Batman Inc. #1

Back again after a brief Bat-hiatus is writer Grant Morrison guiding Bruce (Batman) Wayne and son Damien (Robin) Wayne in Batman Incorporated.

I like the basic concept, with Batman organizing and leading a sort of "Batmen of Many Nations" team of heroes. They're all gathering in Gotham City to face the impending threat of a group known as Leviathan, which plots to take over the business of crime in that beleaguered city.

I feel a bit torn on the issue, because it has some clever bits of business, a deadly game targeting Robin, and an interesting (if combative) relationship between father and son - but it also just drips (literally) with extreme violence and graphic situations set in a slaughterhouse - nasty business.

The art is by Chris Burnham, and while some of it is quite good - I really like the double-page splash at the top of the issue, for example - but there's also an unseemly amount of blood on display. But Burnham seems to be channeling Frank Quitely, and doing quite well by him.

To be honest, I haven't decided if I like Batman Inc. or not. It all feels just a bit too much like a Vertigo book - not really my favorite take on the Dark Knight.

This issue ends on a solid cliffhanger, so I'll be back to see this opening story arc through - but if the stories continue to be this lurid, I won't be sticking around past that.

Grade: B

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T

Comics Today

Here's what I picked up at the comic book store today:

- Aquaman #9 - A deadly showdown with Black Manta.

- Secret Avengers #27 - Is that really Capt. Marvel?

- Batman Inc. #1 - Getting the band together.

- Captain America & Hawkeye #631 - Cap is a dinosaur?

- Captain America #12 - Taking on Scourge.

- Fantastic Four #606 - An amazing journey.

- Flash #9 - Gorilla my dreams!

- Irredeemable #37 - The last issue!

- Journey Into Mystery #638 - Hell on Earth.

- Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #7 (of 8) - Can a horse live in Oz?

- The Mighty Thor #14 - Nightmare world.

And that's it!

Classic Comics - The Defenders #62

Through its first incarnation, The Defenders enjoyed some prime writing talent, including Roy Thomas, Steve Englehart and Steve Gerber.

All three turned in excellent work and made their mark on the series. Those talents tend to overshadow another writer whose work I enjoyed quite a bit on this and other titles - David Kraft.

His work in the late '70s featured quite a few entertaining twists - but this is the one that stands out most clearly in my mind.

This issue is a (mostly) comedic take on the hoary "recruit new members for the team" bit. The twist was that the Defenders didn't really want any new members - they were happy with the existing roster, which included Nighthawk, Hellcat, Valkyrie and the Hulk.

It seems that amateur filmmaker (and comic relief) "Dollar Bill" had made a documentary about the team without their knowledge, and gave it to a TV network to broadcast. At the end of the film he pointed out that The Defenders were a "non-team," with no charter or rules - so any hero could be a member!

The next morning, the team is swamped with a small army of second-tier characters looking to join - and the situation just gets wilder with every page. (And we all now what happens when a bunch of Marvel heroes get together for the first time, right?)

Aside from a serious (and unconnected) sub-plot, the issue was given over to this offbeat situation - and the story, while improbable, was undeniably fun.

The art is by the legendary Sal Buscema with inks by the equally legendary Jim Mooney - but the printing doesn't do them any favors. It's a solid, professional job, but not the best work by either artist, I must admit. Of course, it's the kind of story that would give any artist (except maybe George Perez) nightmares, with dozens of costumed heroes running amok.

Still, kudos to Kraft for his excellent work on this series - and you'd also do well to track down the project he tackled after leaving Marvel: he created Comics Interview magazine, one of my all-time favorite comics publications.

Grade: B+

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Hulk Smash Avengers #3 (of 5)

First of all, let me say: holy cow, what a great cover by Lee Weeks and Andy Troy!

But the caveat is, the art inside Hulk Smash the Avengers can't live up to that cover. It feels like penciler Karl Moline and inker Jay Leisten were trying to evoke an '80s vibe for this "flashback" adventure - but it never quite works, the art seems splotchy and the page layouts don't quite gel.

What the comic does have in abundance is heart, and that's thanks to the fine writing by Roger Stern, a writer who turned in excellent work in years past on both the Hulk and the Avengers. (Once again I ask, how is it that he's not writing a regular title for someone?)

He manages to introduce the main players, gives everyone bits of business, covers the history of the Avengers up to this point in time, and throws the Hulk into the mix for some unexpected carnage.

He also provides a couple of surprising observers who will bring a knowing smile to the face of many long-time fans.

So, a nice dose of nostalgia, a "done in one" issue, and a fantastic cover.

Not bad at all.

Grade: B+

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Daredevil #13

Mark Waid has quietly made Daredevil into one of the best comics on the stands.

And that's because the focus is on the very clever story, as Daredevil finds himself at the heart of a gang war like no other.

