What I Read This Week

Batman And The Outsiders #14 -- Batgirl and Nightwing have it out as a new threat to Gotham City begins to creep up from the shadows.  I'm not sure if what Tieri is setting up here will play out in the new-look Outsiders, or in some other title, but it's intriguing stuff nonetheless.  The art by Benjamin is a little rushed, and looks rough in some places, but overall it seems to fit the fast-paced fisticuffs between the two stars.  All in all Tieri's fill-in stint has been uneven, but considering the inglorious exit of Chuck Dixon and the (apparent) short notice, I think all in all it was a pretty decent couple of issues, this one included.

DCU Holiday Special 2008 -- A big fat anthology just in time for whatever holiday it is you want to celebrate this season.  DC's revived Holiday Specials have been a lot better than their revived Halloween Specials, and this one continues the trend.  Highlights include an in-continuity story by Artie and Franco of Tiny Titans fame (which ties back to Identity Crisis and Outsiders, oddly enough), and a very cool Aquaman story by Dan DiDio!  Big price point but you'd have to be a Scrooge not to like this comic.

Tiny Titans #11 -- Will Beast Boy ever be able to convince Terra of his undying love?  Or will she simply continue to pummel him with rocks?  Plus, can Robin convince his new Russian friend that they already have a Tiny Titan named Starfire?  Continues to be fun every single month.  

Invincible Iron Man #8 -- Marvel's sub service is a little slow around the holidays, unfortunately, so no go.

X-Men: Kingbreaker #1 -- Deep in Shi'ar space, the ambitious Emperor Vulcan has his eyes set on expanding his kingdom as far as possible.  But he has other things on his mind, including the former Emperor Lilandra, as well as the torture and breaking of his older brother, the X-Man known as Havok.  Cool space opera stuff, really hits the Annihilation tone at this early stage.  Also neat to see X-characters I like (Havok, Polaris, Rachel Summers) in a situation which doesn't ape the typical X-Books stuff.  Very interested in seein where this goes.

The Pick Of The Pile was tight, as I really liked both the Holiday Special and Kingbreaker.    I am going to give the nod to the Holiday Special on the strength of the Aquaman story coupled with the Nightwing-Robin-Captain Boomerang story which was really well done.

So, what did YOU read this week?