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Last Week In Comics: R.I.P. Fashion Crisis #1

SpaceBooger’s weekly review of last weeks comics is back giving a fresh take on 5-day-old comics:

Legion of Super-Heroes 42


Action Comics #865 Action Comics#865

Geoff John creates a great Superman comic. If you have read this column in the past you will know that I am a huge fan of single issue stories that hint, or tie into a larger story yet to come. What I feared to be just a “filler” issue I found to be a great individual story showing us the psyche of a villain that many think is stupid and corny.

I agree the premise of the Toy Man is, or was, going after a God like hero such as Superman, but this issue almost makes you feel bad for the tortured soul instead of laugh at his gimmicks.

The Toy Maker’s inner monologue describing the differences between Batman and Superman is on point further explaining why he fights Superman and does not belong in Batman’s world (Arkham.) If you are tired of the “Big Event” comics this week I highly recommend picking this one up, even though the “Big Event” comics are quite good too.

All Star Superm #11 All Star Superman #11

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for villains… at least well written, intelligent, and cunning villains who believe that their actions are for the betterment of mankind.

Lex Luthor, when written properly, is a perfect villian opposite of Superman. I do not hide the fact that I am a Superman freak (I have a whole room in my house dedicated to the Man of Steel) but for all the love I have for Superman I have the same for Grant Morrision’s Lex Luthor.

This issue of All Star Superman has everything from an intelligent and cunning escape from death row by Lex Luthor, Superman fighting an Tyrant Sun, to Superman writing his own obituary and “dieing”… and it is a self contained story that ties into the larger arc. Two great Superman comics in one week… Wow!

Blue Beetle #27Blue Beetle #27

So a new writer and artist takes over one of my favorite monthly characters… hmm.

The Blue Beetle is the only comic that I purchase every week because I want to read it not because I feel like I have to read it to be part of the “in” crowd. This week was no different I love Will Pfeifer’s run on Catwoman so I was excited to read his issue of the Blue Beetle.

The issue was a slight dissapointment because the trademark humor and atmosphere from the first 25 issues seemed to be missing. Don’t get me wrong this was by no means a bad issue infact it was a really good issue with a premise that I can relate to being a Middle School teacher. It just seemed that the dialog and character interactions were not as well played in this teenage tale of revenge.

Green Lantern #21Green Lantern #31

I have to admit that I flew through the reading of this issue just this afternoon just so I could write this posts. On Thursday I quickly flipped through Final Crisis first then imedaitley read Blue Beetle.

After that I read All Star Superman and called it a night. The bulk of the weekend, in relation to comics, was focused on deciphering and browsing the net in regards to the possible outcomes of Batman R.I.P. and Final Crisis.

So here is a bunch of text that has nothing to do with the comic it is supposed to refer to… but I did read the comic and it was nothing special… Next!

Legion of Super-Heroes #42Legion of Super-Heroes #42

This book has one of the best team/group dynamic in comics today. That being said this issue shows the Legion confront the Alien Destroyers in battle instead of talking about them.

The Legion and their goofy antics remind me of what the Teen Titans used to be – a team of people who are close and care a great deal about one and an other… just in space.

The action in this issue and the interaction between characters, epically Saturn Girl and Ultra Boy, makes this an enjoyable read every month.

Teen Titans #59Teen Titans #59

While we are on the subject of Teeny-Bopper super-hero teams here we have title that used to be the king of that category: the Teen Titans.

Last week I made a big deal about the “Dark Side Club” and my reaction to the New Gods of Apokolips having a teenage super fight club. After reading Final Crisis (see below) I fully realized what was going on with the “Dark Side Club” and it’s good that I read that issue before reading this one.

I have been reading the Terror Titans arc because it features the Blue Beetle as part of the team, and I admit the Ravager solo issue was fun. I couldn’t quite figure out why yet another “titans” team would show up within a span of about ten issues, and even though it is explained in this issue it seems kinda forced to me.

The last scene was the best of the whole book showing a good old fashion comic book fight where the villain seems to have an unstoppable advantage and now I have to wait until next month to see how Robin makes it out of this predicament – Tune in next month! Same Bat-time! Same Bat-channel!

and…

THE BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK:
A Tie Between
Batman #677 & Final Crisis #1

Batman 677Final Crisis #1

I have so much that I could say about these two comics, yet I have three times the questions… which isn’t a bad thing. Both, Batman 677 and Final Crisis #1, are beautifully crafted starting with many unanswered questions and giving hints at possible solutions.

Batman #677 is the second part of “Batman R.I.P.” and when I first read it I hated it. My first impression is that Grant Morrison turned Batman into a self doubting, love stricken, teenage angst, stereotypical character. This is not the Batman that I know and love and it was a concept that I hated. I have not hated a bat-book in years, so I reread it again – three times.

With each read I enjoyed the issue even more. The first time I read it I thought that the Black Glove was Jezebelle Jet and she was manipulating Bruce since he fell in love and shared his identity with her in a span of like eight issues. The next time I read it I focused on the Thomas and Martha Wayne twist that Thomas was still alive after killing his wife and staging his own death. After that I read it with the Alfred being the Black Glove angle. After reading it again this afternoon and skimming through some forums, I am thinking that since the Black Glove was a club of rich gamblers and a movie was made about lovers torn apart by gambling then maybe Thomas Wayne was part of the Black Hand. His gambling tore his marriage with Martha apart. His buddy, and fellow member, John Mayhew makes a movie about it… maybe John Mayhew is Thomas Wayne’s new alibi after staging his own death?

The fact that every time I read this I try to guess what may happen makes this comic tied for the BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK.

Final Crisis #1 is the other book that I consider the BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK because like Batman 677 it is so well written that the reader continues to think about and ponder it’s contents hours after reading the book. Since this is only the first issue of this story I do not have as many questions and guesses as I do with the Batman arc that has had many issues of setup prior to this week’s, but this comic is hinting at delivering what DC promised a “Big Event.”

I love character driven stories and taking a normal Metropolis street detective and having him witness the death and resurgence of the New Gods is a unique and interesting idea that works well. I like the fact that the enemy or even what the ensuing danger is was not reviled in this issue. We see that Darkseid and his crew are now in human bodies, or vessels, on earth creating/brainwashing children for slaves, the Monitors have a traitor among them, Metron give humans the first spark of knowledge, and Libra sacrifices the Martian Manhunter in order to gain followers… why is all this happening? I don’t know yet and I cant wait to see where this ends up.

Posted by Fred on June 2, 2008 @ 10:54 PM Under: Last Week In Comics
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2 Responses to “Last Week In Comics: R.I.P. Fashion Crisis #1”

  1. Manny Mederos Says:
    June 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 am

    Well let me just say that the Green Lantern series has really gone a long way especially after its turn around on the Sinestro Corp. I really love what Ivan Reis has brought to the series by giving it such a real and fantasmic look, making it quite unique. Hal Jordan has never looked so good, well I can’t say that but I really do love the enviornments he has been placing these characters in. From an artists perspective, I find myself at time just picking up the issues as an inspirational motivator.

  2. Fred Says:
    June 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    I agree that since Rebirth my interest and enjoyment of the GL comic has more than doubled… but this week this new take on Hal Jordan’s origin was overshadowed by Morrison’s two big DC event comics.
    You are right though, the comic is visually pleasing.

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