The McGuffin at the heart of the matter is - of all things - the number "4" from a Fantastic Four costume. Because of its unstable molecule construction, it's a perfect hard drive - and it contains information on five crime syndicates, including Hydra, Advanced Idea Mechanics, Black Spectre, Secret Empire and Agence Byzantine.

Our hero has been able to survive this overwhelming opposition by pitting each group against the other - but that all falls apart in this issue, as all five groups attack Daredevil.

I've said before how much I enjoy reading stories that star smart characters - and that's exactly what you get here.

The artwork is by Khoi Pham, with inks by the great Tom Palmer, and while it's a little uneven in places, there are some wild action scenes along the way.

Daredevil can't be an easy character to write - he's essentially a normal man with a few extraordinary abilities - but Waid has crafted a funny, intelligent hero here, and it's great fun to follow along.

Recommended!

Grade: A-

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Conan the Barbarian #4

The true sign of a great fictional character is that he or she (or it) holds up under diverse creative teams.

Certainly Conan the Barbarian fits that description. We've seen a wide assortment of talent spinning tales based on Robert E. Howard's character. Some have been great, some just OK, and some have been poor.

Happily, this series falls into the "great" category.

His depiction in this comic is a bit different from the usual muscle-bound brute, but it's very entertaining - and just as valid.

Writer Brian Wood gives us - of all things - a romantic Conan, longing for the attention of the she-pirate Belit (who, like Conan, is a virtual force of nature).

This story finds Conan playing a deadly game, as he takes part in a plan that requires him to put a lot of trust in Belit and her pirates.

The art this time around is by James Harren, who continues the style established by Becky Cloonan - a stark and stylized look at the characters - but also adds some beautiful scenery, including a double-page vista of Messantia that would have earned a "thumbs up" from Hal Foster.

I'm enjoying this version of Conan - more contemplative than his usual self, but one who's learning and changing because of his relationship with a fierce woman.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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The Avengers #26

Now that the chaotic Avengers vs. X-Men event is in full swing, we're starting to see some fraying around the edges.

That's because several comics are covering the same ground - and the events seem less than consistent.

For example, this issue of The Avengers covers similar territory to Secret Avengers - but the events (and the costumes of some of the characters) don't exactly match up.

It's not enough to ruin the comic, but it does give that "speed bump" feeling to the events.

This issue, as written by Brian Bendis and drawn by Walt Simonson, gives yet another look at the space mission that features several Avengers trying to stop the Phoenix Force in deep space.

The focus is on Thor, who does most of the heavy lifting, and Noh-Varr, The Protector (former Marvel Boy), who's facing a moral dilemma.

The issue looks great, with Simonson offering up a huge, cosmic vision for the proceedings - and it's always great to see him back on Thor.

If you can overlook the (mostly minor) continuity glitches, there's a lot to enjoy here. If you focus in on such things, this might be one to skip.

Grade: A-

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Justice League #9

So here's the score for the first nine issues of the new Justice League: an ok first issue, a strong five issues after that as the team's (new) origin is revealed, a couple of good fillers, and then there's issue, which is mostly blah.

Oh, I'm confident the next story arc will be an interesting one, and this issue follows the Geoff Johns / Jim Lee format (so far) of a slow start building up to a strong finish, but it's tough to be enthused when the comic is all setup and not much else.

There's plenty of mystery afoot, as we meet this arc's villain (I think) at the beginning, we have flashbacks to moments of angst in the young lives of our heroes (for no particular reason) and we have villains being attacked for mysterious reasons.

The only thing that isn't mysterious is Batman calling on Superman for some help when facing a mob of villains. If Superman was my pal, I'd call him everytime I got in a fight.

Even the Shazam backup gets an "Incomplete" score, because we just get a few glimpses of Billy's school life, he gathers some new antagonists (right out of the Afterschool Special handbook) and we see what his nemesis-to-be is up to.

I have faith that it'll all lead somewhere interesting, but for this issue, faith is about all I've got.

Grade: B-

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Avengers vs. X-Men #4

I freely admit that I'm a sucker for the old Marvel formula, "Heroes meet, heroes fight," even though I know the third part of that is always "heroes team up to fight the bad guy."

It's tried, it's true, and when done right, it's entertaining.

Look at The Avengers movie, which featured (at one point or another) almost every hero fighting with every other hero.

Thus we have the success of the Avengers vs. X-Men event, as one army of heroes fights another army of heroes.

And it works! The action is actually a bit thin in this series, because the fighting part of the program has been farmed out to other titles - Uncanny X-Men, Avengers, Versus, etc.

We get lots of glimpses of those fights, but the majority of this issue is given over to an actual discussion with Hope, the mutant at the heart of the threat.

The Phoenix Force is making its way to Earth, and the mutants are welcoming it as a possible cure for their race - while the Avengers are more concerned about the fact that the Phoenix tends to destroy worlds on a regular basis (we've seen three worlds destroyed in this series so far).

