What Looks Good?

This here?  This what you call domination.  (You have to pardon me as I am listening to Ezekial Jackson's entrance music.)

Batman: King Tut's Tomb TPB -- I got this one in singles, but if you missed this excellent arc in Batman: Confidential, now is your chance to pick it up.  Featuring Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez on art and in the introduction of classic Batman TV baddie King Tut!

Blackest Night #7 -- Oh man, it's on now!

Blackest Night: JSA #3 -- You thought it was bad in Coast City?  It might be worse at the brownstone!

Flash: Rebirth #6 -- It's REALLY on now, baby!

Superman #697 -- I am so tempted.  Mon-el really has my interest now.

The Web #6 -- Matt Sturges comes on board as scribe, and the Red Circle continues to grow.

Iron Man vs Whiplash #4 -- Shellhead!  Whiplash!  And an army of cybernetic Tony Stark Clones!

Robocop #2 -- I got a harrowing visceral experience for ya!"

What I Read This Week

Blackest Night: The Flash #3 -- In Coast City, Blue Lantern Barry Allen and Flash Wally West do their best to save Bart Allen from the Black Lantern ring.  Meanwhile, in Keystone City, the Rogues fight for survival against their own dead compatriots!  Johns and Kollins on Flash is a no-brainer, but they really do a good job here.  This not only sets the stage for the balance of Blackest Night, it also begins the teasing for Brightest Day (with a scene that is equal parts cool because its a tease and infuriating... because it is a tease), as well as hyping us up for the new Flash ongoing.  A Flash fan cannot go wrong with this miniseries.

Outsiders #27 -- The repercussions of Prince Brion's actions last issue are felt, as the rest of the Outsiders react to being in a country which has just made itself a pariah on Earth!  And then we're going to add the Masters of Disaster to the mix, just to make things interesting.  The interiors are not handled by Don Kramer and not Tan, who does the cover... is he behind already?  Kramer's art is a little staid but nicely done generally.  Didio's scripting continues to be pretty strong, mixing equal parts modern DCU with classic Outsiders and a little dash of New Teen Titans just to spice things up.  The Masters of Disaster are a welcome return, especially since they still have 3 of their original members, and the two newbies acquist themselves nicely.  It's clear that Didio has a plan in mind and so far I am really digging it.

Tiny Titans #25 -- Superboy is back!  But that's nothing compared to the hijinks that ensue when the kids head down to Mr. John's Pawn Shop And Bubblegum Emporium and find 7 magical rings!  Hilarious fun from Artie and Franco with guest writer Geoff Johns.  Features cameos from Stargirl, the Guardians, and most of the Green Lantern Corps... you have not lived until you have seen Tiny Titans Larvox!

The Phantom: Generations #8 -- The Phantom has to travel to Port Royal to track down a pirate whom his father tangled with 10 years earlier.  Zeu's art is very clean and a good fit for this swashbuckling illustrated prose.  I especially like how Bullock has the Phantom talk to the later generations who will read the Chronicles ("As you know" and such), a nice touch.  This series has been a treat and I enjoyed this one as well.

Re-Read Pile: Blackest Night: The Flash, Outsiders, Tiny Titans.

The Pick Of The Pile is BN: The Flash, which really, really made me want to get my hands on the new Flash series, as well as piquing my interest for Brightest Day.  Outsiders was well done, and Tiny Titans was a hoot.  (Larvox!)

So, what did YOU read this week?

Hiatus (Hopefully A Quick One)

Hey folks, posting is going to be suspended for a little while because my infant son is sick.  I'll pick back up next week but right now my mind is preoccupied.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

What Looks Good?

Between a surprise all-day meeting yesterday (and this morning), a computer virus, and a sick 8.5 month old, it's been a rough week already.  But at least there's always comics to help out.

Blackest Night: the Flash #3 -- Will the Rogues survive?  The living ones, I mean.

Outsiders #27 -- Markovia... asylum for Kryptonians?!

Tiny Titans #25 -- Goeff Johns in the house!

Blackest Night Series 3: Larfleeze -- I WANT IT!  IT MUST BE MINE!

The Phantom: Generations #8 -- Laying it down literary-style!

So, what looks good to YOU?

What I Read This Week

Human Target #1 -- Christopher Chance, the titular Human Target, finds himself in Europe, trying to keep one of the most dangerous men in the world alive!  Based on the now-running TV series (which I also enjoy), Len Wein and Bruno Redondo deliver a fun, fast-paced adventure, while still sticking true to the "source" material.  I would definitely read a monthly about Chance from these two.  There is also a backup by Peter Johnson and Chris Spouse which takes a good gag and makes very good use out of it.  Maybe we can get more than 6 issues, DC?

