Last Week In Comics:
A fresh take on 5-day-old comics.

Birds of Prey #123

This storyline is not doing too much for me. I can’t fully understand the threat of the Silicone Syndicate. I especially can not see the threat causing Babs and the whole crew out to sunny California. I think that most of my dislike for this issue, and storyline, is the use of the Joker:

• The use of the Joker in this issue takes away from his role in R.I.P.
• I understand that the Joker is crazy and not normal, but he is also dedicated enough to complete complex plans… so why is it that he does not recognize Barbra Gordon?
• and… If he did recognize her… wouldn’t he put the pieces together? A bunch of heroes from Gotham relocates to California along with Barbra Gordon who just happened to have said heroes at her workplace.

Lastly, will the real Calculator please stand up:
Which one is really the Calculator, the old guy on the cover or the young guy inside the book?

Oh, there was one scene I did like in a creepy sort of way. The scene that stated that the creator of YouSpace (parody of MySpace) did so to help pedophiles and teenagers hook-up faster. I always joke around saying that MySpace is for police and pedophiles and I will not allow my children have a MySpace page… but there was something wrong yet humorous about that scene.

Blue Beetle #32

For months Jaime Reyes and his alien “war suit” was a shoe-in for best comic of the week every month, but after the huge alien showdown the series slowed down a little bit. Don’t get me wrong, it is still one of my favorite monthly comics but ever since he has been playing a larger role in the DCU some of the prior spunk is gone.

Over the last couple of issues the rest of the DCU has infected this title, like the new Dr. Polaris (Jaime’s newest enemy) being part of Intergang. I liked this series when it focused on Jaime, his family, his friends, and his own enemies not Intergang who is featured in at least one DC comic each month.

There is still some of this BBU (Blue Beetle Universe) in this title, like the fact that a Hispanic hero has been recruited by the government to lead the border patrol, that will will keep me coming back every month.

Superman – New Krypton Special #1

When I first heard that Pa Kent was going to pass away in the last issue of Action Comics I thought to myself “Again? They already killed him off pre-crisis, in the show Smallville, and there is no way they can top the emotional scene in Superman the Movie.” I was wrong.

The fact that Jonathan Kent was dying while his adopted son stood in awe of “New Krypton” was jaw dropping. My emotions were mixed. I understand the excitement that Kal was going through and could see the foreshadowed guilt that he would feel.

Continuing where Action Comics 860 leaves off we see Pa Kent’s funeral and Superman’s emotional frustration beautifully written without any dialog. The foreshadowed guilt and anger gave this comic a jump start. This story did a great job of setting the tone for the future direction of the Super-Family titles (Superman, Action Comics, and Supergirl) because the diamond numbering system also make it’s return on the cover.

This issue tied in many current and old storylines such as the military base full of kryptonite weapons featured in Superman/Batman. The same government agency that sent Atlas after Superman and Agent Assassin after Jimmy Olsen. It also hints at the Kryptonians having possible superiority complex over Earthlings. And most importantly it foreshadows that Kal-El, Superman, is more human than kryptonian.

I am looking forward to this New Krypton story and am looking forward to picking up Supergirl’s monthly book again… even if my wallet hates it.

and…

THE BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK:
FINAL CRISIS: SUBMIT
&
FINAL CRISIS #4

I know that the Best Comic of Last Week is technically two separate issues, but they aren’t.

Final Crisis Submit shows the post-anti life equation Earth. A lonely decimated place where all humans, with exception of a few, have been corrupted by the anti life equation to hunt the remainder or work on transforming the planet to Darkseid’s needs.

Not only does Final Crisis Submit set the tone and explain the scene for Final Crisis, it also explains in more detail how the Tattooed Man becomes a major player in the Final Crisis and the story of Jefferson Pierce a.k.a. Black Lightning.

The submission of Black Lightning from a surviving hero to a minion of Darkseid is an action packed tale that shows how many of the other heroes shown in Final Crisis could have been corrupted. As a stand alone issue it was good, but as a necessary extension for Final Crisis #4 it ties for the Best Comic of Last Week.

Final Crisis #4 was the Empire Strikes Back issue of this series. It was the day in which Evil Wins and the “pure” sole finally gives into the Anti Life Equation and Darkseid. This issue shows us a world where our own media corrupts every person on the planet including the heroes. The scenes in this issue were all dark and sad making me believe that everything is lost. Like in the Empire Strikes Back the heroes have a small victory, a message from Metron, but the battle is lost… making me look forward to the next couple issues knowing that it can’t get any worse from here…

… but Grant Morrision is writing this story, so it could get worse. No matter how this story ends, it is one of the few “big events” that convinced me that the comic book universe is in serious troble and major change is around the corner.