There's a lot to like here - a sharp script by Jonathan Hickman, and more excellent, cosmic-scale artwork by John Romita, Jr. and Scott Hanna.

I enjoyed this issue much more than the last chapter, because the characters actually are behaving... well, in character. They seem a little quicker to use their intelligence, rather than punching first and asking questions later.

But there is a lot of punching, too.

Grade: A

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A Good Day for New Comics

I picked up lots o' comics at the shop today, including:

- Avengers #26 - The enemy within!

- Avengers vs. X-Men #4 - Fight around the clock!

- Conan the Barbarian #4 - Fighting alongside Belit.

- Daredevil #13 - In hot water this time.

- Fantastic Four #605.1 - How it all began. Sorta.

- Hulk Smash Avengers #3 - Roger Stern writing? Hulk will buy puny comic!

- John Carter: Gods of Mars #3 (of 5) - Adapting the ERB classic.

- Justice League #9 - Things go badly.

- Manhattan Project #3 - One of the strangest comics around.

- Saga #3 - How can a cover be cute and grisly?

- Shade #8 (of 12) - More dark doings.

- The Shadow #2 - Lots of gunplay.

- Winter Soldier #5 - Wrapping up a Doom-filled adventure..

- Wonder Woman #9 - Going to the chapel.

And that's it! Whew!

Classic Comics - Detective Comics #475

I talked about writer Steve Englehart last week and his excellent run on The Avengers.

After about four years on that title (and Captain America, among others) he had a falling out with Marvel and moved over to DC Comics in 1977, where he proceeded to write some of the all-time best stories for the Justice League and for Batman in an all-too-brief run on Detective Comics.

He started his run on the Dark Knight with an excellent two-issue tale drawn by Walt Simonson, and then he launched into an amazing six-issue series with the talented Marshall Rogers.

In the span of those issues, Englehart managed to redefine Batman as a sane man, a great detective and hero who must deal with a crazy world; he gave Bruce Wayne his first believable love interest in the sexy Silver St. Cloud; and repurposed several Batman villains into serious threats, including The Penguin, Hugo Strange and Deadshot; and recast The Joker into a truly scary and unpredictable force of nature.

This is the Joker we've been seeing ever since. Dennis O'Neil had returned the Joker to his original status as a madman (as opposed to the almost loveable clown from the TV show), but Englehart took the character to the next step - a character arc that culminated in the most recent Batman film and the brilliant portrayal by Heath Ledger.

This issue is the next-to-the-last in the Englehart/Rogers run, and it features Batman dealing with the realization that Silver has divined his true identity.

The Joker shows up with a truly insane scheme. He has used a chemical to give all the fish in the area his grisly smiling face. For what purpose? He appears at the local patent office and demands a patent on all fish sold, because they have his face.

When the man in charge explains that it can't be done under patent law, the Joker vows to take his life at midnight - even though the man will be held in a locked room, with the police and Batman on hand to protect him.

It's a dark delight of a story, with a Joker both completely unpredictable - and quite deadly.

Not only is it an outstanding story, but the art is amazing. Rogers makes Gotham come alive, his characters are precise and lively, his women beautiful, his villains chilling, and his Batman dramatic and invincible (love that huge cape).

The only strike against it is the poor printing, which smudged some of the darker scenes. But in a way, it just adds to the mood.

It's a fantastic series, and each issue is a gem - but the Joker nudges this one to the top of the list. And Batman has never been better.

Highly, highly recommended!

Grade: A+

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Trio #1

It's always nice to see new work by legendary artist / writer John Byrne, and Trio is a special treat for those who prefer his work when he "gets back to basics," as he famously did when he took over the Fantastic Four.

Trio is (at least so far) very much a traditional superhero comic - and I couldn't be happier.

Like any origin issue, this first issue is dedicated to introducing us to the new heroes (and apparently they aren't the only ones in the world they inhabit).

The three characters are introduced via fight sequence, of course. First we meet the small, powerful stone-like guy known as Rock (or "Three" by his teammates). "One" is the one-dimensional, elastic-ish woman known as Paper, and the other member of the Trio is, natch, Scissors (or "Two") - he has long blades for hands (sometimes) and is amazingly fast.

And if it seems a bit thin and predictable, well, you don't know Byrne very well.

He throws in twists and surprises along the way, and the issue ends with lots of questions to bring us back for the next round.

Oh, and we also have a major (and somewhat familiar-seeming) menace moving in on the city.

Byrne's art is as expressive and energetic as ever - he seems to be having a lot of fun here, and the characters and page layouts are lively.

If I were cynical, I would think that Byrne was having fun with readers, pressing those old familiar buttons, and creating characters that are similar to past successes without being direct copies.