The Shield #6 -- In Brazil, The Shield and the new Jaguar track down Baron Gestapo's secret base.  Meanwhile, Frank Verrano has come face to face with Arvin Halliday's security force -- the Comet!  The lead feature -- with plenty of Nazi robot smashing from our heroes -- is very strong, as it has been from the start.  Trautmann and Rudy really bring it as they wrap up the mission.  Can we please see more of Jaguar?  The backup doesn't do as well.  I am one of the few who enjoyed the initial Inferno strips, but this second installment has been less interesting.  All the best, then, that it is taking a break so that we can meet The Fox next issue.  Still, a very good comic and a very good series.

Invincible Iron Man #23 -- While The Ghost regroups, Dr. Strange helps guide Tony Stark out of his nightware world.  If you took this issue and combined it with last issue, you would have one well-scriped and paced comic book.  As it stands, this issue, just like the last, feels padded out.  The main stuff with Tony and Stephen in the nightmarescape is actually very compelling, but we just don't get enough of it to get this issue over the hump.  Next issue is the finale of this story, at least, so Fraction should deliver something then.

Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars #4 -- Tony Stark's mission to track down his stolen armor takes a bizarre twist as he discovers the mastermind behind the scenes.  A fairly unsatisfying wrap-up, with lots of talking and exposition only to end with a strange twist that was not foreshadowed in any way.  Kind of a weak ending from Ellis, but overall this was a good miniseries which was worth buying -- and considering my general aversion to the Ultimate Universe that is saying something.  

The Phantom Double Shot: KGB Noir #2 -- In the first half, the Phantom learns more of the KGB's plot to destroy America, while in the second half, Kolchak finds himself tangled up with a Soviet plot gone wrong.  A little more staid than the first issue, due primarily to Kolchak being a more staid character than Death Angel, but still fun.  I am enjoying the black and white production as well as the throwback Commie-smashing storyline.  Good fun.

Re-Read Pile: Human Target, The Shield, Phantom Double Shot.

The Pick Of The Pile is The Shield, on the strength of the lead feature alone.  Human Target was spot-on, as well.  

Weekly Dose Of Weird!

Weird Mystery Tales #19 -- Alright, Mothra!  This time you've gone too far!

I. "Firedance" -- Jon Anderson, a lonely forest ranger, dreams of meeting a beautiful girl... any beautiful girl.  In the meantime he takes his furstration out by burning the large flocks of moths which populate his forest.  On day, he sees the girl of his many dreams swimming in the lake.  He follows her, captivated -- until she reveals herself as the queen of the moths he burned to dust.  After a lightning strike sets the brush ablaze, Jon finds that he now shares their fate.

II. "Flight" -- Blonde (and greedy) secretary Ms. Nash cracks her boss's safe (and head) and steals all of the cash inside.  She makes a break to the airport, despite her paranoid fear of flying.  She finds herself on a plane populated entirely with obnoxious, nasty people, and they seem to be constantly being delayed or rerouted and hit with turbulance.  Going mad with anxiety, Nash bursts into the cabin to see the pilot... who sports fangs and horns, and informs her that they are going to be in the air for a long time!

III. "Death-Calling" -- On Santa Bella Island, young lighthouse keeper Will Addams is haunted by a ghoslty and angelic song coming from the sea.  One night, he spots a fully rigged sailing ship, the Lorelei.  When he tells his relief man about it, he learns that the ship went down against the rocks a century earlier, taking everyone to the bottom with it!  After his week ashore, Will returns to the lighthouse, and finds himself drawn to the voices once more.  Diving into the sea, he finds the wreck of the Lorelei... along with all those aboard it, who welcome him to their watery eternity.

IV. "Witch's Tales" -- Eve, our hostest with the mostest, answers letters.

Overall Weird Factor: 3.5 (out of 5)

Solid mid-70s DC stuff.  The third feature is pretty standard, but the first two are well done.  "Firedance" has an ending which is easily guessed at, but the idea of a man taking such enthusiasm in burning moths makes it worthwhile.  The second feature, "Flight," is the best.  Lee Mars turns in an almost Crumb-like design sense, and the various passengers on the plane look like they stepped out of a Aragones strip in Mad.  It's not often that I have seen the DC books of this perioid step out of the "comfort zone" of art, so this was a very pleasant surprise.

Oh, It's On Now!

The original ShadowHawk is coming back!  Valentino teased that the "backbreaker would be back" in Image United and it looks like he will be sticking around for a little while afterwards.  It's like I am 12 all over again!