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LWIC: Possibly the Longest Comic Title Ever?

Last Week In Comics:
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Adventure Comics Special Featuring the Guardian #1

This has got to be one of the longest comic book titles ever, and if it’s not, then the full title is – “Adventure Comics Special Featuring the Guardian in New Krypton. Part Three. The Worse Night of His Life.”

I originally started reading Superman in the late 80’s/early 90’s so any issue that features the Guardian is worth a read, but like the title, the dialogue and story seem slightly inflated. I liked this comic, it was a good read, but it did not add too much to the whole “New Krypton” story. On the first page it clearly states that this issue falls between two pages from the Jimmy Olsen one-shot a couple of weeks ago. A conversation that happens off panel between two pages in a previous issue leaves much room for a fast paced, action packed, or deep story.

This issue did give a couple clues as to the whole New Krypton storyline, such as the obvious clue that the military has been, and still is creating weapons and strategies to take out Superman if, or when necessary. As for the other two clues, I still am not sure of what to make of them. The telepathic creature with the Legion flight-ring intrigued me. Was this creature just a plot devise to give the Guardian a reason to snoop around at Cadmus, or does he/she play a role in the Cadmus connection to the New Krypton storyline? The third clue is one that I still have no idea what to make of it – 7734.

What is 7734? The Guardian told Jimmy Olsen that he did not know the name of the military op’s name, just it’s number – 7734. When given a clue that I can not figure out I turn to my friend Google. The only thing that I could find connecting the number 7734 and DC Comics was that comic number 7734 in DCU chronology is – Our Fighting Forces #106. I do not have that issue and have no idea if there is a clue in it or not. If you have that particular issue let me know… because I feel that I am grasping at straws.

El Diablo #3

Last month I said that this comic is Ghost Rider done right, and this issue is no different.

Hell’s assassin, the curse of El Diablo, is a no nonsense, straight to the point type of guy. If you have a sin that demands vengeance, El Diablo will not beat around the bush or hesitate to exact vengeance upon you.

Henchman: “You’re gonna kill me either way, why should I talk?”
El Diablo: “On the off chance that coming clean to me means you don’t go to hell.”

El Diablo straight up admits that the dude is dead no matter what and still gets his information. Not only does El Diablo get straight to the point, so does the writer – Jai Nitz.

Jai Nitz has a story to tell and does not waste time with unnecessary dialogue and extra long fight sequences. This whole issue, and miniseries, has told the history of the El Diablo character along with creating new characters and scenarios to the legend in three issues, something that other writers would need six issues to do. I am excited for the rest of this series to see how the Lazurs Lane’s fate will effect Chato’s role as El Diablo and if Chutriel, Hebrew for “Hell’s Punisher,” is just another name for the curse or an enemy not yet reviled.

Final Crisis – Resist #1

This is a hard comic for me to review or even form an opinion on.  Because it is a Final Crisis tie-in and it played an important role to set up the next issue of Final Crisis, I liked the ending. Not being a fan of the Checkmate series and the slow start to this comic almost kept me from finishing it.

The first two-thirds of the comic focuses on three dudes and a computer resisting the rest of the world’s submission to the anti-life equation.  Mr. Terrific sends Snapper Carr around the world slowly chipping away at Darkseid’s new human army. Snapper’s ability to teleport makes him the most valuable resource to the resistance.

During one of his missions he meets up with Dr. Minerva, a.k.a. Cheetah who is immune to the anti-life equation. Upon their second meeting the both get caught with their pants guard down, submitting Snapper to the anti-life equation.

With the resistance without their biggest asset, Mr. Terrific decides to awaken the latent OMAC viruses still implanted in 11.4 million unknowing people around the planet. Now with an army of OMACs, the resistance is ready to fight back against Darkseid and his army.

Terra #1

I am broke and was happy to cut back on the amount of comics I have been purchasing, but after skimming through this issue I had to buy it.

My wife is an Earth freak. She was all about saving the Earth before going green was what all the cool kids did. We live in the middle of a city with a lawn that takes less than 15 minutes to mow by hand yet we recycle, compost, have rain barrels, and maintain a fruitful vegetable garden. What does this have to do with this Terra comic? Not much, but it is the reason I bought it.

In this comic Terra is saving humans from creatures that live in the Earth. It seems as if the native “Earth creatures” are tired of the humans ruining thier home and our planet. Yeah there is a mystery about who this new Terra is, but the fact that creatures are taking revenge on the humans who destroy our Mother Earth makes this a must-buy book for me.

and

THE BEST COMIC OF LAST WEEK
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #576

Sometimes I am a continuity buff, and other times I just like fun comics and care less for continuity. Many of the other reviews of Spider-Man 576 and the previous issue are negative. These negative reviews claim that Peter Parker is written out of character, the gang members are stereotypical, and Hammerhead’s recreation is too ’70s and bionic… I agree that these past two Spidey comics do not fit 100% in with the rest of the series since Brand New Day… but it was a damn fun read.

The revamped Hammerhead may be cliche, bu it fits in with Mr. Negative taking control of the streets presented in the first story arc of Brand New Day. I also agree that Spidey getting his jaw dislocated and relocating it by slamming it into a wall is not realistic, but it is a comic book. The complaint about the gangs being stereotypical has some merit, but at least the characters had some personality.

I enjoyed this comic. I liked the stereotypical gangs. I liked “unrealistic” super-heroics. I even liked the way it was written. The connections between the young self proclaimed “genius” and his plan to use science to get paid is also his take to get paid on the street was a nice touch. This may not have been the best comic in a continuity aspect, but it was fun and it fit into the bigger picture of the title’s main story.

Posted by Fred on November 10, 2008 @ 7:30 PM Under: Last Week In Comics
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4 Responses to “LWIC: Possibly the Longest Comic Title Ever?”

  1. Icupnimpn2 Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    “7734″ is “hELL” upside-down when punched into a pocket calculator.

    On a related note, DC comics’ Dan Didio has revealed that the mysterious villain of the Crisis Forever event scheduled for 2012 is somehow related to “5318008″

  2. Fred Says:
    November 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    I never thought of it hELL… I guess it makes sense.
    BOOBLESS, or 55318008… you know Kevin Smith is writing for DC nowadays. It could happen.

  3. ShadowWing Tronix Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    I just saved that Spider-Man scan to my harddrive. Titled: Best Spidey Panel Ever!

  4. Fred Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

    Don’t know about best panel every, but it was entertaining.

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