SPOILER ALERT
DC COMICS
Black Adam The Dark Age #1: 3 out of 5
Written by Tomasi Mahnke
Art by Alamy Rapmund
Black Adam recovers Isis's remains and apparently resurrects her. I have to give props to the artist for Black Adam's "makeover." He looks different enough to make his disguise feasible while at the same time still recognizable as Black Adam if you look closely.
Countdown 38: 4 out of 5
Written by Paul Dini, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray
Art by Jesus Saiz
Calculator moves against Orcale, who simply outclasses him as a hacker. Marry Marvel continues to grow in power, brazeness, and anger as Eclipso looks on. Trickster (and Piper) convines the All-New, All-Lesbian Batwoman and Question that they are not guilty of killing the Flash through a puppet show. Robin turns down Mr. Action's offer to join the Teen Titans. Darkseid is (apparently) revealed to be behind the killings of the New Gods and claims the Deep Six amongst his latest victims. The backup reveals how Evil Monitor recruited the other 50 Monitors to his side, and Bob leaving to recruit the Challengers. It also verifies that Kyle, Donna, and Jason are not native to New Earth. All in all, one of the better issues of the series to date.
Gen 13 #11: 3 out of 5
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Carlo Barberi and Sunny Lee
The Liberty Snots take a powder as Gen 13 faces off against the Authoriteens, and the Intern (the teen Doctor) reveals the in-continuity mumbo-jumbo behind Gen 13's reboot. Not a particularly outstanding issue, but the Authoriteens are thoroughly enjoyable take on the Authority. I particularly like Jack Hatfield, the spirit of small towns.
Green Lantern #22: 4 out of 5
Written by Goeff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis
Parallax infected Kyle Rayner vs. Hal Jordan and the Lost Lanterns. Superboy Prime looms menacingly. Cyborg Superman chats with Antimonitor about his death wish. And more Green Lanterns die.
Stormwatch PHD #10: 4 out of 5
Written by Christos Gage
Art by Andy Smith
Someone is killing off former members of Stormwatch (who, unfortunately, were apparently just created so they could get killed off instead of actually being former members of the serise, but I digress). Nautica, Sunburst, Prism, and Camache do make cameo appearences, but they don't appear to be on the hit list. As to who is behind this dastardly plot, I won't spoil it here, but here's a hint: HE'S ON THE FRAKING COVER!!! And without so much as a friendly, neighborhood spoiler alert to boot.
MARVEL COMICS
Annihilation Conquest Wraith #2: 2 out of 5
Written by Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Artist by Kyle Hotz
I know, I know...after the review I gave issue #1, why did I pick up the second issue? To be honest, I don't have a good answer. This issue is a lot better, but still doesn't quite do it for me. We get Wraith's origin story, but it's delivered in such a way that you (or I at least) just don't connect with him enough to really care. Ronan and Super-Skrull both appear in this issue, and are far more interesting than the title character.
Daredevil #99: 5 out of 5
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano
As Matt and crew deal with the aftermath of Gladiator (Melvin Potter, not the Shi'ar guy), Matt learns that it was a diversion investigates what really happened--Batman style. It would appear the mastermind behind it is...Mr. Fear, and he plays another card against Daredevil, and this one's a doozy, and I won't spoil it here. Every so often there's a title that drifts towards the bottom of my read pile that is shockingly good. This, my friends, is that title, and as such, it is...
Exiles #97: 3 out of 5
Written by Chris Claremont
Art by Steve Scott
Anyway, Morph and Longshot debate ethics of interfering in Doom-topia before meeting up with Blink and Moleman Reed Richards. As Spider-Man 2099 and Sabretooth got their groove on, Doom reverse engineers the Talus and sends a strike force into the Crystal Palace where they encounter Psylocke , Ultimate Shadowcat, and a surprise character, whose powers include spoutting bad dialog. Sheesh, who talks like that (and who says sheesh for that matter).
Incredible Hulk #109 (World War Hulk): 3 out of 5
Written by Greg Pak
Art by Carlo Pagulayan
We finally get Hulk's answer to Amadeus Cho and the Renegades request to help him, which more or less amounts to giving them a free pass. It mostly recaps World War Hulk #3 with Amadeus repeating his "Hulk is not a killer" mantra, even as the Green Goliath starts building his arena. Not a bad issue, but considering it's mostly a rehash of WWH #3, you might want save your money.
New Avengers #33: 4 out of 5
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Yu
Tensions are high as the New Avengers recover from the Elektra Skrull reveal. Wolverine reasons that Spider-Woman isn't a skrull since she didn't try to kill them when she had the chance. Meanwhile, the team continues to distrust one another. Just how high distrust is amongst them is brought home by Luke Cage, who can't even trust his own wife. Meanwhile, Wolverine cases a criminal bar and stumbles onto the Hood. The Hood plot feels more like a B-plot to the Skrull storyline, and I am left wondering when we get the next Skrull reveal.
New Excalibur #22: 3 out of 5
Written by Chris Claremont
Art by Pat Olliffe
Wait, Excalibur is still fighting Albion and the Albion Corps, with still no end in sight. Although Dazzler does get to kick some @$$ and demonstrate some better skills with her powers, so at least there is that.
Nova #5: 4 out of 5
Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Sean Chen & Scott Hanna
Nova recruits his first deputy, Kree medic Ko-Rel. As Nova recovers, the Phalanx attack. Ko-Rell and the dubiously named Kree (Dimples? Flagpole?) fight a losing battle. Ko-Rell attempts to lead the Phallanx away from Nova and her crewmates, and it appears to work, but Gamora sees through the ruse and stays behind. She then brings the latest Phalanx Select into the fold!
Punisher War Journal #10: 3 out of 5
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Ariel Olivetti
After being tied to a pole for half this book's run, Frank finally delivers a beatdown to Hate-Monger which is too short and anti-climatic. G. W. Bridge gives Frank a free pass this time since he can't arrest I guy for beeting up Neo-Nazis. Stuart Clarke finds his lady friend has been killed and starts tracking down the recruits to kill them, in a move that makes Frank the sane one of the pair. Scarry that.
World War Hulk Front Line #3: 3 out of 5
Written by Paul Jenkins
Art by Ramon Bachs & Shawn Martinbrough
Ben Urich and Sally Floyd find themselves in the middle of a warzone, and Sally tries to take a sick day. Jameson is pissed that he got scooped by the upstart Front Line. Buddy cops Korg and Danny Granville uncover a survelance camera that has footage of the murder victim. Rhode Island looks for a superteam (yawn!).
X-Factor #22: 5 out of 5
Written Peter David
Artist Pablo Raimondi
Another great issue from Peter David. The Isolationist makes X-Factor an offer they can't refuse. M and Siryn track down anti-mutant singers to enforce their grandparents legal visitation rights, and run into a snag...Solo, and where he lives, terror dies. Oh, and Clay. Rahne claws up Rictor's back rather fierce, and Jamie figures out they've hooked up. Strong Guy makes bad jokes. And Nicole outcreeps Layla Miller. Yikes! By the way, this is...
Next Week: Amazons Attack #5, Booster Gold #1, Countdown 37, Flash #231, and more!
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