But I prefer to think he just enjoys working with this kind of primal superhero format. I certainly had a heck of a lot of fun reading it!

Grade: A-

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Wolverine and the X-Men #10

So 10 issues into this series and finally Cyclops stops by for a visit.

And that's about the most exciting thing that happens in this issue of Wolverine and the X-Men.

It's the ongoing problem with any event series - the issues that involve the main characters have to somehow mark time while the actual story is rolling out in the main title.

That's why this issue takes place between issues of Avengers vs. X-Men, as Cyclops tries one more time to bring Wolverine - or some of his X-Students - over to his side of the battle.

Other than an increasingly strange side story about the Angel (who has apparently had his mind wiped clean), that's all we see in this comic.

There's some clever dialogue by writer Jason Aaron, and the usual art by Chris Bachalo (and four inkers) - some panels are amazing, and a few are incomprehensible.

I can't recommend this one - it's just marking time while things actually happen in AvX.

For completists only.

Grade: B-

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Green Lantern #9

I have to admit that I'm impressed when a writer manages to surprise me.

I've been reading comics for over (ulp!) 50 years now, so many comics seem like just more of the same - but not this issue of Green Lantern.

We finally get the answer to the mysterious origin of the Indigo Lantern Corps, and it's one I certainly didn't see coming. (We even find out what the strange word "Nok" means!)

Green (Hal Jordan) Lantern is up against the wall, because he wears a green ring created by Sinestro - and Sinestro is now under the control of the mysterious Indigo tribe.

That sends Hal on a journey to discover the power source behind the Indigos - and I won't reveal any more for fear of taking away from a good story, but it's a surprising twist.

Doug Mahnke (who should be the latest superstar, based on his excellent craftsmanship on this series) does his usual stellar job on pencils here, though I'm surprised to see four inkers listed in the credits. That seems to be an ongoing condition in this series, and that doesn't help maintain consistency in the artwork.

A heck of a story and a strong cliffhanger to lead us into the next chapter.

Grade: A-

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Free Comic Day

I'm running a week late here, but let's take a look back at a half-dozen of the Free Comic Book Day offerings (and as always, feel free to send along your own comments about any of them that you picked up - you can send a comment at the bottom of this post or email it to the address over on the right side of the page).

The Avengers

First up, riding the wave of the incredibly successful movie, we have The Avengers: Age of Ultron, which is slightly disappointing because it's a reprint of a recent "Point-one" issue.

But it's only slightly so, because it features a sharp story (and the usual sizzling dialogue) by Brian Bendis and fantastic art by Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary.

It's a battle of brains with some nifty twists and turns along the way, and well worth tracking down.

Grade: A-

DC: The New 52

The good thing about this issue is that it features a new Justice League story.

The bad thing is that I'm not crazy about the offhanded way the Geoff Johns story creates (or recreates) two beloved DC heroes using crass origin trickery. I prefer both as either a total mystery or more down-to-Earth (respectively).

But the story does give us some background on the mysterious Pandora and sets up the next big event for DC, the Trinity War.

By the way, I almost missed the ending of the original story - it's "hidden" in the gatefold poster at the center of the issue.

Grade: A-

Bongo Comics Free-for-All

Bongo consistently puts out some of the funniest comics around, and this issue is a good sampler.

It includes a saga of the Simpsons and the Bear Patrol, as Homer and his fellow hunters are forced to deal with bears who are targeting celebrities.

There's also a short biographical story by Sergio Aragones about a get-rich-quick scheme he devised as a child.

As if those stories weren't enough, flip the book over for a short story starring Spongebob Squarepants.

Fun stuff!

Grade: B+

Serenity / Star Wars

Now here's a book that should warm the heart of any geek (like me, for example).

It's a flip book that divides the issue between two great science fiction / science fantasy franchises.

One is an adventure with the cast of Serenity. This story takes place after the film, which is certainly worth your time to track down after you've watched the Firefly TV series. It's a light bit of business, but the creative team has the "feel" of the series down.

The other half of the comic is a Star Wars adventure starring Han Solo and Chewbacca. Need I say more?

I didn't think so.

Grade: A-

Donald Duck Family Comics

As I've said before, I have a tough time passing up a Disney Duck comic (whether it stars Donald or Uncle Scrooge McDuck).

There are three stories in this issue, including some early efforts by the great Carl Barks (there's a reason why he was known as the "good duck artist"). You'll also find quite a few one-page gags.

All vastly entertaining, no matter how many times you've read them. And if you haven't read them, boy, are you missing out!

Grade: A

My Favorite Martian

Here's one I couldn't pass up because of my fondness for the original TV show, which I remember watching on our old black-and-white TV set.

It's all about a Martian - Uncle Martin - who is trapped on Earth. He hopes to repair his spaceship and return to Mars, but he never quite manages to succeed.

