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

Amazing Spider-Man #606

Peter Parker has always had a hard time with the ladies. Whether its having no game, or choosing not to get involved for their own safety the Web Slinger swings solo since he made that deal with Mephisto to end his marriage.

LWIC Pete’s luck with the ladies continues. I love the love triangle, or whatever geometrical shape depending on the number of love interests, with Spider-Man now that he is single again… but come on this is overdoing it:

• Michele Pete’s roommate is an interesting situation, she is strong but not independent. She wants him, but hates him.
• Nora is my favorite for Pete, she seems to be a knock off of Chloe off of Smallvile… and that confidence is a great for Pete’s secret identity - opposites attract.
• Mary Jane is back and knows something about the past, but I don’t know what it is so my interest in seeing them together is nothing more than a deep discussion over coffee.
• The Black Cat returns as does her “bad luck” powers and the spark between her and the spider.
• The humor was level was elevated, even though the “major event” feel of the story was lowered… and that’s kind of nice. I remember back in the day when Spidey would fight odd villains like Paste Pot Pete and El Diablo (featured in this issue) and there was no Civil Crisis of Skrull Invasion Rights involved.

Blackest Night: Superman #2

The dead are rising all over the universe trying to kill more to join the ranks of the Black Lantern Corps.

LWIC the dead cast of the Superman family of comics continue to fight pulling on the emotional strings of the DCU’s strongest family:

• So the zombies continue to attack… OK, the novelty may have wore off. Something big needs to happen and move this whole Blackest Night thing forward fast before I get too bored.
• I do have to admit seeing the zombies play off emotions is pulled off better in this miniseries more than any of the other Blackest Night related titles.
• After months of books… I still have yet to figure out the purpose of the Black Lanterns…
• I’m still disappointed that the Black Lantern Rings can create light constructs. I thought bringing the dead back to life, making them invulnerable to conventional death, giving them the powers and memories of the risen dead was powerful enough to not need light constructs.

Detective Comics #857

Batwoman continues to go after the Cult of Crime who tried to murder her to fulfill a prophecy, except this time its a rescue mission.

LWIC Batwoman joins forces with the original Cult of Crime to rescue her father from the clutches of the current leader of the cult – Alice.

• After last issue and the introduction of the original cult and the fact that they are monstrous looking, meaning they are half human half something else, was enough to make me want to stop reading. I’m glad I didn’t.
• Batwoman thwarts the cults plans to poison the city of Gotham and saves her father.
• In the process clues are given to make us believe that the lead Alice and Batwoman share the same father… interesting.
• Oh, and the art is amazing… yeah amazing!
• The Question’s back-up story continues with Renee stealing more files and kicking more ass while trying to solve the mystery of the missing women.

Supergirl #45

The US Military doesn’t like Kryptonians, well at least General Sam Lane doesn’t. General Lane seems to have a problem the seeing how unknown to him his son-in-law is Superman and there is a planet full of super powered Kryptonians in orbit opposite Earth. Being a military type he is always prepared with a plan of attack, and his plan is to make Kryptonians look like a threat to Earth.

LWIC General Lane is finished making the Kryptonians think Earth is going to attack and continues to frame the few Kryptonians on Earth:

• Supergirl, Nightwing, and Flamebird are on the run from a special equipped military group with weapons and orders to kill.
• These three have also been framed for the murder of a hero and poisoning Metropolis’ water supply.
• After being framed, the three head back to Supergirl’s house to hang out… yeah. Like Blackest Night, this story needs to move forward with the plot before I totally loose interest.

and

THE BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK
SUPERMAN – SECRET ORIGINS #1

I have always viewed “The Man of Steel” as the definite Superman origin. I also loved “Superman:Birthright,” but thought of it as just a “good story.” A good story that was close to continuity but not 100% tied to it. After Birthright, the origin and continuity of Superman became all convoluted.

I don’t think there is any reason to revamp Superman’s origin, but Geoff Johns decided that Superboy needs to be part of the creation of the Big Blue Boyscout. Maybe it was because the lawsuit over the name and use of the Superboy character is over, or maybe Johns just wants to relive the stories from the past… either way the combination of Geoff John’s writing and Gary Frank’s art may be that perfect combination that can convince me that “The Man of Steel” is not the definite origin of Superman.