhood, probably a few months after it was printed (the cover date is July 1964).

My copy of the comic is not in great shape - someone had marked some ink lines on the cover before I bought it - and I read it to pieces in the years after.

I was never a big fan of war comics, but I was interested in this issue because it featured Dr. Zemo, who was also appearing in that month's issue of The Avengers (#6), having surfaced in the modern era as an enemy of Captain America. The same character in two adventures across a 20-year span - how's that for cross-promotion?

This issue convinced me I was wrong about those war comics - at least the ones featuring the Howlers. The issue, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Dick Ayers, featured the Howlers doing all kinds of amazing things, like destroying an enemy submarine, blasting a tank, invading a castle, escaping death traps, and facing off against Zemo's deadly death ray. Oh, and they introduced a new Howler in their spare moments, as Percy Pinkerton joined the team, becoming the comic's token British Commando.

The comic was improbable, over-the-top, loaded with humor and a complete blast from start to finish. I started picking up the team's adventures more often after that, and I've been a fan ever since.

Grade: A-