He's also in danger of being discovered, but manages to stay clear thanks to his Martian powers and the help of his human friend, Tim.

This issue is a reprint of an old Gold Key comic and is promoting a reprint volume of all the original comics.

Nice work from a more innocent time.

Grade: B+

Mouse Guard

This is the most impressive of the Free Comic Book Day offerings, if just because of the packaging.

This is a small hardback book, loaded with a number of previews for existing or upcoming books, including the Mouse Guard (natch), Labyrinth (based on the movie), Rust, which tells the story of a boy and a jet pack, The Dapper Men, who live in a world outside of time, and Cow Boy, the grim tale of a tiny cowpoke.

Lots of excellent work here, and the sampler does its job, because now I want to check out those other series.

Nicely done!

Grade: A-

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Avengers Assemble #3

Have I mentioned that I loved the Avengers movie?

Marvel has created Avengers Assemble to tie in to the film (at least in terms of its lineup and its proximity to SHIELD), while keeping the story firmly set in the "real" Marvel Universe. And the issue does a solid job of evoking the feel and pace of the movie.

Longtime readers might be understandably skeptical when learning that the villains opposing the team are the Zodiac, a group of bad guys that have never posed that much of a threat in the past.

But all that has changed, as each member of the team (representing a different sign of the Zodiac, natch) is powerful enough to challenge Thor and the Hulk.

That makes for an intense, all-action issue as the heroes try to cope with being outgunned, and they try to discover the secret behind the new powers of the Zodiac.

Like the movie, the comic is fast-paced, loaded with funny dialogue, and breezes along to its shocking last page (which got an "It's about time" out of me).

I've long been a fan of Mark Bagley's art (here inked by Danny Miki, with Paul Mounts providing the color art), and he continues to do amazing work here, balancing a small army of characters, keeping the action tense but clear and easy to follow, creating great heroes and powerful, kinetic pages of art.

Of all the Avengers comics out there, this is the one most accessible for new readers or fans of the film. Good thinking, Marvel!

Grade: A

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Batman #9

The Batman Family of comics started out the "New 52" as a crazy hodgepodge of stories, but as of this month the line has been taken over by the threat of the Court of Owls.

Scott Snyder has crafted a terrific menace here as Batman finds himself outmatched - almost - on his own turf. Not just in Gotham City, but in the Batcave itself, as he's attacked by a group of Talons (the almost unstoppable soldiers working for the Court of Owls).

This is a fun, intense action issue as Bruce Wayne and his allies try to protect Gotham's leaders from assassination at the hands of the Talons.

It's not often you see Batman pushed to the limit, but that's where he finds himself again, as he's outnumbered and outgunned - but never outsmarted.

It's also rare to find a Batman comic that's so action-heavy - but it's expertly handled by artist Greg Capullo, who's doing some of the best work of his career.

The creative team has managed to return Batman to the top tiers - where he rightfully belongs, of course. Let's hope he stays there a while.

Same for Snyder and Capullo.

Grade: A

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A Stack of New Comics

A huge haul for me - because today was my "Free Comics Day" (the owner was nice enough to hold some back for me, since I wasn't able to go on Saturday). Here's what I got:

- New Avengers #26 - An Iron Fist-related story.

- Avengers Assemble #3 - A real slobberknocker, and the true enemy is revealed!

- Batman #9 - Fighting the Owls with home court advantage!

- Captain America #11 - The Scourge is back!

- Captain America & Hawkeye #630 - Fighting with dinosaurs!

- Fairest #3 - She's as cold as ice.

- Fatale #5 - More horror, pulp style.

- Green Lantern #9 - The dark secret of the Indigo Corps.

- Hulk Smash Avengers #2 (of 5) - Hulk will steal spotlight in Avengers movie! Then smash!

- Journey Into Mystery #637 - Oh boy, a crossover! How I hate 'em!

- Lobster Johnson #5 (of 5) - The final frenzied free-for-all!

- Memorial #5 - Questions and Answers

- Trio #1 - John Byrne does a back to the basics comic.

- Ultimates #10 - The end for humanity?

- Wolverine and the X-Men #10 - A chat with Cyclops.

Then from the free comics pile I got:

- Avengers: Rise of Ultron - Good comic, but a reprint.

- DC: The New 52 - Previewing the next DC Event - or the next JLA story, anyway.

- Bongo Free-For-All! - A fun cluster of stories.

- Donald Duck Family Comics - I'm incapable of passing up a Disney Duck comic.

- Dark Horse flip book, with Serenity (thank you!) and a Star Wars / Han Solo story (thanks again!)

- My Favorite Martian - I liked that show when I was a kid.

- Mouse Guard - It's a hardcover book, for cryin' out loud!

And that's it! (Whew!)

Classic Comics - The Avengers #144

Here we wrap up our month-long look back at some classic issues that star the heroes from the biggest movie of the year.

By the 1970s, The Avengers comic book had been written entirely by two writers - Stan Lee and Roy Thomas.

A couple of issues after the 100th issue, Roy turned over the reins to a new and (mostly) unknown writer, Steve Englehart, who would go on to write the comic for about four years - and would become my favorite Avengers writer.

That's because he became a master of weaving existing continuity into something bigger and more cosmic than anything readers had seen before.

But some stories were smaller and more personal - but reflected that same awareness of the Marvel Universe.

This issue from 1976 is a particular favorite, even though it ventures into territory most superhero writers would never consider: Marvel's line of comics for girls.

In the '50s and '60s the company created a number of titles for female fans (though I'm sure some guys read them, too) - comics like Millie the Model and Patsy Walker featured humor and romance (sometimes leaning one way, sometimes the other).

Englehart had used Patsy in his short-lived run on The Beast's solo appearances, and when that comic was canceled, he moved the former member of the X-Men over to The Avengers - and soon, Patsy followed.

This issue recaps her back story and launches her into the most unexpected direction yet, as it let her make the leap from romance comics to superhero status (where she remains to this day)!

And that was just a small part of the story that was part of a crossover / battle with the Squadron Supreme (the JLA, anyone?), the Serpent Crown, the Roxxon Corporation and The Cat / Tigra!

(Oh, and you also get to enjoy the brief "Iron Man has a nose on his mask" period.)

The artwork was by a young George Perez, and I was (and am) a big fan of his work. His pencils here (inked by Mike Esposito) may not be quite as polished as his later work, but the signs of his genius were clearly in view. He brought a fresh energy to the title that meshed perfectly with the sparks Englehart was throwing off.

It was a great time to be an Avengers fan.

Sort of like right now!

Grade: A

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World's Finest #1

Here's an interesting revival of a classic DC title that brings back fond memories.

One of the earliest comics I can remember buying was an issue of World's Finest, which featured regular team-ups with Superman, Batman and Robin.

This time around, they've taken an unusual approach. This comic features Supergirl and Robin - but not the ones from "our" Earth. As seen in the first issue of Earth-2, Supergirl and Robin (Bruce Wayne's daughter) travel through a mysterious, Boom Tube-like portal.

As we see in this issue, they arrived on our world five years ago. The story shows part of the story about how they adapt to their new life, and their primary purpose.

The comic is written by Paul Levitz, who seems to be enjoying the chance to restore these characters he helped create back to their proper place in the DC Universe.

The art is by a couple of seasoned veterans, as George Perez handles the modern-day part of the story, and Kevin Maguire provides the flashbacks. Both are long-time favorites of mine, and they turn in excellent work here.

The comic would be worth buying just for the art, but thankfully there's also a solid story as we get to know the two friends better and learn about their place in the world.

The issue is somewhat burdened with the need to sort things out, though long-time fans probably won't mind.

I'm not sure how they'll feel about Power Girl's new costume - it's missing a particularly eye-catching feature (ahem boob window ahem), but she does spend time walking around in shredded clothes, if that's any consolation to the oglers out there.

The Huntress, though, looks much more at home in her old protective costume, rather than the modified swimsuit she was wearing for a while.

A solid start to the series, and a good tie-in to the excellent Earth-2. I like the return to roots for these characters, and it's good to see them getting treated to some top creative talent.

More like this, please!

Grade: A-

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Dial H #1

When I was a kid one of my favorite comics was Dial "H" for Hero.

It starred a kid named Robby Reed who discovered a mysterious artifact that looked like a phone dial. He translated the characters on the dial, and found that by dialing the letters "H-E-R-O" he could randomly become a number of strange heroes.

It was all light-hearted and imaginative, and fun reading for a kid.

I freely admit that the series doesn't hold up well today - it's a basic premise and the creative team didn't really do much with it or flesh out the characters at all.

So it was canceled after a short run, and later efforts to revive it have failed.

Here's the latest, as the series is retitled Dial H - and to be honest, I didn't much care for it.

Like so many of the "New 52" titles, this one is placed squarely in the Vertigo end of town - a dark, scary, grim and gritty place where our hero is a disgusting slob named Nelse who sees his friend being attacked on the street and for some reason he ducks into a telephone booth and tries to dial for help - only to find himself transformed into a gruesome hero.

There are some clever ideas on display in the story by China Mieville, but I can't get past the complete change in style from the original optimistic version to this depressing tale.

The art by Mateus Santolouco fits the sad and gloomy world our "hero" inhabits, but the look doesn't appeal to me much.

The cover by Brian Bolland is delightful, but you have to wonder why they would use his art of the cover when it's so far removed from the art inside.

I'm afraid I can't recommend this one at all.

Grade: C+

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Action Comics #9

My first reaction to this issue of Action Comics was to laugh.

The basic premise is, we check in on a Superman from an alternate Earth (Earth-23, to be exact), and Superman is actually - Barack Obama.

Well, they don't actually use that name - instead, they call him Calvin Ellis. His origin is identical to "our" Superman, except he's black and he was adopted by an African-American couple. (Wasn't that Icon's origin?)

Oh, and he's the President of the United States.

So why did I laugh? Mostly because this seems like a pitiful attempt at drawing headlines, especially during an election year.

Look, we avoid politics here at Chuck's Comic of the Day - we have more important things to debate, like who's stronger, Thor or the Hulk? - but whether you're a conservative or a liberal or a middle-of-the-roader (whatever they're called), there's something here to irritate.

Conservatives will be outraged at the idea of equating Obama with Superman: able to solve international crisis easily, save the universe, enjoy record high approval ratings and beat an unbeatable opponent without breaking a sweat.

Liberals may suspect that the comic is actually making fun of Obama, including the birther issues (as Wonder Woman points out, Superman can't serve as President since he wasn't born in America), his robotic demeanor, or his contention that Luthor only hates him because Lex is a racist (Luthor denies the charge).

Middle-of-the-roaders will think the whole mess is silly and wonder why we haven't seen more of the "New 52" Superman in this newly-launched comic.

The art by Gene Ha is quite good, but that's the only reason to recommend this comic. Oh, and I suppose it opens the door to traveling between the 52 Earths (or are there more now?) - but otherwise, this comes off as a poorly-conceived mess.

Better luck with your next publicity stunt, DC.

Grade: C+

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The Avengers - The Movie

Marvel Studios has a good run of superhero movies going.

Iron Man, Thor and Captain America all starred in excellent, entertaining movies (even Iron Man II had its moments, though it wasn't up to the other three) - but now all those have been pushed aside by the best superhero movie yet: The Avengers.

I can't remember any movie in recent years that I enjoyed more - in fact, I can't wait to go see it again, if just to catch all the comments I missed because I was laughing too loud.

And that's the secret of the film's success - it plays the characters straight, gives them all important bits of business to attend to, and infuses the whole thing with humanity and a terrific sense of humor.

It tells the story of the gathering of the team to confront the menace of Loki, who plans to lead a devastating attack on the Earth.

It's also the first time the Hulk has been used to full effect - here Bruce Banner is not a victim or a whiner - he's a man who occasionally loses control. And what a delight to see all these characters really cut loose.

This one gets my highest recommendation!

Grade: A+

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Hulk Smash Avengers #1 (of 5)

Just barely getting this one under the wire - the closest I've come yet to missing my "once a day review" string!

Hulk Smash Avengers is an old-fashioned Silver Age style tale, which means it's aimed at readers like yours truly.

It takes place very early in the existence of the team, as Zemo and the Masters of Evil try to recruit the Hulk to help them smash the Avengers.

It's a fun, classic tale with lots of action, a clever plot twist or two, and some wonderful art.

The story is by Tom DeFalco, who has lots of experience with tales like this, and the art is by Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema - which should be enough to tell you that it's wonderful.

It's a nice tie-in with the movie and a fun little tale. Nothing Earth-shattering, but very entertaining.

Grade: B+

Earth 2 #1

It's funny that I have only limited interest in the heroes from the Golden Age of comics (the 1940s and '50s).

That's mostly because they're from before my time, so I have no real nostalgic link to them.

But despite that, I'm a huge fan of the Justice Society of America. I was first introduced to the characters in the pages of the '60s Justice League of America, as the concept of Earth-1 and Earth-2 was first devised (the JSA lived on the latter).

There was something unique and inspiring about these heroes who were the "Greatest Generation" of super-heroes, and I looked forward to their annual crossover with the JLA.

The JSA has had its own comic at various times in the modern era, and most of those issues were quite good, too - some were exceptional. But the team never quite seemed to fit with the "modern" DC Universe (which it was forced to after the original Crisis on Infinite Earths combined all the alternate Earths into one).

When the "New 52" started the JSA were noticeably absent from the lineup - an oversight that has been corrected with the new title, Earth 2.

It's written by James Robinson, who has thankfully recovered from some struggles and is back in top form. He creates here a modern world where the only heroes seem to be Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin.

They're fighting a losing battle against the forces of Apokolips, and things look bleak. We meet an assortment of characters in passing, all of whom will no doubt figure large in the issues ahead - it's going to be fun to watch the team come together (again) for the first time.

It's a brilliant stroke to go back to the original alternate Earth concept, and to use the "New 52" setting to reboot from the beginning (something the rest of the line should have done, as far as I'm concerned).

Some fans will not be happy about removing the team from its World War II-era origins - and I understand that - but the logical choices are to either set the comic in the past, reboot the characters or make them all immortal - and apparently rebooting won.

The artwork by Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott is terrific, with an original style that seems to owe something to craftsmen like George Perez and Jerry Ordway. The issue is loaded with stunning action scenes and great character designs.

This is the kind of story where you don't know what's going to happen next, but there's a limitless horizon ahead.

I loved it - this issue is going right to the top of my reading list.

I can't wait for the next issue!

Grade: A

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Avengers vs. X-Men #3

Here the event of the year slows down to a crawl, as the teams stop to evaluate the situation.

The X-Men have apparently surrendered to The Avengers - or have they? Both teams are desperate to find Hope, who seems to be the target of the approaching Phoenix Force - but Hope is staying one step ahead of both groups.

There are some clever twists and a surprising battle between two allies (you may have trouble deciding who to root for in this one).

To say much more would be giving away too much - but the artwork by John Romita, Jr. and Scott Hanna is outstanding - some of their best in recent years.

After two issues loaded with action, this one feels a bit lethargic - though it certainly picks up toward the end.

But it all moves along briskly and continues to feel like a classic Marvel crossover comic - and it's certainly long overdue to bring the mutants and the rest of the Marvel heroes together for a big hoo-hah event.

I'm in for the long haul.

Grade: A-

New Comics Day!

Here's what I picked up today at the comics shop:

- Action Comics #9 - Obama is Superman?

- Avengers vs. X-Men #3 - Captain America throws down with Wolverine!

- Daredevil #12 - Hatchi matchi! Dig that cover! Matt Murdock gets all the action (if you know what I mean).

- Defenders #6 - This has a wonderful Steve Gerber feel to it.

- Dial "H" #1 - Funny, that doesn't look like Robby Reed on the cover. Sockamagee!

- Earth 2 #1 - This looks mighty interesting.

- Hulk Smash Avengers #1 - Looks like fun. (Maybe not for the Avengers.)

- Invincible Iron Man #516 - The end of Iron Man? Again?

- The Spider #1 - Another pulp hero back in action!

- Swamp Thing #9 - More horror more often.

- World's Finest #1 - Who can replace Superman and Batman?

And that's it!

The Classics - Avengers #96

We're just a few days from the premiere of The Avengers film, and I'm greatly encouraged by the good reviews and by comments made by my friends overseas who have seen it (although I'm still generally avoiding any articles about it until after I see the movie, to avoid spoilage).

So let's continue our look back at some of the greatest Avengers stories, with a look what may be the most famous story from the Roy Thomas era - the Kree-Skrull War from 1972.

This is the next-to-the-last issue in that story and the threat against the Earth is overwhelming, as the two galactic empires (the Kree and the Skrull, of course) prepare their vast space armadas for battle, with Earth serving as the battlefield.

Standing against them are a small (but powerful) number of Avengers, including Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, the Vision and Goliath (actually Hawkeye). Also in the mix are Captain Marvel, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.

But how can they stand against such vast odds? The secret to victory lies in (of all places) the mind of perennial sidekick Rick Jones - but that revelation would have to wait for the next issue.

The other star of this issue is artist Neal Adams, who really pushed the envelope - even for him - and created some stunning images as the heroes take part in an interstellar battle (long before Star Wars and its iconic space battles).

Adams was really hitting his stride here, though judging by the small army of inkers on this issue (and the fact that he only illustrated part of the next issue), the deadlines must have been wearing on him.

Still, spectacular work by all involved, as the team made their mark on Avengers history.

Next week we'll wrap up classic reviews with one of my all-time favorite Avengers writers - Steve Englehart.

Grade: A

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Popeye #1

Is there a stranger character in comics than Popeye the sailor?

The odd-looking bird with the huge forearms and squinty eye started life in the Thimble Theater comic strip (which he quickly took over from the hapless Oyl family) and achieved fame in an endless series of spinach-powereed cartoons.

I've been enjoying the reprints of the original Popeye strips by E. C. Segar (the final volume is finally available), and was also delighted to see this comic appear last Wednesday.

I wasn't sure what to expect, although since Roger Langridge is writing it, I knew it would be entertaining.

It actually feels like a classic Popeye tale that's been unearthed years after its creation. Part of that can be credited to the writing, which captures the (shall we say) unique style of the cast, especially the star.

Part of the credit goes to the art by Bruce Ozella, which manages to capture the classic look of the script. None of the modern techniques are on view - no closeups, odd angles or crazy layouts.

Instead, the art is presented in a straightforward way, looking for all the world like the comic strip in its heyday. I'm not sure if this is Ozella's actual style or if he's mimicking the classics, but it's a delight to see.

Many of the classic characters from the comic strip are here, including Olive Oyl, her brother Castor, Wimpy, the Jeep and even Bluto.

There are lots of clever bits thrown in for long-time comics fans (the cover, for example, is an homage to the first issue of Action Comics).

Lots of fun, some clever twists and cute banter - a great package. Long may it run!

Grade: A

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